I am writing this article for my children.

They are big Alex Boye’ fans. They got that from their old man. When I first heard him sing, I just popped. He was at Brigham Young University at a Mormon Arts Festival.

We talked for hours, and I told him then and there he had a mighty work to do through the healing power of his talents.

Alex is a very gracious and kind person, and has always been kind to my kids.

Besides, he is an amazing songwriter and singer. And a great Latter-day Saint.

Let me show you what I am talking about.

Listen as one of my heroes talks about one of my friends, who is also my hero…

Glenn Beck tells of meeting Alex Boye…

I believe it is critical, when you are a “Mormon,” that you be a Latter-day Saint first, and anything else second. Be a good and great Latter-day Saint first and everything else will fall into the proper place.

I want my children to understand that God is Great and that He has a plan for each of us. We just need to figure out what that plan is. It will always be in harmony with the principles of Faith, Hope, and Charity. It will always be an invitation from The Lord through His Spirit to use our talents and gifts to DO something. When that Spirit whispers in our ears to do something, we must do it right then and there. Don’t hesitate. The cool thing is, that when it is God’s will, it happens.

And money and fame may have absolutely nothing to do with the true measure of success.

Alex once told me “Being an artist is something that helps me to use my talents wisely, but the most important thing for me is filling the measure of my creation.” In that interview, he also talked about wanting to write and sing songs that people can use to be lifted and inspired. Sort of like Glenn was talking about as he wrote his speeches.

As we learned from our participation in the Hill Cumorah Pageant, we never know what we might be called on to do, or whether it’s one person we may influence or 3 million or more.

Either way, if you are doing God’s will, you are successful.

In our family we have been blessed beyond measure. The story of “A Brighter Day” is one of another miracle that a human being cannot plan to accomplish. The Lord has to be the Co-Producer. I believe He invites that collaboration. It is not a prideful thing, but it can be a real thing.

via Go – Say – Be: Glenn Beck & Alex Boye Standing for Courage in Jerusalem – “Let Them Hear You” » Starrman.com.

“My “style” came from my experiences I had when I was the Executive Producer of the Donny and Marie Shows and Specials. Besides writing music and lyrics, I learned to produce and direct video and television and worked with the writers to think about and come up with as many visual opportunities to “SHOW” people great looking television shows. I learned much from our great television director named Art Fisher from Los Angeles. When producing television or live events, he would say to me, “People want to SEE something!” Art convinced me that, “This is NOT “television” . . . they wanted to SEE . . . but, “teleVISION” !!!

via Alan Osmond Shares His “TeleVISION” Experiences And “Stadium Of Fire”. | The Family.

“No greater responsibility can rest upon any man (or woman) than to be a teacher of God’s children” (President David O. McKay , Conference Report, October 1916, page 57).

SALT LAKE CITY — Stacey Bess' early-age fascination with books came with a firm knowledge of her life’s work.

“I remember as a child that I loved the smell of textbooks,” she said. “I have always known that built within me there has been a desire to do anything that had anything to do with learning.”

That fervent dedication is now profiled in Hallmark Hall of Fame’s “Beyond the Blackboard” TV movie, premiering Sunday, April 24, on CBS. While it’s a retelling of the LDS woman’s first year as a teacher, the movie is so much more.

via CBS TV movie tells story of Latter-day Saint and educational advocate Stacey Bess | Deseret News.

"I've made a covenant with God that I would devote everything I have to building his kingdom here on earth, and the magazine seems like a good way to help do that," Crowder said of the publication that shines the spotlight on Latter-day Saint artists and their talents.

via Magazine provides Mormon Artists with sense of community | Mormon Times.

Before Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon in 1830, he was already drawing media attention.

via Mormon Media Observer: A milestone for Mormons and the media | Mormon Times.

A practising Mormon, 25-year-old Brandon Flowers is married to a primary school teacher and desperate to start a family. He’s also the live-wire showman who fronts one of the hottest bands in the world. It’s not an easy balancing act. Craig McLean talks to the Killers’ singer about resisting temptation

via Songs of Praise: Young LDS Rock Star Talks About Faith | Mormon Stories Podcast.

