Yacoblog - Religion

LDS Church switches to Open Office

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:37:00 -0600

I am the financial clerk in my local LDS Ward. Last month they applied an update to our Ward's computer, which included Open Office. Our computer used to have Microsoft Works, but that has been removed and we now have Open Office. This works great for me, because I use Open Office at home, so I can now take Open Office format spreadsheets to the church and use them in their native format. :) I find this decision to switch interesting. I suppose I should specify that I don't know if the Church has made this switch world-wide, but it would seem likely. I looked up some statistics on the Church, and there are 31,194 Wards, Branches, Stakes, Missions, and Districts. Most, if not all of these units have a local computer that they use to keep track of members, finances, and organize the unit. For argument's sake, let's say that 30,000 of them have a computer. I don't know how much the Church would pay for MS Works, but lets say Microsoft charges them $50 a copy. So the church would have to pay $1,500,000 to have a copy of Works on each Local unit's computer. Even if it's only $25/copy, you're looking at $750,000. Either way, that's a LOT of Money! Now, I think the Church can afford that, but it's difficult to look at a price tag like that when you know that Open Office is free. Another thing to consider is that MS Works doesn't always work well with MS Office file formats (or other office suite files, for that matter), so compatibility argument against using a non-Microsoft office suite doesn't really work well if you are using Works.

Word of Wisdom

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 16:52:00 -0600

"Joseph Smith, the first leader and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons), gave to his followers as revelations from God, not only spiritual, but also temporal doctrines. Such is in keeping with his teaching that 'the spirit and body are the soul of a man,' implying that anything which degenerates the body retards progress of the soul. According to this doctrine, 'temporal' and 'spiritual' affairs assume equal importance; and all phases of life must be included in one's religion" (From Medical Aspects of the Latter-Day Saints "Word of Wisdom" By L. Weston Oaks M.D.). [More]

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 16:50:00 -0600

The Family: A Proclamation to the World was issued by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon Church) on September 23, 1995. Since the organization of the Church in 1830, the Church has only issued five proclamations. The fact that the Church would issue a proclamation on the family shows how important the family is to Mormon belief. [More]

Savior

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 16:46:00 -0600

In the Guide to the Scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint's (Mormon Church) it states that a savior is, "One who saves. Jesus Christ, through his atonement, offered redemption and salvation to all mankind. "Savior" is a name and title of Jesus Christ." [More]

Resurrection

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 16:44:00 -0600

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon Church), the term resurrection means the reuniting of the spirit body with the physical body of flesh and bones after death. After resurrection, the spirit and body will never again be separated, and the person will become immortal. Every person born on earth will be resurrected because Jesus Christ overcame death (1 Cor. 15:20-22). The resurrection is a gift that God gives to all of his children. [More]

Plan of Salvation

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 16:43:00 -0600

The Plan of Salvation (also known as the plan of happiness, plan of mercy, or plan of redemption) is fundamental in the Mormon Church (properly titled The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). The Plan of Salvation is the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and is designed to bring about God's work: the immortality and eternal life of man. The major parts of the Plan of Salvation are the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement, and God's laws, ordinances, and doctrines. [More]

Mormon Doctrine

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 16:41:00 -0600

The term doctrine is used to refer to the principles and teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in Mormonism. The word is used throughout the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants, three of the official four scriptures that make up the canon of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly referred to as the LDS or Mormon Church). In the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 31:21 states, "this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father." [More]

Mormon History: Pioneers – Handcart Companies

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 21:26:00 -0600

Beginning in 1847, 70,000 Mormon pioneers crossed the Great Plains to Salt Lake City. Among them were ten handcart companies. The Mormon Church had started a Perpetual Emigration Fund funded from Church and private monies that was used to assist poor emigrants. In order to make the funds stretch further and help more people President Brigham Young initiated handcart companies. This move proved to be both brilliant and tragic. [More]

WHAT DO MORMONS BELIEVE? Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 21:21:00 -0600

Mormons do believe that when Christ was upon the earth, He established His Church among the people. After His Crucifixion and the death of His Apostles, the Church was taken from the earth. [More]

WHAT DO MORMONS BELIEVE? Tithing

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 21:17:00 -0600

Mormons do believe that they need to pay tithing, which is one-tenth of their increase. It is believed that God has given man everything and in return one-tenth is given back to Him to thank Him for all that He has given. [More]

Why was the Mormon Church organized?

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 21:30:00 -0600

Why was the Mormon Church organized when there were already so many churches on the earth? At the time Joseph Smith was seeking to know which church he should join all of the churches upon the earth lacked at least one of these four essential elements: [More]

Mormon History

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 21:28:00 -0600

Mormon history details the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormon history is a unique story, which started in New York, with the vision of Joseph Smith of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ in 1820. In which Joseph was told that none of the churches on earth had the fullness of Christ's gospel. Later Joseph Smith was visited by the angel Moroni and received the gold plates. Joseph translated the ancient record into the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Christ. [More]

Mormon Underwear

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 21:24:00 -0600

Those who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints often question the strange underwear that members of the Mormon Church wear. The official name of the Mormon underwear is the "temple garment" and is referred to by members as garments. [More]

MORMON BELIEFS Revelation

Sat, 27 May 2006 14:02:00 -0600

When Christ established His church, he personally instructed the leaders. He, in turn, received His instructions from His Father in Heaven; hence the Church of Jesus Christ was directed by God and not by men.1 Christ taught the people that revelation was the "rock" upon which He would build His Church.2,3 [More]

MORMON BELIEFS Sabbath Day

Sat, 27 May 2006 13:49:00 -0600

The word Sabbath is derived from the Hebrew word meaning day of rest. In Old Testament times, the Sabbath was observed on the seventh day of the week because God rested on the seventh day after He created the earth. From the days of the early prophets to the present, Mormons do believe that the Sabbath has been the first day of the week, in remembrance of Christ coming forth from the grave on Sunday. [More]