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NEWS SINGLED OUT: ONE GOAL FOR YOUNG MORMON SINGLES—GET MARRIED!

DURING THE APRIL 2011 and Erin Parsons trace LDS only those married for eternity Deseret News article invoked priesthood session of general statements against singlehood by the power of the priesthood both theological imperatives conference, President Thomas back to 1831, when Joseph would “have an increase” in the and practical benefits to mar- S. Monson dedicated one fifth Smith penned a revelation for resurrection. riage when urging Mormon of his speech to encouraging Leman Copley, a former celibate As soon as Mormons settled bachelors to “make one grand single men to marry—a subject Shaker, declaring that “whoso in the West, Church leaders vig- attempt for blissful days, com- on which Church leaders have forbiddeth to marry is not or- orously promoted marriage as fortable nights, posterity, and an been preaching almost since dained of God, for marriage is the only way for men—natu- honest future.” Mormonism began. ordained of God unto man” rally sinful and lazy—to be- While Brigham Young prob- “Brethren, there is a point at (D&C 49:15). By 1843, Joseph come devout Christians, ably never actually said that which it’s time to think seriously Smith was privately marrying righteous patriarchs, and pro- every single man over 27 is “a about marriage and to seek a plural wives and teaching that ductive citizens. An 1857 menace to society” (one of companion with whom you Mormonism’s most famous mis- want to spend eternity,” he said. quotes), George Q. Cannon’s During the Sunday morning statement in an 1878 general session of the same conference, conference sounds about as se- apostle Richard G. Scott told vere: “A large number of un- single young men, “Don’t waste married men, over the age of 24 time in idle pursuits. Get on years, is a dangerous element in with life and focus on getting any community.” Ten years be- married. Don’t just coast fore that, Brother Brigham had through this period of life.” admonished: “Let every man in Days after President the land over 18 years of age Monson’s speech, LDS leaders take a wife.” announced the disbanding of all While single men have been student wards in Valley and characterized as “selfish, sinful, the formation of new all-single and possibly suffering from a stakes and wards for people Single Mermaids: Left to right: Lydia Roes, Lani Chapman, Sasha Piton, students chemical imbalance,” women 18–30. ’s at the University of Arizona, sing “I Need a Man,” an adaptation of “Part of Your have generally been treated as Peggy Fletcher Stack connected World” (from Walt Disney’s movie The Little Mermaid). “I want to be where the el- “gentle victims of man’s selfish- this reorganization to the pro- ders are/ I want one for my eternal companion/ One who’s not afraid of commit- ness,” with Church leaders con- marriage preaching in confer- ment,” they sing. “I’m really great/ Why don’t I date?/ I need a man!” soling them that “they will yet ence the week before, noting receive all the blessings of matri- that persuading “young men and mony in the hereafter.” As women to stop postponing mar- Lavina Fielding Anderson and riage . . . is, after all, the goal of Jeffery O. Johnson note, all these singles wards.” “Whatever single women may What challenges do LDS sin- suffer, they still need not cope gles confront? Does being single with the pressure and guilt single in the Church promise more Mormon males must face in a than becoming a “ministering culture where the initiative rests angel” who will wait tables in with the man and where the re- the celestial kingdom, as Pat sponsibility to take it is preached Bagley has humorously imag- by precept and example in every ined? Is singlehood a condition ward in the Church.” to be frowned on and pitied, or A century later, President could it be accepted as normal-- Ezra Taft Benson worked in the perhaps even celebrated? same rhetorical vein as had Brigham Young and George Q. Desperate RM: In this Deseret First Credit Union ad, a young man opens a savings FROM CONDEMNATION TO account for “the engagement ring.” He confesses to the teller that he’s not engaged Cannon when he implicitly ACCOMMODATION yet —in fact, he’s not even dating— yet he feels that “it’s time to get serious” be- questioned the manhood of un- cause he has been back from his “long enough.” “How long have you been married males, urging them to AUTHORS Marybeth Raynes back?” the teller asks. The answer: “Twenty-two days.” “arise from the dust . . . and be

