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This Week in the Blogs
By Rachel Tanner

• Want to know what's happening in the LDS community as soon as it happens? LDS.org has recently launched breaking news text messaging alerts to be sent straight to your cell phone. To sign up, text the word ldsnews to 29222 ( United States and Puerto Rico ). If you're outside the United States , text the word ldsnews to 447624805710. (newsroom.lds.org)

• If you're looking for a good laugh, visit http://overheardintheward.com/ to read hilarities from LDS wards and branches all over. Or submit something of your own that you've overheard in your ward. You can also purchase T-shirts with some of the funniest sayings on this site.

• Now that summer is underway and many people may be traveling, use maps.lds.org to help you find meetinghouses and local worship services for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints anywhere in the world. Now no matter where you are, you will still be able to attend church meetings.

• If you've ever wondered what the LDS Church has in common with other religions, say the Catholics or the Protestants, a new religion Web site, patheos.com, can help. According to a Times and Seasons blog, “A New Mormon Gateway,” the blogger says the site “sets out to explain the differences among religions as well as illuminate the areas of common ground.” The Mormon section on the site was launched Friday (May 29) and gives visitors the opportunity to not only learn about Mormonism, but discuss it as well. Check out patheos.com to get a feel for several different religions and discuss your own.

• The H1N1 Flu virus is nothing new to any of us by now and many of us have taken the necessary steps to be prepared for an epidemic like the Swine Flu. However, can one ever be 100 percent prepared? Here is a blog with a slideshow giving several tips and ideas for preparation. While you may have heard some of the ideas, it's always good to get as many ideas as you can in order to be prepared and stay safe. Check out the slideshow here. Also, don't forget to check out our Swine Flu archive on preparedness.