Deseret News Authors

Jerry Earl Johnston

Jerry Earl Johnston is a former Deseret News staffer who currently freelances columns for Mormon Times and the Faith page. He’s from Brigham City, Utah, where he and wife Carol still live. They have a blended family of five kids and 14 grandchildren. While at the News, Jerry worked in sports, features, on city desk and was editor of the Religion section. He has been a columnist for the paper for more than 30 years. He has a Masters Degree in Spanish from the University of New Mexico and is the author of five books. He served an LDS mission to Bolivia.

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Recent Articles by Jerry Earl Johnston

The mainstreaming of Mormonism

Published: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 5:08 pm MDT

I remember, as a missionary in Bolivia, picking up a newspaper one morning and reading the word “Mormon” on the front page.I was stunned.

Desert church digs for Living Water

Published: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 1:06 pm MDT

I was motoring down the freeway through California’s high desert when, from the corner of my eye, I glimpsed a tiny cross in the wasteland, attached to a steeple. The church looked like a matchbox careles...

Teaching the legacy of the long view

Published: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 3:35 pm MDT

Kids today don’t need more information. They’re awash in it. What they need is a context for the information they already have.

Another brush with John Updike

Published: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 3:50 pm MDT

Years ago I sent John Updike, called "The Mozart of American Letters" by one critic, a novel for him to sign. I got a delightful keepsake for my efforts.

With missions — and life — we learn as we go

Published: Tuesday, April 16, 2013 3:44 pm MDT

I envy David Kraus not just because he’s 18, but because he’s heading off on a Spanish-speaking mission that will be awash in church resources and materials. And he already has a better sense of wha...

Why churches welcome Hispanic converts, with or without papers

Published: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 3:36 pm MDT

Church leaders aren’t in charge of the country, they are in charge of God’s Kingdom. And when a soul knocks on the gates and asks to come inside, a Christian leader is going to let them in. A Christ...

Michael McLean stitches together a new musical

Published: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 4:19 pm MDT

The CD for Michael McLean’s new stage production “Threads” proves that, as with most things McLean, hearing — not seeing — is believing. "Threads" is McLean's love letter to women ...

'Love One Another': Remembering the composer, story behind the song

Published: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 3:05 pm MDT

I have been thinking today of Luacine Clark Fox. The reason, I think, is a few nights ago I stumbled across the sheet music of her wonderful hymn, “Love One Another.” She gave me that music, sweetly...

Ireland has other saints to reckon with

Published: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 10:17 am MDT

When people hear the words “Irish” and “saint,” their minds think “Patrick.”St. Patrick tints all things Irish. His prayers and exploits even have other nations painting th...

Old missions and modern temples are touchstones for travelers

Published: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 3:13 pm MST

The old Catholic missions along the California coast are as lovely as a string of pearls. Early Franciscan missionaries purposefully built them “one day’s walk apart” from each other.

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