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men” (2 Nephi 1:21). chair of the Marriage and Family Delmont R. Oswald, a 47- Therapy Program at BYU, made SINGLES AND THE CHURCH: A CHRONOLOGY year-old divorced Mormon, re- headlines at the university’s sponded to Benson’s speech at paper, the Daily Universe, by 1831: A revelation declares the next Sunstone Symposium. stating that LDS singles needed that “marriage is ordained of “The tone of President Benson’s to put more thought and prepa- God unto man” (D&C 49:15). speech troubled me,” Oswald ration into marriage. “Don’t rush 1843: Joseph Smith re- said. “I heard his words as those even if you’ve found the right ceives revelations regarding ce- of an adult lecturing a child. person,” Larson wrote. “I don’t lestial marriage and exaltation Too often [in the Church] think the Spirit will tell you, (D&C 131:1–4; D&C 132). adulthood comes to be defined ‘Don’t get to know him or her 1868: Brigham Young ad- by marital status rather than by better first.’” Larson explained monishes, “Let every man in age and maturity.” that pressure to marry and mar- the land over 18 years of age At that same symposium, rying too young are factors that take a wife.” BYU sociologist Lawrence A. hamper the success of a mar- 1890: Evan Stephens, single, is appointed director of the Young noted that the activity riage: the divorce rate, he Mormon Tabernacle Choir. rates of single females in the warned, is 70 percent for people 1958: Bruce R. McConkie publishes Mormon Doctrine. Church can be five times that of who marry before age 20. The entry on CELIBACY invites the reader to see also APOS- single males. “There is strong ev- TASY, CELESTIAL MARRIAGE, EUNUCHS, and HARLOTS. idence that as a Church, we are FAMOUS BACHELORS 1968: The General Handbook of Instructions authorizes not meeting the needs of LDS the creation of student wards. single members, particularly DESPITE the tremendous pres- 1969: LDS author Helen B. Andelin publishes The single men,” he said. Young sures single men and women Fascinating Girl, a 307-page volume containing “secrets” on pointed to data showing that face in Mormon culture, there how to “win the attention of men.” It is still in print. “single women over 30 have have been some Mormon men 1971: Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought publishes a higher levels of education, occu- who have defended their bache- compilation of articles titled, “Single Voices” (vol. 6 no. 2 pation, and Church activity than lorhood and Mormon women [Summer 1971], 77-83). single men.” Consequently, who rose to positions of promi- 1976: The new General Handbook of Instructions Young cautioned, “If never-mar- nence in the Church despite authorizes the creation of single adults wards. ried men were to arise en masse their single status. 1977: Lavina Fielding Anderson and Jeffery O. Johnson from the dust and seek marriage, None may be more peculiar publish “Endangered Species: Single Men in the Church” we can only wonder who they than Evan Stephens (SUNSTONE, Summer 1977, 2–7). would go out to marry. Based on (1854–1930), who served 26 1988: At the April general conference, Pres. Ezra Taft available studies of marital suc- years as director of the Mormon Benson urges male single adults to “arise from the dust . . . cess, we would have to be very Tabernacle Choir. A confirmed and be men.” concerned about the quality and bachelor who took a series of 1989: The March issue of the Ensign includes an inter- long-term stability of a marriage younger men under his wing view with Elder Marion D. Hanks, a seventy in charge of between the typical never-mar- and into his home, Stephens programs and activities for singles. In the same issue, Elder ried LDS male over thirty and was also a gender-transgressive John K. Carmack publishes an article titled, “To My Single the typical never-married LDS artist who sometimes sang in Friends.” female over thirty.” falsetto and impersonated “the 1996: LDSSINGLES.COM is launched, one of the first in a In retrospect, Benson’s 1988 old maid of ninety-five.” When long list of online dating services for Mormons. address may have been a “last world-renowned soprano Nellie 1997: Sheri Dew, single, is called as a counselor in the hoorah” for the harsh nine- Melba asked how many wives general presidency of the Relief Society. teenth-century style of he had, Stephens quipped: “I 2000: Bachelor Steve Young marries. preaching on male singleness. am sorry you pressed the ques- 2003: BYU produces Eric Samuelsen’s play The Way We’re The quarter century since that tion. It is almost unlawful to Wired, about a group of unmarried Mormons who attend a address has seen some attenua- talk about.” Ultimately, how- singles ward. That same year, Halestorm