Latest from Mormon Land: Microfeminism Initiatives and Choir’s Impact in Peru

The latest Mormon Land newsletter addresses gender equity initiatives for Latter-day Saint women through “microfeminisms,” recent performances by the Tabernacle Choir in Peru, and concerns about educational approaches at BYU. The emphasis is placed on encouraging women to speak out and the choir’s role in fostering hope and community engagement.

The Mormon Land newsletter from The Salt Lake Tribune provides insights into recent news regarding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It encourages support via Patreon to access the entire newsletter, including the podcast transcripts and the church’s religious content.

In an effort towards tackling the church’s patriarchal structure, Exponent II blogger Linda Hamilton introduces the concept of “microfeminisms,” highlighting everyday actions for promoting gender equality. Her suggestions include:
– Mentioning Heavenly Mother in prayers and testimonies.
– Referring to married couples as “Sister and Brother X.”
– Encouraging men to take on roles such as making treats or organizing events.
– Citing only women during talks.
– Publicly praying for the general Relief Society presidency.

The overarching message for Latter-day Saint women is to “speak up and speak out,” following the guidance of church President Russell Nelson.

In the latest “Mormon Land” podcast, researchers explore whether Latter-day Saint men are becoming influenced by extremist online narratives concerning masculinity.

The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, as part of their “Songs of Hope” tour, visited Peru for the first time. They performed in Lima’s National Stadium, drawing over 33,000 attendees. Brigitte Contreras, a Peruvian Latter-day Saint, remarked on the significance of the choir’s visit to their country.

Notable figures accompanying the choir included Apostle Ulisses Soares and former U.S. Senator Mitt Romney, who also met with Peru’s President, Dina Boluarte. The choir is set to continue its South American tour, with upcoming performances in Argentina and Brazil in early 2026.

The church is yet to officially announce the groundbreaking for the Dubai Temple, projected to be its first in the Middle East. Apostle David Bednar has established connections with a local Sikh temple, the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara, where he recognized the ongoing collaboration between the faiths in aiding those in need, underscoring mutual generosity in their missions.

Concerns were raised by BYU graduate Ryder Seamons regarding the university’s trend towards “order and orthodoxy.” He argues that this approach does not adequately prepare students intellectually or spiritually, which could lead to a continuous departure of young church members. Seamons emphasized the need for tools to address challenging questions about faith to foster spiritual maturity.

Additional news highlights from The Tribune include revisions to cartoons related to the church’s prior stance on polygamy, a new study illustrating the devoutness of Latter-day Saints, updates on the church’s investment portfolio, and incidents of anti-Latter-day Saint chants during sports events. Moreover, a former Latter-day Saint chapel is being utilized in the fight against homelessness in Utah, and new exterior renderings of the Lehi Temple are now available.

In summary, the latest updates from Mormon Land highlight important discussions regarding gender equity within the church, the impactful performances of the Tabernacle Choir in Peru, and growing concerns about the direction of education at BYU. The content emphasizes a call for Latter-day Saint women to advocate for their voices, the choir’s international outreach, and reflections on spiritual engagement among youth within the church.

Original Source: www.sltrib.com