I don't recall them doing that in the past.

From a SLTrib article today:
Members of Utah’s predominant religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have also been urged to elevate their Easter preparations this year.

“No matter what others believe or do, we should celebrate the resurrection of our living Savior by studying his teachings and helping to establish Easter traditions in our society as a whole, especially within our own families,” apostle Dallin Oaks, first counselor in the governing First Presidency and next in line to lead the global faith, said in a recent video.

On Wednesday, the church noted it has published webpages in 11 languages with various Easter season resources, study aids and activities. It also posted on X, formerly Twitter, a video with words from church President Russell Nelson expressing thanks for Jesus Christ’s Atonement.

“Because of him,” the faith stated, “we can find joy in every circumstance, peace in our trials, and hope that lasts beyond this life.”

The church plans to further its efforts with a Holy Week study guide and by airing a special Easter episode of “Music and the Spoken Word” with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.
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I particularly liked the "no matter what others believe or do" part. We are NOT copying the Catholics. Bite you tongue. We are just worshipping the Savior like we always have. We have always provided special study materials for Lent and then even more for Holy Week.

What? You've never used the term "Holy Week? Double bite your tongue.

We have always been at war with eastasia.

LOL. They are getting there, baby step by baby step.

We're giving up the word Mormon for Lent!

Russell M Nelson should celebrate the occasion by spending a couple of days in the spirit world and then resurrecting himself.

Any word regarding Honesty or Kindness?
How about having remorse for actions that have harmed others + restitution?

Those are covered under Repentance & Forgiving, I was told...

Yes, the "no matter what others believe or do" part is completely arrogant -- as if other churches don't make a big deal out of Lent, Palm Sunday, Holy Friday, and Easter. The Mormons are starting to catch up to the rest of the Christian world.

They've obviously been spending too much time round the Pope.

"next in line to lead the global faith"

Haya Wrote:
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> They've obviously been spending too much time
> round the Pope.
>
> "next in line to lead the global faith"

I think the "next in line" bit is the first time I've seen acknowledged in a Newspaper in Utah whom the next successor (barring Oaks doesn't pass before Nelson) to the head of the LDS church would be. Given my listening to Scherrie Dew's blatherings to Phoenix-based KTAR's Pat McMahon after Hinckley's passing about "waiting and seeing who the church chooses", this is definitely a step in the right direction for it.

By the way, this is also one area where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints still differs from the Roman Catholic church; we have absolutely no idea who the next pontiff will be if Pope Francis resigns or dies. The thinking in some quarters is that because he has replaced (if memory serves) a majority of the voting cardinals, his most likely replacement will be a lot like him--but nobody really knows.

I am surprised by the LDS church move here. While Easter is celebrated by nearly all Christian churches outside of Mormonism, the Lenten season beginning with Ash Wednesday is really a Roman Catholic thing that most other Christian churches don't do. I'm wondering if the LDS church is talking about Lent to make its Spanish converts feel more comfortable.

One other point. When Roman Catholics celebrate Lent, their church asks its parrishoners to give up something they like for the season; in the past, it was required that followers give up meat eating on Fridays; now it's something you like (some couples actually try to give up having sex during the 40-day period; no word yet on how many babies were born 9 months later). Interestingly, the LDS church, though using the rhetoric of Lent, is *not* asking its followers to give up anything for the season.

blindguy Wrote:
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> I am surprised by the LDS church move here. While
> Easter is celebrated by nearly all Christian
> churches outside of Mormonism,

Do you mean by membership? If so then yes.

If you mean most denominations, then no. Orthodox, Roman and Anglicans all celebrate it, but it's not traditional for Presbyterians, Pentecostals, Baptists etc.

The churches you mention may not celebrate the liturgical calendar but they certainly do celebrate Easter.

Kentish Wrote:
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> The churches you mention may not celebrate the
> liturgical calendar but they certainly do
> celebrate Easter.

Yes, that's what I was going to say. I had to stop and check my head for a sec to see if I was understanding that comment correctly.

I have or have had Presbyterian, Pentecostal and Baptist friends who all celebrated Easter as a pivotal point (obviously) in their faith.

Francis made a lot of the current appointments to Cardinal, so yes, his successor is expected to be in the moderate range as he is.

summer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Francis made a lot of the current appointments to
> Cardinal, so yes, his successor is expected to be
> in the moderate range as he is.

John Paul II was a moderate by Vatican standards, but Francis is a radical. He is also a control freak.

Francis started out as a reformer, but IMO tilted more towards the center as his papacy progressed. I didn't find John Paul II any different from his conservative predecessors.

Now Benedict was absolutely expected to tilt far to the right. But much to everyone's surprise, that didn't happen.

summer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Francis started out as a reformer, but IMO tilted
> more towards the center as his papacy progressed.
> I didn't find John Paul II any different from his
> conservative predecessors.

The only real difference between John Paul II and Paul VI was the latter's habit of traveling to meet the flock. But, in terms of policy, they were both reading out of the same playbook and it wasn't that of the second Vatican Council.
>
> Now Benedict was absolutely expected to tilt far
> to the right. But much to everyone's surprise,
> that didn't happen.

In terms of policy, you're right. However, Benedict tried to promote priests and bishops with very questionable views on issues such as the Holocaust.

"One Day, Everyone Will Always Have Been Against This" by Omar El Akkad. A new book out on Gaza about people's claims years later no matter what they did or said at the time all was happening.

Same thing is happening now as Mormon's "One Day" is now. They have always been Christ-centric". Always been about Christ and only Christ and nothing but Christ.

Quotes by the second Prophet Brigham Young:
No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith… He reigns there as supreme a being in his sphere, capacity and calling, as God does in Heaven" - Journal of Discourses, Vol.14, p.203


Praise to the Man. Indeed.

PS, then.

When you praise Jesus at Easter it's a good idea to give a shout out to Joseph Smith as well. Better to be safe than sorry.

Watch for a portrait of Jesus with JS's pompadour hair and a tie, holding a rock. They need to merge all that mythology somehow.

It's like being raised in a McDonald's, practically worshipping founder Ray Croc.

You don't know what all Ray did to build the franchise, you just hear good stuff. And of course, all you eat is McDonald's.

Remember that members are expected to greet each by proclaiming "He is risen!"

Which aside from sacrament talks and a hymn, I can never recall members walking around and saying that in any form.

That's how guests greeted each other at my Russian Orthodox grandparents house for Easter dinner, except they did it in Russian (Old Church Slavonic?), which I found fascinating in its own right. For my aunts and uncles and cousins, it seemed as normal as saying hello.

I really can't see Mormons doing this without them feeling *extremely* self-conscious.

I'm picturing this:

"He is risen!"

"Who?"

LOL

The first thing I thought of is watching a soufflé or cake rise in the oven.

Looks like they accept the Pope now. Dallin H. Oaks said this not long ago:
“It means so much for the restored Church and its members to have a temple in Rome, which is the capital of all Christianity and a place where our predecessors as Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ gave their lives. It is a blessing of the Lord to be here and to have our spirits lifted and to receive the inspiration of the Lord to perform the tasks assigned to us as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

Only Roman Catholics think Rome is "the capital of all Christianity".

I read this when published and I still don't understand it. All I can think is the world has become Rome and when in Rome...

The vast majority of church history dudes would not be pleased.

Lentil message : suffer more, murmur less.

I'm practicing crossing myself. Should be fun at church.

How about that sacramental wine? Is that next?