Can a 6-year-old be a sexual harasser? Have we all gone crazy?
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Ah, the innocent of childhood. Life is all play and fun.
Except for those 6-year-old sexual harassers out there who kiss little girls on the hand. Click here to read more |
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World of Warcraft, Halo, Second Life — it's not all just fantasy any more
Ed Snowden's latest revelation is that U.S. and British intelligence agents are roaming all over the fantasy world of online games, looking for terrorists.
I'd like to think this would outrage gamers, but that would be naive. Who wouldn't want to play a fantasy game involving real spies and bad guys? Click here to read more Delivery drones, like everything else, will come with tradeoffs
Amazon says it soon will be delivering packages to your door via a drone. Pizza delivery can't be too far behind.
Then again, neither are police drones, your neighbor's secret camera and hackers who can hijack your Amazon order and steal it. Click here to read more Want better health? Try practicing being grateful
Science is demonstrating that gratitude is a key to physical and mental health.
You can thank me for that information and make yourself feel better. Click here to read more When Congress sets mandatory sentences, judges might as well be robots
Politicians like to get tough on crime. But when a 23-year-old gets sent away until he's 78, with no chance of parole, for selling marijuana, the nation needs to examine what prison is all about.
Click here to read more Black Thursday? Here's what JFK and others can teach us about Thanksgiving
John F. Kennedy wasn't the only president to issue a Thanksgiving proclamation. Just about every president has done so, including Barack Obama.
But in light of Wal-Mart's decision to begin black Friday at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving, it's instructive to ponder JFK's last proclamation, written for a Thanksgiving he never lived to see. Click here to read more First they came for my trans fats, then my ... what? Don't worry, people
Some people worry the FDA's decision to ban trans fats will be the first step toward total control over what every American eats.
They must not be paying attention to how slowly the government moves. And if they are serious, how come none of them is stockpiling partially hydrogenated oil? Click here to read more Even if voters say they want higher taxes, don't believe it
Officials at Utah's Jordan School District thought they had a finger on the pulse of their constituents. They thought people wanted a massive tax hike — adding close to $300 per year to the average household's levy — to build new schools.
They couldn't have been struck down harder if they had been dressed as whack-a-moles, or even Democrats. Click here to read more White hoods and blackface at Halloween — have we learned nothing?
It may be 2013, but a lot of people still don't understand why it's offensive to paint your face black or dress up as the Ku Klux Klan at Halloween.
In fact, this seems to have been a particularly bad year for that sort of thing. Click here to read more Legal gambling is a losing bet for the United States
Look at the photo of New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia smashing slot machines in 1934. Back then, politicians wanted the publicity of being on the side of morality and against the vice of seeking something for nothing.
Today, anti-gambling activists are seen as oddballs who haven't a chance at stopping the flood of legal gambling from washing across the nation. Click here to read more Cable TV is no bundle of joy
Inane programming, smutty material you don't want your kids to watch: why can't Americans pay only for the channels they really want to watch?
Don't look now, but Canada is ready to force its cable providers to allow customers to do just that. Why won't America take this bold step? Click here to read more When drones are outlawed, only outlaws will have drones
Police all over the United States are beginning to use drones in various ways. As government picks up the pace, private drone ownership is sure to follow.
Gun rights advocates may see the right to bear drones as the next step toward keeping us safe from big brother. Click here to read more New child tax credit would add to the '47 percent' who pay no federal tax
Utah Sen. Mike Lee wants to add another $2,500 child income tax credit to the federal tax code. He has good reasons for this.
But conservatives must understand that such credits add to the list of those who end up with no federal income tax liability. Click here to read more Money alone isn't going to make your school world-class
The cry has been heard through the ages — if you love your children and care about the next generation, give schools more money.
Money is important, but if all we do is spend more on the system we currently have, we can expect to just get even more of the same, and that's not good. Click here to read more A gay marriage income tax mess looms ahead
The IRS issued a statement saying all legally married gay couples will be allowed to file joint federal income tax returns.
