Brothers and sisters, refuse to be used. Refuse to be manipulated. Refuse to support those programs that violate traditional family values. We may be a small voice to begin with; nevertheless, let us speak out and encourage a more uplifting, inspiring, and acceptable media. Besides making our voices heard, let me conclude with seven things [...]

David Farland's new novel "In the Company of Angels" re-creates the experience of the Mormon handcart pioneers the way that can only be done by a great novelist. via MormonTimes

Troy Sorensen loves dancing and wants his sons to be part of that world if they choose. But he recognizes that the world of dance is not overly populated with family-centered, Mormon male dancers. via MormonTimes

Most of the world associates the actor Jimmy Stewart and Christmas with the marvelous Frank Capra film, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” And that is a classic tale, with everyman George Bailey learning, at his most depressed hour, how much a town needs him. But there is another Jimmy Stewart Christmas movie, “Mr. Krueger’s Christmas,” made [...]

The first married couple ever in the finals of the Fox show expressed gratitude for making it all the way to the final episode — with each other. via MormonTimes

Masa Fukuda has been directing the acclaimed world-class One Voice Children's Choir since it was the official children's chorus of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The Brigham Young University graduate has donated thousands of hours directing the 120-member choir since then, leading it through 40 to 50 concerts a year, and he [...]

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — The Escondido and Escondido California South stakes' production of "A Christmas Carol" will air online at www.wsradio.com/itsnewstome on Dec. 24 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. via MormonTimes

"Tonight Show" host Conan OBrien and his minions took aim at Sen. Orrin Hatch earlier this week — and their shotgun blast hit members of the LDS Church in general.But it was a Nerf shotgun. Nobody got hurt, and it was pretty darn funny.Oh, there are doubtless some out there who have or will take [...]

"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," Lloyd and Karmel Newell (illustrated by Dan Burr), Shadow Mountain, 2009, 32 pages plus DVD, $21.95 For those lucky people who experienced the Christmas Concert with Brian Stokes Mitchell and Edward K. Herrmann with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square last year, "I Heard the [...]

SEATTLE — Sarah Sample knows that a career in the arts can be scary. "It's not a clear-cut path," she said. "The vision of what you want is so easily blurred sometimes — you just figure it out as you go." via MormonTimes

Referring to a visit to his office a few days earlier during which time she was presented a copy of her family history, she said, "President Monson, meeting you moved me to no end. The presentation of the genealogy was more than I could take. Your church and your people are beautiful people and I [...]

The members of the a cappella group Noteworthy have always set their sights high. But the BYU students didn't really think they'd be appearing on an NBC television show. via MormonTimes

Choreography and music go together like chocolate and peanut butter. So, it goes without saying that a performance featuring live music and modern dance would be a magical combination. via Salt Lake Tribune.

“I am hoping that people can see that you can have active energy with art by looking at an ordinary object,” Frioux said. “Also, that art can benefit people in more ways than one.” via Universe.byu.edu.

PLEASANTON — Without the kindness of a Concord couple, Becki Adams and the Pleasanton Hand Bell Choir may have been silenced this Christmas season. via s – ContraCostaTimes.com.

Packard said they also discussed the possibility of having a conference and religious film festival in the future that would include films from all denominations and not just Christian religions. via Universe.byu.edu.

"I like Klezmer music. I listened to it when I was a kid," Jordan Christensen said. via MormonTimes

o better serve a rapidly growing audience, a newly updated version of Mormon.org launched recently with a freshened look and enhanced video sharing capabilities. Visitors to Mormon.org have nearly tripled over the past year to 650,000 per month, thanks to promotional efforts and a growing public interest in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day [...]

How much swearing is acceptable in a family oriented movie? via MormonTimes

Tribune humor columnist Robert Kirby says Grondahl, then an editorial cartoonist at the Deseret News , set the standard by which every LDS humorist would be measured. Kirby remembers flipping through Freeway during a Mormon sacrament meeting when he landed on Grondahl's cartoon of a father holding up a monster baby for congregational approval. He [...]

We need to reject Hollywood's lie that the thrill of fresh attraction is more desirable than the thrill that comes from a lifetime of living together and finishing each other's sentences. We might even choose to turn off the television and soberly reflect on our own relationships and what actions we might take to cultivate [...]

Through different mediums and styles, contemporary artists are able to express themselves using diverse feelings, ambitions and spiritual aspirations. via Universe.byu.edu.

David Archuleta recorded his Christmas CD, "Christmas From the Heart," in the middle of summer while on tour with Demi Lovato. via MormonTimes

Brandon Mull has never met 14 year-old Chase Autrey, but on Thursday night he granted his dying wish – even though Mull lives in Utah, Chase lives in Texas and the two have never met. Brandon Mull is the author of a popular book series for teens called “Fablehaven”.  Chase is a boy who is dying [...]

At the end of 2008, Alex Boye felt prompted to record a hymns album. He kept ignoring the idea, but his conscience wouldn't let it go. Finally he decided to start recording and a few months later, had completed eight songs. He felt the album needed three more songs, but was stuck and didn't know [...]

I sprinted home to get help and was immediately distracted by my brother eating a Drumstick ice cream cone. I wanted one so I looked for my mom. via The Virtual Couch

WASHINGTON — The canon of Hanukkah songs written by Mormon senators from Utah just got a little bigger. From Senator Orrin Hatch. via  NYTimes.com.

This past weekend, over 12 million people voted with their entertainment dollars to see “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” Several million were no doubt church-going teenagers and young adults..” Several million were no doubt church-going teenagers and young adults. “New Moon” is a spiritually confused, dangerous work. via Big Hollywood

Hollywood blockbusters aren't usually born in movie theaters in Dallas, Birmingham or Nashville. But that's exactly where “The Blind Side” has taken off — a show-business phenomenon driven by audiences in the South and Midwest storming to a movie about Christian charity and football that stars Sandra Bullock. In one of the more extraordinary box-office [...]

Although BYU acquired its first painting in 1909, systematic collecting began in the 1930s and 1940s when faculty members and administrators embraced the educational value of collecting art. The Art Department acquired paintings and works on paper by several early 20th-century Utah artists, including 81 works by James T. Harwood, 155 by John Willard Clawson, [...]