Christopher Thomas Howell is an American actor and director. He has starred in the films Soul Man, The Hitcher, Grandview U.S.A., Red Dawn, Secret Admirer and The Outsiders. He has also appeared in Gettysburg as Thomas Chamberlain, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Amazing Spider-Man, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox and Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay.
The salamander letter is a document about the history of the Latter-day Saint movement that was created by the forger Mark Hofmann in the early 1980s.
Orrin Porter Rockwell was a figure of the Wild West period of American history as well as a Mormon and a law man in the Utah Territory. Nicknamed Old Port and labeled "The Destroying Angel of Mormondom", he was as famous and controversial during his lifetime as Wyatt Earp and Pat Garrett.
The Latter Day Saint movement is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 16 million members, although the vast majority of these—about 98%—belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The predominant theology of the churches in the movement is Mormonism, a form of Christianity usually categorized as Restorationist. A minority of Latter Day Saint adherents, such as members of the Community of Christ, believe in traditional Protestant theology, and have distanced themselves from some of the distinctive doctrines of the LDS Church. Other groups include the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which supports lineal succession of leadership from Smith's descendants, and the more controversial Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which defends the practice of polygamy.
Keith David Williams is an American actor, voice actor, comedian and singer. He is known for his co-starring role as King in Platoon and as Childs in The Thing. He has acted in many mainstream films, such as Crash, There's Something About Mary, Barbershop and Men at Work.
Deseret Book is an American publishing company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, that also operates a chain of bookstores throughout the western United States. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation, the holding company for business firms owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Deseret Book is a for-profit corporation registered in Utah. Deseret Book publishes under four imprints with media ranging from works explaining LDS theology and doctrine, LDS-related fiction, electronic resources, and sound recordings such as Mormon Tabernacle Choir albums.
The Mormon Reformation was a period of renewed emphasis on spirituality within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It took place in 1856 and 1857 and was under the direction of President of the Church Brigham Young. During the Reformation, Young sent his counselor Jedediah M. Grant and other church leaders to preach to the people throughout Utah Territory and surrounding Mormon communities with the goal of inspiring them to reject sin and turn towards spiritual things. The most conservative, and even reactionary, elements of LDS Church doctrine dominated the public discussions during the Reformation. As a result of the Reformation, almost all "active" or involved LDS Church members were rebaptized as a symbol of their commitment.
The Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) is a Mormon fundamentalist group that promotes polygamy. The AUB has had a temple in Mexico, since at least the 1990s, an endowment house in Utah since the early 1980s and several other locations of worship to accommodate their members in Wyoming and Montana.
Music has had a long history in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from the days in Kirtland, Nauvoo, and the settlement of the West, to the present day. In the early days of the Church, stripped-down Latter-Day Saint folk music, which could be sung without accompaniment due to the lack of instruments in Utah, was popular. In the 19th century, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was created and began touring, while musicians began writing devotional and praise music with a Latter-Day Saint influence, paralleling the success of Christian Contemporary Music. Several organizations have existed and do exist to promote these artists, such as Deseret Book and the now-defunct Faith-centered Music Association. Starting in the late 20th century and to the present day, Latter-Day Saints have been increasingly involved in modern popular music in America and elsewhere in the World.
Ruth Hale was an American playwright and actress.
The Manti Utah Temple is the fifth constructed temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Manti, Utah, it was the third LDS temple built west of the Mississippi River, after the Mormons' trek westward. The Manti Temple was designed by William Harrison Folsom, who moved to Manti while the temple was under construction. The temple dominates the Sanpete Valley, and can be seen from many miles. Like all LDS temples, only church members in good standing may enter. It is one of only two remaining LDS temples in the world where live actors are used in the endowment ceremonies ; all other temples use films in the presentation of the endowment. It is an early pioneering example of four rooms representing the journey of life.
Latter Day Saints and Mormons have been portrayed in popular media many times. These portrayals often emphasize controversy such as polygamy or myths about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other Latter Day Saint movement religions.
The God Makers is a book and film highlighting the inner workings and perceived negative aspects of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ed Decker and Dave Hunt co-authored the book and film.
Since its organization in New York in 1830, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had a presence in Canada. The first Latter Day Saint missionaries to preach outside of the United States preached in Upper Canada; the first stake to be established outside of the U.S. was the Alberta Stake; and the Cardston Alberta Temple was the first church temple to be built outside of the current boundaries of the United States.
Susan Evans McCloud is an American novelist, author, poet, hymnwriter, and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Karl Ricks Anderson is a Latter-day Saint historian whose specialty is the Kirtland period in the history of the Latter Day Saint movement. He is a brother of Richard Lloyd Anderson and they were the second recipients of the Junius F. Wells Award from the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation in 2006.
Glen Milton Leonard is an American historian specializing in Mormon history.
The Mountain of the Lord is a 72-minute film produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It depicts the story of the building of the Salt Lake Temple in a fictional encounter between a reporter and Wilford Woodruff and was produced for the centennial of its dedication. The film shows the struggles of early Mormons to build the temple—which took 40 years to complete—in the Salt Lake Valley, where church members arrived in 1847.
Scott Swofford is an American film producer. He is a Latter-day Saint and produces IMAX films as well as other formats. When he was director of media for the LDS Church missionary department he developed the "I'm a Mormon" campaign. He has also worked as creative director for BYU broasdcasting. As such he was one of the main forces behind Granite Flats and director of Extinct.
Kurt Bestor is an American keyboardist and composer specializing in new-age, film scores, and jazz. He is known for his instrumental Christmas arrangements. His best-known songs are "Prayer of the Children", "Mama Don't You Weep". He is also known for composing music for the 1993 movie Rigoletto, and for writing music for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic games, as well as various official The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints videos.
