http://mormonmatters.org Exploring Mormon culture in a balanced way Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:00:13 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en When I look at the mortal religious scene here on earth, I think one of the adversary’s masterstrokes has been to split apart two key streams of understanding of God’s full truth. These two streams are 1) humankind’s divine origins and potential and (2) the need for a Savior and ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/07/06/mormonism-paganism-christianity/ Everyone does it.  This essay is on how to do it with style and panache.  For my proof text I will use "let women keep silence in the churches" but any verse will do. The first approach is to just ignore the scripture.  Lots of scriptures get ignored.  Who among us ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/07/05/ignoring-scripture/ Professor Jeffrey Nielsen, whose op-ed two years ago against the LDS Church's stance on gay marriage led to his demise at church-owned Brigham Young University, has written an open letter to California Mormons in the wake of the church's request for members to support a constitutional ban on gay marriage ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/07/05/jeff-nielsons-open-letter-to-california-mormons-on-gay-marriage-and-lds-church/ aka Why Our Personal Beliefs Really Do Matter and Matter A Lot aka Why We All Believe This Even if We Claim We Don't Overheard on the Bloggernacle, or in the office, or just about everywhere: All religions contain overlapping ideas and in this overlap exists the real voice of God. Or It is arrogant ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/07/04/true-religion-why-there-can-be-at-most-one/ 1) There is a man in my ward who is a dean at a major college in our area. He is a brilliant scholar in his field, and he has served as a Bishop and in a Stake Presidency. He also is one of the most humble men I have ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/07/03/just-for-perspective/ Tired of talking about gay marriage?  How about women and the Priesthood? :) In all seriousness, let me share with you a recent experience that has had a profound impact on the way I view the concept of Priesthood, and that has convinced me, once and for all, that I am ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/07/03/how-my-wife-exercises-her-priesthood/ Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words, Hymn no. 232 Let us oft speak kind words to each other. At home or where'er we may be; Like the warblings of birds on the heather, The tones will be welcome and free. They'll gladden the heart that's repining, Give courage and hope from above, And where ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/07/02/why-mormon-blogs-cant-be-civil/ At the end of this video, Dick Cheney in 1994 says: For the 146 Americans who died [in the 1991 Gulf War] it wasn't a cheap war...but the question for the President is how many additional Americans is Saddam worth and our judgement was not very many. Well...14 years later ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/07/02/how-many-barrels-of-oil-is-a-human-life-worth/ "You may say I'm a dreamer; but I'm not the only one."  John Lennon. Acts 2:17:  ". . . your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." The scriptures are full of visionary dreamers.  The following come to mind: OT:  Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Joseph (son of Jacob), Daniel, the butler & ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/07/01/a-church-of-visionary-dreamers/ Recently, I was in a meetinghouse in our area for the first time. On the wall directly above the entrance to the chapel, there is a small plaque. I intended to craft a thoughtful post elaborating on the message it gives to those who enter the chapel, but I just ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/30/a-chapel-entrance-plaque/ And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/30/evidences-and-reconciliations-63008/ Do tell....what were your experiences today w/ the LDS Church's anti-gay marriage statement in your local ward? Feel free to share experiences of friend and family as well. http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/29/open-thread-your-experiences-in-church-today-w-the-gay-marriage-statement/ Michelangelo, one of most prominent figures of the Renaissance's A-List, is famous for his sculptures and his frescoes, nearly all of which depicted religious themes.  The ceiling and walls of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican are possibly his most well known and celebrated works (perhaps rivaled only by The ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/29/michelangelo-and-mormonism/ The view of God's godliness ranges from God as a Bonewits Parasite to God as the ex nilho creator who controls everything down to the direction and location of sub atomic particles.  Those views of omniscience and omnipotence as to God and just what that means inside and outside of ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/29/god-is-a-what-parts-three-and-four/ Perhaps our feelings about tomorrow’s letter were abreacted in last week’s multifarious and sporadically acerbic discussion. My purpose here is to highlight some of the feelings and perspective of one who is connected to many aspects of the Church’s political action regarding gay marriage. My sister Emily is a lawyer in California, ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/28/a-letter-from-my-sister/ Well, an FLDS update, that includes a link to an Ikea spoof. What other things that everyone seems to be taking seriously can you think of spoofing? Borrowing from Grits for Breakfast: " here's some recent coverage that may interest Grits readers:" Fort Worth Star Telegram: Polygamist sect fights back by emerging from isolation London ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/27/polygamy-and-same-sex-marriage/ This one is for you parents and aspiring parents out there.  How would you answer the following question:  Is it more important to you that your child be "good," or that he/she be "happy"?  Hold on to your initial responses -- I don't think it's such an easy question.  Several weeks ago, ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/27/raising-good-children-vs-raising-happy-children/ I work with a publisher in Great Britain who is keen to do some lavish, glossy, full-color coffee-table-type books on Mormon themes (or hot-chocolate table, if that's how you prefer it). This fine gent has asked me to shake some trees and see what topics Mormons would like to see given ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/26/mormon-coffee-table-books/ [NOTE: I must be a masochist. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE read the questions asked in this post and stick to those questions when you comment. I don't want this to turn into the typical battle over homosexuality. I use that topic only because it is perhaps the best example of ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/26/sin-vs-transgression-striking-the-hornets-nest/ Something I have mentioned before is that I believe many members don't really understand what the Book of Mormon actually says about many things - just like few Christians really understand what the Bible actually says about many things. Much of my perspective on this issue stems from my ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/25/common-scriptures-in-review-god-would-deliver-them/ The Match Prepare for the ultimate philosophical smack down between a David and a Goliath! In one corner we have our champ Craig L. Blomberg who I have been told is one of the foremost New Testament scholars in the world. Simply put, he's brilliant. Our contender is my former missionary companion ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/25/on-three-almighties-one-moral-will-and-why-this-post-wastes-time/ Over the years, the church has cut back and eliminated activities that, in some cases, were long-standing traditions. Which ones do you miss the most? Speech Contests Stake Dramas and plays Talent shows Concerts Roadshow Dance Festivals Monthly ward activities Ward fund raisers Inter-church sports tournaments Know Your Religion Gold & Green Ball (Laurels coming out party?) Others I am sure that ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/24/which-church-activities-do-you-miss/ "Whitewashing" is an accusatory term often used against the church to describe efforts to gloss over sticky points in doctrine or history.  So, does the church engage in whitewashing? What is white-washing?  According to Encyclopedia Britannica:  to Whitewash is to gloss over or cover up vices, crimes, or to exonerate by means of a perfunctory ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/24/white-washing/ So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded. Joshua 10:40 Thou shalt not kill. Exodus 20:13 Discuss, my friends: http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/23/evidences-and-reconciliations-062308/ What does the Book of Mormon mean?  Does it follow from its existence that Joseph Smith was (is?) a prophet, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's only church on the earth, that Thomas Spencer Monson is the only one on the earth today that has ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/23/our-foundation-stories-part-v-the-meaning-of-the-book-of-mormon/ Andrew wrote a beautiful and moving post recently - "Dark Night of the Soul". In reading that post and the subsequent comments, I had an epiphany about my own experience with certainty and doubt. I have been thinking about how to explain the difference between my experience and Andrew's - ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/22/the-bright-night-of-my-soul/ News Flash: The LDS Church WILL be actively opposing gay marriage in California this November, and is encouraging members to actively oppose gay marriage in California. They are asking all members of the church to, "do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/21/news-flash-lds-church-will-be-actively-opposing-gay-marriage-in-california-this-november/ I recently lead a discussion in High Priests (I never call it teaching) about Discipleship, what it was and how we can become true disciples of Jesus Christ. I used several talks and articles by Elder Neal A. Maxwell. He spoke quite a bit about the concept of discipleship ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/21/true-discipleship-it%e2%80%99s-doing-more-than-knowing/ I have to admit sadly if it came to push or shove Mormon Matter opinions and the Internet in the main override what information I would receive from a member of my congregation. Primarily because it’s a collective think tank that has looked at it from different angles and in ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/20/what-kind-of-mormon-are-you-internet-or-chapel-james-leverich/ When you think of God, do you envision? a proper English gentleman a modernized Biblical patriarch an erudite English professor at a Ivy league university a tame Lion (returning to the C. S. Lewis reference)? Do you recreate God in your own idealized image? There is a constant assumption in much of what I read that ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/20/god-is-a-what-part-two/ (The following is a re-post of something our "son" wrote on his blog last year - and that I posted at T&S when it occurred and I was guest blogging for a couple of weeks. I was struck immediately by the similarities between his experience and the parable of the ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/19/the-good-samaritan-a-lesson-in-spiritual-numbness/ What constitutes swearing?  Is it always wrong?  If so, why? Where does swearing come from?  In the English language, we often refer to "four-letter" words as profanity.  Most of these words entered the pejorative lexicon of swear-words after the Norman conquest of 1066.  When William the Conquerer of Normandy became King ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/19/a-few-choice-words-on-swearing/ My 21-year-old son, Ethan, was home from college for a couple weeks this summer. On Sunday when he came to church with us, our bishop asked him, “So, are you still active in the Church?” He asked this question in the presence of several other people, then proceeded to give ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/18/active-in-the-church/ God is the God of Sparrows God is as seen through glass, darkly, the God of Mists God is a light in darkness, the God of Light God is at a distance God is plausible deniablility God is a God of almost miracles God is a God of Miracles God is tamed and trained Lion Which of these ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/17/god-is-a-what-part-one/ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/16/evidences-and-reconciliations-61608/ Was the Book of Mormon translated? Was the Book of Mormon revealed? Was it inspired? Was it all three, or a combination of the above? How much does it matter? The accounts left by Joseph and others involved suggest that the translation of the Book of Mormon was ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/16/our-foundation-stories-part-iv-the-book-of-mormon-translation/ I've been reading a lot this week as people complain that either God is hateful and evil or they are victims of gross unfairness at the hands of God's servants (that God, of course, should have fixed or should fix now). Much of it is in the context of ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/15/fathers-day-reflections/ What can we learn about gender roles in marriage from committed gay couples?  Is equity the ideal?  Is it possible?  With less than 24 hours until Father's Day, here's some food for thought. NYT recently published a short article called Gay Unions Shed Light on Gender in Marriage.  The article studies how people ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/14/gender-roles-debunked/ I’ve finally finished my review of Michael Marquardt’s Early Patriarchal Blessings volume for the next JWHA Journal. This fascinating new resource is a compilation of patriarchal blessings given by Joseph Smith Jr., Joseph Smith Sr., Hyrum Smith, and William Smith. I’ve posted previously about how Joseph Sr.’s blessings ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/13/your-posterity-shall-%e2%80%9cavenge-the-blood-of-the-prophets-and-patriarchs%e2%80%9d-with-the-help-of-savage-indian-warriors/ Larry King described the Mormon faith as a "gerontocracy" (Hello--Pot? Kettle here).  Being led by 15 men with a median age of 76 is a unique feature of our church. So, what are the side effects of being in a gerontocracy? How does it color our life experience and perspectives? ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/12/rock-the-gerontocracy/ Are teens who practice polygamy devout or brainwashed?  Are teen terrorists devout or brainwashed?  When is a teen old enough to be held accountable for crimes, but not old enough to make his or her own life decisions? An article in Newsweek this week poses these questions.  What is the real age ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/11/brainwashed-polygamists-terrorists/ Should our political views always align with our moral views?  