Entertainment re- tion in Church leaders’ admoni- ever, Mormon theology cured leases an unrelated project, the movie The Singles Ward. tions to marry. In fact, in 1987, Stephens of his inveterate bach- 2005: Dallin H. Oaks criticizes “hanging out” and coun- President Hinckley declared elorhood: on 5 November 1930, sels young women not to “subsidize freeloaders.” Time mag- that “marriage should not be a year after his death, Stephens’s azine publishes an article about single Mormons (“Alone in viewed as a therapeutic step to housekeeper Sarah Daniels was the Pew,” Time, 5 December 2005). solve problems such as homo- sealed to him. 2008: A February 27 article in the Mormon Times has the sexual inclinations or be- In the twentieth century, per- headline, “There’s a Whole Lot of Kissing Going on at BYU.” havior.” In an even more recent haps no Mormon bachelor has The article describes BYU’s NCMO (“non-committal make- speech to 5,000 singles, apostle received more media attention out”) as “a church member’s way of doing ‘a one-night M. Russell Ballard admitted that than legendary quarterback stand.’” “not every one of you may find Steve Young. Successful, athletic, 2011: Student wards are disbanded and integrated into an eternal companion.” attractive, well-adjusted, and singles wards. In 2001, Jeffry H. Larson, still single in his mid-thirties,

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Young was living proof that not alone.” The dissonance between single wards were student tional dates. BYU student Elisee all Mormon bachelors suffer these ideals and Dew’s single- wards (meaning only students Newey told the Deseret News from “a chemical imbalance.” At ness has made her vulnerable to could attend them). The 1980s that she prefers hanging out be- age 35, Young was asked by criticism. At an interfaith event saw the creation of some cause it allows people to get to Mike Wallace about his single in 2004, Dew found herself at wards for singles 18–30, as know each other and this “leads status. “Do you wanna talk the center of a controversy after well as units for those over 30, to better dates.” But Church about the pressure I feel?” Young speaking in defense of tradi- regardless of their student leaders have recently voiced dis- answered candidly. “Brigham tional marriage. Displaying a status. But Church leaders approval of “hanging out,” reaf- Young once said, right here on photo of two men getting mar- were ambivalent about this de- firming the ideal of traditional these grounds, that anyone over ried at the San Francisco City velopment. Participation in dating. “Young women, resist 27 years of age that’s not married Hall with their adopted twin such units, they insisted, too much hanging out, and en- is a menace to society. So here’s daughters in their arms, Dew should be considered “some- courage dates that are simple, my grandfather telling me to get said, “This is hard for me to what transitory.” Indeed, inexpensive, and frequent,” with it. You don’t think that I feel stomach. What kind of chance Church policy held that the apostle Dallin H. Oaks preached the pressure? I guarantee it.” do these girls have being raised best place for singles to “enjoy in 2007. “Don’t make it easy for Young escaped his “single in that kind of setting?” (Dew a full range of church experi- young men to hang out in a set- cursedness” at the ripe age of 38, was unaware at the time that ence” is the conventional ting where you women provide when he married fellow one of the men pictured, Eric family ward. the food. Don’t subsidize free- Mormon Barbara Graham, a Ethington, is a former LDS mis- The driving aim of singles loaders.” former model. They have two sionary.) In a statement ex- wards is simple: To create more sons and two daughters. pressing “outrage” over Dew’s opportunities for singles to find SEX AND THE Not even the shortest short remarks, Affirmation: Gay and a spouse. BYU wards, with their SINGLE MORMON list of famous single Mormons Lesbian Mormons pointed to frequent admonitions to marry, would be complete without Dew’s singleness in an attempt pictorial ward directories, and DESPITE LDS leaders’ efforts to Sheri Dew, possibly the most to undermine her credibility: classes on dating, have gener- create a culture of sexual absti- prominent single woman in “While Ms. Dew, who has never ated a subculture revolving nence among young Mormon Church history. C.E.O. and pres- married or raised children, pon- around the ideal of celestial singles, evidence suggests that ident of Deseret Book, Dew is tificates about families, Eric marriage. Members who do not these efforts have been only par- also an