Archive for April, 2007

I just wanted to give a brief update regarding the blatant dearth of new podcasts, because people are asking (and it’s killing my conscience). Here’s the scoop: As some of you know, I was hired by MIT OCW a few months ago to direct the OpenCourseWare Consortium, and was immediately put in charge of...
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In Richard Dutcher’s comments last week about leaving the LDS Church, he mentioned the traditional legend we hear in the church — that Thomas B. Marsh left over a milk dispute between his wife and some else’s. In my Elder’s Quorum lesson for today, I was asked to teach on Elder Bednar’s recent talk...
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It’s no secret — I’m a huge Richard Dutcher fan. Of course I’m sad that he’s taking some time off from the LDS Church, perhaps permanently. But he’s still very Mormon. And he still will be making Mormon movies (as I define them) — just, perhaps, no longer geared towards an LDS audience specifically....
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I get asked several times weekly via email, “John — how in the world do you remain active in the LDS Church after all you know? How do you keep from going insane? How do your raise your children, etc?” I have finally written out a very rough 1st draft of our approach. I...
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Politico: Mormons Heighten Public Relations Efforts By: Andrew Glass April 9, 2007 04:20 PM EST Amid heightened scrutiny because of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney’s White House bid, the Mormon church is raising its public relations profile, making moves that reflect deep concerns over widely held myths about the faith and internal anxiety over...
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The conversation we had last week on my personal blog about Askgramps.org, testimonies, and faith really got me thinking (so a huge thanks to Matt Evans, Michael, Eve, Trevor, Kaimi, Bored in Vernal, Kaimi, Jimbob, Ann, Steve M, RT, Hueffenhardt, Nee, A. Nonny Mouse, DavidH, and the others for inspiring me). This morning I...
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Just found out from T&S that the trailer is now out for the PBS / Frontline / American Experience Documentary “The Mormons.” It does look very interesting. Check it out. Set to air April 30th and May 1st, 2007
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My buddy Paul sent me these.  More for the record than anything.  LDS Church Statistics as of 2007.
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Hey! I should have mentioned a few weeks back that Mormon Stories podcast has just been picked up by KVNU radio station here in Logan, UT (thanks to my very good buddy Tom Grover, host of KVNU’s For the People). We’re on Sundays at 10:35 AM, and then again at 7:35 PM. It turns...
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I was minding my own business, listening to Terry Gross’ Fresh Air — and what to my surprise did I discover? There is a new comedy troup running around called the “Axis of Evil Comedy Tour“. What’s even more interesting (to us, at least) is that one of the comedians was introduced by Ms....
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Just got these from a friend. I have no idea what they mean, but ya’ll can analyze, come back, and explain.  If you can’t read, save to your hard drive, and find a way to expand visually. LDS Official Membership Annual Growth 1860-2005 10 year moving average. LDS Missionary Service and Baptisms 1977 to...
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