Saturday my ward had three convert baptisms: a father and his two sons. I was unable to attend the baptisms—I was cleaning the ward building with my family that morning—but witnessed their confirmations on Sunday.

The spirit that accompanied the confirmations was incredible; tears flowed freely from my eyes and I noted others around me also reached for tissues to dry their teary eyes. The wife and mother of these new converts, a formerly inactive member, also wept as her family received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

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At LDS.org, you can read an article on the Mountain Meadows Massacre to be published in the September 2007 Ensign written by Richard E. Turley Jr., the managing director for the Family and Church History Department.

September 11th marks the 150th anniversary of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

The Pew Forum released the transcripts from their biannual Faith Angle Conference on “religion, politics and public life.”

From their web site:

Richard Bushman, an emeritus professor at Columbia University and author of several books about Mormon history, discussed the relationship between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and American politics over the past two centuries. He addressed Mormonism’s shift from 19th-century radicalism to 20th-century conservatism and the significance of this religious heritage for presidential candidate Mitt Romney. A lively question-and-answer session with journalists followed his presentation.

Other Forum resources on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints include an interview with two general authorities of the church and an analysis of public opinion on presidential politics and the Mormon faith.

There is a great deal to read and digest, so I will leave this as an open thread for you to discuss the transcripts.

When I was 18 years old, one of my favorite things to do was contend with the opponents of the Church. I was serving as a youth guide at the Mesa Arizona Temple Visitor’s Center and had frequent opportunities to speak with those who opposed the LDS Church.

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There is something inherently spiritual and sacred about saying farewell to someone before they die. Tender feelings are expressed through flowing tears, tender touches and verbal expressions of love often taken for granted are shared freely and meaningfully.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched my mother-in law and her brother say goodbye to their ailing and aged mother. My heart ached as my wife’s uncle gently cradled his mother’s head and told her that he loved her. Few words were spoken those of us in the room, but the unspoken feeling was that the end is near.

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