thank you. good timing too.

Thanks for putting something out there for all to see and read. With the LDS church being judged with the election it's good for others to see and learn. We need to send this out to the world.

A great idea. I hope the section will include open reporting from all sides. It seems so many of the mormons only want their limited side of mormon views printed. Under their control of information even Joseph Smith would not have had the opportunity to tell his story. I hope the church will give you access to the records and history files in the vaults of Cotton Wood canyon and then we can get some good, true, fair and balanced reporting. Good luck with your new section.

I have seen and learned of the LDS religion. Thank you DesNews for this. It makes me much more comfortable being of another faith.

God Bless.

Great idea! But who came up with the name? I thought the Church was trying to distance itself from the "Mormon" label.

As a former Utah Mormon, (now Arizona) I enjoy beginning each day reading DeseretNews.com. And while I don't think the LDS church has to "open their vaults and avail all sacred records/transcripts to the world, any more than any other religion is obligated to do so. I hope "SLC" and others will simply accept that what is correctly expressed and published, is simply who we are. And not look for deep dark secrets that must be lingering in a vault somewhere. I think after nearly 200 years our "fruits" are visible and well known.

"unfiltered, accurate, and unbiased" ... thank you Mr. Cannon. I appreciate the DesNews' committment to always give me the straight story, untainted by the liberal left-wing media conglomorate. I like my news as pristine as the falling rain, I like it as sincere and free from hidden agenda as a Mitt Romney policy stance.

Great Idea!! The more people learn about Mormonism the less converts their will be to Mormonism.

The Mormon label will most likely never disappear unless they change the tittle of the Book of Mormon, change the name of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and acknowledge that Joseph Smith was not their founder.

I enjoyed reading every article in your new section. I especially love reading what Orson Scott Card writes. He and Jerry Johnston are favorite writers of mine and I'm glad to know I can read their articles every week. Thank you for a wonderful addition to my favorite newspaper.

You have got to be kidding...The Mormon News?? Isn't the weekly Church News sufficient dogma to remind us who truly runs this state? I'm waiting to see a Muslem News, or a special section just for me called the Goofy Bald Headed Guys with Glasses News. I think this is a subliminal agenda in behalf of the Deseret Morning News to get Mitt Romney elected. If you are hoping this will increase your faltering circulation with your competition, this new section is a bad idea. Utah is more pluralistic and diversified than ever before in history, and to circulate a section to one interest or religion defeats what I feel should be free and open journalism. Joe Cannon, wake up and come to the realization that Salt Lake City is NOT just one great big Salt Lake 12th Ward!!!!

I am glad that the newspaper will be do this. I think it will be great.

And for you who complain, don't read it. Isn't that simple?

Bad idea. I fear it will be more sugar coated church news, church-approved and sanitized.

Thank you, Joe and Staff. This seems in keeping with Elder Ballard's encouragement to use the media to inform others in a clear, concise way of our LDS doctrine, views and lifestyle. I also appreciate the reference back to the fine early Church publication The Times and Seasons.
All the best,
Cy Schmidt
SLC,UT USA

Er... so you didn't feel completely comfortable with your own faith until you found something you could look down on in a different faith?

I shouldn't be surprised, really. That seems about par for the course with all the petty squabbling between ideologies that occurs so often.

Mormon Times? Wasn't "Mormon" a bad word in Utah?

Thank you for your comments Mr. Zinn.

Often we find people who complain and those who make accusations of others. If we didn't have anything to fear couldn't we hold those complaints and accusations until we have all died. If it is true isn't it wonderful, and if not at least there was hope. At any rate, please don't let hatred and misunderstandings stand in the way of us being men and women.

Sounds great! It's just too bad we'll have Orson Scott Card and Jerry Johnston instead of Times and Seasons contributors John Taylor, the Pratt brothers, and Joseph Smith. Now that was some good stuff!

"The more people learn about Mormonism the less converts their will be to Mormonism." This is so true. It's like that scene in the Matrix... once you decide to learn about the facts, there's no turning back. I'd encourage anyone to take this time to look at both proponents and critics of Mormonism. One could go to the official Mormon web site or visit Mormonism Research Ministry.

Wow. More Mormon news in the Mormon paper. What a novel concept! Worthless rag.

(I can't help it...)

I'm glad to see that religious bigotry on this comment board has so far been limited to some guy who doesn't know the difference between "there" and "their". Nice post...haha

Why do you Aaron and the other guy think that? We are still the fastest growing church in the world and America. So please stop being disingenuous. Besides what pill will you take Shafovaloff the red pill or the blue. One will lead you to something without foundation but is easy to live. The other will give you a path and purpose but is harder to live. Down the rabbit hole again eh?
Enough Matrix references for you?

I agree with the comments. It appears that if you are not mormon or disagree with mormons, you are a bigot, or just dumb.

Thanks for the information. I'm looking forward to the articles you present.

um lets see ...
does everyone who reads the Desnews like sports news? ... but it has a sports section.
see does everyone who reads the Desnews like Business news? ... but it has a Business section.
see does everyone who reads the Desnews like Arts & Entertainment news? ... but it has an Arts & Entertainment section.
see does everyone who reads the Desnews like Utah or Davis co news? ... but it has those sections.

if you don't like a Mormon section in the Desnews then don't read it? DUH!

Mormons make a substainal segment of the population in the area, so it would only make sense that the local paper might want to have a section pertaining to them.

I wonder if there is any Catholic news any of Rome's newspapers?
I wonder if there is any Jewish news in New York City or Israeli newspapers?

Anti- Mormon bigotry rears its ugly head again by those who have nothing better to do that hate and complain. Grow up and get a life.

