Posts by guest:
The Disillusionment Phase
June 24th, 2009Today’s guest post is by Kate from Myriad Mormon Musings. Here is a brief introduction, in her own words, followed by her post:
“My name is Kate. I was raised Catholic, but converted to the Mormon church in 1999 in a hippy branch at Cornell University. Since leaving that branch, I have struggled to find my voice within the LDS world. Where does a politically liberal, PhD-holding, working mom fit in? I created the Myriad Mormon Musings blog in an attempt to find my niche as I struggle with LDS culture versus doctrine.”
Read the rest of this entry “
Spirituality, Rationality, Mentality, Duality
June 21st, 2009Today’s guest post is by jmb275. In my first guest post, I talked about intellectualism and faith. A few of the commenters pointed out that I had somewhat assumed that we had dual natures – spiritual and rational. The point was mentioned that the term “spirituality” could be loosely defined to be many things – not necessarily religious in nature. In this post I would like to address these issues as I have been pondering it for quite some time. Read the rest of this entry “
Looking Forward to the Good Life
June 18th, 2009I’ve spent some time over the years thinking about questions that remain in regards to the logistics of the afterlife. Read the rest of this entry “
Missionary Lessons from the Land of Oz
June 10th, 2009This is a guest post from S Faux at Mormon Insights.
Preface: Listed below are some secrets for “trunky” LDS missionaries (Elders and Sisters) with the help of a little Wizard of Oz imagery:
Trying to Understand My Friends Who Didn’t Leave the Faith
June 9th, 2009Here is a modified excerpt from a 60-page writing that I made for close friends and family members when I decided to leave the church a few months ago. It was my attempt at helping them understand my view. I think most of them didn’t bother reading it. I wasn’t looking forward to the conversations that I would be having with them, but I was surprised to find myself not having those conversations.
Today’s guest post is by Michael. In the spirit of Mormon Stories, he was invited to share his experience. Read the rest of this entry “
Intellectualism and Faith: A Would-Be Marriage!
May 29th, 2009It is easy to think yourself out of a testimony. It’s as simple as saying “well I can’t prove God exists, or doesn’t exist, therefore I am agnostic.” Today’s guest post is by jmb275. Read the rest of this entry “
Dancing through the Sidebar
May 24th, 2009Comment on any of the following articles – or anything else from the sidebar – or any other article of interest to this forum that we missed.
Happiness is Being Old, Male and Republican
Did We Mormons Baptize Your Deceased Loved One? I Can Help.
Our Soldiers Need FAR MORE Than Tribute
May 24th, 2009This post is from S.Faux:
On this upcoming Memorial Day it will be easy to post flags outside our homes and then just enjoy the BBQ. But there are very helpful things we can do, ranging from just a little effort to a lot.
The web page on “Citizen Support” by the Community Relations section of the U.S. Department of Defense lists a variety of strong suggestions, such as donations or volunteer work at homes for disabled vets, gift certificates, care packages, and many other possibilities.
One easy step to take would be to log onto the web pages of “Beyond Tribute” – a not-for-profit organization with the mission of helping businesses turn a percentage of their Memorial Day profits toward wounded veteran’s and their families. In a recent article entitled “Tribute is Not Enough”, former General Wesley Clark endorsed the organization.
I urge readers to click the red “sign the pledge” on the “Beyond Tribute ” page in order to urge businesses to begin participation.
For more tribute to our soldiers, I suggest visiting Mormon Insights.
HAVE A HAPPY AND MEMORABLE MEMORIAL DAY!!
What’s My Age Again?
May 20th, 2009Today’s guest post is from Bishop Mike Young of the Spanish Ford 401st Ward. He writes: I was reading Mark Twain’s, “Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven,” the other day, and it brought up some questions about the afterlife that were thought-provoking. You can read this short story online here. Read the rest of this entry “
That We Could All Be Like – Satan?
May 7th, 2009Today we have a guest post from Bishop Mike T. Young of the Spanish Fork 401st Ward.
Joseph Smith and Wealth Redistribution
April 23rd, 2009This article by a guest blogger originally appeared at Gospel Doctrine Underground. We want to thank the author for allowing us to re-post it here.
The Law of Consecration offers a lot of interesting discussion topics and ideas. To me, a political junkie, one of the most interesting concepts tied up in consecration is the idea of equality. The Book of Mormon has some interesting passages regarding equality; I cannot help thinking that they got Joseph thinking about economics and righteousness. Or, the impact of temporal things upon righteousness, anyway. So, when the Lord gives the newly organized Church his Law, equality is a big issue. Read the rest of this entry “
LDS Worship – Part III
April 17th, 2009David Stout is a Disciples of Christ minister. This is the third and final installment of his insightful commentary on LDS Sacrament Meeting Worship. To provide proper context for this final installment, we are including a couple of paragraphs from the end of the last installment. We want to thank David for his contributions here at Mormon Matters; it has been enlightening and well-considered.
Now again I want to underscore the fact that I write as a non-Mormon, and I recognize the fact that there must be something about the sacrament meeting that does work and that the current missionary strategy has proven quite effective. Consequently, it could be very well argued that there is no point messing with success – and I would not object in the least if you, the reader, took that position.
But I would humbly suggest that maybe the broader vision of David McKay, the insights and success of Gladys Knight and her gospel choir, and the early roots of the LDS Church itself might raise some heretofore unconsidered possibilities for reaching more people from different backgrounds. I would also suggest that these same possibilities for more effective mission might also bring the sacrament meeting and the principle of ongoing revelation into greater practical coherence. Read the rest of this entry “
LDS Worship – Part II
April 13th, 2009The following is the second part of the series written for us by David Stout, Disciples of Christ minister, about his perception of LDS worship. The first post can be read here. Again, thank you, David.
