The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Culture== {{Main|Culture of the LDS Church}} Due to the differences in lifestyle promoted by church doctrine and history, members of the church have developed a distinct culture. It is primarily concentrated in the [[Mormon corridor]] of the [[Intermountain West]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Mormon Culture Region: Strategies and Patterns in the Geography of the American West, 1847–1964|date=June 1965|journal=Annals of the Association of American Geographers| publisher=[[American Association of Geographers]]| jstor=2561754 |last1=Meinig |first1=D. W. |volume=55 |issue=2 |pages=191–220 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-8306.1965.tb00515.x }}</ref> Many of the church's more distinctive practices follow from their adherence to the Word of Wisdom—which includes abstinence from tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and tea—and their observance of Sabbath-day restrictions on recreation and shopping. [[Mormon foodways|Common, distinctive cuisine]] includes [[funeral potatoes]] and [[Jello salad]].<ref>{{cite news |first= Julia |last= Moskin |date= January 24, 2012 |title= Not Just for Sundays After Church: A New Generation Redefines Mormon Cuisine|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/dining/a-new-generation-redefines-mormon-cuisine.html?_r=0 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |quote= The basic dinner was meat in cream-of-something soup on mashed something... No one comes to Utah for the food... 'Mormon food' should be seen as part of a larger Western tradition of hearty meals, seasonal eating and food preservation that is in keeping with modern farm-to-table ideals .... As the church becomes more international, that Utah Mormon food is no longer the standard... Mormon home cooks are unusually adept in the kitchen by modern standards .... In the 1960s, Mormon women (like most Americans) enthusiastically embraced inexpensive convenience foods like canned fruit, instant potatoes and, of course, Jell-O. For some reason, the Utah Mormons took longer to come out of that phase... Powdered milk and eggs; dried beans; canned vegetables, fruit, and even canned meat and cheese are staples of many kitchens. (This may have something to do with the stereotypical blandness of traditional Mormon food.) ... For most Mormons over 40, two standard dishes sum up the tradition: green Jell-O and funeral potatoes.}}</ref> Cultural taboos exist on piercings{{efn|Leaders state women should only have a maximum of one piercing in each ear, and men should not have any.<ref name=Idiots>{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Drew |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c-EEvHH-EFIC |title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Mormonism |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-02-864491-2 |page=198}}</ref>}} and tattoos<ref name=Idiots/> and the church counsels against the use of crosses as symbols of worship.<ref>{{cite book |last= Reed |first= Michael |title= Banishing the Cross: The Emergence of a Mormon Taboo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NE3LygAACAAJ |via=[[Google Books]] |year= 2012 |publisher= [[John Whitmer Historical Association#John Whitmer Books|John Whitmer Books]] |location= Independence, Missouri |isbn= 978-1-934901-35-9 |oclc= 844370293 |pages=67–122 }}</ref> ===Media and arts=== [[File:Mtchoirandorchestra ConferenceCenter (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.35|The Church-sponsored [[Mormon Tabernacle Choir|Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square]] has received various awards and has traveled extensively since its inception.]] LDS-themed media includes [[LDS cinema|cinema]], [[LDS fiction|fiction]], websites, and graphical art such as photography and paintings. The church owns a chain of bookstores called Deseret Book, which provide a channel through which publications are sold; church leaders have authored books and sold them through the publishing arm of the bookstore. [[BYU TV]], the church-sponsored television station, also airs on several networks. The church also produces [[List of pageants of the LDS Church|several pageants]] annually depicting various events of the primitive and modern-day church. Its [[Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant|Easter pageant ''Jesus the Christ'']] has been identified as the "largest annual outdoor Easter pageant in the world".<ref name="EVT">{{Cite news|url=https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/get_out/mesa-mormon-temple-prepares-for-easter-pageant/article_2a9e847e-9dae-5aa2-923b-66621fd1cc10.html |title=Mesa Mormon temple prepares for Easter pageant |newspaper=[[East Valley Tribune]] |date=March 24, 2007 |first=Lawn |last=Griffiths |access-date=June 23, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404132056/https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/get_out/mesa-mormon-temple-prepares-for-easter-pageant/article_2a9e847e-9dae-5aa2-923b-66621fd1cc10.html |archive-date=April 4, 2023 }}</ref> The church encourages entertainment without violence, sexual content, or vulgar language; many church members specifically avoid rated-R movies.