As a blog written by volunteers, the content here at Millennial Star will always reflect the interests of the writers (including guest bloggers). But as the Church moves towards ministry (rather than teaching), I thought it would be interesting to know what you, as an M* reader, like to see.

If there is content you particularly don’t value, please leave a comment to explain. Conversely, if there is content you uniquely rely on M* to provide, please comment to explain why you particularly value M* for that content.

A reminder that comments should follow generally accepted standards for good taste and decorum, exhibit respect for others, and relate to the topic at hand.

It was a mid-summer day in Nauvoo, and Llewellyn Mantle was plowing a field on Joseph Smith’s farm.

There had been turmoil that summer of 1844, but the Smith farm was a place of relative calm, located as it is over a mile east of Nauvoo.

Cornelius Lott managed Joseph’s farm, and Llewellyn was likely one of many involved in working on the farm that summer day.

Llewellyn plowed until late in the evening, when the sun was low in the western sky.

Abruptly, the horses stopped. Nothing Llewellyn did or said had any effect. Joseph’s horses simply refused to move.

It was a puzzlement. Eventually Llewellyn gave up, left the horses standing in the field, and went home. Continue reading →

Happy Mother’s Day to all who inspire us on this wonderful day!

May your day be blessed, May those you love rise up and honor you.

And if we are disappointed at times, let us remember that mother who learned after some days of travel that she’d left her son behind in the city. Even the best of mothers sometime have moments that aren’t Facebook perfect.

As we think of how we love and are loved by our mortal parents, let us think on how we are loved by our Heavenly parents.

With the new way things are done, LDS members who have provided their e-mail address to the Church already know that a new initiative for children and youth will be starting January 2020.

The Mormon newsroom announcement is available online, and there is a FAQ as well.

Seen properly, this is an effort to migrate the ministry for children and youth in the same world-wide egalitarian direction the ministry for adults was redirected in April. Adults can be expected to shift on a dime. But for youth and children and their leaders, shifting on a dime would be rather disruptive.

Donald B. Godfrey, PhD, is a professor emeritus of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. he was the recipient of the 2017 Broadcast Education Association’s Lifetime Achievement in Scholarship and the Mormon History Association’s Christensen Best Documentary Award in 2007. His articles on Mormon History have appeared in the Journal of Mormon History, the American Review of Canadian Studies, Pioneer, This People, and the Ensign. His is the founding directory of the ASU School of Journalism’s doctoral program. he is now retired, living and writing from his home in Arizona.

Kurt Manwaring took a moment to chat with noted journalist Donald Godfrey. The full interview is available at fromthedesk.org. Below is an excerpt.

_______________________________

Kurt Manwaring: You served as president of the Broadcast Education Association. What were your duties in that role and what were some of the biggest challenges you faced in fulfilling the organization’s mission? What are some of its most significant challenges today?

Donald Godfrey: The BEA, then and now, is the premier international academic media organization driving excellence in journalism and media education.  Continue reading →