Conference tecrus::mormonism

  Rich,

  That's interesting news.  I haven't heard anything about it back here
  in Massachusetts yet, but it will be interesting to see how it is received
  in the test markets.  I have also seen the "TOGETHER FOREVER" video and
  concur whole-heartedly with your assessment of it--it is excellent.

    >One special was the Christmas
    >special that starred Jimmy Stewart (not a Mormon), but I can't remember
    >the name of it right now. 
    
    Mr. Kruger's Christmas

   Dave

    Last night I received this week's Church News and there is an article
    entitled "Second Emmy in Two Years - Homefront Junior tops industry
    with spot 'Braces and Glasses'". Some highlights from the article: 
    
         This year's public service announcement Emmy-winner, in the
         Homefront Junior series, is a poignant vignette of a girl
         going to school with braces on her teeth for the first time,
         and a boy who tries to get through orchestra practice without
         wearing his glasses. The message concludes, "It's not who you
         aren't -- it's who you are, and being yourself is being
         great." 
         
         Last year, the Church's Emmy-award winner was "The Practice,"
         which portrayed a boy learning to pitch baseball and a girl
         learning to play the piano. Despite criticism, each learned
         to succeed through practice. "When everything says you can't,
         believe in the part of you that says you can," is the
         tagline. 
         
         ...The spots are not designed to proselyte, but are "truly a
         public service effort. We want people to recognize what we
         stand for,"... 
         
         "We think there is a remarkable effect on those who see them.
         Many people have responded, and we are very pleased with the
         results." 
         
         ...the Church's public service announcements are sent to some
         14,000 television and radio stations throughout the world. 
         
         ...the announcements are part of a clearly seen goal to help
         strengthen families and individuals. Rather than just warning
         against symptoms of society's ills, they hope to strike at
         the root of the problems, offering a positive message of
         hope. The messages, based on Church teachings, are intended
         to be universally appealing. 
         
         As a result of the care and quality that goes into each spot,
         television stations air them at prime time. 
         
         Juan M. Gonzalez, who distributes the spots to 85 percent of
         the television stations in the United States and Canada, said
         nearly 64 percent of the television audience in these
         countries saw "Braces and Glasses," and they saw it more than
         twice. It was aired on all three major networks to an
         estimated audience of 147 million viewers. 
         
         He's received letters that the spots have helped many
         families and individuals. In one case, a teen contemplating
         suicide changed his mind after seeing a "Bounce Back"
         Homefront series spot. 
         
         (From Church News, Sep 10, 1988)

	Public Communications
	Colorado Springs Region
	4762 Vista View Ct.
	Colorado Springs, Colorado 80915







	Dear Brothers & Sisters,
		Between the missionary efforts and the Lord's influence Colorado
	Springs is certainly being blessed.  Starting this week we now have
	a regularly weekly T.V. program on Cablevision channel 4, the Community
	Programming Network.  The program will entitled "Times and Seasons"
	and will air each Thursday night at 9pm-


			Jan 11	Tobacco: The Winable War
			Jan 18  Gambling
			Jan 25  Together We Can Make A Difference
			Feb 1   Pornography

		These are the first four Church produced films to be followed
	by many more - some you've seen before like "Johnny Lingo" and many
	that you probably haven't but all with great message for you, your
	family and friends.  We encourage you to watch and tell your friends.
	It's a missionary opportunity.
		The air time is free so we need your support (viewing and
	expressing appreciation to Cablevision for selecting these programs).
	If, on occasion, our program gets preempted it is due to a contractual
	requirement that Cablevision has with Channel 5 in Denver but it should
	be rare.
		Good viewing-




	Faithfully Yours,



	Vern Hodges
	Director of Public Communication
    

Scott, how has this turned out?  Is the show still being telecast?

Allen

    I don't know.  Our stake was divided and I don't know if the person who
    wrote the letter is still around.  If anyone is interested I can find
    out.  I don't have time to watch tv so I don't really know what's on
    the tube anyway.
    
    scott

There is a relatively new cable TV network called VISN, Vision Interfaith
Satellite Network (VISN is pronounced Vision).  This network is supported
by about 25 different religions, and the intent is to provide wholesome, 
positive, value oriented programming on Cable TV.

VISN has three features that distinguish it from other religious networks.
  1.  No on-air soliciting of funds.
  2.  No proselyting of members of other churches.
  3.  No "mud slinging".

The Church is supporting this network with several Church-related shows,
but it is being careful to state that this does not imply that members should
take Cable--that is an individual family decision.

My Stake is just getting involved with VISION.  The Church would like Bishops
to join with the other ministers in town and present a unified request to
the Cable companies to provide VISN as part of the basic package.  My Bishop
received a packet of information at the last High Council meeting, and he has
given it to me to digest and then make suggestions to him as to what he should
be doing about it (part of my calling as a Stake Missionary is to use Cable
TV to further the purposes of the Church).

I'm wondering if any of the noters have had any experience with VISN?  If so,
I would appreciate hearing your comments.  The info from the Church HQ gives
a pretty good picture of what is involved, but I would like to get some first
hand information from viewers as well as Priesthood Leaders who may have met
with the other Christian and Jewish ministers in their towns.

Allen

    Hi Allen,
    
    We don't subscribe to cable so would not be able to watch VISN if it
    was in our area.  This past sunday, we have received some information
    about what our stake is going to do to get this to our area.  Denver
    and Pueblo have it but Colorado Springs does not.
    
    Next week for priesthood/relief society we are going to be shown a
    video tape which describes the VISN network.  Then they will pass out
    stationary and envelopes and ask us to write a note asking the cable
    company here to get it.  They will pass out different size and color
    stationary and the ward/stake will provide the postage.  After we write
    and address the letters, they will collect them and send them to the
    one and only cable company in town.  When they send them, they will
    stagger the mailings over two weeks so it will not be obvious as to
    what is happening.  Hopefully, this will get VISN to our area.
    
    scott

Hi Scott,

Thanks for the information.  Please keep me updated how things work out.

That video tape is very impressive--look for a brief glimpse of a show
staring two old Salvation Army sisters in what seems to be a wonderful comedy.

Allen