<ref>{{cite news|title= Here's how the R rating, which turns 50 this year, became off-limits to many Mormon moviegoers – and why it may not be the case anymore|newspaper=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]|url= https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2018/10/03/heres-how-r-rating-which/| quote= For many LDS faithful, though, the R rating—which is marking its 50th anniversary this fall—is a line they will not cross. While the rule is rigid in the minds of many members, its origins come from a handful of comments made by church leaders through the years.|date=October 3, 2018}}</ref> The church's official choir, the [[Tabernacle Choir|Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square]], was formed in the mid-19th century and performs in the [[Salt Lake Tabernacle]]. They have traveled to more than 28 countries,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cook |first=Steven |date=October 9, 2014 |title=Mormon Tabernacle Choir to return to SPAC |work=[[The Daily Gazette]] |url=https://dailygazette.com/2014/10/09/mormon-tabernacle-choir-return-spac/ |access-date=June 27, 2023 |location=Schenectady, New York |archive-date=June 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627215541/https://dailygazette.com/2014/10/09/mormon-tabernacle-choir-return-spac/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and are considered one of the most famous choirs in the world.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Montero |first1=David |title=One of the most famous singing groups in the world is changing its name. So long, Mormon Tabernacle Choir |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-mormon-choir-name-change-20181005-story.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=September 27, 2019 |date=October 5, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109032902/https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-mormon-choir-name-change-20181005-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The choir has received a [[Grammy Award]], four [[Emmy Award]]s,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/christmas-tabernacle-choir/about/the-choir/ |access-date=June 27, 2023 |website=[[PBS]]}}</ref> two [[Peabody Award]]s,<ref name="1961 Peabody Award 2">{{cite web |url=http://peabodyawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/PeabodyWinnersBook2013.pdf |title=George Foster Peabody Award Winners |last=Williams |first=Danna |date=July 12, 2013 |publisher=[[Peabody Award|George Foster Peabody Awards]] |location=Athens, GA |page=23 |access-date=March 17, 2014 |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022150513/http://peabodyawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/PeabodyWinnersBook2013.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[National Medal of Arts]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/11/20031112-5.html |title= National Medal of Arts Recipients for 2003 |access-date= January 14, 2009 |date= November 12, 2002 |publisher= [[The White House]] |archive-date= June 24, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201858/https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/11/20031112-5.html |url-status= live }}</ref> ===Political involvement=== {{Main|The LDS Church and politics in the United States}} {{See also|LGBT rights and the LDS Church}} [[File:Dallin Oaks.jpg|thumb|Church president [[Thomas S. Monson]] (left) and apostle [[Dallin H. Oaks]] (right) presenting U.S. president [[Barack Obama]] with his genealogy at the [[Oval Office]] in July 2009]] The LDS Church states it generally takes no partisan role in politics,<ref name="PN">{{Cite news |last1=Noyce |first1=David |date=June 1, 2023 |title=Why the LDS Church hasn't condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine |newspaper=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]] |url=https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/06/01/why-lds-church-hasnt-condemned/ |access-date=June 28, 2023 |last2=Fletcher Stack| first2=Peggy |author2-link=Peggy Fletcher Stack}}</ref> but encourages its members to play an active role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting.<ref name=Voting>{{Cite news |last=Schott |first=Bryan |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Straight-party voting a 'threat to democracy,' top LDS leaders warn |newspaper=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]|url=https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/06/06/straight-party-voting-threat/ |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> The church maintains that the faith's values can be found among many political parties.<ref name=Voting/><ref name ="PN" /> It also generally does not take sides in global conflicts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/2023/6/1/23745581/latter-day-saints-update-and-expand-policy-on-political-neutrality-and-participation-mormon|title=Latter-day Saints update and expand policy on political neutrality and participation|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=June 1, 2023|access-date=December 27, 2023}}</ref> A 2012 [[Pew Center]] on Religion and Public Life survey indicates that 74 percent of U.S. members lean towards the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]].