A generation ago PG films like Ghostbusters, Back to the Future and Top Gun dominated at the box office, but more than half of what Hollywood serves up these days is rated R.

That’s what got BYU economics students Jared Shores and Craig Palsson interested in whether a movie’s rating affects its revenue.

The students conducted a statistical analysis of budget and box office figures of major American films from 1995 to the present. Additionally, the data set included the level of foul language, sex and violence in each movie (courtesy of ratings services ScreenIt and Kids-in-Mind).

via BYU NEWS RELEASE

Washington • The author of a new book on muckraker Jack Anderson says Utah billionaire Jon Huntsman Sr. was a secret source for the journalist in uncovering corruption during the Watergate controversy — an allegation denied by Huntsman.

via Author: Jon Huntsman Sr. was Watergate source | The Salt Lake Tribune.

Vern Swanson- "We do send a few edgy pieces up, but mostly we want to create peace and serenity for the temple," he says. "We are looking for something that can add to the quality of the experience.

The temple is not a place for confrontation.

"Besides, those who make the decisions have a tendency not to be experimental, Swanson says. "Their typical taste is conservative, and they represent 75 percent of the people."

Some artists feel the bureaucratic process diminishes the possibilities.

via AllBusiness.com.

Autumn provides cooler temperatures for an absorbing walking tour through historic St. George, Utah. Nearly 30 vintage structures from the city's pioneer era still stand within several blocks of old downtown. It includes early homes, businesses and public buildings. Pick up a printed guide for the stroll through history at the chamber of commerce office, now housed in the handsome old Washington County Courthouse on St. George Boulevard at 100 East.

via TRIP OF THE WEEK: Explore the history of St. George with easy self-guided tour – Living – ReviewJournal.com.

I Live my faith one day at a time, and i wear it on my sleeve. I am an open book and filter my whole life through the things i believe. If it is good, and uplifting, i will do it, if it is destructive and brings me down or people around me, then i wont' do it. This comes from the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and has made ALL the difference in my life!!

via Hi, I'm Alex Boye | Mormon.org.

That might be the best way to describe a new collection of stories entitled, “A Sense of Order and Other Stories,” by Jack Harrell, a faculty member of the English department at Brigham Young University-Idaho.

via Local author taps into the Mormon experience – Rexburg Standard Journal: Upper Valley Religion.

Brandon Flowers might be the last honest man in Las Vegas, a land of the lost that has shaped both his glamtastic showmanship and his religious convictions. The Killers' frontman is a guy-linered Mormon with a growing family, a party star with a fierce moral streak. He fears and adores his sinful hometown, and this flamboyant geography has made him a rather fascinating pop artist: all parts Bono, salvation and showgirl feathers.

via Brandon Flowers' first solo album, 'Flamingo,' a good bet – St. Petersburg Times.

A cute, smiling, 20-something woman, riding the waves, gushes of her love of life and surfing …

A black man, an entertainer and musician, raves about fatherhood and family …

A scruffy skateboarder pontificates on the power and value of individuality …

These soliloquies are presented in 30-second TV ads, the taglines of which all say …

"… and I'm a Mormon."

via FOXNews.com – Ad Campaign Aims to Change Americans' Image of Mormons.

"The media is Ground Zero" in the fight between good and evil, Smith said, "and the fight is waged daily on radio, television, in newspapers and magazines and all over the Internet, for all to see and hear."

via Parents need to monitor TV use, NAB president Gordon Smith tells BYU audience | Deseret News.

A couple of weeks ago Jonathan Langford posted his vision of an online Mormon Lit bookstore—something I’m also quite interested in. I very much believe in that vision, and if I had the resources and connections necessary, I’d start the bookstore he describes as soon as possible. I think such a bookstore could be successful, and would likely be a great help to building and audience for Mormon literature.

via The Difficulties Faced by an Online Mormon Lit Bookstore | A Motley Vision.

