Tag Archive: religion

For Sale Sign on Mormon (LDS) Church – Utah

For Sale Sign on Mormon (LDS) Church - Utah

It was quite the surprise the other day when I came across this scene of an LDS church up for sale in the Salt Valley, the heartland of the Mormon faith. Along this particular stretch of road there are probably 5 different wards in less than 2 miles, and its been that way for almost 50 years. Seeing this prompted me to do a bit of catching up on the Mormon church in Utah, having been away from the state for years. My most recent recollection was of a church expanding, especially its number of temples (the sacred space Mormons get married), across Utah and the globe. But I know enough about Mormonism, and the state western religions in general in the face of rising secularism in Europe and America, that I wasn’t surprised when I came across the following article.

A majority of Utahns don’t identify as Mormon, study says.

“SALT LAKE CITY — A new study on membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints finds that for the first time ever, a majority of Utahns do not identify as Latter-day Saints or Mormons.”

While I can’t specifically tie the decision to sell this one particular church, in the heart of Utah’s largest community, to the changing religious demographics of Utah, I don’t think its a coincidence either.

Marble Bible – Franciscan Monastery – Fussen – Germany

Stone Bible – Franciscan Monastery – Fussen – Germany

Purchase Print

Stone Bible – Franciscan Monastery – Fussen – Germany

Chi Rho is a Christian symbol consisting of the Greek letters chi (Χ) and rho (Ρ), which are the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ (Χριστός). The Chi Rho symbol is often used as an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ in Christian art and literature.

The symbol was first used by the Roman Emperor Constantine, who is said to have seen a vision of the Chi Rho in the sky before the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. According to legend, Constantine had the symbol painted on his soldiers’ shields and banners, and they went on to win the battle. After his victory, Constantine converted to Christianity and became a patron of the Christian faith.

The Chi Rho symbol became widely used in Christian art and architecture after Constantine’s conversion, and it remains a popular symbol in Christianity today. It is often seen in churches, on religious artifacts, and in Christian jewelry. The symbol represents the centrality of Christ in the Christian faith and serves as a reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made for humanity.

The Bible is a collection of sacred texts that are considered to be the holy scriptures of the Christian religion. It is divided into two main parts: the Old Testament, which contains the sacred writings of the Jewish faith, and the New Testament, which contains the teachings and life of Jesus Christ and the early Christian church.

The Bible is made up of 66 books, written by various authors over a period of approximately 1,500 years. The Old Testament contains 39 books, including the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Proverbs, and Isaiah. The New Testament contains 27 books, including the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as well as the Acts of the Apostles, the letters of Paul, and the book of Revelation.

For Christians, the Bible is the authoritative source of spiritual guidance and contains the teachings of Jesus Christ, as well as the history and traditions of the Christian faith. The Bible is widely read and studied by Christians around the world and has been translated into many different languages.

East Family Brethren Shop – Kentucky Shaker Village – Pleasant Hill – Harrodsburg

East Family Brethren Shop - Kentucky Shaker Village - Pleasant Hill - Harrodsburg

East Family Brethren Shop- Kentucky Shaker Village – Pleasant Hill – Harrodsburg

Pleasant Hill, Kentucky also known as Shakertown, was a Shaker (the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing) religious community from 1805 to 1910. With many well-preserved buildings, the village was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971.

The Kentucky Shaker village was founded by three New England Shaker missionaries, John Meacham, Benjamin Seth Youngs, and Issachar Bates. They founded the community around the teachings of Mother Ann Lee who believed in celibacy. Kentucky’s Shaker community ultimately died out, in part because of their beliefs in celibacy, problems encountered during and after the Civil War, and a declining interest in their way of life by potential converts . But their legacy of hard work, and fine craftsmanship lives on at Pleasant Hill.