"We are still the fastest growing church in the world and America." This is a faith-promoting myth. Mormonism Research Ministry has documented this myth. In fact, if you go to their front page and click on "Eight Mormon Myths", it's listed as myth #1.

Totally inappropriate for a public newspaper. It reinforces that this is the only state where there is little or no separation of church and state!

Zinn, take a chill pill and relax. I do agree that the church news is enough, but I think you've gone overboard with your vitriol.

I believe you are a bit mis-informed. Joseph Smith wrote his own story and it is published widely im pamphlets, in our scriptures and in Church History.

The information in the vaults is available. In fact the church is very open to letting others see their records (except confidential member stuff).

You have a stilted view of the Church.

Boy are you a genius. You identify an anti-Mormon site and quote them. Their mission is to demean the church in whatever way they can.

Get your head out of the sand!

So if this is so terrible, why are you reading it?

Let it go -- go read the Tribune!

Thank you so very much! This is a wonderful idea, to give the community a little boost in what's going on. A printed calendar of events at the new conference center, Choir schedules, Orchestra events, special meetings and on and on. Even those who are not a part of the faith can be able to enjoy many of those events if they will only have an open mind them. Imagine getting seats at a Choir concert. I have tried many times to get tickets for the choir, but with late notification, I have failed. Thank you, thank you. NIIICE!

This news paper is not public it is owned in the private sector.

"The information in the vaults is available. In fact the church is very open to letting others see their records (except confidential member stuff)."

And by "confidential member stuff," of course you mean anything that might cast a bad light on Mormonism.

I love the D-News. As a mormon, I don't think for myself, and it's a lot easier if someone else does it for me. More stories = more thoughts. Baaaaa!

Where you actually under the impression that there is such a thing as a public newspaper. This news paper is a not a government (hence "public") paper. Rather is is privately held doubtless with stockholders and investors.

are you saying you want the state to run the newspapers?

Ok well I just checked out the site and it has an obvious anti Mormon slant so why should I trust that site anymore than you trust the LDS church's?

The DesNews isn't a government publication. There is no obligation on the part of a corporation to not advocate or report on a particular set of beliefs, nor is there anything against marketing to a large segment of the population based on their religious beliefs. If the DesNews can make more money by publishing this new section, why shouldn't they?

"Their mission is to demean the church in whatever way they can." You mean by quoting facts about Mormonism's growth rate from *Mormon* authors? Consider the information instead of attacking the messenger.

Were you actually under the impression that this is a "public" paper. This newspaper is not owned or operated by the government of this state. Doubtless, it is privately held with investors and a board. If you want to make your weak argument regarding seperation of church and state perhaps you should first look into the orgination of that myth, then find a more logical place to air to imbittered ignorance.

You might want to get your fact straight. The Jehovah's witnesses and the Seventh Day Adventists are growing at a much faster rate than the LDS church. Where did you get your information considering it is false and with less missionaries.

If you have ever watched the session of General Conference where the church releases the statistics for the past year (and I am sure you have not) you will notice that the church leaders say nothing about being the fastest growing religion. They state the number of baptisms for the past year. I don't know if the church is the fastest growing religion in America. I really don't care. But there is no doubt that it is growing at a very rapid rate. If it wasn't, people like you, Aaron, wouldn't spend so much time worrying about other religions 'myths.' Seriously. Live and let live. If the Salt Lake Tribune wants to publish the Catholic times, I am all for it. The DesNews knows the demographic of their readership. It is called marketing. No big deal.

Thanks for the new section. Living far from Salt Lake, I look forward to learing more about what's going on with the church and it's members. It's interesting to read that such a section in the paper is upsetting to some, but I think to most active LDS, this will become a favorite section of the paper. Thanks.

"Our readers also have strongly reaffirmed their interest in a full-service daily newspaper that reports the local, national and international news in an unfiltered, accurate and unbiased manner. " - This is great news, when can we expect to see this happening? Because it sure as heck ain't happening now! The blatent support of Mitt Romney for president is a great example. If I were to rely on your "un-biased" reporting, I'd be buying my tickets to Mr. Romney's innaugural address while the reaalityis he is way behind in the national polls!

"Reports the news in an unfiltered, accurate, unbiased manor"... That is an interesting statement, which is by definition absolutely false. How can you report news in an "unbiased" manor? This is a joke and you know it Mr. Cannon. You may feel that you're opinions are the only correct opinions, but many others disagree. Many times I am offended by your arrogance in the opinion section when you distort the truth in a gross and blatant manor. At least be honest and state that you are biased. Everyone has an opinion on what is right and wrong, just make sure to state those comments as opinion, instead of an "unbiased" report of the news. What's funny and sad at the same time, is your statement about being unfiltered, accurate and unbiased is probably the most egregious lie of all.

To George H Zinn:
Thank you for your comment and insight. This is a free country. One of the great things about it is that you get to choose the things you buy (except public education). If you don't care for the Deseret News product, you could switch to the S L Tribune, which sounds like it would be more to your liking. Only in America.

I attend the LDS Church and all, I don't really mind the idea of this new section... but at the same time wonder why have it when this paper already distributes "The Church News" (LDS publication about LDS news, stories, events, etc.). If readers expressed interest in a section called "Baptist Times" or "Catholic Times" would they also add these sections?

Where are your sources pallyboy (guy who wrote to me@ 12:25 PM)? Would you like if I retyped it so it says One of the fastest growing churches? I'm sorry I have to split my attention right now so somethings are going to get omitted.

To Cy chmidt: Are you the same Cy Schmidt from the old Guardian / Peter Jeppson days???

I think this is a good idea, But Deseret News, didn't you get the memo...? The big white building says we should always refer to the church as "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints", or doesn't that apply to you guys? Or is this another example of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing in church leadership.