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	<title>LDS Blogs &#187; News</title>
	<link>http://ldsblogs.com</link>
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	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:39:55 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Did Proxy Baptism Make Obama&#8217;s Mother Mormon?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Did the proxy baptism of President Obama's mother turn her into a Mormon? How does proxy baptism work and why is it done?]]></description>
		<link>http://news.ldsblogs.com/2014/did-proxy-baptism-make-obamas-mother-mormon</link>
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		<title>Joseph W. Sitati is the First Black African General Authority</title>
		<description><![CDATA[History was made at the April 2009 Mormon conference when the first black native-born African was called to be a General Authority.]]></description>
		<link>http://news.ldsblogs.com/1857/joseph-w-sitati%e2%80%94first-black-african-general-authority</link>
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		<title>Neil L. Andersen Becomes the Newest Mormon Apostle</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The newest apostle is Neil L. Andersen, who has spent ten of the past twenty years outside the United States.]]></description>
		<link>http://news.ldsblogs.com/1854/neil-l-andersen-becomes-the-newest-mormon-apostle</link>
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		<title>The New Mormon Website on Disabilities</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The new Mormon website on disabilities is an excellent resource for members and others on working with or caring for a person with a disability.]]></description>
		<link>http://news.ldsblogs.com/1839/the-new-mormon-website-on-disabilities</link>
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		<title>Five New Temples Announced</title>
		<description><![CDATA[At the most recent General Conference (a semi-annual meeting of the Mormons that is broadcast world-wide), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) announced plans for five new temples.
Temples are a special type of church building. They aren’t used for regular, weekly worship or congregational activities. While regular church buildings are open to all, temples are open only to those who have developed a high level of worthiness as members of the church.
You can think of them as being like a college class. If you decide you want to study physics, you don’t begin with the advanced course. You start with the beginning physics class and then, when you have sufficient background and understanding, you sign up for the advanced class. People who are not members of the church or who haven’t been a member for very long need a good grounding in the basics of the gospel. They need to learn to live the gospel to a certain level before they learn more and make sacred covenants (promises) between themselves and God. These covenants must never be broken, since we should never break a promise to God. Therefore, it’s important for a person to have the knowledge, the spiritual maturity, and the experience to make promises to God. Members must have belonged to the church for one year prior to making these covenants.
Members in good standing are married in the temple. This marriage covenant is made for eternity, not just until death. God created families when he created the earth, and gave [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://news.ldsblogs.com/105/five-new-temples-announced</link>
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		<title>Lori Conger Speaks Out About the Gospel of Jesus Christ</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Children&#8217;s author, Lori Conger, agreed to share with us her thoughts and testimony on Jesus Christ and His gospel:
I am an author, a teacher, and most importantly, a mother of four. I have been blessed in my life to be able to do many things I love, like writing (my children&#8217;s picture book My Squishy Pants just came out, and I am working on many other writing projects as well), substitute teaching at the local elementary schools, reading great books, playing (and even coaching some) volleyball, and being a full-time mother. I also had the opportunity of serving a full-time mission in Utica, New York, which was a wonderful experience. I now live in Kaysville, Utah with my husband, Daniel, and our children. I have been given so much. (Lori Conger, 29 July 2008)

Candace: As an author of children&#8217;s literature you have a unique love and connection with the children of the world. Will you please share with us the value children have in the eyes of our Lord?
Lori? From the time I was very small I was taught that I was a child of God, that He heard my prayers and that He loved me. I think it was the most valuable principle my parents ever instilled in me, for it gave me a sense of self worth and a knowledge of who I was and what my purpose was here on earth. I felt His love many times as a child and knew that He knew me, just as He knows and loves [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://news.ldsblogs.com/133/title-8</link>
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		<title>A Visit with Author Tristi Pinkston</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I had the opportunity to sit down with author, Tristi Pinkston, and ask her about the Gospel and her feelings on the matter. What followed was a beautiful interview with a little about Tristi&#8217;s ancestors, her thoughts and feelings on the Gospel and her testimony. 
Candace: You are a well-known author in the LDS Historical Fiction genre, and as such you have spoken all across the west about the power of recording life histories in journals so that others might benefit from our experiences. Can you tell us why you feel it is so important you record in journals?
Tristi: If we think for a minute about the volumes of scripture we&#8217;ve been given, what are they?  In essence, they&#8217;re journals.  These prophets of old experienced God&#8217;s mercy in their lives, heard God&#8217;s word, or learned through their trials, and they wrote it all down.  Today, we have those words to rely on to get us through the hard times.  If we, in turn, record the things we&#8217;ve learned, the times we&#8217;ve experienced mercy, and the times we&#8217;ve heard God&#8217;s word, then our descendants can look to our words for encouragement.  
What if those ancient prophets said they were too busy to take the time to write in their journals?  Remember what the Savior said when He came to visit the inhabitants of the Americas&#8211;He rebuked them for not keeping their records.  If they can take time, with their chisels and sheets of metal, to write in their journals, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://news.ldsblogs.com/132/a-visit-with-author-tristi-pinkston</link>
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		<title>Diversity of Faith Respected by Mormons</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The 11th Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often referred to as the Mormons, states:
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. (Articles of Faith 1:11)