inspirational speaker, Ethington, with his husband find suitable dates in their as- tially successful. In 1992, BYU writer, former counselor in the and his daughters, shows to the signed wards sometimes engage sociologist Tim B. Heaton com- general presidency of the Relief world what it really means to in “ward-hopping.” According bined data from three surveys Society, and former White House have one.” to the Deseret News, some BYU taken in the 1980s and con- delegate to the United Nations. bishops have gone so far as to cludes that “60 percent of LDS Dew has spoken about her THE EMERGENCE OF call ward members to serve as women will have had sex before single status on many occasions, SINGLE WARDS “dating specialists” to help marriage.” A study Wilford E. characterizing that status in es- other ward members find a Smith conducted in the 1970s sentially negative terms—as a IN settings such as Brigham spouse. A few years back, one indicates that “nearly half of ac- cross to be borne. She has said Young University, LDS leaders BYU stake dedicated a meeting tive LDS males of university age that her singleness indicates that treat singlehood as a transi- to the theme, “every member a and a quarter of the active LDS her prayers “have not been an- tional period in which youth matchmaker.” young women” masturbate. swered the way [she] asked must be encouraged to keep the “A goal of mine is to get In the face of these realities, them to be.” Dew has presented faith while being given opportu- them married,” Walt Plumb, Church leaders have become herself as an example of re- nities to socialize, date, and find bishop of the less prone than previously to de- maining chaste for life, if neces- a spouse. “Church members 16th Ward, acknowledged to scribe sexual immorality as a sin sary. “As someone who has who have never married or are the Deseret News in 2007. “next to murder” (Alma remained unmarried two-and-a- divorced or widowed make up a Plumb encouraged his ward 39:1–7). “It appears that Church half decades beyond a traditional significant portion of Church members to date at least once a leaders are becoming increas- marriageable age, I know some- membership,” the 1998 General month and occasionally gave ingly aware of deviations from thing about the challenge of Handbook of Instructions men $25 to take a woman out. sexual standards,” Tim Heaton chastity,” she stated at age 46. “It frankly states. “All members, re- “I know some people aren’t observed in the 1990s, but “feel is not always easy, but it is far gardless of their age, circum- going to have the option of mar- somewhat frustrated in knowing easier than the alternative.” stance, or interests, need the riage for some reason or an- how to deal with immorality. At the same time, Dew has blessings of the gospel and a full other,” Plumb said, “but it sure Changes in sexual norms may reiterated traditional LDS teach- range of Church experiences.” seems to me that people are a have also created a generation ings, affirming marriage and Starting in the mid-1960s, lot happier being married.” gap between the youth and their parenthood as normative. In Church leaders contemplated In a culture influenced by a leaders or parents. These trends October 2001, Dew affirmed the creation of student wards, TV series such as Friends, con- could make it more difficult to that motherhood is “the essence branches, and stakes, and es- cerned LDS leaders have noted deal with the discrepancy be- of who we are as women” and tablished rules regarding who a trend among young Mormons tween official codes of conduct preached on the topic, “It is not could belong to these units. at BYU and elsewhere to “hang and actual behavior.” good for man or woman to be During the 1970s, the only out” rather than go on tradi- Twenty years after Heaton

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wrote those words, the LDS question is how to reconcile gles from Salt Lake Valley on 26 “As an eternal unit, families Church may be facing a new gen- that faith with my physical April 2011, apostle M. Russell go to the eternities forever—to- eration of young Mormons who body. How can I embrace my Ballard announced the dissolu- gether forever,” Ballard added. are openly questioning the sexuality as a single woman and tion of nearly 150 student wards “That’s why we’re drawing you Church’s standard of chastity. A a Mormon?” and the integration of single into these young single adult 2005 story in the Washington In a more recent essay in the students and non-students into stakes and young single adult City Paper spotlighted Janna New York Times, Mormon au- 12 new stakes and 121 young wards under the