I want to let everyone know of a very unfortunate situation in Romania. According to this Deseret News article, Elder McKay Choy Burrows, 20, of …
Church Growth and the Tendency toward Liberalism
Some time ago, as a guest I wrote a post entitled ‘Academic freedom in the Church‘ which tried to explore some of liberalizing tendencies seen …
Interfaith Marriages by guest Madam Curie
A recent post by Cr@ig on Main Street Plaza caused me to reflect on the strength of interfaith marriages. I had hoped to generate a …
Squaring the Circle, balance and ideals
A discussion of Squaring the Circle, a geometric puzzle.
All things denote that there is a God
According to the recent lesson manuals, the founding fathers, including Benjamin Franklin, were inspired. All things denote (not connote) that there is a God, and, …
True or Bizarre: A Poll
While there are moral truths that all religions tend to share (don’t kill, don’t steal, be nice to people, etc.), religions also include “bizarre” differentiators …
Why I want to Live the United Order
OT SS Lesson #5 I have often thought that had I not joined the Church at age 19 I would have liked to have joined …
The Fourth Purpose: Haiti, and Who is My Brother?
An article from the Salt Lake Tribune listed in the Mormon Matters sidebar sometime ago noted the official elevation of “care of the poor and …
Committing Spiritual Murder: Analysing Alma 39
Michael Ash in a Sunstone article entitled ‘The Sin “Next to Murder”’ has argued that Alma’s exhortation to his son Corianton (who had ran off …
Vote Here — 2009 Niblets Awards
Voting is now closed. Voting for the 2009 Niblets has begun. You may click the selections to view the links as many times as you …
For God’s Sake, Blog!
I wish I could claim credit for the title of the post, but it actually comes from this MSNBC article. Apparently the Pope is encouraging …
“They Don’t Really Belong” – The Story of Doubting Jews Caught In Between Worlds.
I recently came across this story on the BBC Website and felt that I had to return to Mormon Matters to write a few comments …
Niblets Nominations
Nominations for the Niblets Awards are now in. A few minor changes have been made to screen for category, and to avoid duplication. Nominations that …
Mormon Stories # 112 & 113: Joanna Brooks Parts 1 and 2
I recorded my first Mormon Stories podcast in some time w/ professor, author and mother Joanna Brooks, and thought it might be nice to discuss these …
The Dispensation of the Fullness of Times
A discussion about the concept of the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times and the Information Age.
You’re the Bishop: Scenario #1
Welcome to “You’re the Bishop,” a new installment at Mormon Matters. My name is Bishop Bill. Once every few weeks I’ll post a situation that …
Mormon Stories 2.0 – And How You Can Help
Hey Folks, Some of you may have heard that I’ve decided to bring back Mormon Stories Podcast. For those of you who are new to …
CoC to tackle Major Issues at April Conference: Gay Marriage & Baptism
This is the second guest Post from FireTag, a member of the Community of Christ (formerly known as RLDS). As he mentioned in his previous …
Adam & Eve as UFOs (Unidentified Figurative Objects)
OT SS Lesson #4 Although our SS lesson for this week presents Adam and Eve as two literal, physical characters, the temple ceremony hints that …
What’s With the Initials Anyway?
Never in the history of mankind have name initials played such an important role as in the LDS Church.
Dysfunctional Families or Church?
Exit stories are the tales told when someone leaves the church. The internet is full of these stories, and in many, there is drama in …
Obedience or Natural Law?
There is an interesting character on Youtube who calls herself “The Non-Muslim Hijabi”. She wears a head scarf even though she’s not Muslim. I felt …
On Failed Patriarchal Blessings
Some time ago I spoke to someone I knew about a Patriarchal blessing they had received which seemed to have failed to come to pass. …
Mormon Innovations: the Pre-Mortal Life
I’m teaching the Gospel Principles lesson #2 tomorrow. I’m going to attempt to utilize proper sources, only utilizing personal experiences and church magazines. We’ll see …
2009 Niblets are Here!!
Mormon Matters introduces the 2009 Niblets Awards! It’s back! The opportunity to honor the unique and talented Mormon bloggers of 2009. It’s a chance to …
Mormon Law 2009 Year in Review
The waning days of 2009 saw the possible loosening of Utah liquor laws as a national story. Meanwhile, in a development covered by Mormon Matters, …
Mormon Matters on Kindle
Just last week, Mormon Matters content became available to Kindle owners. The only other b’naclers on Kindle are our buddies at By Common Consent. So, here’s …
The Creation Accounts — Unharmonized
OT SS Lesson #3 Several years ago I did a study of Joseph Smith’s different accounts of the First Vision. It was fascinating to see …
Follow the [blank]: A Poll
In the church, we learn how to be good followers. There are many things we are told to follow: the prophet, good examples, our parents’ …
LDS Church News Says: “Use Proper Sources” With Gospel Teaching
(Hat tip to Michael Carpenter) This just in from LDS Church News. Correlation remains king. “A gospel teacher is not called to choose the subject …
On Being an Apostle but not in the Quorum
‘In 1866, at the age of only twenty-seven, Joseph F. Smith was ordained an Apostle by President Brigham Young, and served briefly as one of …
Mormons Celebrating Diversity
Hello Mormon Matters community! I was invited to contribute a blogpost now and then, and hope I’ll be able to throw some meaningful questions into …
BYU Students Hit it Big: Miley Cyrus Virus Rap
BYU (and UVU) students hit it big. 100,000 Youtube views and counting. Who says Mormons can’t have fun? (Notice Helaman Halls in the background. …
Chosen or Posin’ ? Abraham, Buffy, and Other Choice Spirits
OT SS Lesson #2 This was an interesting lesson to read after last year’s brou-ha-ha over an alleged “generals in the war in heaven” quote. …
“Pretender” Mormons?
(Hat tip to Antonio Parr at BCC) To get this post, you’re either gonna have to spend 7 minutes listening to this song ..or be …
Time to Study the Old Testament…Again – Part 5 – “Plain and Precious Things”
“We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to …
Dialogue Subscribers and Book of Mormon Historicity?
In 2005 Dialogue conducted research among it’s subscribers. There was over a 1,000 responses which (assuming that everyone answered every question) is a fairly good …
Canonizing Modern Revelation – A Tourist Guide
Over the past year or so, I’ve become blogging buddies with FireTag, a member of the Community of Christ. He has his own blog at …
What is “sin”?
In my apparently never ending need to define absolutely everything, (e.g. what “bless the food” means or “what is the church?”) I am continuing my …
Richard Dawkins, God and Santa Claus: Belief as a Form of Abuse
Between Christmas and New Year I had the opportunity to meet with some friends and at one point during the evening we began discussing the …
Did Mormon Influence Increase over the Decade?
My wife brought this to my attention while reading the front page of the Deseret News: 2000s: The First Decade-Mormon Church Influence Soars. Without providing …
This is my Work and my Game Plan
OT SS Lesson #1 With Jeff’s interesting introduction to the OT course of study, I’m sure many of you have peeked at the first OT …