Web Robin

New Mormon.org

The church is getting very serious about social networking, blogging and social media.

There's an opportunity, if you are LDS, to create a profile on the new Mormon.org. Be among the first!

http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/new-mormon-org

I've Been Fired!

Easy come, easy go.  One thing we LDS people do is receive callings (Church responsibilities), because we have no local paid ministry.  Our Bishops (pastors), their counselors (associate pastors), High Priest Group Leaders and Elders Quorum Presidents and their counselors (Assistant pastors and associate assistant pastors), Sunday School leaders and staff, youth program leaders and staff, children's programs leaders and staff, musicians, leaders and staff (etc., get the picture?) all serve at no cost to the congregation, serving where called for as long as needed. 

Most of our wards (congregations) are understaffed, always looking for more people to move in and help carry the responsibilities.  Not our ward: we have a surplus.  Terrie and I had no callings for over six months.  Then Terrie was called as choir director and I was called to teach the 17 year olds.  Today I was released from my calling as our leaders "...need to give somebody else the opportunity to serve..." and no new calling was issued.  That is very unusual!  As another member of the ward noted last week, we'll need to divide our ward before long.  Then we'll be understaffed again and be looking for more people to help.

Gone to "Zion"

Rick, Molly, and I will be flying to Salt Lake City this afternoon for the General Conference meetings of the LDS church, and to see Molly's friend Leslee's new baby. We'll also get to visit briefly with some of my work colleagues while we're there.

LDS: 4th Largest US Church and Growing

Some interesting data from the National Council of Churches:

US Membership Church Ranking:
1) Catholic Church (67.5 M)
2) Southern Baptists (16.3 M)
3) United Methodists (8.0 M)
4) Latter-Day Saints (5.8 M)
5) Church of God in Christ (5.5M)

Fastest Growth Rates:
1) Jehovah's Witnesses (Up 2.25%)
2) Latter-Day Saints (Up 1.56%)
3) Catholic Church (Up 0.87%)
4) Southern Baptists (Up 0.22%)
5) African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (Up 0.21%)

Source Data: NCC's 2008 Yearbook of Churches
LDS Newsroom: Church Continues Steady Growth

The Mormons

A joint project of PBS "American Experience" and "Frontline" series, this two-part, four-hour documentary on the history and teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is from producer Helen Whitney. 9-11PM. Part 1 (9-11 p.m.  Tuesday, Part 2). Channel 6 KVIE. I'm always skeptical about programs like this, but I'll give it a shot.

New LDS First Presidency Unveiled

Prophet: Thomas S. Monson (Biography)
First Counselor: Henry B. Eyring (Biography)
Second Counselor: Dieter F. Uchtdorf (Biography)

Full Church Press Release:
Thomas S. Monson Named
16th Church President

"Responding to a reporter’s question about the Church’s openness in working with other churches and groups, President Monson said: 'We should not be sequestered in a little cage. We should eliminate the weakness of the one standing alone and substitute it with the strength of working together to make this a better world.'"

Also In the News:
Michelle Obama Visits Church HQ

"Mrs. Obama met with Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Twelve Apostles. Although the Church is neutral in party politics, it is common for political and government leaders to pay brief calls on Church leadership. The half-hour meeting focused mostly on family values."

LDS Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley Has Died

We heard the sad news tonight that LDS church prophet Gordon B. Hinckley passed away at age 97, after leading the church for more than twelve years. Hinckley presided over the church in a time of significant growth, missionary outreach, and temple building world-wide. He also was easily the most visible Mormon prophet to date, showing incredible media poise, appearing on CNN's Larry King Live several times during his presidency.

(See transcripts from: 1998 and 2001 or the 2004 video from YouTube)

In my time as a member of the church, since birth in 1977, I've seen four prophets, starting with Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, Howard W. Hunter, and Hinckley. While Hinckley was the oldest president in church history, he was well-known for his optimistic spirit and upbeat attitude, even as he was in his mid-90s. We will certainly miss him, even though we know the church remains in good hands.

For more information on Gordon B. Hinckley, see LDS.org or Wikipedia.

Apostolic Seniority

For those who care, below is the updated list of apostolic seniority.  An asterisk is placed by those who are the next youngest in order of seniority, i.e those with the greatest statistical liklihood of surviving to serve as president of the Church, which doesnt always happen as demonstrated by Pres. Lee dying before Pres. Kimball, even though he was younger. [b. = birthdate; o. = date of ordination, upon which seniority is based]:

Gordon B. Hinckley, b. 23 June 1910, o. 5 Oct 1961

*Thomas S. Monson, b. 21 Aug 1927, o. 10 Oct 1963

Boyd K. Packer, b. 10 Sep 1924, o. 9 Apr 1970

L. Tom Perry, b. 1922, o. 7 Apr 1974

Russell M. Nelson, b. 9 Sep 1924, o. 7 Apr 1984

*Dallin H. Oaks, b. 12 Aug 1932 , o. Apr 1984

M. Russell Ballard, b. 8 Oct1928, o. Oct 1985

Joseph B. Wirthlin, b. 1917, o. 9 Oct 1986

Richard G. Scott, b. 1928, o. 1988

Robert D. Hales, b. 1932, o. 1994

*Jeffrey R. Holland, b. 3 Dec 1940, o. 23 Jun 1994

Henry B. Eyring, b. 1933, o. 1995

Dieter Friederich Uchtdorf, b. 6 Nov 1940, o Oct 2004

*David Allen Bednar, b. 15 Jun 1952, o. Oct 2004

Quentin La Mar Cook, b. 8 Sep 1940, o Oct 2007

Two Religions: Mac and Mormon

If you're Mormon, you know what it's like to be 3% of the population, but be sure not only that you're right, but that you would do just about anything to have others experience it for themselves, and make their lives whole. Guess what? It's the same way if you're a Mac user. I have faith that your life can improve if you switch to Mac, and I'm all too pleased to teach you this gospel.

Did you know there are a lot of similarities between being of the Mac faith and of the Mormon faith?

I started a list here:
Being Mac. Being Mormon. It's Quite Similar.

Can you think of more?

Conference - Live on BYU.tv

For all you LDS out there, and the LDS-curious, the 177th semi-annual general conference is streaming live on BYU.tv today, meaning you don't even need to leave your home or get off the laptop to hear the church leaders speak. This morning, big news, as Elder Henry B. Eyring was sustained as the 2nd counselor in the first presidency, replacing Elder James E. Faust, who passed away earlier this year. Also new to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Quentin L. Cook.

(More: Salt Lake Tribune)