However, this will lead to a big mess in those states where gay marriage remains illegal, and where taxpayers have to reference their federal returns on their state forms. Click here to read more Chances are if you go to church, you also don't smoke cigarettes
Gallup just released a survey that draws a strong link between smoking and church attendance in the United States.
Not surprisingly, members of churches that teach smoking is wrong have the lowest smoking rate, but the trend holds for all religions. Click here to read more Still saving lives with loans
 Muhammad Yunus (Deseret News photo)
Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus came by the office again this week, still preaching the virtues of solving poverty through entrepreneurial enterprise. His words about profit motives, however, may make Westerners uncomfortable.
Click here to read more |
The Mormon Moment
 Brigham Young on Temple Square (J. Evensen photo)
The "Mormon Moment" may have ended with the defeat of GOP candidate Mitt Romney, but interest in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues. Here are links to some recent media stories of interest:
School choirs and church
The ACLU is complaining that it is wrong for Montana public school choirs to sing in a community Christmas celebration to be held at a Mormon church. Even though the schools have said singing in the event is voluntary, the ACLU says it gives the appearance that the schools are endorsing a religion.
Link: ACLU complains HS choir to sing in concert Navajos and Mormons
The New York Times reports on how many Navajo tribal members are joining the LDS Church, seeing it as a link to true Navajo values.
Link: For some, path to Navajo values weaves through the Mormon Church. Women and priesthood
The Pew Research Center says Mormons overwhelmingly oppose women in their church being ordained to the priesthood. Interestingly, women oppose it to a larger degree than men.
Link: Big majority of Mormons oppose women in priesthood Are religion jokes funny?
Bob Fischbach of the Omaha World Herald explores religious humor and "The Book of Mormon" musical.
Link: Are religion jokes funny or offensive? Affinity thieves sentenced
Three men dubbed the "Mesa Mormon-Scammers" by the Phoenix New Times have been sentenced for bilking wealthy LDS Church members in Arizona, Nevada and Utah out of millions of dollars.
Link: Mesa Mormon-Scammers sentenced to prison Not a Mormon Tim Tebow
Bryce Harper is enormously popular in Washington, D.C. He's also a devout Mormon. But he told the Washington Times he won't wear his religion on his sleeve the way former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow did with his faith.
Link: Devout Bryce Harper Internet hasn't shaken my faith
In response to the story below, one Mormon journalist explains why nothing in church history makes him doubt his faith.
Link: Why the Internet hasn't shattered my faith Clicking his way to doubt
The New York Times did a page-one story about a former church area authority in Sweden who now doubts his faith because of things he has read about church history on the Internet.
Link: Some Mormons search the web and find doubt Mormons react to court
An Associated Press report notes mixed reaction in Utah to two Supreme Court decisions regarding gay marriage. The LDS Church expressed concerns, while others rallied in support or opposition.
Link: Mormon Church criticizes Supreme Court 'Lois Lane' still feels guilt
Amy Adams, who plays Lois Lane in the new Superman Man of Steel movie, was raised in the LDS Church. She no longer attends church but told The Sun she still can't have a good time without feeling guilty.
Link: Mormon values still with me Good, clean, animated fun
The New York Times reports on BYU's computer-animation program, which has won several awards and has caught Hollywood's attention.
Link: When Hollywood wants good clean fun An unusual conversion
If Liza Hemingway of Boston hadn't gone to see "The Book of Mormon" musical, she might not have become curious enough to investigate the church she now has joined.
Link: Made me want to know more Undocumented missionaries
The website Fronteras reports on the church's struggles with sending out missionaries who are undocumented U.S. citizens.
Link: Mormon missionaries without papers Remembering Albert
In England, the Birmingham Mail remembers Albert Gadsby, a church member of whom, one person said, being in his presence "was like spending a little time in heaven."