tutelage of Taylor, a single Mormon living in thor Nicole Hardy went a step single adult wards. According to bishops and stake presidents northern Virginia. At age 28, sit- further, writing about her deci- Ballard and other Church who have keys of the power of ting through yet another Relief sion, at age 35, to leave her leaders, the goal of the reorgani- the holy priesthood of God to Society lesson on chastity, Taylor Mormon virginity behind and zation is to quell the massive answer your questions, to guide finally felt she had to stand up become sexually active by loss of members in the 18–30 you, to give you blessings, and and vent. “We all know what the dating non-Mormon men. “As I age group. to help you along the way.” law of chastity is, and we all grew older, I had the distinct “The reason we’re anxious Seventy David Evans ex- know the reasoning behind it,” sense of remaining a child in a for you to reach out and to en- plained that pilot programs Taylor said, getting teary. “What I woman’s body,” Hardy writes. courage some of the young were run in Ogden, Cedar City, want to know is how I’m sup- “It wasn’t just sex I lacked but single adults that are not active St. George, and other Utah areas posed to live this law as a 28- relationships with men entirely. is because one of the great in 2010 and were deemed a suc- year-old virgin. Because the Too independent for Mormon places where there can be peace cess: of 4,500 inactive singles reality of the situation is that men, and too much a virgin for and joy and fellowship, a sense visited, 1,000 had returned to every single cell in my body is the other set, I felt trapped in of belonging, is by being active the Church. telling me to have babies.” adolescence.” in the Church,” Ballard said. And, as reported in the Salt “I’m a sexual being, and that “Would you do what you can to Lake Tribune, LDS leaders con- doesn’t change because of my NEW WARDS, SAME GOAL try to draw some of those who cluded that the program also faith,” Taylor told the are less active back into fellow- succeeded in “getting [singles] Washington City Paper. “The ADDRESSING some 5,000 sin- ship in the Church?” to the marriage altar.” PAINTING UP CONTROVERSY: THE WORK OF JON MCNAUGHTON

BY HUGO OLAIZ online parodies and sparking right hand of Jesus—are a white to McNaughton’s commentary, AND JOHN-CHARLES DUFFY some controversy at Brigham farmer (“the true backbone of of “the reality of the adversary Young University, where the America,” McNaughton ex- and that he interferes in the af- HE MIGHT BE called the artist alleges that his work has plains), an Asian immigrant (re- fairs of men.” Thomas Kinkade of Mormon- become the victim of “liberal” acting with “a look of shock” to One Nation has attracted po- ism . . . or perhaps Glenn Beck censorship. this revelation of “the source of larized responses and interna- with a paintbrush. To his al- At the center of the contro- America’s greatness”), and a tional publicity. Stories about ready extensive catalogue of versial painting stands the im- black college student, who the painting appeared at the LDS-themed paintings—in- posing figure of Jesus dressed in holds Cleon Skousen’s The Five Telegraph, Mother Jones, and cluding temples, scenes from a golden robe. Raised in his Thousand Year Leap (a book many blogs. While admirers the life of Jesus, and episodes right hand is the U.S. Constitu- Glenn Beck admires). At Jesus’s praised the painting for its de- from Mormon history—Utah tion. Arrayed behind him, left hand is a Supreme Court tailed composition and in- artist Jon McNaughton (MC- against the backdrop of the justice hiding his face in shame spiring message, others NAUGHTONART.COM) has now Capitol and the Supreme Court at the sight of offensive rulings criticized its conservative ide- added detailed allegorical building, and under a starry sky scattered at Jesus’s feet. These ology. Ridicule was also a tableaus portraying American turning red with the dawn, is a include Roe v. Wade and Everson common response. The LDS history as taught by the late pantheon of historic American (a 1947 decision McNaughton group blog By Common Consent Mormon archconservative, figures. Standing or kneeling blames for initiating the re- posted more than 500 parody Cleon Skousen. McNaughton’s closest to the Savior are George moval of prayer from schools). haikus inspired by the painting, best-selling piece, One Nation Washington, Abraham Lincoln, A sneering movie producer rep- including, “Jesus was a Jew/ under God, has gained wide no- and James Madison. resents the “liberal slant [in] Who knew Jewish carpenters/ tice, in and out of Mormon cir- At McNaughton’s interactive Hollywood.” A college pro- Had Nordic features?” and cles, for its dramatic fusion of website, visitors can hover over fessor embraces a copy of “Christian Minister/ Sees Tree of Christian piety and conserva- each element of the image to Darwin’s Origin of Species. And Life on Jesus’/ shirt. Mormons tive ideology. The painting has read an explanation of its a pale, red-eyed wraith, Satan were right.” attracted international media at- meaning. Among those arran- himself, appears in the The comics website tention, inspiring a number of ged at lower left—that is, at the corner—a reminder, according SHORTPACKED.COM created an

