The Latest Blog Posts from Public Affairs
Religion & Political Participation
November 20, 2009
Posted By Nate Nielson
"What role should religious leaders have -- or not have -- in government policymaking?" That was the question posed this week at On Faith, an online forum featuring a wide spectrum of religious experts who discuss important issues regarding the intersection of religion and public life. As a long-time member of the panel, Michael Otterson, managing director of the Church's Public Affairs Department, addressed some of the broader philosophical aspects of the religious freedom debate. He explains why political participation in our democratic system is a right that belongs to everyone, including those representing churches and religious organizations. You can read the entire column here. Excerpts:
Laws are a reflection of the particular social, economic, cultural, and even religious mores of a people living under a single jurisdiction. These values, and the myriad complex factors they entail, all contribute to the legislative process. Likewise, each constituent part of society has opportunity for expression. Why should churches or their leaders be singled out as unfit participants?
Anyone interested in the success of the political process should step back and carefully ponder the consequences of excluding religion from the public square. Do we really want to relegate religious organizations to second-class status? And who gets to decide whose participation is valid and whose is not?
Help Us Improve Newsroom.lds.org
November 13, 2009
Posted By Lyman Kirkland
For nearly a decade, the Newsroom Web site has provided journalists, and the public at large, with news and information about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Newsroom.lds.org began as media.lds.org a few years prior to the 2002 Winter Olympics. It was one of the Church's original Web sites. The primary goal was to provide resources to the thousands of journalists who covered the Church during the Olympic period. That original site was translated daily into multiple languages. That is no longer necessary now that the Church has media sites in countries throughout the world where local content is available in the native language. (See a two-part interview that the Newsroom staff conducted with the Times and Seasons blog last year for more background on the Newsroom.)
In recent years we've added features such as widgets and social media sharing tools to allow readers to more easily share Newsroom content. An e-mail subscription service, Facebook fan page, RSS and text message alerts have also been added to provide a variety of ways to follow the Church through Newsroom. We even started Twittering Newsroom content over two years ago.
We've also been publishing commentaries, which provide background and context to journalists and the public on issues related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
As the site adapts to the changing needs of journalists and the emergence of social media, we are updating it once again to ensure it meets the needs of those who write or share information about the Church both in the mainstream press and with social media.
As we improve the site for news media, bloggers and the other public audiences that it serves, we invite your feedback.
Tell us what content on the site is most useful. Why do you come to Newsroom? What do you hope to find when you get there and what keeps you coming back? If you could design the site, how would it look? Your feedback is appreciated. You can comment on the Newsroom Facebook page or take the Newsroom survey.
Church Discusses Support of Nondiscrimination Ordinances on KSL's The Doug Wright Show
November 11, 2009
Posted By Lyman Kirkland
Yesterday The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declared its support of nondiscrimination regulations that would extend protection in matters of housing and employment in Salt Lake City to everyone. A news release and the full text of the statement given at the city council meeting are available on newsroom.lds.org.
Wednesday morning, two representatives from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints discussed the Church's support of the ordinances on The Doug Wright Show on KSL in Salt Lake City. The audio from that interview is available here (Audio courtesy of KSL).
The Gift of Mobility
November 7, 2009
Posted By Doug Andersen
The daily struggles of life are difficult even without the added challenge of a physical disability. The cover story of the 7 November Church News details "the gift of mobility" and how those who receive wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs due to the generosity of others gain hope for a better life.
Howard Collett of LDS Philanthropies detailed stories from the Dominican Republic, where common modes of transportation include motorcycles, bicycles and walking. People who use these types of transportation in crowded cities are no match for larger road hazards such as buses, trucks and automobiles. When an accident occurs, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians suffer the greatest consequences. "Since amputation is free, it's a frequently used alternative for critical leg injuries," writes Collett.
Some in the Dominican Republic who suffer those injuries now benefit from a program in which the Church's Humanitarian Services, in partnership with Innovacion Ortopedica, is providing funding for 50 people each year to receive prosthetics that would otherwise be unaffordable.
Read the full story in the Church News.
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Helps Jazz Open Home Season
October 30, 2009
Posted By David Porter
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed the national anthem at the Utah Jazz's home opener with the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday at EnergySolutions Arena. Music director Mack Wilberg led the choir. The women wore their Olympic blue dresses and the men wore their blue blazers with gray slacks and red ties.
This is not the first time "America's choir" has graced the 20,500-seat arena. In 2001, the choir opened the season for the Jazz.
Noral Group International Awards Mormon "Swashbucklers" Best PSA
October 30, 2009
Posted By Doug Andersen
A Washington, D.C., based advertising and marketing firm has recognized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a Public Service Announcement (PSA) produced on the importance of fatherhood.
According to the National Media Survey, "Swashbucklers" was recognized for its relevance, high production quality and exceptional combination of excitement, humor and warmth.
Said Jana Gordon of WAVY-TV in Portsmith, VA, "It was incredibly well-produced and the concept was so different than many of the other PSAs the station receives. I really enjoyed sharing that message with our viewers."
The Church has produced the award-winning Homefront PSA series for three decades.
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About This Blog
This blog is managed and written by staff of the Public Affairs Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The information here is reliable and accurate but should not necessarily be viewed as official statements from the Church. The purpose of this blog is to provide journalists, bloggers, and the public with additional context and information regarding public issues involving the Church. For official news releases and statements from the Church, visit Newsroom.lds.org.
