Latter Day Saints

Alicia Robinson Near the crest of a hill not far from the Big Canyon golf course and Fashion Island, a spire is rising into the sky. It's the tallest building in the area, and when it's finished it will be the first Mormon temple in Orange County and the only place in the area where some rites of the religion can be performed. The temple has been under construction since August 2003. It sits next to Newport Beach's stake center at 2300 Bonita Canyon Drive, where church and community functions are held daily.

Thanksgiving is Nov. 26. What is there to be thankful about, given that the nation still appears to be mired in two foreign wars, thousands more U.S. troops may be on their way to Afghanistan, and tens of thousands of American jobs are being lost every month despite signs that the economy finally is brightening? Seriously? Somebody woke up on the wrong side of bed, or has no context for global suffering to think that we have it bad. Yes, 10% of Americans are jobless, but 90% are working.

Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; by fax to (949) 646-4170; or by calling (949) 574-4298. Include the time, date and location of the event, as well as a contact phone number. A complete listing is available at www.dailypilot.com. TODAY The 2002 Holiday Snow Hill Day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Balearic Community Center in Costa Mesa. The event, presented by the City of Costa Mesa Recreation Division, is being co-sponsored by Torelli Realty Company, which will donate 55 tons of blown ice to create five snow runs and a play area for toddlers.

The Newport Beach Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will present its annual free Christmas concert at 5 p.m. Dec. 14. The concert will feature guest performances by Grammy award-winner Janine Wynn and the male vocal ensemble Men in Blaque from UCI. Wynn will perform songs including “Christ, Child,” “Christmas Waltz” and “Mary Did You Know?” with Corona del Mar High School music teacher Val Jamora on the saxophone and alto Melissa Rydjeski, and Nashville songwriter Jay Yates.

A few years ago, my son-in-law enrolled for a master's degree at a renowned theological seminary. Soon after, he was asked to meet with the admissions director. He was asked if he was a Mormon, to which he replied "yes. " He was then informed that Mormons were not eligible for admission, and he was dis-enrolled. In that discussion the word "cult" was used pejoratively. It came to mind again when The Rev. Robert Jeffress, an evangelical leader, recently endorsed Texas Gov. Rick Perry for the GOP presidential nomination over Mitt Romney, a Mormon.

Costa Mesa High School Les Miller Outstanding Student Awards MANDY NGUYEN GPA: 4.28 School Activities/Clubs: National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, ROP Emergency Medical Responder, ZOE academy Community: Mesa Verde Library, Heart of Jesus Retreat Center, part-time job at the Orange County Marketplace Honors: valedictorian, Balboa Bay Club Scholarship, Mustang Recognition Awards, Principal's Honor...

The infamous tattoo artist, author, and clothing designer, passed away on March 23, 2009 at the young age of 44. Toby was a proud father, grandfather, aloving son, brother and friend to all he came in contact with. He will be missed by many. Visitation will be at mortuary from 6pm to 9pm on March 31st.. Funeral services will be at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 15100 Cordova Rd., La Mirada on April 1st at 10:30am. Interment will be at Olive Lawn Memorial Park.

Religious leaders from around the community are inviting the public to join them Sunday to rejoice in the spirit of Thanksgiving with music, prayer and readings of gratitude. From 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday, the Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council is hosting an interfaith celebration at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 2200 San Joaquin Hills Road, Newport Beach, with leaders from various faiths taking part, church officials said. Leaders from nine faiths will join for an hour of uplifting music, prayer and brief readings focused on gratitude and Thanksgiving.

 City of Costa Mesa celebrated Arbor Day on Saturday and earning its 10th year as a Tree City USA.  The tree planting took place at TeWinkle Park around the Volcom Skatepark and the Lower TeWinkle Lake.  A second location was on the median strip of Mesa Verde Drive.  There were 42 trees planted at TeWinkle Park and 124 trees planted along Mesa Verde Drive.  The Costa Mesa Institute of Religion of the Church of Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Mormon Missionaries provided the people to plant Mesa Verde Drive.