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The The Good Bad The Ugly

interactive webpage that mir- central figure of Jesus has been Nation is a political allegory ti- appear in two loose group- rors McNaughton’s but with replaced by Lovecraft’s bat- tled The Forgotten Man. ings—good and bad. Toward tongue-in-cheek explanations winged, tentacle-faced monster. McNaughton has implied this the viewer’s left are the good of the figures. For instance, One Nation under Cthulhu may painting was created in re- guys, gathered in concern when the visitor hovers the have been inspired by Cthulhu- sponse to a divine call he re- around the painting’s titular cursor over the figure “U.S. themed parodies of the didactic ceived as he was praying in figure, a despairing everyman Marine,” ShortPacked’s com- comic strips of Protestant fun- dismay over passage of the slumped on a bench, robbed mentary reads, “He was kicked damentalist Jack Chick. The Democrats’ health care reform (McNaughton’s interpretive text out of the military for being point of such parodies is to sug- bill (“Obamacare”) in 2010. “I explains) of his opportunity to gay.” Hovering over the figure of gest that the vengeful Christ of think that the Lord often waits achieve the American Dream. black orator Frederick fundamentalism is indistin- for us to simply come to Him Clustered behind President Douglass, barely visible at the guishable from the pangalactic and ask the question . . . what Obama are the bad presidents, back of the tableau, elicits: “A monster. should I do?” McNaughton whose sins, the artist’s com- famous abolitionist and fighter McNaughton cites visions wrote about that prayer. mentary alleges, are chiefly eco- for women’s suffrage. He gets to and personal revelation as the What McNaughton decided nomic: raising taxes, deficit stand in the very back.” (literal) inspiration for One the Lord wanted him to do was spending, and contributing to Another humor site, BLAMEIT- Nation and other paintings. “In paint The Forgotten Man, which the creation of the welfare state. ONTHEVOICES.COM, posted a the middle of the 2008 elections he says “came” to him as a In general, McNaughton’s divi- gory parody called One Nation . . . I was sitting in the gallery in mental impression. The pain- sion of the presidents into he- under Cthulhu, a reference to a front of my easel when I saw ting is a tableau of U.S. presi- roes and villains corresponds to monster from early twentieth- what I can best describe as a vi- dents, with the White House in the small-government fiscal century horror writer H. P. sion,” he explains at his website the background. In the fore- conservatism championed by Lovecraft’s works. In the parody, in a Q&A about One Nation. ground, Barack Obama is de- Glenn Beck and the Tea Party. many figures have been defaced McNaughton’s second most picted trampling on the U.S. James Madison, George or covered in blood, and the controversial painting after One Constitution. The presidents Washington, Thomas Jefferson,

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and stand on the plained that because of “nega- vited to speak about the truths that someone will come along right—in every sense—while tive feedback,” school officials of Darwinism, but a simple that will have what it takes to Woodrow Wilson, Theodore had decided that the BYU book- artist who wishes to speak turn this country around . . . Roosevelt, and FDR rank store would no longer sell One about the Constitution and its both economically and among those who literally Nation under God, despite the importance in America is too morally.” trample the Constitution under- painting’s popularity with cus- controversial?” Meanwhile, McNaughton foot. However, Andrew Jackson, tomers. “The Vice President In the wake of the BYU con- remains a magnet for criticism. who figures as a principal villain over the Bookstore was ‘uncom- troversy, McNaughton has On 1 May 2011, he became the in Glenn Beck’s account of fortable’ with the painting,” found a