35,000 visit temple, LDS official says

LDS Church spokesman Dave Hein says that the turnout visiting the new Billings, Montana Temple has been very good, "We've had over 35,000 people who have attended so far. We're expecting another big day on Saturday." The two week open house began on October 8, with the temple open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Following its dedication, the temple will be closed to the public.

Spire soars above new temple

In spite of the fact that the LDS Church made no formal announcement of the placement of the Angel Moroni on top of the spire of the Palmyra New York Temple, about 200 people learned of the 30-foot, 13,000 pound statue's installation and showed up to watch. "I think if we had announced it we could have had 2,000 to 3,000 people. That's the part that scared us," said LDS Church spokesman William Sherwood.

Convicted Arsonist Woos Ex-Lover

Convicted arsonist Walter Gene Grassie, who was given a 15-year sentence in federal prison for torching an LDS chapel in New Mexico, is still writing to the woman who dumped him. Grassie burned the chapel and vandalized several others after his former yodeling partner and lover, Sharlene Jensen, dumped him and returned to her husband. Grassie blamed the LDS Church for her decision.

Legislators support pre-game prayer

"This ban sets a dangerous precedent. It is wrong for our courts to dictate when and where we can pray," said Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-Texas. "If we can start each day in Congress with a prayer, why can't the students in our schools do the same before their football games."

LDS donates $25,000 toward chapel

The LDS Church has made a $25,000 donation to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center for the construction of a non-denominational chapel in the hospital. Elder Dennis Neuenschwander, area president of the Utah South Region and Elder Carl Bacon, Area Authority Seventy from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presented the check to UVRMC on Thursday, October 21st.

LDS Relief Society in Kansas makes blankets for Project Linus (Volunteers' efforts will help blanket children with comfort)

Project Linus was founded by Karen Loucks-Baker in l995. Loucks-Baker is the wife of jazz drummer, Ginger Baker. After reading a magazine article about a small child who was going through intensive chemotherapy, Loucks-Baker discovered that the patient's security blanket helped them get through their treatments. It was then that Loucks-Baker decided to help cancer patients at a Denver hospital.

Cougar campaigning as write-in for council

23-year-old Brigham Young University student Jon Selden has announced that he will run as a write-in candidate for Provo City Council. He explained that he is running for the local political office because although BYU students account for nearly one-third of the city's population of 110,000, there no students are on the council.