Link: The missionary who preached to a Zulu chief It has boosted interest
A British publication reports on how local Mormons believe the Book of Mormon musical has caused people to pay attention to their religion, even if those members have no interest in seeing the performance.
Link: Selsdon Mormons say 'we're fine with musical' An Amazing PR campaign
Britain's "The Independent" marvels at a new video press release the LDS Church has distributed to media. The videos feature people describing what the real Book of Mormon means to them, as well as a message from a church leader. The press release coincides with the opening of the Book of Mormon musical in the UK.
Link: Mormons: Unlikely hi-tech PR wizards Church ads in Britain
The "Book of Mormon" musical has hit Britain, and so have ads the church has bought to capitalize on the attention. The ads are similar to the ones that have followed the show in the United States, and they are getting media attention abroad, as well.
Link: Book of Mormon sparks church activity Feminists raising voices
The Boston Globe reports on a new generation of feminist Mormons. Recent efforts include organizing a movement to wear pants to church and to petition church leaders to ordain women to the priesthood.
Link: Mormon feminists raise their voices and unite A key voice on immigration
Bloomberg Businesweek says Raul Labrador, a Congressman from Idaho, is an important part of the immigration reform debate in Congress. Labrador is Puerto Rican, conservative and a Mormon.
Link: Puerto Rico-Born Labrador Top Republican on Immigration Science fiction and LDS doctrine
"The Host," a film based on a book by Stephenie Meyer is full of Mormon cultural and doctrinal references, according to Hollywood.com.
Link: Is Stephenie Meyer's 'The Host' rooted in Mormon doctrine? Missionaries at gun point
A newspaper in England reports on how a father of 17 suddenly pulled a (fake) gun on missionaries after accepting a Book of Mormon and acting friendly.
Link: Dad of 17 pointed gun at Mormon missionaries Mormons moms, women
The Detroit Free Press focuses on Mormon women in Michigan and issues of gender equality and traditional roles within the LDS Church.
Link: Mormon mothers focus on family, explore more options Why is this funny?
In a letter to the editor, a St. Louis area woman asks why it's OK to lampoon a religion and decency and call it entertainment. Carol Stukey of Wildwood, who says she is not LDS, says the "Book of Mormon" musical was written by people who will "stoop to anything for shock value."
Link: Letter: 'Book of Mormon' musical Now read the book
Lewis Lazare of the Chicago Business Journal writes about the LDS Church's marketing campaign involving ads in the playbill for the Book of Mormon musical.
Link: Mormons see marketing opportunity Army of women missionaries
USA Today examines how lowering the mission age to 19 for women will change the church and its members.
Link: More women expected to serve Mormon missions Profane and racist
Some clergy in Chicago are speaking out against the "Book of Mormon" musical, saying it profanes God and Mormons, and that it includes racist portrayals of Africans. One reverend called it a form of bullying.
Link: Chicago opening draws criticisms, but not from Mormons Temple garments are not 'magic underwear'
Matthew Bowman, author of the book, "The Mormon people: The making of an American faith," writes about sacred temple garments in a blog for Huffington Post. "Sacred clothing is hardly an innovation Joseph Smith came up with, and surely mockery of a yarmulke or a Sikh turban would be horrifying and verboten in most of the tolerant Western world ..." he writes.
Link: Mormon temple garments — they're not magic |
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This is the Web site where you'll find everything written and published by Jay Evensen, as well as links to interesting things. Look around. If you have comments, drop me an email at even@desnews.com
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The Author
Jay Evensen is the Associate Editorial Page Editor of the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has 30 years experience as a reporter, editor and editorial writer in Oklahoma, New York City, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. He also has been an adjunct professor of journalism at Brigham Young and Weber State universities.
Ha! Ha! Ha!
Everyone likes to laugh, or to occasionally groan from a painful pun. On Second Thought is a feature published every Monday in the Deseret News. Go to the Second Thoughts page and read the lighter side of current events. Then submit your own. They might end up in print.
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