Temple Trails

What: Remember how everyone was saying it's impossible to visit every LDS temple now that there are so many? These folks are still trying.

Quote: "With the number of Temples growing the Hansens have found it a little more challenging to meet that goal. Once they get close, more Temples are dedicated!"

Reaction: I have a goal to one day visit all the temples in Utah. Since I can't find Monticello on a map, even this modest goal seems unattainable.

Mormons Blowing Stuff Up Now

What: TLC is set to produce a reality show about some Mormon brothers-in-law who make armored cars and blow them up. For a living.

Quote: "We found out they were Mormon and it’s like, who would ever think that Mormons would be doing a bullet-proof armored car business out of San Antonio?”

Reaction: Premieres tonight, Nov. 19, at 10 p.m. on TLC.

Catholics Pwn3d by Mormons, says Andrew Sullivan

What: After the passage of Prop 8 in California, the LDS church asserted that its position against gay marriage would not preclude them from supporting equal housing and employment rights for gays. Earlier this week, the church made good on its word by supporting a new anti-discrimination law in Utah. Andrew Sullivan praises their unprecedented public decision.

Quote: "Imagine the impact if the Pope came out and explicitly endorsed anti-discrimination laws for gay and lesbian people and used those words and expressed the kind of respect the Mormons just have. It would do a huge amount of good - for gay people and for the church. This Pope cannot do that; but the Mormons just did. More power to the Mormons."

Reaction: The pendulum is already starting to swing the other way again in terms of which groups are least happy with the Mormons. Judging by the comments in the articles about this issue, many strong conservatives who supported Prop 8 are now disappointed in the church's position, while liberals are expressing satisfaction. See this blog entry about why the church straddles political ideologies.

President Monson's Star Power

What: In a piece entitled "80 over 80," Slate Magazine crowns Pres. Thomas S. Monson as "the most powerful octogenarian" in America.

Quote: "As president, is regarded by the world's more than 13 million Mormons as a prophet of God 'in the same way they view Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and the apostles in the day of Jesus Christ.'"

Reaction: Slate makes a big deal about how many places each individual has fallen or advanced in the rankings since the previous year. Surprisingly, Thomas S. Monson was not on the list last year, which means he had to advance at least 80 spots to claim the #1 spot this year.

(H/T: Joe Cramer is one fine fellow)

The Mormon Response to Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol"

What: The website sacredsymbol.com discusses Dan Brown's latest novel from a Mormon point of view.

Quote: "I believe that the reason we see common threads that run through secret societies and cults from the Ancient Hellenes Maya, to the modern Freemasons and even court oaths and Boy Scouts, is that even apostate peoples understand the power and importance of temple worship."

Reaction: For a while, there was talk that this new book would feature Mormons in a bad light. In fact, it doesn't appear to mention Mormons at all. As with the Da Vinci code, however, there are certain "shocking revelations" that might stir up controversy among some groups, but which Mormons will appreciate with an enlightened perspective.

Labels

What: Heather, a Mormon Mommy Blogger who is not Mormon, talks about looking past labels.

Quote: "I think a common thing that happens is that once a person finds out that someone is Mormon, that's all they can think about. They see a label. They see rules. They often don't see a person."

Reaction: A very insightful observation, Heather. A label does not a Christian make.

Aniston and Wholesome Mormon-Dating

What: Jennifer Aniston reports on Chelsea Lately that she knows all about Mormons.

Quote: "'Mormons are fascinating . . . I dated a Mormon once.'"

Reaction: Congratulations, Jennifer. If your first experience with Mormons wasn't bad, check out ldssingles.com and try your luck again.

Double-Take: Apparently, every single news outlet which contains the above quote also makes the claim that Mormons permit or encourage men to have more than one wife. Issue #1: lazy fact-checking. Issue #2: plagiarism?