General News

Temple Workers Must be Clean-Shaven Says News Policy

A recent change in the policy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints requires that workers in its Temples be clean-shaven -- no beards or mustaches, according to a report in the Salt Lake Tribune this past weekend. According to the report,the policy change, announced six or eight weeks ago, is more restrictive that that required of BYU students and faculty and instructors in the Church's seminaries and institutes. It is similar to the requirements for full-time missionaries of the LDS Church.

Main Street Plaza ruled an 'Ecclesiastic Park' by Judge

US District Judge Ted Stewart issued a written ruling on Friday, May 4th, stating that Main Street plaza in Salt Lake City is no longer a public area. The 43-page order was released over four months after Judge Stewart ruled from the bench against attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union who had brought suit against the sale of one block of Main Street to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Census, Study Hint at Number of LDS Hispanics

The combination of a major study of the Hispanic population in the US with recently released US census results may give a partial picture of the size and characteristics of the LDS Hispanic population in the US. Last week Vanguard University, located in Southern California, released its study of US Hispanics, part of a three-year study funded by the Pew Charitable Trust. This week, the US Census Bureau released initial figures on Hispanics in Utah, a group that has increased by 140% in the past ten years.

Local News

75th Anniversary of LDS Institute Program

The first LDS Institute of Religion was established 75 years ago at the University of Idaho, in response to the complaints of LDS Church Member William Geddes, whose daughter was studying there, about the LDS meeting facilities in the town. Since then the program has grown to include 316,000 students in 2,000 programs located in 129 countries. Officials in Moscow expected 10,000 people to arrive this past weekend to help celebrate the anniversary.

Gilbert Arizona Study Finds 'Religious Separatism,' Racism, Homophobia

A diversity task force co-chaired by a stake president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has issued its findings, showing that the town has a problem with racism, homophobia and religious separatism. The task force spent eight months studying diversity in Gilbert, and according to the task force's other co-chair, Annette Ward, the town is sitting on a time bomb.

Sports

LDS Preparations for Olympics Included Elder Hales' Trip to Nagano

An article in today's Salt Lake Tribune says that Elder Robert Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints got "distinguished guest" accesss, provided by the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, to the Nagano Olympic Games in 1998. The designation allowed Elder Hales access to all competition venues, Olympic family seating areas, lounges and transportation. The Tribune claims that this access, along with correspondence it recently obtained from the SLOC, shows that the Church was collaborating with the SLOC in many areas.

LDS-Dominated BYU Volleyball Team Developing Storied History

For many years, facing the UCLA men's volleyball team was about the most difficult task imaginable for many opponents. UCLA's team, perennial powerhouse and winner of 18 NCAA championships in the last 3 decades, is a formidable foe with a storied history. However, a team of volleyball upstarts from the mountains of Provo were able to overcome a very talented group of UCLA athletes at last weekend's NCAA championships held at The Pyramid in Long Beach, California. BYU successfully swept UCLA 3-0 in the championship match and, having won two out of the last three NCAA titles, are making a little history of their own.

Politics

With McVeigh Execution Approaching, LDS Church Remains Neutral on Death Penalty

As the execution date for Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh approaches, the Utah state parole board must make a similar decision - whether to put inmate Elroy Tillman to death or whether to allow him to live. According to some religious leaders and church members, that's not necessarily a choice the state should make. Other religious organizations, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, maintain a hands-off attitude toward the death penalty, taking the position that the death penalty is solely a matter of law.

LDS Seminaries in Middle of Church-in-School Debate

An article in yesterday's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reviews the current place of religion in the public schools and in the process looks at an LDS Seminary Class. Like a multitude of religious activities that are sometimes found in high schools, the LDS Seminary program sometimes finds itself squarely in the middle of the debate, which often pits conservatives and liberals in the US against each other on school boards and in legislatures, but almost always gets decided in the courts as foes cite conflicting principles of the US Constitution's first amendment.

Internet

Internet: New LDS Businesses, Doctrinal Sites

This past week businesses seem to dominate the new listings, with new websites from ldsnotes.com, MyLDSMissionary.com, Eljay's LDS Temple Pendants, LDS Family Phone, Riverview Guest House, Embroidery Express and ScriptureCovers.com. And their differences highlight some of the difficulties of doing business on the web, with most of these businesses either asking surfers to phone in their orders or using some outside service to handle online orders.

People

LDS Woman is Fresno Mother of the Year ... at Age 85

LoRen Watson Snow was named Mother of the Year by the Fresno County Women in Chambers of Commerce and will be honored at a luncheon on May 11, at the Fresno Plaza Hotel. Snow, affectionately known as "Loie" said, "Oh, no, you got the wrong woman." "The last time I gave birth was about 61 years ago. I can't be Mother of the Year."

LDS Police Officer Dies in Fall from Colorado Bridge

Ryan Cunningham, 27, an officer in the Vail Police Department, died early Sunday morning after he jumped off an overpass to avoid being hit by a tractor-trailer. Cunningham, who was on duty at the time, had warned others to get out of the way of the out-of-control truck, leaving him without enough time to escape without jumping.

Arts & Entertainment

Marie Osmond Starts 'Behind the Smile' Book Tour

With the release of her new book, "Behind the Smile: My Journey Out of Postpartum Depression," Marie Osmond is starting a book tour to promote the book, which she says is meant to help those suffering from similar depression. Osmond's struggle occurred in the past year, during which she separated from her husband, then publicly declared that she suffered from postpartum depression. She has since reconciled with her husband.

Business

LDS-run Firm Now Largest Linux Company

Caldera Systems announced Monday that it had completed the acquisition of two divisions of The Santa Cruz Operation, which makes it now the largest Linux company in the world. Caldera's claim comes by virtue of its sales, support and representation in 82 countries worldwide.

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