Let’s perform a thought experiment. Pretend like there is no Mormon Church at all. But one day Jesus Christ returns and the Millennium beings. Christians …
My Open Letter to Glenn Beck
Well, I’m back after a bit of an illness. I don’t know if this post will generate any interest, but I thought I’d share it. …
What Do Joseph Smith and Gladys Knight Have in Common?
When I was a kid in Southern California, it was obvious to me that there were two kinds of people in the world: Mormons and …
The Parable of the Elephant
Sometimes I recall nuggets of spiritual wisdom but cannot remember when or where I picked them up. One in particular has increasingly taken on new …
My Mormon Midlife Crisis
I always thought the midlife crisis was just a cliché. But now I’m 41, and I’m finding myself in the midst of an all-too-real midlife …
Why we need more apostates
Explosive Church growth has had a real impact on one of the core experiences many LDS had growing up — knowing apostates. The lack of …
Neo-Fundamentalism Part 3: LDS Premillennialism
Mormons in 1830 were in league with a slew of millennialist faiths (Shakers, Campellites, and Adventists) on the brink of actualized utopia after the resurgence …
A Baptist Point of View of Being the One True “Church”
One stumbling block to communication between Mormons and other types of Christians is our use of the word “church” — sometimes at least — as …
A style of our own
Whenever I heard about a “style of our own” I thought back to Moroni’s robe and David O McKay’s vision of the City of God. …
The Danzig Case: Does the LDS Church Influence Members to Oppose Same Sex Marriage?
Many of you may be aware of an ongoing case in Utah involving Peter and Mary Danzig. I’m not going to summarize here, as you …
Why I Am Not a Disaffected Mormon
There seem to be a number of disaffected Mormons lurking the Bloggernacle these days. I am not one of them. Here is why.
Discrimination Like I’ve Ever Seen Before
In Little Rock, Ark on a relatively calm September day in 1957 the all-white Central High School tries to blocked nine African American students from …
A Veil Runs Through It: A Mormon Cosmogony
The Earth we perceive with our physical eyes is billions of years in age. Life began to inhabit this sphere eons ago and evolved to …
A guide to edifying Others
It is easy to realize that you are right and everyone else is wrong. A number of people have asked just what they should do …
Bookends #2: Book of Mormon Studies–Orson Pratt
Today’s post is by Terry Foraker. Ever since its initial publication in 1830, the Book of Mormon has been the subject of countless studies. This …
BYU and the Honor Code
As a current BYU student, I am bound by the “honor code,” a document that all students are required to sign in order to enroll. …
The Improbable versus the Even More Improbable: The Existence of Jesus
The following article, despite appearances, is not about whether or not Jesus existed. I accept that He did exist as an article of faith. This …
The Ammon Approach: Redefining Missionary Work
When it comes to Church growth, the Church sets high expectations for itself. Likening the Church to that scriptural stone that rolls forth to fill …
Overview and Discussion of Church Growth
According to Beliefnet.com the 10 largest churches of 2007 in the US are:
The Sad Story of Sally, Native American Daughter of Brigham Young
I came across the following story while reading The Mormon Experience: A History of the Latter-day Saints by Leonard Arrington and Davis Bitton. It deeply …
Who are these Anti-Mormons?
This post is by Heather B. I’m not a member of the LDS church, although I was once. I’ve had many members ask me over …
Lost Hemisphere: A Traditional Book of Mormon Geography
When I was 6 and my sisters were 5 and 3, we read the Book of Mormon with my parents as a family. I was …
Peculiar People: Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses
For a religious community that is often misunderstood and sometimes maligned or mocked, we don’t learn much from our experience. I can’t tell you how …
The Prophetic Accomplishments of President Gordon B. Hinckley
“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” – Amos 3:7 In the scriptures and throughout …
Deconstructing the Book of Mormon, Part Two
Deuteronomy 15:12-15 “in the seventh year, you shall let him go free from you …” or 16-18 “be your servant forever”
Cool Website Enables Collaborative Timelines
We recently discovered a nifty little website called xTimeline which allows people to collaborate on-line in a similar fashion to a wiki. Folks sign up …
God is a What?!
So many people think they know exactly who and what God is. Most of what they base their certainty on is a combination of logic …
The First Black Apostle of the Restoration: A Black History Month Story
I think we’ve now achieved consensus in the United States that without regard to race, everyone should have an equal opportunity to enjoy life, liberty …
Gay Christian Awarded Approximately $94,000 for Discrimination by The Church of England.
