Breinholt never thought the CD would be the catalyst for his success as a singer/songwriter.

"We had never really been in the studio," he said. "We were college students, but not music students.

"At that time I remember hearing about bands in Utah County playing all original tunes and selling out restaurants like Pier 54," he said. "My goal was to record all my songs and sell out those places and I would be happy."

via Peter Breinholt marks musical milestone | Deseret News.

Each summer 20 young men arrive in Nauvoo, Ill., to participate in the Nauvoo Pageant. Rather than sing and dance on stage, they assist behind the scenes as the pageant work crew.

via Behind the scenes at the Nauvoo Pageant | Mormon Times.

If you like the Church’s Scriptures site (scriptures.lds.org), you’re going to love the upgraded site that is now in beta testing. Visit it at beta.lds.org/scriptures.

via Meridian Magazine – New LDS Scriptures Site.

Yester-decade, when the phone rang, everybody in the house heard it. If the requested individual wasn't home (determined by one or two ear-piercingly loud yells of the person's name), a message was scribbled on a notebook that sat beside every phone, a once-stationary fixture. Or, if no one was home, a message about upcoming youth conference was recorded on a family answering machine, where the whole family could hear it.

via Abandoning home phones creates 'Single Cell Syndrome' | Mormon Times.

The conference also boasts an array of contemporary topics, including an analysis of the image of Mormons in film and television, an LDS view of physician-assisted suicide, a comparison of the church’s program for teenage girls and boys, a look at the differences between early Mormon and Muslim history, and personal stories of stay-at-home dads.

Several Glenn Beck critics and defenders will examine the talk-show host and Mormon convert’s message and impact on the LDS faithful.

“It’s bound to generate discussion,” Robertson says, and “take the pulse” of Sunstoners on the political and religious issues Beck introduces.

via Young progressives join mix at Sunstone | The Salt Lake Tribune.

Dealing with change is a popular topic in business. It’s the subject of many business books. Change in the business world parallels change in the gospel in many ways. The gospel of Jesus Christ is about repentance, the ultimate in personal change. Change in the business world focuses on how we as individuals and organizations react to external forces that disrupt the status quo. Technology industries are always changing. Advancements come at a dizzying pace and they impact how we deliver services to our customers. Changes, whether they are organizational or technological, are received in a variety of ways.

via Changing Our Old Ways.

This is the second in a series of posts about applying the standards of the thirteenth Article of Faith to film, both as audiences and creators. Having begun in part one to explore the concept of virtue and what makes a virtuous film, I now continue to the next part of the standard: loveliness.

via Seeking for the Good: Loveliness | LDS Cinema Online.

"Even comics that go blue get the sense that (they're getting) a cheap laugh," Jones said. "It's pushing the envelope and is just there for the sake of being there. If that's comedy, my brother would be the funniest man I know."

via Mormon comic works to win laughs for clean jokes | Deseret News.

When you ask the cast of Hale Center Theater Orem’s “110 in the Shade” about working with Broadway stars, their response is simple: “Life-changing.”

For two weeks, Utah County actors performed in a special engagement of the musical, featuring four-time Tony Award-winning actor Audra McDonald in the lead role of Lizzie, paired with her off-stage partner, Utah native Will Swenson as Starbuck.

Swenson, a Utah native who won a Tony nomination for his role in the 2009 Broadway revival of “Hair,” got his start as an actor in Hale productions, and his brother and sister-in-law run the Orem theater. He is known to local audiences for his roles in Mormon Cinema films such as “The Singles Ward” and “The R.M.”

via Broadway star inspires Orem actors | The Salt Lake Tribune.

Like Batman's utility belt, cell phones are loaded with fancy features.

This is especially true for Latter-day Saints, who can now download the scriptures, lesson manuals, hymns and other Mormon curriculum into a pocket-size device, lightening the Sunday load and freeing hands for holding more children.

via How to be a cell-phone sensitive Saint | Mormon Times.

The rust-colored rocks of southern Utah serve as a grand backdrop to the leafy-green jungle musical, “Tarzan,” featured at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre this summer.

