The Church in China

I just read an old speech by Elder Dallin Oaks about the Church in China. Mormons have been in and out of China for decades and there has been a lot of progress for the Church in that region of the world. This talk was given in 1991 at BYU and should be re-given with the amazingly positive developments that have happened in the past 18 years!

The speech is available for free at:

http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=7070

I reflect on the improved religious liberties granted to the Chinese during recent years. Chinese leaders have been increasingly willing to support their people's rights to pursue faith and religious beliefs.

President Carter established official diplomatic ties with China in 1979, just a year after LDS Church President Spencer Kimball issued very prophetic remarks about the opening of the Church and the spread of the restored gospel in China. It is remarkable that President Obama has appointed a Mormon fluent in Mandarin, Jon Huntsman, to serve as the bridge between the U.S. and China. What a great opportunity for the LDS community globally and especially in Asia!

Please take a few minutes to read this. It really inspired me and I believe that the time will come for the LDS Church to truly grow and flourish throughout China.

Mormon scholar receives honor for work on international religious freedom and human rights

Professor Cole Durham, of the BYU Law School, was in Richmond, Virginia, earlier this month to receive the First Freedom Award.  

Professor Durham's work in promoting international religious freedom has gained him much attention around the world.  He has worked to improve religious liberties throughout the world in places such as Russia, Peru, and Iraq.  

Durham also organizes the annual International Law and Religion Symposium, held each October in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah.  The event attracts government officials, religious leaders, clergy, scholars, and others from over 50 countries, including China, Spain, and India.

BYU football: loss of Teo?

Report: Cougars lose out on Te'o

Several recruiting publications, including Total Blue Sports, are reporting that BYU has lost out on the Manti Te'o sweepstakes.

Teo, the top outside linebacker in the country, has narrowed his top three choices to USC, UCLA and Notre Dame. Te'o told TBS that "when it came down to it I just thought I could make a bigger impact and be a bigger influence elsewhere. I think at a school like USC or UCLA, I could really represent the Mormon church well."

Conference on Global LDS Church and Public Perception

This coming Monday at BYU (Brigham Young University) in Provo, Utah, scholars, journalists, students, Mormons, non-Mormons, will gather at an all-day international conference to discuss the public perceptions of the Church throughout the world.

For more information, click here.

Latter-day Saints share common ground with Eastern religions

This article from BYU Newsnet explains how Mormons are similar in some ways to those of many  Asian religious denominations.

Mormons' focus on families is similar to the emphasis on family values found in Islamic and Hindu traditions, for example.

Hindus and Jews topped the survey in religions that receive post-graduate education and a higher income, with Mormons following.

Mormons have a thing for dancing: Dancesport USA at BYU

Each year Brigham Young University is host to the annual Dancesport USA event, featuring professional and amateur ballroom dancers from around the United States, and some from abroad.  BYU is chosen each year to host the event due to its impressive dance facilities and department.  BYU boasts the largest collegiate dance department in the United States!

I have attended the Dancesport competition numerous times while I studied at BYU, and enjoyed the wonderful performances by children, teens, college students, and young professional dancers.

(Photo courtesy the Deseret Morning News)

BYU Business School ranks 7th in the U.S.

Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Management (business school) has been ranked as the 7th top business program in America, by Business Week.  Congratulations to the students, faculty, administration, and staff!  Business Week's rankings are created by recruiters and analysts around the country.  

(The building is currently undergoing some major expansion work.)

BYU Young Ambassadors in Long Beach, California

I attended the Young Ambassadors performance last night.

The BYU Young Ambassadors is a group of students from my alma mater, Brigham Young University.  They are talented singers, musicians, dancers, actors, and performers in general.  They travel the world sharing musical theater, dance, and the gospel with everyone.

The group is currently on a Nevada/California tour, and last night we saw them in Long Beach, California.

BYU = Language Capital of the world

Watch this ad about BYU's Language programs... it is done by Philadelphia Eagles player Chad Lewis, who is a Mormon and graduate of BYU.  

In 1975, LDS Church President Spencer W. Kimball said BYU should become the acknowledged language capital of the world  

On a personal note: I watched this at least a year ago and could understand nearly nothing of the Chinese spoken in the video. Now, because of my exposure to the Chinese language, I watch this and understand a lot of it!

BYU has one of the world's most extensive foreign language programs.  I was an active participant of that program, and am very thankful for the wonderful resources available to students.