Mormon Bloggers

Yesterday, I watched a webcast from LDSTech that demonstrated recent updates to the Personal Progress website (PersonalProgress.lds.org), the Duty to God website (DutyToGod.lds.org), and the Music website (music.lds.org). Read a summary of the changes to these websites, or watch the webcast. Below are a few highlights of the updates: [block]0[/block] Now anyone can work through the Personal Progress program online, even if you’re not a young women, leader, or parent. Leaders and parents can track progress of the young women toward their goals. [block]1[/block]The website is now integrated with the study notebook. There is no leader tracking like the Personal Progress site has. [block]2[/block] is one of the most visited sections of LDS.org, averaging more than 1.5 million page views a month. A new upgrade will be released around October with the ability to create playlists and access more collections of music. The interactive player will also be updated to provide even more... Read the rest of this entry »

Enjoy a wonderful and inspirational program of favorite music of President Thomas S. Monson, prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Golden Days: A Celebration of Life (also can be viewed on lds.org – some stories say it’s only available until 9:30 p.m. MDT tonight, so you might want to enjoy it today. The program lasts about 90 minutes.) The video is also embedded below. Following is the program for the celebration. You’ll also enjoy video clips that walk through some of President Monson’s life and pay tribute to the man whom Mormons sustain as the living prophet of God on the earth. “I Think the World is Glorious” — performed by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square “Golden Days” (from The Student Prince) — performed by Stanford Olsen (opera/concert performer) “Trail Builders’ Hymn” — performed by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple... Read the rest of this entry »

My lovely wife and I had the opportunity to hear the Apollo Chorus in Chicago perform Rachmaninoff’s Sacred Vespers over the weekend. The Apollo Chorus bills itself as the oldest volunteer choral society in the United States. (It was founded in 1872, 25 years after the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but Utah did not become a state until 1892; I do not know if that is the technicality that allows the Apollo Chorus to claim to be oldest or if it’s organzing as a choral society or some other reason.) As I sat in the sanctuary of the Fourth Presbyterian Church on Chestnut Street in downtown Chicago listening to liturgical music of the Russian Orthodox Church, I contemplated the role of music in my own worship. Does music bring the spirit? Does the spirit inspire the music? Or is my response to the remarkable artistry in Rachmaninoff and Brahms and Bach and others simply emotional? (Or technical?) I thought about this again as we played yesterday evening the CD my wife received for... Read the rest of this entry »

In church yesterday, as I was singing the sacrament hymn, “Reverently and Meekly Now”….something struck me about the words. And as those precious deacons were humbly representing the Savior, offering all, one by one, to partake of the bread and water, my eyes were busily searching all the sacrament hymns in the hymn book. Did you know there are 30 of them? Did you know that all but one speak from our own point of view? Example:  “I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me….” or “Upon the cross of Calvary they crucified our Lord….” or “With humble heart I bow my head and think of thee, oh Savior, Lord…. See how the words in those hymns we sing are as if we are speaking them ourselves? There is only one that is from the Savior’s own personal point of view. Just one. Rev’rently and meekly now, Let thy head most humbly bow. Think of me, thou  ransomed one; Think what I for thee have done. With... Read the rest of this entry »

Want to talk to your family about choosing good media? The article “Choose the Right Media” in this month’s Friend magazine can help encourage meaningful conversations in your family. It includes a checklist children can use to gauge if they’re reading, watching, or listening to good media. Does is make them feel good inside and make them want to do what’s right? Good choice. Does it depict violence or make them uncomfortable? Might want to do something else. No matter how old or young your family, this article can help you choose the right media together.  Read More →

