Hello
We were subscribers to LDS Living and enjoyed it somewhat, but decided not to re-subscribe because much of it seems inapplicable to members of the Church who don’t live in the Continental US, particularly in Utah or Idaho. We live in Alberta, Canada. I would also assume that non North Americans would feel it even more. Most of the articles were alright, but yes, sometimes they don’t seem applicable to non Americans. Since it is LDS Living and not LDS American Living, it would be great to see it more in tune with members of the Church who are NOT in the US. Especially since the church membership is larger outside of the States than it is in the States. We might consider subscribing again when it seems less American oriented and more worldwide Church oriented.
I’ve never even heard of LDS Living.
Johnna, I was just going to write the exact same comment.
That’s because you don’t live in Utah. :)
I agree. It has way too much of a Utah-centric feel that I’ve never found it interesting. They ought to change that if they want to reach a broader audience.
here’s a brilliant idea, Mary. What if you create a magazine for the LDS population that will reach out to the whole world rather than Utah and Idaho. :)
And we can charge ten bucks an issue to cover shipping charges to all over the world. :)
Dan
That is an idea, but I don’t have the time or money to do that, sigh.
Here’s a link to LDS Living
http://ldsliving.com/
‘Course if I did a magazine it would be very homebirth, homeschooling, natural healing, natural living oriented :) A bit too radical for many LDS, lol.
You could do a travel guide on where to buy caffeine drinks while in Utah. That would be very helpful and useful.
Bill
Uh…ok. But why?
Ok, I know you are being facetious, right? lol
I was talking with a YM that just got back from EFY in Provo and he said he bribed his counselor to go buy him a coke.
Why would he have to do that? Just buy it himself. When will people realise CAFFEINE IS NOT AGAINST THE WORD OF WISDOM.
Sorry for yelling. I just wish people would get over silly traditions.
But besides that coke is gross. All cola is. Ew.
Getting back to the original message in the post – I live in Florida and picked up an LDS Living magazine at Deseret Book last month when I was in Vegas.
I also found it to be mostly full of articles and advertisements for Utah Saints. I really could not find too much to recommend about the magazine.
While I would definitely be turned off by Mary’s homeschooling, natural birth, hippie oriented approach, I would likewise be disappointed by a soft soap lifestyle magazine that assumes the only valid LDS lifestyle has to do with the mountain west.
I think that Deseret Book needs to rename the magazine Utah Saints Living.
Mary’s magazine wouldn’t be an LDS one. For the record.
There are a number of regional oriented LDS publications outthere. In San Diego we enjoy the Seagull.
There aren’t any LDS oriented publications in Canada that I know of. Maybe in the US, but if there are any elsewhere in the world, I am not aware of them. Again, we are a worldwide church, sigh.
Oh well, it doesn’t really matter that much. I will stick to my UC and homeschooling mags (or and Runner’s world)
I imagine that the bulk of their sales take place in the Utah/Idaho area so it makes sense to focus the content to those members. Changing the focus to include a wider demographic might increase their readership, but would it do it enough to offset the readers they would lose who liked it the way it was?
The bulk of their sales take place in the Utah/Idaho area BECAUSE they focus their content (and market) to those members.
Tammy
Perhaps, but it is offered to members of the Church all over the world. I don’t see why it wouldn’t do it enough. Remember, there are more members of the Church outside of the US than there are IN the US. And that includes Utah and Idaho. I am not the only one who has canceled a subscription because it seems inapplicable to our family. I don’t know if I am the only one who SAYS something about it though.
It could be the bulk of their sales take place in the Utah/Idaho area, but I wouldn’t be suprised if this isn’t the case.
The thing is, my experience has shown that many members in the Utah/Idaho area do believe the Church is centred around Utah/Idaho. This isn’t the case. Not only that, the Ensign and Friend aren’t Utah/Idaho centred (and I assume the New Era isn’t either, though it’s been a few year since I have read it). I would like to see LDS Living, which is supposed to be for members of the church worldwide, to reflect that. The Church is NOT the same all over the world. Yes, the basics are, but not everything, especially everything culturally.
But they also focus their content (and market) to those members because they know that they are more concentrated in that area, more easily accessed through advertising and promotions, and perhaps in more of a mindset to purchase LDS related items. I know that for myself, when I lived in Utah, I frequented LDS bookstores and purchased items such as LDS magazines and books regularly, but now that I am living in another state, I maybe make one LDS product purchase a year.
By the way, I’m not saying they shouldn’t change their focus. I would love an LDS magazine (besides the church sponsored ones) that I felt was relevant to me. I’m just noting the economic reasons that may be preventing them from doing so.
I am not just referring to purchasing items. I am talking about articles as well. And again, it is LDS Living, not LDS Utah Living.
I buy it for the pictures – oops – I mean the articles.
Let’s face it, they’re concentrating on catering to where the money is.
Although there may be more members outside of the country, I seriously doubt the average South American member is buying any of the merchandise being advertised in the magazine.
It’s not about members, it’s about advertisers.
Tammy
Oh I know. And I see it, I just think they are somewhat, oh what’s the word, not shortsighted, but perhaps near-sighted. They don’t see the potential of branching it out, opening it up to the international or even national membership of the Church. And from the taste we get in the Ensign, I think there is great potential there, to help non Utah/Idaho members feel a part of “LDS Living” but also for Utah/Idaho members to see something outside of their field of vision.
Don’t start a magazine. Start a ring of LDS Canadian blogs.
oh. I guess you were ahead of me there.
yup I cancelled mine as well a few months ago
Mum
For the same reason?
Mary, thank you for that, I’m on my way uptown to by some no-doz. I’m going to quote you. Well, I will say, it says on-line that we can have caffeine.