Based on Disney’s film, the musical brings life and spirit into the unique desert theater. While Broadway musicals are typically found in Salt Lake City, the Tuacahn offers a completely different experience.

“There is no setting quite like it,” said James Royce Edwards, who stars as Tarzan and graduated from BYU, in an e-mail. “It is gorgeous with its massive red rock canyons behind it as its backdrop. The sets, costumes, sound and other technical elements are all excellent and rival any theatres I’ve worked with in New York or Los Angeles.”

via Tarzan swings into Tuacahn | Universe.byu.edu.

Jensen admits he doesnt use the ward or stake website very often, and information tends to become outdated, but he does use LDS.org to access lesson manuals in preparation for his weekly lessons.

via Worldwide access to the ward website | Mormon Times.

Spiritual experiences are sacred and cherished events. The stories of people’s lives leave behind a legacy that strengthens those who learn and remember the experiences.

“Mi Vida, Mi Historia: Stories of Faith and Inspiration from Latin American Saints,” a current exhibit at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City, captures these spiritual and unifying examples of Church members and their reliance on God.

“We wanted an exhibit on international historical experiences that highlights the lives, faith and works of the Latin American Latter-day Saint members,” said Patrick Dunshee, manager of marketing and communications for the Church History Department.

The continuous growth of the worldwide church and modern pioneer stories provides the perfect environment for the exhibit.

via New exhibit at Church History Museum | Universe.byu.edu.

When the Groomses closed their family theater business in Provo two years ago, they were open to a new beginning.

That fresh start in Florida didn’t go as planned. Back in Provo by way of unfortunate events, the family is returning to what it knows best — the stage.

The Groomses reopened the Provo Center Street Musical Theatre this summer, this time as a nonprofit community theater.

via Provo theater family returns to the stage. | The Salt Lake Tribune.

You might think that the prospect of appearing on a popular reality show watched by millions of viewers would be a little daunting.

But for Utahn McKell Maddox, the really intimidating part of being on "Project Runway" was meeting mentor Tim Gunn.

via Utah woman gets chance to walk the 'Project Runway' | Deseret News.

WARSAW, Poland — Polish historians have created an unusual 3D film that documents the shocking sea of rubble that Warsaw was reduced to during World War II.

via Rare 3D film shows Warsaw devastated after WWII | Deseret News.

Once upon a time, my wife and I watched a TV movie on a basic cable channel — the TV-edited version of a movie that was originally rated R in theaters. It was okay, but the interesting part was what we didn’t see.

via CleanFlix and Clean Flicks: A Look At Edited Movies | LDS Cinema Online.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold a free concert starting at 7 p.m. tonight as part of its benefit for the Tri-Valley area food bank.

Called "Concert for Cans," the benefit will feature April Meservy and Nikki Forova, musicians, songwriters and singers from Provo, Utah.

via Pleasanton Weekly : LDS church holding concert tonight to benefit Tri-Valley Food Bank.

"We have an awesome responsibility ahead of us," Witcher said. "In so many ways, we have history in our hands. What are we going to do with it? If we wait, if we relegate for someone else to take care of, we are endangering that history — that history may be lost."

via The coming genealogical dark ages | Mormon Times.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is running a major campaign promoting its religion on local television stations.

via Mormon Church Conducting Ad Campaign – Jacksonville News Story – WJXT Jacksonville.

The Mormon Tabernacle organ is one of the remarkable legacies of pioneer ingenuity. Built in 1867 by Joseph Harris Ridges, whose main claim to fame was that he was born and raised near an organ factory in England, it was made of timber brought from the Parowan and Pine Valley Mountains some 300 miles south of Salt Lake City. The original organ had 700 pipes and was powered by hand-pumped bellows.

via Tabernacle organist Richard Elliott to round out recital series | Mormon Times.

It takes courage to keep knocking when the doors you think you want aren't opening.

But when your heart's truly in something, continuing to knock is really the only option.

Indie singer/songwriter Mindy Gledhill has never been one for giving up. In high school, Gledhill wanted to be in the choirs and plays. She auditioned but didn't get in.

via Inside Mormon Music: Mindy Gledhill finds musical footing, releases new album | Mormon Times.