Ha!  I bet you thought I wasn’t doing much working out anymore, since I haven’t been posting updates.  Truth is, I have been working out.  Although, I have to admit that getting my lungs in shape since my few bouts of pneumonia has been super tough! I know that my lungs are scarred from the first time last year.  Then got re-damaged this last time a couple months ago.  Then when I tried to start working out a little harder again, I almost got it again.  But I remembered some advice I got from a doctor once (and then from a comment on this blog from a nurse), that taking deep breaths help.  Well, when I had full blown pneumonia that was a joke to me, I couldn’t force myself to breath deep no matter how hard I tried.  But NOW when I feel the pressure in my chest start to build up, I have been taking deep breaths, holding them for a second and then exhaling.  I can not believe how much it is helping my lungs finally... Read the rest of this entry »

I was planning on introducing my children to music, just because I love it and it has brought me so much joy through my life. But, as I was reading up on the various ways to do that, as well as which instruments, I learned so much more about why all kids should be introduced to it. So, I’m glad that I already made the decision to move forward with it, and probably will start with the piano. But, I was so intrigued by what I learned that I am going to share some of the reasons why so many experts believe it’s a healthy avenue for kids to take. So, read on to hear more about how your children could benefit from music. 1. Stress Relief Music can be a great source of stress relief for adults, so it can only be assumed that it will be for our children as well. I was reading an article about music and the effects it can have on stress, when I came across the following quote: “During the Gulf War, the few opportunities I had for relaxation I always listened to music and it brought me... Read the rest of this entry »

Three Mormon women share their talents and their music for this Easter season. Sally DeFord has written several songs that could be used for Easter. Jelaire Richardson wrote a song called, “He’s Been There” (sheet music and MP3 available here). Shawna Edwards wrote “The Miracle” (shared earlier, but we’re sharing it again).  Read More →

We wanted to include an addendum to yesterday’s post sharing Shawna Edwards’ new Easter song, “The Miracle”. (We were so anxious to share it that we didn’t get all of the information we would have wanted to share with it.) First, we wanted to share some of Shawna’s thoughts as she wrote “The Miracle.” We often talk about the wondrous miracles of Jesus Christ — walking on the water, healing the blind, raising the dead. I started out to write this song about those miracles. But as I began crafting the lyrics and the message, I realized — His greatest miracle by far is the one He did for us, for me. “The miracle that rescues me.” I wanted to make it clear how personal the Atonement is to me, how uniquely suited for my needs, my inadequacies, and my struggles, as it is for yours. My name was graven on His hands. And yours was, too. You can read more about how this song came to be at the Shawna Edwards website. Secondly, Shawna has often... Read the rest of this entry »

I think I’ve told you before that we have a bunch of band geeks in our family. I spent my younger years blowing a clarinet in our junior high school band, but I quit playing in high school after only one quarter because our band teacher just couldn’t control the group and it really bothered me. I wanted to learn and be part of something amazing, not watch the drummers harass our poor frustrated  Read More →

A good friend is commencing on a concert tour of South Korea in April, but is dropping by Utah to do a concert first. I wanted to share the news with all! These guys are awesome and the concert is very affordable. AFTER DAYBREAK is headed to Korea for a mini-tour April 18-22nd to kick off the release of our album there. BUT FIRST, we are doing a concert in Orem, UT at Timpanogos High School on Thursday April 5th – 7:30 pm to get us ready for these big shows in Korea. We will be performing the very same 90 minute show we are being asked to perform on our Korea mini-tour. Also, this concert will be filmed to be used for promotional purposes by our booking agents, for YouTube videos, etc.Because of ALL that – we want anyone and everyone to come!!We want to fill the place so we have a great audience cheering wildly so we can go to Korea well prepared to move to the next level. (Plus, a large crowd is also great for filming!!)To try and help get everyone there we’ve kept ticket... Read the rest of this entry »

The music section of youth.lds.org is expanding its offerings of free, downloadable music with songs by more contemporary artists from past Especially for Youth (EFY) media. Over the next several months, 30 newer songs will be released at the rate of one per week. The first new song posted to the site was Kenneth Cope’s “More,” from EFY 2005’s “A More Excellent Way.” The music site is available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and plans are to provide more songs in Spanish and Portuguese and to make the songs also available through the Mormon Channel and the seminary website.  Read More →