Here in Utah, we have several local magazines similar to LDS Living. I don’t think it’s a purposeful oversight, they perhaps don’t realize their potential. I’ve enjoyed that magazine, for the most part.
annegb
:) You can quote me.
I do think they don’t realise the potential. I just think because LDS Living does market to a wider audience they should live up to it. Hey maybe they will respond to my letter. I am not really upset by it, just a bit “piqued” at least, enough to say something so maybe they will change it.
yes Mary for the same reason and now that I think of it I will write as well. I just went through my last copy and I could count on one hand the amount of information that was useful for me or my family. Most of the magazine is made up of ads for places and stores etc that are in Utah.
They did have an interesting article on how to do a family reunion and I got ideas from that. On the other hand it talkes about places in Utah to take your family when they were there for their reunion.
Never heard of LDS Living – I’m in Britain – we only have Ensign, New Era and some others I don’t think I’ve ever read.
Mary – sorry, but coke is great stuff! Although I would recommend buying non-caffeine, not because it’s against the WoW (it’s not!) simply because caffeine is very addictive, and it would be better purely for our health not to drink it.
WEll, that’s ok, to each his own taste. I just have never liked the taste of it. But then I don’t drink pop period. :)
Dr. Pepper beats Coke any day of any week.
Royal Crowne & Dr. Pepper. hum!!!!!!
“very addictive”
Puh-leez! lol
Hey Rick…. quite apparently you dislike me already, having slated me on several posts already just because I purely state my beliefs on something.
For your information, I know a number of people who cannot go without caffeine – it is deemed to be one of the most addictive substances.
“it is deemed to be one of the most addictive substances”
By whom?
I don’t dislike you as all ldsuk87, I’m merely stating another set of beliefs, and promoting less dogmatic views of the world.
“Most people are unaware of caffeine’s addictive properties. Those who consume 300 mg. or more per day, suffer from withdrawal symptoms if they abruptly cut off their caffeine supply. Most users will suffer from symptoms of fatigue and depression, irritability, tremors, jumpiness, deprivation of deep sleep, and vascular headaches, as the blood vessels in the brain dilate.”
That is what I came across on the first page I saw … 250mg is equivalent to 2-3 cups of coffee. So I would hazard a guess, most people are addicted to caffeine, no?
…and that is considered to be the list of ‘one of the most addictive substances’?
Now try Googling what happens when you stop taking heroin or nicotine.
You really have to watch how you use words like ‘most addictive’.
It’s myopic world-views that cause the most stress. Seriously, I’d recommend that you stay more open-minded.
And I suggest you read what people write. “One of the most” Not “the most”. Few words make a big difference in meaning.
“One of”
I googled “the most addictive drugs” and didn’t see caffeine anywhere…
Hmmmm… I guess I’ll have to defer to your long life experience and degree in pharmacy.
Dogma severs rational thought.
When did we change the word substance to drug? I don’t recall that part. But hey, we aren’t going to agree on this. Fact of life – people who drink coffee can’t stop – hence it’s very addictive, and easy to become addicted to. You can’t contest that.
“people who drink coffee can’t stop”
“You can’t contest that.”
Actually, I can.
Are there side effects to stopping? Yup. Is it impossible? Nope.
Compare this with any REALLY addictive substance. There is no comparison, really. Caffeine is nowhere near as addictive to many other substances.
Unfortunately I never actually said it’s impossible – nothing is impossible. Yes I said people cannot stop, I admit, I was inaccurate there. It is incredibly difficult to stop I shouldh ave said. Got me there rick.
“incredibly difficult”
Nope, not that either.
It’s painfully apparent that you have little experience with both addiction and caffeine in particular. No big deal there, you’re young. You’ve got plenty of time to learn about lots of things.
FYI many things are, in fact, impossible. Once again you talk in generalities and end up saying things you don’t mean to say, I’m sure.
Things are impossible … like what?
You say it’s not incredibly difficult, but yet you do not back this with anything. Personal experience? OK so that accounts for one person. In conjunction with all the research that claims caffeine is easy to overcome right?
If anything, it states that caffeine is very addictive. Why else would most of the population of the world be addicted to it.
Impossible: Two pieces of matter occupying the same space at the same time.
Impossible: Measuring, with precision, both the position and velocity of a sub-atomic particle near the Planck length.
I have both personal experience with those combatting REAL addictions and with caffeine. I’ve also done plenty of reading on both topics because it interests me.
A large portion of the population are consumers of caffeine because it is both LEGAL and WIDELY AVAILABLE. Those two aspects alone are responsible for the widespread consumption of caffeine. Also there are several beneficial aspects to caffeine consumption which vastly outweigh any drawbacks.
Most of the world has no problem with caffeine, it’s mostly the concern of a very, very small group ; that being the LDS.
“ricks an anus”
Wow.
How can I possibly argue with logic like that?
what a geek
Caffeine use also provides increased heart rates, increased rates of heart problems. People often don’t sleep properly because of it aswell.
Yes a small group, the LDS have a problem with it. So did only a small population of the world in the mid 1800s have a problem with smoking – the LDS – and now look what we know about smoking!
Betty, who are you? Thanks for the input though…next time maybe something a little bit more educated tho huh?
my real name is Winston Von Hussleton and i am a geek slayer. I find what the conversations between you and rick pulsating and captivating in the upmost manner. My flippant jests earlier are of no consequence i simply just get ridiculously hyper when i have too much pepsi, probably all the caffeine. I am trying to stop drinking it but when i stop i feel week and oft times become shakey. I am like a dissolutioned woodpecker. Adios