Within a few weeks the Deseret Morning News will launch Mormon Times.com, an ambitious new Web site for and about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are doing everything we can to make Mormon Times.com a safe, healthy and robust online community, but we are still missing the most critical element: you.
Mormon Times.com will feature news and information from around the LDS Church, with online contributors who will make it lively and entertaining. But we are also going to rely on our readers to add to the site with their own experiences, wisdom and knowledge through several interactive features. Many of these interactive features are going to require that you see them before you can contribute. But there are others that you could start thinking about immediately.
For example, you are going to be the movie critic for Mormon Times.com. That's right: all of you. Rather than have one designated film critic, we're going to ask all of you to share your thoughts and insights on the films you've seen here, so others can benefit from your experience. Of course, we won't be reviewing any "R" or "NC-17"-rated films, and we will limit the films that are reviewed to those that fit within the standards outlined in the "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet and in the 13th Article of Faith ("virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy"). But if you've seen a movie that fits those standards (or you'd like to warn us about one that doesn't), please feel free to send your review to us at mormontimes@desnews.com. Start sending them in now and they'll be posted on Mormon Times.com when we launch!
Similarly, an online feature called "Mormon Experience" will pose a series of questions and ask for you to share your own personal experiences with these subjects. We believe this sharing will allow us to learn from each other, and edify one another with the blessings and opportunities of our lives. Here are the first questions you'll see when Mormon Times.com launches:
"What is the single best preparedness tip you've ever received?"
"How did you help your little ones learn to be reverent in Sacrament Meeting?"
"How did a home or visiting teacher really make a difference in your life?"
"What's your all-time favorite moment from a Sunday School lesson?"
"Can love survive a Valentine's Day disaster?"
Your input on these subjects would be greatly appreciated, and would help us launch Mormon Times.com with more good and insightful ideas for all who will sample this new Web site. Again, the place to send your responses to our "Mormon Experience" questions is: mormontimes@desnews.com.
And if you have ideas for upcoming "Mormon Experience" questions, send those in, too!