Mormon Times briefing

Religious freedom worth risking life, says First Freedom Award winner

RICHMOND, Va. — W. Cole Durham Jr. says he learned something important the summer he went to Iraq to work on the Iraqi constitution.

"I had never before been asked to put my life on the line for principles in which I believed," said Durham, the Susan Young Gates University professor of law and director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School. Durham was the recipient of the 2009 International First Freedom Award during January's National Religious Freedom Day commemorations in Richmond on Jan. 15.

"Part of what we celebrate tonight in Richmond is what we have inherited from those who have worked and fought for this principle in the past," Durham said. "I learned something fundamental about this. … I became convinced at a deeper level than ever before that religious freedom is a principle that is indeed worth risking one's life for."

Chicago temple closed for repairs

The Chicago Illinois Temple is "closed until further notice for emergency repairs," according to a recorded message at the temple. The temple — serving 17 stakes in the Chicago area, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana — had a scheduled maintenance closing Jan. 19 to Feb. 2, according to information on www.lds.org.

An unofficial temple Web site and blog attribute the closing to repairs because of a water pipe breaking and flooding the temple. Most of the carpet will need to be replaced.

The closest temples are the Nauvoo Illinois Temple and the Detroit Michigan Temple. Those putting a name on the temple prayer list are asked to call the Nauvoo Illinois Temple.

Concert to benefit crash survivors

Recording artist Mindy Gledhill will perform in concert Feb. 2 in Provo to help raise funds for Stephanie Nielson, of Mesa, Ariz., who was injured in a plane crash.

Nielson, her husband, Christian Nielson, and his flight instructor, Doug Kinneard, were flying near St. Johns, Ariz., on Aug. 16 when they crashed after the plane's engine stalled. Kinneard died soon after arriving at the hospital, and the Nielsons were in critical condition. Christian had burns on more than 30 percent of his body while Stephanie, daughter of Utah Rep. Steve Clark, was burned on more than 80 percent of her body. The Nielsons have returned to Utah to finish their recovery. The couple have children ages 6, 5, 3 and 1 who are now being cared for by family.