renewed sense of pur- target of yet another parody, American history, ends up on McNaughton complained in his pose. “As I look at the coming this one from Salt Lake Tribune the side of the just in letter to the Daily Universe, nineteen months leading up to cartoonist Pat Bagley. Titled McNaughton’s tableau—his BYU’s campus newspaper. “Why this crucial election, I feel that “WWJD (Who Would Jesus virtue being that he was “the is this painting, which is sup- my purpose as an artist will be Damn?),” Bagley’s editorial only president in ported by Church doctrine to wake up as many people to cartoon portrays an angry history to have paid off the na- (D&C 101:80), such a taboo our situation as possible,” he re- Jesus, with a pistol tucked in- tional debt,” McNaughton ex- image to display at BYU?” cently wrote on his blog. “As side his robe, shielding his plains. Signs of trouble had ap- Americans, we must protect our human flock from the forces of Given the conservatism of peared a few months earlier: In liberties as defined in the evil, who cower away toward most American Mormons, it’s fall 2010, the BYU bookstore Constitution and make the kind Jesus’s left. As on McNaugh- easy to see why McNaughton’s unexpectedly withdrew Mc- of responsible choices that will ton’s interactive website, hov- political work has won admirers Naughton’s paintings from dis- guarantee a future for our chil- ering over the different figures among the Saints—admirers play but promptly put them dren and grandchildren.” in Bagley’s cartoon reveals and customers, who may pay back when a local news station Worried about the prospect of written explanations. Among over $3500 for a framed repro- came sniffing for a story. Then Obama’s reelection, McNaugh- the damned: “Charles duction of One Nation under in March 2011, a month before ton believes that “the 2012 elec- ‘Monkey-Boy’ Darwin,” a God. Likewise, it’s easy to see the bookstore announced it tion will be determined by how “hoax-pulling climate change why McNaughton’s work has at- would no longer sell One well the Republicans can rally scientist,” a reporter repre- tracted criticism and mockery Nation, BYU canceled Mc- behind a single candidate.” Of senting the “lame stream from liberal quarters. Less pre- Naughton’s invitation to speak this candidate, McNaughton media,” Barack Obama, and dictable, perhaps, is that his about the painting at a BYU adds, “He must be a conserva- Pat Bagley himself in the act of work would become embroiled conference. Officials cited con- tive, not a moderate like John sketching Jesus. Among the in controversy at Brigham cern that the presentation McKane [sic].” righteous shielded by pistol- Young University, which shares would violate the university’s At the same time, McNaugh- packing Jesus: Dick Cheney, the general Mormon reputation policy of political neutrality. ton appears uncomfortable Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, for political conservatism. Protesting the cancellation in a being pegged as political. “I Glenn Beck, a Wall Street This past April, McNaugh- letter to BYU president Cecil O. rarely delve into the fray of pol- banker brandishing his bonus ton announced to readers of his Samuelson, McNaughton ac- itics,” he maintains. “Even my . . . and at the back, with paint- blog that BYU was censoring his cused the university of suc- painting ‘The Forgotten Man’ is brush and easel, a certain un- art “for being too conserva- cumbing to liberalism: “Has more about principle than poli- named “Provo artist with tive.” In the following media Liberalism so infected this uni- tics. I watch what is happening inside scoop on who is Jesus’ flap, a BYU spokesperson ex- versity that speakers can be in- and I hope with all my heart BFFs.”

People Running. For president, YEAH of Nutrisystem weight loss products, Osmond wore her SAMAKE, 42, in his native Mali, Western original wedding gown for the 4 May ceremony. The Africa. Samake, who converted to blissful couple drove away from the temple in a white Mormonism in 2000 while living in New stretch Humvee. York, has a master’s degree in public policy from BYU and is currently the Posted. A video on Vimeo.com showing MARSHALL mayor of Ouelessebougou, in south- MILLER and HARTMAN RECTOR III BASE jumping from western Mali. the Church Office Building in last November. Earlier this year, the duo pleaded guilty in Remarried. Singer and actress MARIE OSMOND, 51, to abeyance to an infraction for leaping from the building. her first husband STEPHEN CRAIG, 54, in the Las Vegas Rector is the son of former SUNSTONE publisher DANIEL Temple. Her second marriage ended in 2007. A promoter HARTMAN RECTOR.

