Unitarians to discuss Jewish holy days

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango, 419 San Juan Drive, will present a talk called “The Practice of Teshuvah” at 10 a.m. Sunday.

The Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris will discuss the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which offer an opportunity for people to do some self-reflection, to practice spiritual housecleaning and offer forgiveness.

For more information, visit www.durangouu.org.

Religion loses ground in public life, poll shows

WASHINGTON – The question of what role religion should play in public life is becoming more and more of a dividing line for Americans.

A new poll published Monday shows a huge leap in the percentage of Americans who say religion is losing its influence on public life – from 52 percent in 2002 to 72 percent today – but it also shows an even split on whether that should change.

Forty-nine percent of Americans say churches and other houses of worship “should express their views on day-to-day social and political questions,” while 48 percent say churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters.

Mormon history museum to close for renovations

SALT LAKE CITY – The Mormon Church History museum will close for one year for a total renovation of the 30-year-old building.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says the Salt Lake City museum will close Oct. 6, after the biannual conference. It is scheduled to reopen in the fall of 2015 with a new floor plan and exhibits.

Among the items that will be put in storage are the plaster death masks made of the faces of church founder Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum Smith after they were killed in 1844.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports exhibit director Kurt Graham said the renovated museum will focus more on Jesus Christ and make it clearer the faith is a Christian church.

Herald Staff & Associated Press