This is something President Thomas S. Monson, the 16th called prophet of these modern times, has taken to heart. In the last General Conference, he stated:
“I would encourage members of the Church wherever they may be to show kindness and respect for all people everywhere. The world in which we live is filled with diversity. We can and should demonstrate respect toward those whose beliefs differ from ours.”

President Monson has made a point of always welcoming and fostering good, solid relationships, as well as friendships, with the leaders of other faiths. He&#8217;s a good, kind and friendly man. It is a natural extension of who he is and he has asked that Mormons keep in mind the struggle we had, and still have, in being respected for believing in the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. In keeping that in mind, it should help us to have kinder feelings and thoughts toward friends of other faiths, for indeed, that is who they are, friends.
Indeed, his counselor, a living Apostle of Jesus Christ, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, also in the last General Conference, reinforced that request with:
“We honor and respect sincere souls from all religions, no matter where or when they lived, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://news.ldsblogs.com/104/diversity-of-faith-respected-by-mormons</link>
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		<title>More Mormon Christmas Events</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Ann Arbor, Michigan: The annual crèche exhibit of local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as &#8220;Mormons&#8220;) will be held November 30 through December 3. This year the exhibit will feature more than 1000 nativity scenes from 111 countries. The event is free and visitors from the community are welcome.
According to the Ann Arbor News, the event began in part to help the community understand that Mormons are in fact Christians. It has become the Church&#8217;s &#8220;gift to the community&#8221; for 25 years.
However, this year will be the last. All of the work is done by volunteers, and the labor involved in setting it up and taking it down is intensive and there is no chairperson available beyond this year.  So if you&#8217;re in the Ann Arbor area, you&#8217;ll want to stop by this year. More details on the event, as well as some photographs of a few of the displays, can be found at www.crecheexhibit.com. 
I posted a blog covering a similar event not long ago. Again, if you&#8217;re able to attend these or a similar event held in your own community, I highly recommend it. 
Kensington, Maryland: The 30th Annual Festival of Lights at the Washington, D.C. temple of the LDS Church officially began the evening of November 28. According to the Deseret Morning News, 450,000 lights will shine on the temple grounds through the holiday season. More than 250,000 visitors are expected to visit the display during December.
&#8220;These lights are our holiday gift to the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://news.ldsblogs.com/157/more_mormon_christmas_events</link>
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		<title>Mormons Discuss Missionary Work with Protestant Group</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I thought this story was interesting, and it&#8217;s worth sharing. In Murietta, California, members of the United Church of the Valley were preparing to serve their first mission, and they turned to an unusual source for help: the Mormons, or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Asking missionaries of another faith for help in preparing to teach may seem odd, but when you think about it, it really does make sense. After all, Mormons have a very active and successful worldwide missionary program. So whether or not you agree with the specific religious beliefs, you&#8217;ve got to admit that the LDS Church probably does have some good insights into missionary work and sharing the gospel of Christ with others.
According to the North County Times, the Reverend Randy Leisey, pastor of United Church of the Valley, had become interested in the Mormon approach when he heard President Gordon B. Hinckley, then the prophet and president of the LDS Church, speaking in a local conference. 
&#8220;He said &#8216;You 77 million baby boomers, don&#8217;t get a motor home. Go on mission,&#8217;&#8221; Leisey said to the North County Times. &#8220;I thought, &#8216;Wow, wouldn&#8217;t that change the world?&#8217;&#8221;
Leisey had been more interested in the LDS Church&#8217;s humanitarian efforts, since members of his congregation would be serving humanitarian missions themselves, helping to build houses in an impoverished country. But Larry Slusser, second counselor to the Temecula Stake (group of local congregations) president of the LDS Church, gave them a challenge in their meeting: &#8220;Is there any plan to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://news.ldsblogs.com/164/mormons_discuss_missionary_work_with_pro</link>
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