<ref name="ABC News">{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/01/pew-survey-most-mormons-feel-they-are-misunderstood-not-viewed-as-mainstream/|title=Majority of Mormons Lean Republican; Half Cite Discrimination Against Their Faith|date=January 12, 2012|publisher=[[ABC News]]|access-date=November 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928081107/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/01/pew-survey-most-mormons-feel-they-are-misunderstood-not-viewed-as-mainstream/|archive-date=September 28, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Some liberal members say they feel that they have to defend their worthiness due to political differences.<ref name="USA Today">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/10/30/mormon-liberals-minority/1669155/|title=Liberal Mormons: A Minority Within a Minority|date=October 30, 2012|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|access-date=November 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112125041/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/10/30/mormon-liberals-minority/1669155/|archive-date=November 12, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Democrats and those who lean Democrat made up 18% of church members surveyed in the 2014 [[Pew Research Center|Pew Research Center's]] Religious Landscape Survey.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014 |title=Religious Landscape Study |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525045337/https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/ |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |access-date=May 24, 2022 |website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="WP92721">{{cite news |first=Emily |last=Kaplan |title=The Rise of the Liberal Latter-day Saints: And the battle for the future of Mormonism |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2021/09/27/rise-liberal-latter-day-saints/ |access-date=January 28, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 27, 2021}}</ref> The official church stance on staying out of politics does not include if there are instances of what church leaders deem to be moral issues, or issues the church believes "directly affect [its] mission, teachings or operations."<ref name = "PN" /> It has previously opposed same-sex marriage in [[California Proposition 8 (2008)#Religious organizations|California Prop 8]],<ref name="nyt_review">{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/movies/18eight.html|access-date=May 11, 2022|title=Marching in the War on Gay Marriage|first=Stephen |last=Holden|date=June 18, 2010|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100620213520/http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/movies/18eight.html| archive-date= June 20, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> supported a gay rights bill in Salt Lake City which bans discrimination against homosexual persons in housing and employment,<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/us/12utah.html |title= Mormon Support of Gay Rights Statute Draws Praise |newspaper= [[The New York Times]] |date= November 11, 2009 |first= Kirk |last= Johnson |access-date= February 18, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161022060015/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/us/12utah.html |archive-date= October 22, 2016 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url= https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/statement-given-to-salt-lake-city-council-on-nondiscrimination-ordinances |title= News Story: Statement Given to Salt Lake City Council on Nondiscrimination Ordinances |date= January 1, 2009 |work= MormonNewsroom.org |publisher= [[LDS Church]] |access-date= July 18, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190630092319/https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/statement-given-to-salt-lake-city-council-on-nondiscrimination-ordinances |archive-date= June 30, 2019 |url-status= live }}</ref> opposed gambling,<ref name="Gambling">{{cite news|date=August 19, 1992|title=Utah's Gambling Referendum Sparks Emotional Debate in Mormon 'Zion'|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1992/08/19/utahs-gambling-referendum-sparks-emotional-debate-in-mormon-zion/739ae2ad-acf5-4436-a89e-40b714d1bae8/}}</ref> opposed storage of nuclear waste in Utah,<ref>{{cite news |url= http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/ci_3787890 |title= LDS joins N-storage foes |date= May 5, 2006 |newspaper= [[The Salt Lake Tribune]] |access-date= May 9, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160307032659/http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=%2Fci_3787890 |archive-date= March 7, 2016 |url-status= live }}</ref> and supported an approach to U.S. immigration policy as outlined in the [[Utah Compact]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]] |url=https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=51695854&itype=CMSID|date=April 27, 2011|title=Immigration: Shurtleff can't find support for Compact|access-date=June 3, 2021|quote=The LDS Church did not sign, but has endorsed, the Utah Compact.