The second reason (I am interested in the possibility of returning a bit of the former fire of earlier Mormonism to the current church) lifts the service I attended from the background of Mormon history and sets it against the backdrop of the LDS future. As I mentioned parenthetically in my previous post, one of the talks used in the Sacrament Meeting I attended was one given originally by David McKay. As I understand it, President McKay was the prophet who set the LDS on its modern missionary explosion. Prior to his time Mormonism was largely confined to the mountain west. McKay, however, had a vision of a broader reach and that was the impetus for the current status of the LDS as a nascent worldwide religious community. Read the rest of this entry “
LDS Worship
April 7th, 2009David Stout, Disciples of Christ minister who wrote a very thought-provoking post for us a few weeks ago, has agreed to write a short series of posts on LDS worship as seen from the outside looking in. This is the first of that series. Thank you, David.
Last summer I had the opportunity to attend Sunday services with my girlfriend at her branch. I very much enjoyed myself and found the experience quite reminiscent of my days in evangelical congregations before the mega church phenomenon. The people were very welcoming, they clearly enjoyed being together, and the service and classes were easy to follow. Several individuals went out of their way to make me feel welcome, taking the time to talk with me, offer me a book so I could follow along in the priesthood meeting, and include me in their conversations. Read the rest of this entry “
Why Mormon Doctrine Is NOT Mormon Doctrine
March 15th, 2009Many people both within the Church and outside the Church think that Bruce R. McConkie’s book, Mormon Doctrine, is the official declaration of LDS church doctrine. Today’s guest post is by Paradise Destroyed. Read the rest of this entry “
Faith and Logic: Finding and Navigating an Individual Balance
March 3rd, 2009NOTE: This is a guest post by David Stout, Disciples of Christ minister.
I write from the perspective of a Disciples of Christ minister whose girlfriend is a devout Mormon. I am, therefore, very sympathetic and supportive of the LDS (I pray for your church daily) but embrace the theological position often known as Protestant Liberalism. In reading one of Mr. Nielson’s posts a while ago, two things jumped out at me. One is the issue of the relationship of Jesus and the Father and the other is the relationship of faith and logic. I will address the latter in this response and leave the former for another time. Read the rest of this entry “
Shipbuilding: Tasks or Vision?
March 1st, 2009Spending a week in the Pacific Northwest on vacation, surrounded by boats and the vastness of the sea, when I read this quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupery on my way home, I couldn’t get it out of my head:
If you want to build a ship, don’t herd people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. Read the rest of this entry “
Baptism Rant
February 17th, 2009Today’s post is by guest blogger The Teacher. Read the rest of this entry “
What is Truth?
February 13th, 2009When it comes to religion – can everyone know truth? Can anyone? Today’s guest post is from Justin Perry. Read the rest of this entry “
Revelation & Things
February 11th, 2009Today’s post comes from The Teacher. Section 8 of the Doctrine & Covenants refers to “another gift” Olivery Cowdery had, called at different times “the gift of Aaron” or “the rod of nature.” Several commentators recognize this gift as related to Oliver’s use of a divining rod. Read the rest of this entry “
The Purposes of God Cannot Be Frustrated
February 10th, 2009Oliver Cowdery Was Punk’d!
February 5th, 2009When you hear the name Oliver Cowdery, you probably think of the story that culminates in the revelation that became Section 9 of the Doctrine & Covenants. This section uses Oliver as a (bad) example of how to seek and receive personal revelation. Today’s guest post is from The Teacher. Come visit The Teacher here. Read the rest of this entry “
Is God a Mormon?
January 22nd, 2009NOTE: This is another post from our newest author – Faithful Dissident.
Whether we’re Mormon, Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, or Muslim, we all believe that God is on our side and that we are doing His will. Could it be that God really is on all our sides, as long as we are doing what is “good” and “praiseworthy?” For the Catholic nun who is visited by The Virgin Mary; for the Baptist who receives the miracle he asks for; for the atheist who one day has a spiritual epiphany and becomes a born again Christian; if God is a Mormon, then why doesn’t He lead all of those He is apparently talking to, to the Mormons? With the Church being worldwide and so many meetinghouses and missionaries spread throughout the globe, the Mormons are only a few steps away for many. Read the rest of this entry “
The Age of (Un)Accountability
January 17th, 2009NOTE: This is the first post for a new Guest Author – The Faithful Dissident. We look forward to many more to come.
Growing up with younger siblings, I always had a hard time believing that Satan couldn’t possess kids under the age of eight. And that goes for myself too, since if what my parents have said is true, I was a bit of a devil child. But, in all seriousness, I have some questions that make it hard for me to not see conflicts between the doctrine of the Age of Accountability and other Church doctrine. Read the rest of this entry “
Guest Post: How Would You Have Reacted?
January 7th, 2009Introduction: The following is from a post by Reuben at SingleSpeed titled “Harmonica at Church”. He has agreed to let us post it here, with some questions for discussion:
“My 3rd favorite thing about the LN Ward is Brother P. He’s a tall, slender old man whom I’ve never heard say two words, but he plays the harmonica beautifully. He’s at church every week – just him and his harmonica. He teaches the 8-10 year olds in primary, and they allow him to play his harmonica along with the songs each week during singing time. Sometimes when I don’t feel like going to sunday school, I stand right outside the Primary room and listen to him play along with the singing. One of the kids in his primary class, a smiley, roundish 10 year old brings his own little harmonica to church as well, and the two of them play together. Read the rest of this entry “
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