RLDS Church gives award to Jane Goodall (Primatologist Jane Goodall receives award for environmental efforts)

Primatologist Jane Goodall was awarded the 1999 International Peace Award by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Sunday at the Church's world headquarters in Independence, Missouri. Goodall, who is best known for her studies of chimpanzees, told the audience that studying chimpanzees has helped connect humans with the animal world, "What I learned the most is that the chimpanzee serves as the blood line between the humans on the one hand and the animal kingdom on the other.... I almost see the chimpanzee reaching out to us and saying, `You are part of the animal world.' "

Temple Gets Nauvoo O.K.

The Nauvoo City Council gave the LDS Church permission to build the Nauvoo Temple last night in a vote of 5-1. City Hall was filled with residents, some of whom were concerned with the impact that the building would have on their city and neighborhood. While no opinions were offered directly opposing the Temple, third ward councilwoman Joan Kraft did express the concerns of her constituents that they didn't have enough information to make sure the costs to the town wouldn't exceed the benefit, "I wish we could have waited to make a decision," she said.

Birmingham, AL Temple Groundbreaking

While local newspapers skipped covering the groundbreaking of the Birmingham Alabama Temple, held Saturday, October 9th, local members experienced an inspiring, spiritual experience, despite bad weather. According to Birmingham First Stake president Richard May, the event was well attended, and a 'sea of colorful umbrellas' gave a clear representation of the size of the crowd of nearly 2,300 people present.

Salmon won't sacrifice principles for politics

When Rep. Matt Salmon, (R-Ariz.) ran for Congress from the 1st District of Arizona in 1994, he promised his constituents that he'd be in office for three terms, if they wanted him that long, and then he'd be gone. Salmon is keeping that term-limit pledge, which strikes many observers as very unusual in Washington D. C., where campaign promises often seem to be forgotten 10 minutes after they're made.