Comments on: An Open Letter to LDS Living Magazine

By: Uneva Rickman

Uneva Rickman — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:54:12 +0000

I’d like to make two points. First, my sister gave me several copies of the magazine in question, and suggested that I subscribe. I read them all, from cover to cover (like I do with any magazine I pick up…if I read it at all). I found several articles and suggestions that weren’t in keeping with LDS standards. I was vary disappointed…and, of course, did not subscribe.
Second, about caffeine…while in my mid-teens (I’m now a great-grandma), I was watching General Conference, and a General Authority was discussing the Word of Wisdom. He stated that to truly keep the Word of Wisdom (I’m paraphrasing. I don’t remember his exact words.), you must go beyond abstaining from tea and coffee. You must also abstain from soft drinks containing caffeine…such as Coke and Pepsi (I expected that), Dr Pepper (I’d recently given that up. Tastes horrible.) and Mountain Dew. Yikes! My jaw dropped. That was one of my favorite drinks…but a General Authority had said it was improper to drink it, so… Now-days people ask me, “Oh yeah? Who said it? I never heard that!” (Y’know…the seein’ is believin’ routine.) Sorry, but when I was a teeny-bopper it didn’t dawn on me to jot down the man’s name, for furture reference. I just knew that I had to give up Mountain Dew.

By: Brandon Young

Brandon Young — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 07:38:29 +0000

It’s been very interesting reading these posts (About LDS Living, not as much the Coke / caffeine debate) :). But I have also advertised with LDS Living and wasn’t super pleased with the results. I think it would be great if they could get some readership outside of “the bubble”. I think it would help advertisers like myself reach areas that don’t have Deseret Book around every corner.

By: Carol U. Rickman

Carol U. Rickman — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:56:33 +0000

Last night I posted a comment, and saw it in print, at the bottom of all the ones above it. This morning it's nowhere to be found. What gives?? Is it OK to discuss whether or not "LDS Living" is or is not a Utah-oriented magazine (slighting readers in Canada and elsewhere), and caffeine's plusses (?) and minuses...but not the wrongs of gambling?? I don't understand this, either. Please explain.

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:59:43 +0000

Marsha

I am not saying it's a bad magazine, it's not, it's good. But it's being marketed as a magazine geared to all LDS, when really it isn't. It's targeted to American LDS, particularly Utah and Idaho centered Latter day Saints. I don't have a problem with that. I wish that was clearer, since much of the stuff in there doesn't apply to me. Some of the articles do, but not all. And having lived in Canada most of my life, and Ireland for a time, I can tell you it's even less applicable the further away you get as the 'lifestyle' focus isn't really the same worldwide. Remember, this is NOT the Ensign, New Era or Friend I refer to, which do apply to Saints worldwide, it's a contemporary advertising based magazine that doesn't apply to others. I am not sure where you live, but if you are in the US you will have a different perspective than the rest of the world.

For what it's worth, in spite of the letter I sent, I got no response from the magazine, which didn't impress me.

By: Marsha Jay

Marsha Jay — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:51:44 +0000

Hi! I ran out of time, so I can't read all comments here. But I would like to state that I really appreciate LDS Living Magazine, for the reason that it helps to set a much-needed standard in the world today. While most media is going downhill when it comes to morals, values, and ethics, LDS Living Magazine draws a line, choosing to focus on that which is good, inspirational, and uplifting to the human soul. That is not to say that we should just ignore all that is repugnant in the world. But if we were to spend our energies expanding or building up that which is good, it seems it would eventually crowd out the bad, so that there would be no room for it, at all, in the world. I, for one, am FOR such a world. LDS Living Magazine seems headed in that direction, and I intend to stay on board.

As for being an American or Utah Magazine, I say give it time. It is still young. It will expand, without a doubt. (P.S. No, I am not on the payroll, nor affiliated in any way with the magazine.)

By: K. Larsen

K. Larsen — Tue, 06 May 2008 07:33:27 +0000

The most disturubing thing about LDS Living is the ownership. While the owners preach to the LDS community, they themselves do not live what they print in their magazine.

I signed a contract to advertise in the magazine for a year because I was told that they had a circulation of over 600,000 people. While the number was seemingly high, I was dealing with the editor-in-chief and thought I could count on her word. It turns out that they send out a daily email that may reach a couple of hundred thousand, but they never see the print ads. The actual print magazine has a true circulation of less than 50,000 homes. I was grossly mislead and obviously naive.

In another incident I took my family to Nauvoo last July for the pageant. On our trip out we stayed in a Holiday Inn in Wentzville, MO and I saw the owner in the parking lot in the morning. I was going to say hi to him, but decided against approaching him when I saw him loading a case of Budweiser into his Suburban.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:15:54 +0000

I'd be interested in subscribing if it branches beyond the UK.

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:52:57 +0000

Michelle

No worries, good for you, and I wish you lots of luck with your magazine! I am sure it will be exciting for UK and area Saints. I don't know about ideas, lol, but I would love to see more of your mag.

By: Michelle Grant

Michelle Grant — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:15:08 +0000

HI,

Not sure if this is the right place or if I will be shot down in flames!

I am a UK magazine publisher and in June will launch the first issue of a magazine for LDS members called LDS Lifestyle - a practical guide to living gospel principles.

I have previously purchased LDS living and it is a great quality magazine, many of its articles have inspired me and the production quality of the publication is outstanding.

We will however be looking at things from a different angle - the non Utah Mormons, who are the minority and have many different issues. We will be a UK magazine and therefore have fewer adverts and more articles. We feel that there is a place for a title of this nature - beyond the British Isles - and will be happy to post copies further a field and will even allow it to be stocked in LDS / Christian bookstores worldwide (if they want it!)

Our website is still under construction and we do not have the first issue totally put to bed as they say... so your thoughts and ideas would be most appreciated! Please email me (home email still at the moment! michelleogrant@ntlworld.com)

If I have listed or talked about something that I shouldn't have here please could someone tell me - I am not a toe stepping on kind of person!

Michelle x

By: Damien Jorgensen

Damien Jorgensen — Mon, 14 May 2007 20:17:48 +0000

MArkerting at its finest