This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The LDS Church's governing First Presidency has decided to cut out any middlemen and take its message directly to members — through email.
Starting this week, it is sending emails to about 10,000 members in the United States to test the system. If it works, the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will email a newsletter in 10 languages to millions of Mormons across the world Dec. 3 and 4.
"This newsletter is part of our effort to find more effective ways to communicate with our growing global membership," the First Presidency writes in the email message, also posted on the church's newsroom website, "in order to share timely and valuable messages that can strengthen our love for Jesus Christ, for our families, and for those around us."
Mormons who have registered their email addresses in their online LDS accounts will receive the emails. Those who have not can do so at any time. Members who would rather not get the emails can unsubscribe.
With communication channels "so numerous and fragmented, delivering a message that does not become distorted along the way is increasingly difficult," Anthony D. Perkins of the First Quorum of the Seventy said in a statement. "The church has a unique advantage in that millions of faithful members have entrusted their email address to us. We feel the time has come to utilize these personal email addresses to improve the effectiveness of our communications to church members."
LDS leaders say the email channel "could also be used to notify members during emergency situations or for matters of urgent importance to the First Presidency or the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles."
The news release did not say whether these emails would replace the occasional First Presidency statements read to members over the pulpit during church services.
Peggy Fletcher Stack