April 12, 2018

Members of various faith traditions gathered in the Rotunda of the State Capitol to celebrate Iowa Religious Freedom Day as proclaimed by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. A short program featuring families from across a variety of faith traditions shared their perspective on how faith strengthens their families and their ability to contribute in positive ways to the broader community.  The Iowa Catholic Conference, Des Moines Area Religious Council, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints partnered to help host the Iowa Religious Freedom Day.  For more information about the event, go to iowareligiousfreedomday.org.

April 28, 2018

More than 200 Mormons in the Des Moines Metro joined with Red Cross volunteers, Des Moines firefighters, and other community volunteers to install some 750 smoke alarms in the Fairgrounds Neighborhood of Des Moines, checking existing alarms and replacing dead batteries as needed.   We are proud to partner with the Iowa Chapter of the American Red Cross in this lifesaving work that was part of a national effort to install 100,000 alarms in a two-week period. 

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In addition this event, Mormons in the Mississippi Valley participated in similar projects in Dubuque and in the Quad Cities.  Between the three projects--all on April 28--some 300 Latter-day Saints served with others in their communities to help the Red Cross and various fire departments and county emergency management departments protect families from fire. Learn more. 

July 11, 2017

Don't miss the Nauvoo and British Pageants, now in their 10th year, between July 11 and August 5 in Nauvoo, IL. The British Pageant chronicles the story of real immigrants leaning on faith to leave their country behind to embrace a new faith and a new country, while the Nauvoo Pageant tells the story of Nauvoo's founding and Joseph Smith's leadership of the new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Journal entries from the 1800s were used to create the scripts for each performance. A core cast of professional actors is supported by a volunteer cast of hundreds on an outdoor stage for each evening performance Tuesday through Saturday. No tickets are needed for this free presentation. Concessions are available. Seating is available. Bug spray is up to you but recommended. 

June 25, 2017

The cast of the Nauvoo Pageant presented an evening of song and narrative to remind us of the eternal nature of families, of enduring love in the face of hardship, and of our individual worth during mortality and in the life to come. The beautiful First Christian Church, 2500 University Ave., in Des Moines hosted the show in support of DMARC (Des Moines Area Religious Council) and their mission to feed the hungry and promote interfaith understanding and cooperation in Iowa. Nearly 450 people attended the performance and donated in excess of $3,400 to DMARC. 

May 20, 2017

Brigham Young University's touring performance group, Living Legends, brought their mix of Native American, Latin American, and Polynesian dances to Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 20th. The performance featured multiple dances to portray both history and faith of ancient peoples in the Americas and Pacific nations. From beginnings to growth to prosperity and conflict, dancers shared the message that harmony with each other and reverence for the Divine create the best cultures for families to thrive and societies to prosper. The performance also reminded us of the rich heritage a diversity of cultures has brought to our world, and we can all learn something from each other.

April 13, 2017

Mormons in Iowa supported Iowa Religious Freedom Day on 13 April 2017.  Many attended a celebration at the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda in Des Moines from 11:30-1:30. For photos and more information about the event, visit iowareligiousfreedomday.org.  The 2018 celebration will be held 12 April 2018, also in the Rotunda.