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Transferring. To the University of after learning that their father was planning to mentor Washington, University of Utah other children in musical careers, they decided to reveal President MICHAEL K. YOUNG, 61. his earlier abuse. Young served as chairman of the United States Commission on International Died. Pollster RICHARD B. WIRTHLIN, Religious Freedom during 2003 and 80, from natural causes. As Ronald 2004. In a recent BYU conference on reli- Reagan’s chief strategist, Wirthlin had gious freedom, Young said that Mormons “should be helped steer Reagan’s political career among the most passionate civil libertarians in the world,” from his early days as California gov- and “all ought to be members of the ACLU.” ernor through his two terms in the White House. A brother of apostle Joseph B. Stepping Down. Mormon Olympic gold Wirthlin, he had served as a member of the Second medalist PETER VIDMAR, 49, from his Quorum of the Seventy between 1996 and 2001. post as head of the U.S. Olympic team. Vidmar received criticism from some ath- Honored. THERIC JEPSON by the Association for letes after the Chicago Tribune reported Mormon Letters for guest editing issue 160 of that he had contributed to the campaign SUNSTONE—also known as the comics issue. According to to pass Proposition 8. “I wish that my the citation, the issue has “created a foundation we hope personal religious beliefs would not have become a distrac- will initiate a legacy of quality comics that takes Mormon tion from the amazing things that are happening in the literature in new and exciting directions.” Olympic movement in the United States,” Vidmar stated. “I simply cannot have my presence become a detriment to In Heaven. SAMUEL KEITH MCBRIDE, the U.S. Olympic family.” known to Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium attendees as an enthusiastic Showdown? JON promoter of Emmanuel Swedenborg’s HUNTSMAN, 50, Jr., teachings. He handed out hundreds of and , books on Swedenborg and Helen Keller 63, both emerging during his years at the Symposium. Republican presidential hopefuls. While Rom- Retiring. Arch-conservative Utah state ney presents himself as senator CHRIS BUTTARS, 69. A blunt religiously devout, with solid conservative credentials, critic of gays and lesbians, Buttars was Huntsman, who served as ambassador for a Democratic admired by supporters as a champion of White House and supports civil unions for same-sex cou- moral causes. Buttars attracted contro- ples, projects a more independent image. “I can’t say I’m versy in recent years for comments that overly religious,” Huntsman told Fortune magazine in critics charged were racist and anti-gay. 2010. “I get satisfaction from many different types of reli- gions and philosophies.” Suspended. BRANDON DAVIES, 19, from the BYU basket- ball team, for allegedly having sex with his girlfriend. The story, which received widespread national attention, comes Deported. FELIX CALLEJAS, who’d one year after footballer HARVEY UNGA withdrew from served as a branch president in Draper, BYU on similar grounds. Unga has since had a son, mar- Utah, after a failed attempt to obtain ried BYU girlfriend and fellow athlete KEILANI MOEAKI, asylum from his native El Salvador. and signed with the Chicago Bears. Church spokesperson Scott Trotter told the Salt Lake Tribune that “this case re- Honored. Presiding Bishop H. DAVID minds us all of the need to address immi- BURTON, 73, a recipient of Salt Lake gration reform.” City’s “Giant in Our City” Award. During a banquet in his honor, Burton reaffirmed Sentenced. KEITH SCOTT BROWN, 55, father of the five the Church’s commitment to revitalizing piano-playing siblings who perform as The 5 Browns. downtown Salt Lake City, noting that the Brown was sentenced to ten years to life for sexually $1.5 billion City Creek Center under abusing his three daughters when they were children. DE- construction across from Temple Square is scheduled to SIRAE, 32, DEONDRA, 30, and MELODY, 26, said that open in March 2012.

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