Mormonism & the Mormon church

J. Max Wilson has a good post on the importance of Mormon girls and women accepting who they are — “more precious than rubies”. It includes a video illustrating how the photo of a model’s face becomes marketing material, exposing the amount of fabrication that goes into it and implying that marketing material shouldn’t define our perceptions of beauty:

Video: Exposing Pernicious Perceptions of Beauty

Jeff Lindsay is visiting Las Vegas this week and has two complimentary blog posts about the Church in Sin City. As a Mormon growing up in Las Vegas myself, I found these to be pretty accurate:

My Small World Experience in Las Vegas

Best Show in Las Vegas and My New Favorite Celestial Room

Here are some links that Mormons struggling with homosexuality may find helpful:

• LDS.org: Homosexuality (Same Sex Attraction) — a library of information
• LDS.org: Same Gender Attraction — an interview with Elder Dallin H. Oaks and Elder Wickman
• Ask Gramps: What is the Mormon church’s position toward transgendered persons and gay marriages?
• Ask Gramps: How can I overcome same sex attraction to become a faithful Mormon?
• Ask Gramps: Science and Sexual Orientation
• Evergreen International — a non-profit organization that helps people who want to overcome homosexual behavior.
• Superchastity — an interesting idea to change the semantics of homosexuality in the Church and improve understanding and kindness