The Mormon Land newsletter is The Salt Lake Tribune’s weekly highlight reel of news in and about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Join us on Patreon to receive ad-free podcast episodes, the full newsletter and access to all of our religion content.

Another misconception

In recent Mormon Land newsletters, we’ve been addressing myths, misconceptions and misunderstandings about Latter-day Saint teachings, policies and practices.

Here’s another one:

• Latter-day Saints shouldn’t watch R-rated movies.

This belief has been around for about as long as Hollywood’s rating system itself and remains ingrained in much of Mormon culture — and for good reason: Top church leaders have stated as much.

“Don’t see R-rated movies,” then-church President Ezra Taft Benson cautioned in a 1986 General Conference sermon, “or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive or pornographic.”

But, the fact is, there is no general rule against viewing those films. It is not in the General Handbook or temple recommend questions.

The recently updated “For the Strength of Youth” guidelines urge members to “seek that which uplifts, inspires and invites the Spirit. … Stay away from anything that mocks sacred things or is immoral.”

The lack of a blanket ban against R-rated films, however, does not mean anything goes. Leaders continue to counsel against viewing nudity, glorified and gratuitous violence, and flicks with vulgar language.

You can listen to — and read excerpts from — our previous “Mormon Land” podcast on this topic.

Latest ‘Mormon Land’ podcast: The search for happiness

Tribune guest columnist Natalie Brown, author of “After Happiness: Living with Faith in a Time of Crisis,” discusses how to help Latter-day Saints amid today’s challenges.

Listen to the podcast.

Around the world

• Church President Dallin Oaks surprised and delighted the throngs lining the streets of downtown Salt Lake City with his appearance in the Days of ’47 Parade celebrating the 1847 arrival of Latter-day Saint settlers to the Salt Lake Valley.

“The faith and sacrifice of the pioneers are not merely part of our history,” Oaks said on social media. “They are part of our heritage as a covenant people.”

President Camille Johnson, head of the worldwide women’s Relief Society, was the Pioneer Day procession’s grand marshal.

“I did have pioneer ancestors who made their way to Salt Lake City in September of 1847,” Johnson said in a news release. “I’m touched by their devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ, because many of them left lives that were relatively comfortable ... so that they could follow the call of prophets to assemble to Zion.”

• Latter-day Saints, teaming up with other relief agencies, have expanded their response to the devastating earthquakes that rocked Venezuela last month.

According to a news release, the aid includes 5,000 food kits for affected households; 700 hygiene packs; five temporary shelters for 400 people; and ready-to-eat meals for 1,500 people.

• The church has donated a range of equipment and supplies to help the Democratic Republic of Congo fight the Ebola virus.

• Ten new songs have been added to the church’s evolving “Hymns for Home and Church.”

The new tunes are:

• “Peace, Peace, Be Still.”

• “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

• “Isaiah Said.”

• “Fight the Good Fight.”

• “It’s Joyful to Live the Gospel.”

• “To God Be the Glory.”

• “Speak to Us, Lord.”

• “The Miracle.”

• “What God Calls Us To.”

• “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”

“There is power in music,” Mateus Rangel, a native Brazilian who serves as the music coordinator in his Portuguese-speaking congregation in Provo, said in a news release. “I love the way simple truths are spoken through the lyrics of the new hymns.”

• Fort Bridger, a way station on the Mormon Trail, is hosting a “paranormal investigation” from July 30 through Aug. 1, when visitors will be led through a “ghost hunt” at the historic outpost.

“There is something special here at Fort Bridger, and most people can feel it when they come on-site,” Josh Camp, superintendent of the Fort Bridger State Historic Site, told Wyoming Public Radio.

“There’s some untapped paranormal there — absolutely,” added Marie Mason, who will lead the investigation. “Mountain men killing each other, you have the Utah Wars, the Mormon Wars, the Indian Wars, Calamity Jane, Donner family. Wow. It can’t get any better than that, right?”

• Three new statues have been added to downtown Salt Lake City’s Temple Square.

The new artwork depicts the biblical Jesus with the woman at the well, Mary at the tomb, and ordaining his apostles.

Two other sculptures — showing Christ blessing children and with Mary and Martha — soon will be unveiled as well, according to a news release, upping the total to 12 new statues at the popular tourist destination.

• A federal appeals court has sided with the church — and sent a case back to the trial judge in Salt Lake City — as it seeks to get two insurance companies to pay for settlements reached in abuse lawsuits, Courthouse News Service reports.

• Eight years after then-church President Russell Nelson launched his campaign against the term “Mormon,” the debate about the moniker continues.

“It went from a marker of pride,” a former member told KUER, “to now a marker of sin.”

• Learn about how Salt Lake City’s historic Pioneer Park earned its name and how it has evolved through the years.

From The Tribune

• Meet the faithful Latter-day Saint general authority who spent decades defending a church policy “he didn’t believe in.” Listen to the “Mormon Land” podcast. Read the excerpts.

• A new book argues that Pioneer Day is just one example of the church’s anti-Indigenous racism.

• Religion News Service columnist Jana Riess spotlights seven trends in the church.