|archive-date=June 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604043820/https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=51695854&itype=CMSID|url-status=live}}</ref> It also opposed [[Utah Medical Cannabis Act initiative|a ballot initiative legalizing medicinal marijuana in Utah]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Osborne |first=Mark |date=May 12, 2018 |title=Mormon church comes out in opposition to Utah's medical marijuana ballot initiative |work=[[ABC News]] |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/mormon-church-opposition-utahs-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative/story?id=55115518 |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> but supported a possible alternative to it.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Taylor W. |date=August 23, 2018 |title=LDS Church announces opposition to Utah medical marijuana initiative — but says it does not object to medical pot with proper safeguards |newspaper=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2018/08/23/lds-church-announces/ |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> In 2019 and 2021, the church stated its opposition to the [[Equality Act (United States)|Equality Act]], which would prohibit discrimination in the United States on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, but supports alternate legislation that it says would protect both LGBTQ rights and religious freedom.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sara|last=Tabin|title=LDS Church says it supports Rep. Chris Stewart's alternative to the Equality Act|url=https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2021/02/27/lds-church-says-it/|date=February 27, 2021|newspaper=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]|access-date=February 28, 2021|archive-date=February 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227231941/https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2021/02/27/lds-church-says-it/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, the church stated its support for the [[Respect for Marriage Act]]—which codified same-sex marriage as legal in the United States—due to the "protections for religious freedom" it includes.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2023/02/14/mormon-church-support-marriage-equality|title= LDS church "clarifies" support for marriage equality law|date= February 14, 2023|website= axios.com|publisher= [[Axios (website)|Axios]]|access-date= February 14, 2023}}</ref> In the [[117th United States Congress]], there are nine LDS Church members, including all six members of Utah's congressional delegation, all of whom are Republicans.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Lee |date=January 10, 2021 |title=New Congress has fewest Latter-day Saints in 32 years. How might that impact the church?|newspaper=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]] |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2021/01/10/new-congress-has-fewest/ |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> [[Governor of Utah|Utah's]] current [[Governor (United States)|governor]], [[Spencer Cox (politician)|Spencer Cox]], is also a church member,<ref>{{Cite news |last=McEvers |first=Kelly |date=June 15, 2016 |title='My Heart Has Changed': Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox Apologizes To LGBT Community |work=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/06/15/482206214/my-heart-has-changed-utah-lt-gov-spencer-cox-apologizes-to-lgbt-community}}</ref> as are supermajorities in both houses of the [[Utah State Legislature]].<ref name="9of10">{{Cite news|title=Latter-day Saints are Overrepresented in Utah's Legislature, Holding 9 of Every 10 Seats|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2021/01/14/latter-day-saints-are/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609170601/https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2021/01/14/latter-day-saints-are/|archive-date=June 9, 2021|access-date=June 9, 2021|newspaper=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]}}</ref> Church member and current [[List of United States senators from Utah|U.S. Senator]] [[Mitt Romney]] was the Republican Party's nominee in the [[2012 United States presidential election|U.S. 2012 presidential election]].<ref name="ABCMormon">{{cite news|last=Vance|first=Lauren|title=Mormon Mission: Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman Challenged by Stereotypes|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/mormon-mission-mitt-romney-jon-huntsman-challenged-stereotypes/story?id=13930797|publisher=[[ABC News]]|date=June 25, 2011|access-date=September 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913150140/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/mormon-mission-mitt-romney-jon-huntsman-challenged-stereotypes/story?id=13930797|archive-date=September 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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