“We are looking for anyone who could be made to look as if they’ve stepped out of the pages of the New Testament,” said Hillary Straga, casting coordinator.

via Wanted: Greeks, Romans and Egyptians | Universe.byu.edu.

Noise seems to be a constant part of modern life. Everywhere we go, for much of the day, we hear clatter and clamor, jangle and din. Though there are times when we long for peace and quiet, for many noise has become a habit. Perhaps we enter an empty room and turn on the radio or television to fill the emptiness. In our homes, offices, cars, and every other place, we feel the urge to block the silence with sound.

via Music and the Spoken Word.

It all started when Chris Heimerdinger was serving as a full-time missionary in the 1980s. He had a dream about kids traveling back in time to meet their heroes in the Book of Mormon.

via 'Tennis Shoes' adventure series continues | Mormon Times.

Homemade stages, audience participation and a sense of friendship and community are scarce at large professional music venues, but can be found in abundance at house shows.

via BYU students create venues at home | Universe.byu.edu.

John Yves Bizimana may have been one of thousands who graduated from BYU this year, but his story of survival through genocide in Rwanda, through refugee camps and orphanages in Zaire and Zimbabwe, adoption to Belgium, and finally fulfilling his dream of going to the U.S., is unquestionably unique.

via Cricket & Seagull: 'Escape From Rwanda,' by John Yves Bizimana | Mormon Times.

For those of you who haven’t heard, the church is holding an international video contest in order to “give more members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints an opportunity to strengthen their testimonies as they share their talents with worldwide members and to “join the conversation” in sharing the gospel with the world.” Another purpose is to gather materials for use in future church productions.

via Two Great Oppportunities for LDS Filmmakers/Video Creators | LDS Cinema Online.

The battle we are engaged in is now an all-out war.

This is a war we must all fight. We must fight it as Captain Moroni wrote on the Title of Liberty: "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children."

And win we must.

via LDS Church News – A pure generation, win we must.

Celestial bodies will be filled with light, brighter than the sun.

Celestial bodies will, of course, have arms, feet, legs, torsos and heads and will be capable of dancing. What consummate performances we will applaud as bodies overflowing with light perfectly express the thoughts and emotions of their dancing spirits.

via Meridian Magazine – Ballroom Dancing and the Atonement.

(KCPW News) A new social networking site that officially launches today connects business people who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Longtime business executive David Bradford is the founder of LDS.biz.  KCPW’s Jeff Robinson spoke with him and Alma Ohene-opare, who designed the site.

via Long-time Business Exec Launches LDS.biz | KCPW.

Check out the Tour Update.

On one side a man can be outstanding in his community or church, a good dad and a provider. "But on the other side he is engaged in pornography or other sexual behaviors that he has been able — for a period — to keep separate or secret."

via New initiative sheds light on pornography's impact on families | Mormon Times.

Mormon composer Kathleen Holyoak wasn't asked to build an ark or part the Red Sea.

No, she was merely asked to write the music for the 30-piece orchestra and 135-voice choir that performed at the cultural celebration event held prior to the Kyiv Ukraine Temple dedication.

via Mormon musician takes up unfamiliar instrument to serve in Ukraine | Mormon Times.

“There’re so many people going through challenges right now," McCabe said. "If you go to every house in your neighborhood, there’s going to be some trial they’re going through, and if they’re not right now, they will be or they have in the recent past. The message on this album is Christ suffered for us, and he’s going to lift us up and support us. He’ll help us through challenges if we have faith. We hope the CD will lift people and help strengthen them.”

via Moriarty and McCabe’s 'Gethsemane' — music that points to Christ | Mormon Times.

“There is really no way to study the history of art without seeing the works firsthand,” said Assistant Professor of Art History Heather Jensen. “It’s absolutely critical for art history students to have that experience.”

via Art History – Study Abroad | College of Fine Arts and Communications.