John Reaney took the Hereford diocesan board of finance to an employment tribunal after his appointment as a youth worker was blocked.
“It’s More Than a Religion”: Mormonism as Family
Story 1 From p. 102 of An Abundant Life: The Memoirs of Hugh B. Brown: (Brown addressing a group of 75 LDS servicemen during World …
WWJB: What Would Jesus Blog?
It’s been a few months since I first came out to my family and friends. I’d been living a secret double life for too long, …
The Book of Mormon: Paving the Way for the Doctrine & Covenants
In my last post I discussed one possible view of the Book of Mormon as a basic doctrinal text and thus a foundation for Mormon …
Mormon Superheroes
Dr. Deseret is the sovereign State of Deseret’s official superhero and defender. She takes performance-enhancing drugs to ensure her fighting prowess. She is part …
Reconstruction Part 2: Abandoning “Being Right” In Search of “Having Joy”
In part one of this reconstruction journey, I talked about how being hyper-focused on being right intensifies the impact when you come to see that …
The Reason for the World
Continuing the disclosure of my musical hobbies, I enjoy playing the piano. I haven’t taken lessons for several years, but I’ve got a nice little …
Mormon Family Shrinkage
I’m the oldest of ten kids. I spent my teen years (1979–1986) living across the street in Bountiful, Utah, from a family with eleven kids. …
Can Mormons Be Savvy Voters?
There’s a lot of talk in the media and across the ’nacle to the effect that Romney’s Mormon identity was the critical factor that torpedoed …
New Rules for Church Music
My favorite part of any church service is the music. Even when the music is poorly done — which all too often it is — it has …
A New Take on Fundamentalism, Faith and Curiosity — Or….Does Mormonism Inspire Curiosity?
How does this apply to Mormonism?
BYU Baseball Player Kent Walton Reinstated on Team!!!!
I LOVE it when low-level ecclesiastical leaders are overruled (for the right reasons). And here’s the coverage from the SLTrib. From the Salt Lake Tribune: …
Breaking News: Romney Dropping Out
The wires are alive with the story that Romney is dropping out of the race. More as the story develops. See Breitbart, TIME and CNN …
Neo-Fundamentalism Part 2 – Historical Millennialism*
Last time I discussed a sub-culture of the LDS church that is increasing as an influential force, especially given the current state of unease in …
“Theoconservativism” – Extremism under the Guise of Religion?
Being a latitudarian, I hold the separation of church and state as part of my sacrosanct liberality.
The Book of Mormon: Keystone
A few months ago I decided to try an experiment as part of my Sunday School lesson in Gospel Principles. This was a fairly advanced …
9 Mormons Who Ran for President
During this campaign season I’ve been helping Newell Bringhurst and Craig Foster edit their forthcoming book, The Mormon Quest for the Presidency. The book tells …
The Church is a “what”?
I’ve a friend who is a linguist who often addresses things by asking people to find metaphors for them. It is interesting to ask people …
Robert Millet & Krista Tippet Pt. 3: Robert Millet as a Budding “Sunstone” or “New Order” Mormon
As I’m sure you’ve discovered by now — my takeaways from this interview between Krista Tippet and LDS Theologian and BYU Religion Professor Robert Millet …
BYU Baseball Player Expelled for Not Attending Enough Church?
[Updated — More on the story here.] Apparently BYU (and the LDS church) have expelled BYU’s best baseball player for (allegedly) not attending church enough. …
Passage to Zarahemla: An Interview With Chris Heimerdinger
Anyone who has ever set foot in Deseret Book should recognize the name Chris Heimerdinger. His signature novel, “Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites,” was the …
The Power to Move Mountains and More!
I’ve been reading through a new compilation of early patriarchal blessings, given by the first Mormon Presiding Patriarchs: Joseph Smith Sr., Hyrum Smith and William …
Deconstructing the Book of Mormon, Introduction
While in law school I had the chance to talk with Jack Welch about the kingmen in the Book of Mormon. From that discussion in …
Reconstruction Part 1: Like a Wave, Driven and Tossed
Not so long ago I thought I knew certain things were true and wavering was a self-inflicted condition. I also really thought I was an …