Today, independent artists are in the best position ever to become successful. The tools for distribution and promotion are at their fingertips. The biggest challenge now is standing out from the crowd. This area is where the counsel to be new and fresh from presenters at the workshop is valid and important.

via Recent Mormon Times Article Represents Small Portion of LDS Music Opinion « LDSMusicNow Blog – LDS Music News.

Right after Joshua J. Perkey taught a class on how to write for the LDS Church magazines, a woman writer said to him, "My first rejection was from the Ensign." She is in good company. Every month about 400 people get that same feeling when their submission is rejected for publication in one of the official magazines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Perkey is a senior editor at the Ensign magazine, but as an after-work-hours writer of epic fantasy novels, he also knows a little bit about rejection. That might be one reason why he was so excited to tell a session at last April's LDStorymakers Writers Conference the secrets of getting published in the church magazines.

via Writing for the Ensign | Mormon Times.

If you’ve been writing for long, you’ve probably had someone ask you to look at their work. 90% of the time, they aren’t actually looking for constructive criticism. They are convinced they are amazing writers and just want you to confirm it. It’s kind of funny because writers who have published are secretly sure that their own writing stinks, which is why criticism hurts so much. It’s outside confirmation of our inner fears.

via Six LDS Writers and A Frog: Does Your Writing Shine or Stink?.

Some called him a Guardian Angel, others (mostly those who'd looked down the barrel of his gun) called him The Angel of Death. He was blessed by the Prophet that he'd never be killed by bullet or blade, and as a token of that promise he was instructed never to cut his hair. Word of that promise made him a Western legend, and plenty of outlaws put that promise to the test, but none successfully.

via Cricket & Seagull: 'Stories from the Life of Porter Rockwell' with Jerry Borrowman and John W. Rockwell | Mormon Times.

It may be the eve of Pioneer Day, but don’t even think about visiting Pioneer Memorial Museum — it’s not open.

It hasn’t exactly been a secret, but many folks have been discovering the hard way that the museum operated by the International Society of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP) has been closed since May 3 for renovation.

The facility at 300 N. Main St., which sits across from the state Capitol, will be rededicated Oct. 8. But DUP President Bette Barton hopes the museum can reopen in early September.

via Daughters of Utah Pioneers to rededicate museum in October | The Salt Lake Tribune.

Why are they doing it? Perhaps the answer comes from the strong faith they've developed, pioneering the gospel in French Polynesia. Perhaps their culture and language help, with age-old expressions like, "Haere noa!" — "Keep on going!" and "A rohi!" — "Ever onward!" And for this trip at least, some strength must come from generations of climbing their own tropical hill, dubbed "Comorah," back on the island of Tahaa, where their ward chapel was built more than 35 years ago.

via Lei-laden Tahitians travel 14,000 miles to see the Hill Cumorah Pageant | Mormon Times.

I know I shouldn't have been that surprised, but when I finally got word that in the midst of the global economic downturn, I was NOT going to be receiving a songwriter bailout package from the government, I was pretty disappointed. Apparently, unlike Chrysler and GM, I am NOT too big to fail. So, like most of you, I'm figuring out other ways to make it through the on going financial crisis. As I've been thinking about the challenges many of us are facing it occurred to me that what might be needed, even more than financial assistance, is emotional and spiritual support. Something more like an INSPIRATIONAL STIMULUS PACKAGE.

via Meridian Magazine :: Arts: Life Should Have Background Music.

WINTER QUARTERS, Neb. — Only one permanent grave marker remains in the section of the Mormon Pioneer Cemetery where many of the Saints who died in Winter Quarters were buried.

It's a simple marker with "Amy P." for Amy Sumner Porter, whose twin boys were also buried in the cemetery.

Sandstone and wooden markers simply haven't survived, said Elder David Young, a senior missionary at the nearby Mormon Trail Center run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Until recently, other than Amy's descendants, visitors trying to locate graves of their pioneer ancestors weren't exactly sure where to look in the cemetery that looks like a grassy field with an occasional marker.

via Finding your ancestors in Winter Quarters | Mormon Times.