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Tag: Mormon

  • David Archuleta Apologizes for Tweet That Sounded Anti-Gay

    David Archuleta, an American Idol contestant from the show’s seventh season, is apologizing for a tweet he sent that may have been perceived as anti-gay. Some took his message to indicate his support for Indiana’s homophobic Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

    Archuleta, who is a Mormon, and recently completed a two-year mission to Chile, shared a quote from Mormon church leader Boyd K. Packer.

    “Romantic love is incomplete. It is a prelude. Love is nourished by the coming of children, who spring from the fountain of love…expressed between a man and a woman in marriage. #PresPacker,” the message read.

    David Archuleta has since removed the message from his Twitter account. His apology was tweeted out on Monday.

    “I apologize if I have offended anyone with the quote I sent out Saturday,” David Archuleta wrote. “I guess I didn’t think about the line ‘expressed between a man and a woman in marriage’ being stressed when the whole quote didn’t fit in just 1 tweet. I am sorry my intentions were misunderstood, as my main focus was that too often romance is looked at as the end-all when there is so much more. The bonds that can be there within a family and raising kids, as that is the most valuable thing I have: my family. I do hope however, that whoever may have been offended may know I respect everyone’s freedom to believe and live as they choose. I hope others can respect what I value most in my life as well. Again, I’m sorry and please forgive me if I offended you. David.”

    Mormons don’t believe in gay relationships or gay marriage. They have recently started allowing gays and lesbians to attend Brigham Young University, but they must remain chaste.

    It is refreshing to see David Archuleta–since he is a Mormon–recognize that his statement might have been offensive, and to apologize for how it may have been perceived. And while he’s not actually showing support for gays and lesbians, he isn’t blatantly bashing them either.

    It’s a step–right?

  • Jodi Arias: Life in Prison or Death Sentence?

    Jodi Arias is spending the next several days wondering what the jury decides regarding her fate. Their deliberations are expected to continue throughout a good portion of next week. Will they decide if Jodi Arias should live or should die instead?

    The Jodi Arias case went to a jury this past Wednesday, following one final opportunity for her lawyer to plead for mercy on her behalf. Arias was convicted in 2013 of killing her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Travis Alexander, back in 2008. The trial became a media sensation, and reporters highlighted the gruesome details, which included Jodi Arias stabbing and shooting Alexander, as well as slitting his throat–almost to the point of decapitation.

    Despite the efforts of her defense team, Arias claims she would rather die than to spend the rest of her life in prison.

    “I believe death is the ultimate freedom,” she said.

    The defense tried painting a picture of Jodi Arias that sounds much different from that of a convicted murderer. Her lawyer, Kirk Nurmi, said Arias was humiliated sexually by Travis Alexander, and that Alexander was tormented–torn between his Mormon faith and his promiscuous sexual desires.

    Prosecutor Juan Martinez insisted that Jodi Arias ‘falsely attacked’ Alexander’s character to draw attention away from her own heinous acts.

    This jury is the second to deliberate on what sentence Jodi Arias should receive. If this one is deadlocked–as was the last–the death sentence will no longer be an option, and a judge will determine how long she will spend in prison. A judge can still decide upon a life sentence.

    Do you foresee Jodi Arias being sentenced to death or do you think she will be sentenced to life in prison instead? And will this jury decide her fate or will it be left in the hands of a judge instead?

  • ‘Pastafarian’ Dons Colander in Utah DL Photo

    A Utah woman recently wore a colander on her head while getting her driver’s license photo taken, as a testament to her religious beliefs.

    Asia Lemmon, whose legal name appears on her driver’s license as Jessica Steinhauser, is a member of the sardonic Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and the straining utensil is symbolic of her ‘Pastafarian’ belief system.

    The “Flying Spaghetti Monster” was first described in 2005, in a sarcastic open letter penned by Bobby Henderson, in objection to the Kansas State Board of Education’s decision to allow the teaching of creationism in place of evolution in public school science classes. In his letter, Henderson declared his belief that carbon dating prompts a spaghetti-like supernatural deity to commence “changing the results with His Noodly Appendage.”

    Lemmon, who went in to get her driver’s licence picture taken on September 29 in Hurricane, Utah, was surprised the Division of Motor Vehicles allowed her to wear her unconventional headdress. Lemmon commented, “it was surprisingly really, really easy.”

    Nannette Rolfe, the director of Utah’s Driver License Division, pointed out that hats and colanders are typically not allowed in driver’s license photos, unless the accessories have religious significance. Rolfe added that about a dozen Pastafarians have worn colanders in their photos over the years, and commented, “as long as we can get a visual of the face, we’re fine if they choose to wear the headgear.”

    Here is a conceptualization of the Pastafarian god-thing:

    Lemmon, a former porn star who went by the handle Asia Carrera, remarked, “I’m a really proud, outspoken atheist. I am proud of Utah for allowing freedom of all religions in what is considered by many to be a one-religion state.”

    Roughly two-thirds of Utah residents are Mormon.

  • David Archuleta: American Idol Runner-Up Returns from Mormon Mission

    David Archuleta was the runner-up to American Idol David Cook during 2007’s season seven of the singing competition show. A few short years later he flew to Chile to serve a 2-year Mormon mission. He is now back at home and fans are likely waiting to find out if he’ll go back to his music career.

    In the Mormon faith it is suggested that young men serve a two year mission in service to the church. During their mission they share the Scriptures with anyone who will welcome them into their homes and listen. These missions aren’t always easy for these young men–many of whom are only 19 or 20 years old when they leave home for a full two years. They are allowed to email home on Mondays and can only call home on Mother’s Day and Christmas. Their separation from the world and from family is designed to keep them concentrating on the Scriptures they are sharing as well as to spend ample time in prayer.

    In addition, the young Mormon men like David Archuleta fund their own missions. They typically live in apartments furnished by the Mormon church, but are responsible for their own food, clothing and often their transportation as well.

    It was in March of 2012 that David Archuleta left for Chile.

    “It’s a decision everyone knows about, but it’s a very personal thing. I wanted to keep it that way, so I hope you guys respect that,” he said shortly before leaving. “I’ve been able to bring you guys on this journey so far, but I hope that you guys will respect that this will be more of a personal thing; that I’m trying to focus on something else now, not my career, not trying to do music.”

    David Archuleta’s album The Other Side of Down was released in 2010. He sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir–as seen in the video clip above–several times. Do you think there’s a place for this Mormon missionionary back in the music world?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons