The Things of My Soul
Welcome to Our Newspaper Blog

by Dale J. Neilson

© Latter-day Times Newspapers


For those of you unfamiliar with the Latter-day Times Newspapers, welcome! This two-year old, pro-LDS independent weekly online newspaper is based in Salt Lake City.


The name was suggested by good friend and mentor Paul Skousen. Thanks to him, Norma King and Crismon Lewis for their editing and other suggestions. Stewart King was invaluable in blog creation and design.


Our goal is to cover hard LDS news and issues dealing with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) and its members, beginning with Salt Lake City and Utah. While not unique, we still have something to offer, like humor.


We believe in humor. That’s a fact, not an Article of Faith.


The former pro-LDS Latter-day Sentinel newspaper had its Laughter-day Laughter and Lighter-day Saints humor columns, and LDT will use those same titles to lighten your load. One of my favorites is of now-retired University of Utah sports information-everything Bruce ‘Woody’ Woodbury of the Bountiful Utah Orchard Stake.

In the late 1980s, we Salt Lake sports media were gathered for a luncheon and asked to briefly identify ourselves. Before anyone could respond Brother Woodbury blurted, “It’s not like a testimony meeting or anything.”


The place literally roared.

Our copyright, Sharing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is what we do. We hope you’ll agree.
To paraphrase Salt Lake LDS clothier ‘Mr. Mac’ Christensen:
• No one writes the way we do.
• No one interviews the way we do.
• No one covers LDS news and issues the way we do.
• No one.


Beginning with the September 2007 issue, this newspaper has included the editor’s monthly column, The Things of My Soul. The title is taken from 2 Nephi 4:15 and will reveal what’s presently on the editor’s mind regarding LDS life.


LDT’s editorial direction and layout is derived from the Sentinel, which ceased publication in 1989. While it was published in Utah for only about a year, the Sentinel achieved major success in scooping other local papers.


For example:
• LDS welcomed Russian nuclear arms inspectors to Utah.
• A man who broke his neck skiing recovered not only to walk again, but also serve a full-time mission.
• The world’s youngest, called genealogical extractor was an 11 year-old girl.
• Athletes under the Radar featured how sports can help build character in unique ways.


You’ll find unique stories like these in our paper. Read. Enjoy. Repeat.


We would appreciate your feedback. Please email us at: editor@latterdaytimes.com.


BYU Football Is My Second Wife:
Will Viva Las Vegas Ask the Cougars
for a Fifth Consecutive Bowl Date?

by Dale J. Neilson

© Latter-day Times Newspapers


After last year’s college football season, I was among the many BYU fans obsessed with the Cougars’ bowl futures. Both the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs and the University of Utah Utes had slaughtered our team. Many of us were worried about where and who the Cougs would play.


We worried our team would be exiled to someplace like Outer Slobolia for the You’ll-Wish-You-Had-Never-Heard-of-This-Place Bowl.


I wrote the following letter (now edited and italicized) to fellow Latter-day Saint Jeff Newman (Rexburg, Ida.), who asked if BYU football was destined for the 2008 Toilet Bowl. With the probable Sun., Dec. 6, bowl season invitations issued in mind, my 2009 updated comments are without italics.


We're not stuck in the Toilet Plunger Bowl! Definitely the Cougars have a Poinsettia Bowl shot or maybe another trip to the Las Vegas Bowl. At #17 in the BCS, BYU will have to win out and also be lucky to even get in its Top 10.


After BYU edged the Utes in overtime 23-20, the Cougars improved to #14 in the BCS and Utah dropped to #25. BYU definitely has no chance for a BCS game. Even if the Cougs were on the cusp of one, BCS politics would attempt to keep them out as it has others.


Don’t you just love my positive attitude?


From where BYU’s come in embarrassing blowout home losses to TCU and especially mediocre Florida State, Vegas or San Diego (Poinsetta Bowl) is peachy-fine with me. Both are warmer than Utah and have great bowl games.


Provided the Cougs beat Air Force and Utah wins at San Diego, Vegas depends on who wins between BYU-Utah. Should the now-BCS ranking #7 Utes win out, they're likely in a BCS game since they’ll probably advance the required one place for an automatic bid.


BYU has more wins (10) than Utah’s nine, suggesting the Cougars are more attractive to the Vegas Bowl and its $1 million dollar payday. That’s not to disparage the Utes! Remember, they own two more BCS wins over every other non-BCS team except Boise State (2005 Fiesta Bowl champion). While U. can’t go undefeated every year, it did in 2004 and 2008. The Cougs did it once 25 years ago.


Vegas might opt for a different MWC team than the perennial (2005-07) Cougars.


I don’t think it will, given the records, rankings and head-to-head competition with primary threat Utah.


That's what the Holiday Bowl did after the then-Western Athletic Conference Cougs played there from 1978-85 and compiled a 4-3 record, including their 1984 national title. The Cougars also won the 1985 WAC championship and the automatic Holiday Bowl bid, but due to mutual agreement (maybe BYU fatigue by the Holiday Bowl) the Cougars accepted an invite to the Citrus Bowl.


It’s still true and Vegas still might opt for the Utes. Due to reasons already noted, I think the ‘Veg’ (former Cougar star wide receiver Austin Collie’s nickname for the Vegas Bowl) will choose BYU. The Cougs sell-out the ‘Veg’ in every visit, including regular-season games. Should it risk not inviting BYU and earn less money? Utah’s also a great draw, but why the risk? Maybe the bowl and its four-year suitor like each other the more they date.


The You’ll-Wish-You-Had-Never-Heard-of-This-Place Bowl will just have to go without BYU for at least another year.