When and if they don't align, why not?  Guest blogger Ray explores this idea in today's Guest Post: The proliferation of posts in the Bloggernacle dealing with same-sex marriage after the CA Supreme Court decision prompted me to make the following comment ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/11/when-moral-issues-become-political-issues/ I'm intrigued by those on the bloggernacle that see The Book of Mormon as fiction but inspired by God. It's common to hear someone that holds that belief say that it doesn't really matter if The Book of Mormon is historical or not. In the past, Clay asked me if I ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/10/the-book-of-mormon-do-you-regularly-study-inspired-fiction/ by Joe Geisner, guest blogger If one had a camcorder in Jesus' day and had been at the feeding of the multitudes, would you have filmed Jesus feeding five to twelve thousand people with two fish and five loaves of bread until their bellies were full, with baskets of food left ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/10/the-gospel-caught-on-tape/ For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/09/evidences-and-reconciliations-60908/ As a child, the story of Moroni visiting Joseph Smith seemed familiar to me, but I couldn't put my finger on just why. Only later, on reflection, did the mythic aspects of the story stand out more sharply. First the repetitive structure: The angel Moroni appeared to Joseph three times during ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/09/our-foundation-stories-part-iii-the-book-of-mormon-comes-forth/ In 1999 a church news paper surveyed its Latter Day Saint subscribers to glean what single event they thought shaped the last 100 years in Latter Day Saint history. The number one event, rated by its subscribers was the 1978 Priesthood Revelation. Percentage wise the second event didn't even come ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/08/30-years-of-authorized-black-priesthood/ Most of you probably heard that Sunstone recently hired two new employees to carry out the "open forum" Sunstone mission through the magazine and symposia. I applied for the jobs and made it to the final four, which caused me to do some reflecting on Sunstone and what it means ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/08/what-do-you-think-about-sunstone/ We recently went to a few Native American sites near Prescott, Arizona with our kids.  My husband's "Mo-Dar" was in rare form.  I must have been sleep-walking to miss a few of these obvious fellow Mormons also out visiting these sites with their kids. So, can you spot Mormons?  How good is ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/06/mo-dar/ Joseph Smith has always been surrounded by stories, rumors and narratives. Those who had heard of the Book of Mormon would ask him how they should determine the truth. This was especially so since he freely told people that he was not perfect, but just like them. Brigham Young's ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/06/finding-the-truth/ The Church of Jesus Christ claims to be the Restored Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and the "only true and living church on the face of the whole earth." (D&C 1:30) On the other hand, there are many in the world who would claim that the LDS Church is ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/05/ok-so-what-if-it-isnt-true/ Now that we've discussed the nature of the First Vision, what did it mean? There are many meanings, the most vital being those which each person can discover for herself or himself. Here are those we are most familiar with, because they have been written and spoken about at length ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/04/our-foundation-stories-part-ii-the-meaning-of-the-first-vision/ Do Mormons practice a form of ancestor worship?  What does it mean that we must be saved "with all our dead"? I started to think about this concept when I was in Sicily last September, where I visited the Capuchin catacombs.  Under the streets of Palermo, there are 8,000 deceased Sicilians dating from ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/03/mormon-ancestor-worship/ And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. Exodus 33:23 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/02/evidences-and-reconciliations-60208/ In a previous post, I explored the idea of defining “political” vs. “moral” issues for purposes of deciding when (and how) the Church should get formally involved. A related issue is whether we, even without formal instruction from the Church, are obligated to cast certain, pre-determined votes on select issues. Put ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/02/voting-mormon/ A guest post by our friend Ray: The Bible Dictionary defines "repentance" as: "a change of mind, i.e., a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world". It goes to say, "Since we are born into conditions of mortality, repentance comes to mean a turning of the heart and will ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/06/01/rethinking-repentance/ A number of the bloggernacle’s luminaries descended on the party town of Sacramento, California, last weekend for the 2008 conference of the Mormon History Association (MHA)—a theme many have blogged about. If you missed all the fun, there’s no reason to be bitter because there’s always next year! And if you ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/31/the-next-mha/ Not too long ago I went to "maturation training" in Lehi, Utah, with my 11-year-old fifth grader, who was definitely already showing signs of puberty (pimples and hair, mostly). He’s a big, somewhat chubby guy, so he’s ahead of the curve as far as physical development goes. I grew up in ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/30/birds-bees-in-utah-county/ The Fallout Story is a rule of etiquette (that I made up) that I hold sacred for discussing breakups.  The rule is:  the dumpee owns the fallout story.  The dumper is prohibited from making any disparaging remarks (henceforth and forever) about the dumpee, as a matter of courtesy.  As a ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/29/the-fallout-story/ Speaking to a group of Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo, Joseph Smith once said that if he had the lungs for it, he would preach a sermon that would make all of them shut their mouths and go home until they knew something about deity. He then asked the following ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/29/certainty-blessing-or-curse/ Beyond white shirts, facial hair and Coke -- the Bloggernacle's equivalent of the Holy Trinity -- nothing gets Mormon bloggers' collective knickers in a twist quite like the perception that they are forced into silence during the Sunday meeting block. On an almost daily basis, I run across posts and ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/28/taking-back-sunday-a-call-to-put-up-or-shut-up/ My third son just graduated from seminary. My three sons have all gone to early-morning seminary. They stagger to class at 6:15 in the morning, bleary-eyed and yawning. They’ve all graduated, but two of them did significant makeup assignments to “get credit.” My last son made up 92 days, which ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/27/surviving-early-morning-seminary/ Do you believe that God the Father, the Son, and maybe even the Holy Ghost visited Joseph Smith in the spring of 1820? Or did Joseph have a vision of them? Does the difference matter? Do you base your testimony, your faith in the existence of God, your continued participation in Mormonism, ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/27/the-first-vision-or-the-first-visit/ This could be the most meaningful six minutes and 44 seconds that you spend today. http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/26/6-minutes-and-44-seconds/ And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. Exodus 33:11 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4: 12 It no sooner appeared than I found myself ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/26/evidences-and-reconciliations-52608/ Currently there are four active humor blogs in the Bloggernacle. The Snark! Latte Day Saints Trash Calls The 9th Ward Amazingly, all of them delete material that someone considers personally offensive if you just politely contact them. I try to regularly read them, and used to comment. Since all entities or groups will draw satire or ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/25/nurturing-humor/ A guest post by our friend Dan Does the label "Mormon" truly explain who we are? Does it truly embody everything that we believe in? I propose that we consider a re-labelling of the brand "Mormon" to more accurately describe who we are. I propose that we call ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/25/mormon-christians/ “We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” Many of us seem to break  out into hives when this scripture is mentioned. A while back I read a comment about this scripture (by a member of the church) that suggested the “after all we ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/25/all-we-can-do/ I was recently in Europe, partly for a vacation and partly for a series of talks in Austria. During the trip I had the pleasure of touring a major church and hearing the guide answer questions. Someone asked, why did people of the distant past support the church so stupendously, ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/23/the-church-and-us-guest-blog-by-michael-albert-from-znet/ John Nilsson just mentioned this in his post, but I wanted to start a separate thread for this news. Also, John Dehlin suggested to our panel that it would be a good idea to try to keep up with current events. So first of all, let me say that I don't have a ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/22/breaking-news-texas-state-court-says-children-improperly-seized/ According to the Utah Catholic bishop, John Wester, the Vatican has issued a directive to not release parish records to LDS researchers (who then use them to perform vicarious ordinances. As I understand it, these records have been a major source of names for LDS temple work. What impact will ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/22/mormonnews-the-end-of-temple-work-as-we-know-it/ It seems, sometimes, that the lessons I learned on my mission are the ones I see again and again. One of the things I learned was the difference between spirituality, religiosity and emotionalism. I'd forgotten about it until my wife, finding herself unemployed as a stay-at-home housewife whose children had mostly died, ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/22/shadows-and-spirituality/ A guest post by our friend Ray I view the purpose of this life as becoming like Jesus was in His mortal life - and the purpose of the next life as becoming like Christ is now in His post-mortal life. For me, everything else (specific doctrine, intellectual ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/21/hunger-and-thirst-after-righteousness/ There are BYU professors, and there are BYU professors. Brother Keller is in a class by himself. His life story alone fascinates me. Converted to the church as a young adult, then left the church,  became an ordained Presbyterian pastor in Colorado, converted back to the LDS ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/21/people-whove-helped-me-stay-mormon-part-ii-roger-keller/ I’ve always felt in my own life there needs to be a need before I get divine help or inspiration. For example if I’m having problems with patience with my children or wife at home, I pray that I will have more patience and try to get more understanding for ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/20/is-there-always-a-trigger-before-revelation-james-leverich/ I intend this to be the first entry in a regular series, something you can look forward to on a Monday afternoon. Like all series, we can shift the air time around if necessary, like if I'm competing with American Idol or something. Here's the idea: I post two ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/19/evidences-and-reconciliations-51908/ Ezra Taft Benson taught that “the Book of Mormon … was written for our day. The Nephites never had the book; neither did the Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us. … Each of the major writers of the Book of Mormon testified that ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/18/the-book-of-mormon-for-our-day/ I end up talking with people on this theme several times a year. There are people who feel terribly betrayed. Especially when a spouse leaves the gospel. Apostatizes. There are other situations in the same realm, that create the same emotions: a mother whose only boy has died, and who can't ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/17/dealing-with-betrayal/ In my last post I wrote about how we are all forced to take a thought and translate it into words and that this is a sloppy and imperfect process. To make matters worse, the person that has to take those words and decode them back into a thought will ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/17/offenders-for-a-word-part-2-do-mormons-worship-jesus/ Mickey Mouse is the Anti-Christ!!! :-) NOW....hold up your credit card to the screen and lets exercise those demons out of your credit card amen brother....hold it up...come on dont be shy. Let's make it a "changelujah"!!!! Now....it is time for us to confess our shopping sins....I will start..... I am ashamed....please forgive me ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/16/what-would-jesus-buy-come-confess-your-shopping-sins/ Unless your last name is Van Winkle, you likely already know that, yesterday afternoon, the California Supreme Court concluded that the state's law prohibiting same-sex marriage (SSM, for short) is unconstitutional. Put more simply, in 30 days, SSM will be a reality in California. For those of us here ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/16/new-same-sex-marriage-ruling-same-old-polygamy-stereotypes/   Are we satisfied just paying tithing and fast offerings? http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/15/a-childs-prayer-are-we-doing-enough/ Before John Dehlin, there was Jeff Burton. Jeff, a mechanical engineer by profession who was once an LDS Social Services counselor, has helped countless Mormons stay in the Church and stay active after experiencing crises of faith. His book and website, For Those Who Wonder, (where you can download ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/15/people-who-helped-me-stay-mormon-part-i-jeff-burton/ I usually enjoy going to church. I look forward to it, despite talks that are occasionally less-than-dazzling, overly-perfumed women in the pew in front of me, and the family in the third row that refuses to take their baby out, even when she screams during the sacrament. There’s one pet ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/14/an-hour-of-peace-and-rest/ PRESS PLAY AND THEN READ. :-) Creating Zion requires 2 things: 1) A Vision of what it is like 2) Faith we can achieve it. We all have the vision of the society we want to live in and this society is one that, I believe, is similar to the type of ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/14/r-love-ution/ Do Mormons do less charitable giving due to the commitment of paying tithing? Three months of the year, you can rest assured there will be garage sales popping up like mushrooms all over Utah. Why do Mormons enjoy selling their own castoffs and searching for "bargains" among other ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/13/give-said-the-little-revenue-stream/ I deeply apologize for having three posts nearly in a row, but while doing research for my "Offenders for a Word" series, I came across this incredible quote from the Federalist Papers but couldn't realistically include it in my posting. So I wanted to post it separately because it's so ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/12/james-madison-on-the-inadequateness-of-language/ The last part of the picture that frames affliction ties into the purpose of life.  The only true affliction would be something that denied us access to life's purpose, which is for us to gain bodies that can be resurrected. We would be truly afflicted if after birth we were ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/11/affliction-final-post-in-the-series/ I love words - I love to read, write, talk - but I think words leave out almost everything. That [is] frustrat[ing]... feeling that what we can share with other people is so much more limited than what we actually experience... (link)-- Jaron Lanier Oh, Lord, deliver us in due time ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/10/offenders-for-a-word-part-1-is-jesus-god/ Only months into my mission we stopped to meet a man that had grown up Mormon but had left the Church and was now attending a Method Church with his wife and family. He was very interested in his forgotten Mormon heritage and enjoyed having us stop by to talk ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/09/a-jewish-rabbi-defines-monotheism/ Christ said: Ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin." D&C 64:9 (cf Matthew 6:15; 18:35; et al). Do you have enough faith to believe Christ? If you do, then what did he mean? We ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/09/believing-christ/ This post is not intended to be a historical look at changes that have happened in the church throughout the years, but more of experiential observation. Over the years, change in the Church has been much more top-down driven from the leadership to the members.  But I think, to some extent, ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/08/how-change-will-occur-in-the-church/ Here is a fun quiz I've seen on other Bloggernacle sites I wanted to try out on my pals at Mormon Matters. It's fairly quick and tells you by order of significance which theological world-view you share. Here's my result: You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/08/theology-quiz/ "I'm so glad I was born in this, the one true church of God." "Please bless the party leaders tonight [of the Republican Party] that they may be guided to make the right decisions." "Please be with our armed forces as they fight for freedom [in Iraq]." "The Book of Mormon gives ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/07/through-the-eyes-of-a-gentile/ Here’s something that gives me pause: people making up creative names or nontraditional spellings of traditional names for their children. This seems to be a growing trend, with a sizable minority of new children being subjected to this, perhaps even a majority in some Utah Mormon suburbs. I know that ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/06/a-latter-day-tower-of-babel/ How much does God intervene in our lives?  More than we give credit to Him or less than some would like to believe?  Why do some require evidence of God's will in even the most mundane aspects of life?  Is this seeking for a sign?  Mormons are certainly not the only ones out there who are ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/06/mormon-miracles-seeking-for-a-sign/ As Mormons, we are constantly taught and reminded that obedience brings happiness. So what are we to conclude when we're obedient but still aren't happy? I have seen Church members react in at least three different ways when they believe they are obedient and yet are unhappy. One way ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/05/when-obedience-doesnt-bring-happiness/ Like many members of the church, I believe that humankind is of the same species as God; that our Heavenly Parents are like us only on a higher level of development. To me, the doctrine is one of the most awe-inspiring and exciting aspects of Mormon theology. I have heard ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/03/the-nature-of-god-and-bible-bashing-sharing/ I have been under the impression over the last 26 years in the Church that if one had a pretty strong testimony of the Savior, the truthfulness of the Gospel as restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith and other essential doctrines, that if would be enough for the average member ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/02/why-a-testimony-of-the-gospel-is-not-enough/ glurge (GLURJ) n. A sentimental or uplifting story, particularly one delivered via e-mail, that uses inaccurate or fabricated facts; a story that is mawkish or maudlin; the genre consisting of such stories.  Not a day goes by that I do not get some sort of email glurge from a relative.  ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/01/the-mormon-urge-to-glurge/ From the devout to the skeptic to the disaffected, our experience with the Church is personally contextual. We take issue with belief systems as well as the performance aspect of the religion i.e. do we practice what we preach? Our experiences are most often influenced in the sociological ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/05/01/local-priesthood-keys-%e2%80%93-our-religious-lynchpin/ Is it just my imagination, or are more missionaries returning home early? Seems like this used to be a rare event, spoken about in the same whispery voice people use to tell you someone has an embarrassing disease. Now, it happens with some regularity. In my stake in the past ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/30/raising-the-bar/ If we understand the mechanism and motives of the group mind, is it not possible to control and regiment the masses according to our will without their knowing about it? The recent practice of propaganda has proved that it is possible, at least up to a certain point and within ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/30/subliminal-battle-for-our-free-agency/ Hi, my name is Andrew, and I'm a diet Coke-oholic. For those of you who've never attended an addiction recovery group meeting, that's your cue to enthusiastically respond: "Hi Andrew!" It's important for you to welcome me and make me feel part of the group as I prepare to bare ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/29/mormon-coffee/ "I know that the Devil lives in outer darkness surrounded by concourses of ghastly minions amidst weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth". Why don't we hear this from the pulpit in LDS testimony meetings? It's just as much an article of faith as the existence of God, right? There must needs ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/29/a-testimony-of-the-devil/ As we know from JS-H 1: 8, Joseph Smith had attended various religious meetings and (in his own words) "In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them."  So, what did Joseph Smith (as a future Mormon) ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/28/a-method-to-our-mormonism/ There is a common belief among LDS that wonderful women are sometimes saddled with mediocre men or sometimes no man at all, which will result in a surplus of women in the Celestial Kingdom.  So, are Mormon women really so much better than men? In the movie Weird Science, two geeks ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/28/mormon-malaka-men/ I came up with the following parable to explain to a Born Again Christian friend why I felt his belief that our actions plays no role in salvation at all was setting up a false dichotomy between influence and merit. It floated like a lead balloon, of course. He didn't even ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/27/the-parable-of-the-merciful-judge/ It was a sunny Saturday and I was sitting in the synagogue with my friend Sam... We very rarely get sunshine in the UK which made it even that much more glorious. It was my first Jewish service and I was slightly nervous. Sam and I both arrived slightly late. ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/26/shabbos-yom-tov-pesach-with-my-friend-sam/ One of the most unseemly and disturbing images in the Book of Mormon is when Nephi is commanded to cut the head off of Laban who lies drunken at his feet.  So, what did Laban do to get on God's hit list?  Did he deserve it?  Was it necessary?  And how did ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/26/gods-hit-list-in-the-book-of-mormon/ Many of you may have heard about a man named Joseph Smith that recently claimed to have found some plates of gold, shown to him by an angel no less, and then to have translated those plates "by the gift and power of God" into The Book of Mormon. This ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/25/what-if-joseph-smith-published-the-book-of-mormon-last-year/ I was talking with a French colleague at dinner about the differences between European politics and American politics, and he made a statement that left an impression. European politics are colored by their colonialist histories and how to balance a preservation of their culture while dealing with the other cultures ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/24/cultural-colonialism-the-sun-never-sets-on-the-mormon-empire/ http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/24/the-prayer-of-the-children/ This is the story of forgiveness. This is a story of a young 18 year old man named Anthony Walker who was beaten to death with an ice axe back in 2005 because of the colour of his skin. The two murderers, Michael Barton 17 and Paul Taylor 20 ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/23/a-case-study-on-racism-and-learning-to-forgive-anthony-walkers-mother/ Over spring break, I preached in Alamo. No, not THE Alamo. Alamo, New Mexico. It's a non-contiguous part of the Navajo Nation southwest of Albuquerque. It started when my brother-in-law invited me to accompany him on a stake high council speaking assignment while I was in town for the week. Turns out ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/23/preaching-in-alamo/ Clay Whipkey and I are in China -- and visited the Great Wall 2 days ago. As we contemplated what to discuss on top of the wall -- there was only one real option. We hope you enjoy. :) All the best to our long lost ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/23/from-the-great-wall-to-the-bloggernacle-with-love/ It might just be me, but I've noticed an upswing in eating and drinking during the three hour block. Now, I am not talking about cheerios, fishy crackers and sippy cups, but older kids and adults. There is a joke around the Church about someone having installed cup holders ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/22/eating-drinking-in-church-a-new-trend/ When the Church of Christ was organized on April 6, 1830, none of its members were professional clergy, but all its adult male members were endowed with “priesthood.” For millennia, Christians had wrestled with defining the roles of lay people and the clergy in expressing piety. If the sacraments ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/22/laymen-clergy-the-genius-of-mormonism/ The ad litem sends thanks for the input. http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/20/lds-families-needed-to-help-with-flds-children/ Very few famous Hollywood actors are Mormon, even fewer are practicing Mormons.  While there are some obvious disconnects (e.g. law of chastity, modesty, time commitments), there are some equally compelling connections between some of the basic values of Hollywood and Mormonism and other values that are close, if not quite aligned. I ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/20/why-hollywood-should-be-mormon/ Call it what you will....call it brown-nosing in the UK & kissin butt in the US...but I felt extremely frustrated this week trying to follow in John's shoes and it helped me to realize what an awesome guy he is and the things he might have gotten through to get ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/20/eulogy-to-john-dehlin/ We had a Relief Society lesson a couple weeks ago on appropriate dress. A few clear conclusions came from the discussion. Women’s pants are evil and flip-flops are of the devil. Denim and the chapel do not mix under any circumstance. And pantyhose make you more spiritual. I’m stretching a bit. ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/19/the-evil-of-flip-flops-and-pants/ One of the interesting panel discussions at last weekend’s Restoration Studies Symposium was entitled “The Future Status and Use of the Book of Mormon in the Community of Christ.” The essential question raised is: if you aren’t sure (or don’t believe) that the Book of Mormon is a literal history, ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/18/the-greek-and-roman-testaments-a-scriptural-analogy/ The general election is looming, which means that soon, we here in the U.S. will be hearing an official First Presidency statement in our wards regarding the Church's political neutrality. You've heard the mantra before: the Church does not get involved in political issues, but it does take ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/18/rethinking-the-moral-vs-political-question-for-an-international-church/ By Joe Geisner (guest blogger) No I am not talking about Utah. I left Sam Brannan's Zion for Joseph Smith's Zion on April 11, 2008. I arrived at about 4 pm in Kansas City airport and almost froze to death waiting for the rental car shuttle. I had left 80 degree ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/17/a-california-mormon-visits-the-other-zion/ The raid in Texas is interesting (and differs from AZ and UT prosecutorial efforts) in that polygamy is being attacked directly.  So, will this shift in approach result in the end of polygamy (again)? The underlying assumption in taking 400 children out of their homes is that the lifestyle itself is harmful; invading the temple ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/17/the-end-of-polygamy-again/ At the recent press conference (April 6th 2008) celebrating Elder Christofferson's Apostleship, he was asked to comment about a local issue by The Salt Lake Tribune's Jessica Ravitz. The question was about a situation that centered around a local group's wishes to erect a monument displaying their, 10 commandments ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/16/the-establishment-of-religion-elder-christofferson/ Years ago, my wife and I skipped our ward meetings to attend Music and the Spoken Word and thoroughly enjoyed it. We made a date out of it by staying the night before in the old Inn at Temple Square. It was a fun experience eating breakfast Sunday ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/16/from-the-crossroads-of-the-west/ I recently read an interesting post by a non-member couple and their visit to Kirtland.  IMO, their contrast of the Kirtland temple (Community of Christ) tour guides and the missionaries at the LDS-owned sites was cringe-worthy and brings up a few questions about how we as church members respond to (non-investigative) questions. Here's ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/15/a-non-member-kirtland-experience/ Those who know me know that I have a lot of vitriol for bankers. As an industry, they have their "New World Order" in the palm of their hands....or if you look at it from the working man's perspective...our democracies by the gonads! Through hedge funds and lending to Ninja ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/15/the-banking-industry-a-moral-hazard-stephen-wellington/ As I watched the press conference last week between the Sunday sessions of General Conference, I found out that the new 2nd Counselor of the Young Women General Presidency, Ann Dibbs, is a daughter of President Thomas S Monson. It got me thinking about how many relatives of Church ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/14/nepotism-in-the-church/ When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Cor. 13:11.) As I've grown older, the things I've unlearned about God are just as significant to me as the things I've ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/14/putting-away-childish-things-my-evolving-view-of-god/ On a personal note, my wife and I are scheduled to be sealed in the temple next month. We have a week's vacation and with great apprehension, I muse over our options. My wife wants to spend the time going to southern California, romping through Disneyland, Sea World, ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/13/nauvoo-or-disneyland/ Is it ever appropriate to intervene when someone "unworthy" is going to take the sacrament?  What level of "unworthiness" makes such intervention justified? There was a big disagreement about this on my mission.  An investigator who had been given a chapel card showed up for church just as the sacrament service was beginning.  When the bread ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/12/drop-it-whos-worthy-to-take-the-sacrament/ The Word of Wisdom has come to be a central and defining tenant of the Mormon faith. The phrase “don’t drink, don’t smoke” is almost universally included in a description of Mormon values or behaviors. Perhaps due to its clear-cut nature (or at least the clear cut nature ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/12/bootlegged-utah-and-the-21st-amendment/ Some background.  The University of Utah athletic teams go by the name "Utes".  BYU are the "Cougars".  The Utes are also an American Indian tribe.  The Trail of Tears was the forced expulsion of the Cherokee, during which many died, from their ancestral lands in the eastern United ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/11/shouldnt-this-be-against-the-honor-code/ I had the opportunity of late to score a read from a family member’s library. This family member is an activist on the fringe set of fundamentalism and preparedness, dabbling into the occult and mysticism as well—happy times! I happened to return it so this will be a bit rusty ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/11/awakening-to-our-awful-speculation/ What do Mormons and Muslims have in common? A lot more than you might think. And a popular sitcom about Muslims living in a small Canadian prairie town offers Mormons good suggestions about how best to handle being misunderstood and sometimes mistreated by the "outside world". People have been comparing Mormons ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/10/little-mosque-on-the-prairie-what-mormons-can-learn-from-muslims/ Count up all the liberal Mormons you know. Now, compare that number to the number you knew ten years ago. Now multiply the difference between the two by the number of liberal General Authorities, then subtract from that number the number of anti-intellectual General Conference addresses you have ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/10/liberal-mormonism-iii-prognosis/ Growing up in a fairly liberal Orange County town I was exposed to differing cultures and religions. Hindu, Jewish, Jehovah's Witness, Church of Religious Science, and Alternative Spiritualities. I remember a girl who was Hindu who wore different types of clothes than the other girls. The inner dialog: She is ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/09/the-white-shirt/ If you spend any time here in the Bloggernacle, or leafing through the pages of any number of "alternate voices," you are bound to encounter Eugene England. A founder of Dialogue, England -- a former Bishop, LDS missionary, and BYU Professor -- is a patron saint of the Mormon intellectual ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/09/why-eugene-england-still-matters/ Here are 3 videos (all together about 30 minutes) from a recent Oprah episode where she interivews Thomas Beatie about being the worlds first pregnant man. What are your views? http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/08/meeting-a-new-earth-the-first-pregnant-man-interviewed-by-oprah/ Are Mormons really more persecuted than other faiths or do Mormons just perceive that because the criticism is aimed at us?  Are there as many anti-[insert religion here] as there are anti-Mormons?  I decided to take a very cursory, unscientific, yet interesting look at this question. The methodology of my experiment ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/08/mormon-persecution-complex/ Definitely Definitely Watch The Video Above – all will be explained later Mormon Roadshows Sent Packing Salt Lake Tribune 31Jul99 L2 By Peggy Fletcher Stack: Salt Lake Tribune Many Mormons who have grown up in the LDS church have performed in a roadshow at least once in their lives. People who later grew up ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/07/roadshows-are-they-gone-forever/ An open 'nacle invitation: What were your favorite moments/quotes from General Conference? http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/06/open-nacle-invitation-what-were-your-favorite-momentsquotes-from-general-conference/   Let us know what insights, testimonies, and quotable quotes grabbed your attention or touched your heart today as General Conference progresses. Live! In real time! http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/06/general-conference-open-thread-sunday-sessions/ Mention the word "Trinity" to a group of Mormons and the response you'll get probably will be "I don't believe that false doctrine of Satan!" [1] Mormons often even feel more kinship with religions like the Jehovah's Witnesses, who also reject the Trinity doctrine, than we do with orthodox Christians ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/06/mormons-as-trinitarians/ An older friend of mine remarked that time seems to fly by now. She quipped that it felt like she was changing the sheets every morning. As you close on eight years old, a month is about the same part of your life that a year is in ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/05/life-and-affliction-part-two-with-another-to-come/ Is it just me or are the Saturday sessions usually better than the Sunday ones? I've long thought the best talks are "front-loaded" into the Saturday session to reward those dedicated souls who are willing to give up both their Saturday as well as their Sunday to participate in ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/05/general-conference-open-thread-saturday-sessions/ I know this is really anecdotal, but almost everyone I know is serving a stateside mission. I have wondering about this situation and wonder (if its true on the aggregate) why this is the case. It would only make sense when you think about it to keep missionaries ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/04/are-more-missionaries-staying-native/ Look up there . . . . who's that emceeing the Ward Roadshow? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's the Mormon Answer Man!! Faster than a missionary speeding downhill towards a dinner appointment. Able to pull three heavy-laden handcarts at a time. Behold his breath-taking adventures ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/04/the-amazing-adventures-of-the-mormon-answer-man/ Outside of my own library and the virtual community I'm connected to through the internet, Mormondom has very little impact on my immediate environment in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The LDS Institute has a prominent place next to the university, but the LDS chapel is across the river in a ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/03/deep-in-the-heart-of-mormondom/ Ben Stein is prominently featured in an upcoming documentary called "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," where he takes a stab a neo-darwinism, and seeks to bring increased legitimacy to the intelligent design camp. The creation vs. evolution debate is of course nothing new to Mormons, as the early and mid ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/02/expelled-no-intelligence-allowed/ April 1986: President Benson presides over his first General Conference. Did anyone listening to his humble little talk, called "Cleaning the Inner Vessel," realize that it would send ripples through the Church and start a massive change in Church policy and doctrine? President Benson said: Unless we read the Book of Mormon ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/02/the-whole-church-is-under-condemnation-the-talk-that-changed-the-church/ Not long ago I was watching a Tyler Perry movie and found myself applauding an action of one of the characters. This was an action which would draw condemnation from Mormons. From the viewer's omniscient position, it was the right thing to do. ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/01/my-top-ten-non-mormon-lives/ In my last post, I noted that something peculiar is going on when it comes to Utah's depression numbers. Utah has the highest percentage of population reporting depression, and oddly, Utah's depression numbers can't seem to be explained by several correlations that tend to explain depression numbers in other ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/04/01/are-utahs-genes-too-small-and-other-peculiar-theories-about-utahs-depression/ For the unindoctrinated, MBTI (Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator) is a psychometric that classifies people into one of 16 profiles.  It is primarily used to help people get along better at work (along with staples like Wacky Bowling and Ropes courses).  So, what is Jesus' MBTI type?  Does Jesus' personality type create ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/31/what-is-jesus-mbti/ I was raised in a household of faith. My parents are believers who encouraged discussion of religion in their home. I've asked around and found that this isn't the case in many LDS homes. My parents asked what we children learned in Primary and Sunday School and then what ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/31/liberal-mormonism-ii-why-i-am-a-liberal-mormon/ “The idea of a forever forward is not more or less simple than that of a forever backward.  Yet, in our culture, one idea is commonplace, the other startling, even unthinkable.”~Truman Madsen I always find myself in a little conundrum  when I'm teaching about the mysterious pre-mortal life (from the approved ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/30/a-forever-backward-intelligence/ Another chance to turn your brain off...and laugh. http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/29/putting-the-fun-back-in-fundamentalist/ As members of the LDS Church, we recognize that the Gospel was "restored" to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith and that he founded the Church on April 6, 1830. A question we might ask ourselves is: what is the actual purpose of the Church? Why does it exist? ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/29/the-purpose-of-the-church/ If you'll indulge me, I'd like to let Mormon Matters readers know about a recent interesting development in Mormon literature that I'm involved in as a publisher (definitely on a nonprofit basis):  "The news that Coke Newell's novel On the Road to Heaven won Best Novel at the new Whitney Awards could have interesting ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/28/news-from-the-mormon-literary-world/ “Elders are agreed on the way and manner necessary to obtain celestial glory, but they quarrel about a dollar. When principles of eternal life are brought before them—God and the things pertaining to God and godliness—they apparently care not half so much about them as they do about five cents. ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/28/trickle-sideways-mormonomics-and-consecration%e2%80%99s-legacy/ In speaking of other faiths, Joseph Smith admonished early church members to "gather all the good and true principles in the world and treasure them up" or they would not be "true Mormons" [Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 316].  Are the true principles only the ones we have in common?  Why principles (vs. doctrines ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/27/treasuring-up-true-principles-of-other-faiths/ 1 Kings Chapter 18 tells the story of Elijah and the priests of Baal. We read that Elijah and Ahab confront each other, and Elijah challenges Ahab’s new god, Baal, and his priests in showdown of divine power. After the priests are unable to summon Baal’s power to ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/27/elijah-prophet-seer-and-mass-murderer/ Coming to a theatre near you (if you live in Utah) March 28th One miracle after another occurs through the passion of one full time single father whose original intention was to reunite his 12-year-old daughter with her addicted mother.Deep in the heart of Utah, commonly referred to as "Happy Valley," ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/26/happy-valley-a-true-life-story/ A recent news article cites a study that portrays Utah as the most depressed state in the U.S. The article suggests Mormon culture is at least partly to blame for Utahns' depression, and features photos of a pill bottle and a depressed-looking woman superimposed over the Salt Lake temple. A ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/26/why-are-utahns-so-depressed/ I don't necessarily disagree with the points made by BYU law professor Lynn D. Wardle in his Salt Lake Tribune editorial regarding the Elliott Spitzer affair ("Infidelity by elected officials rightfully is a public issue," March 21). However, I think it's important to step back and acknowledge that it is ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/25/too-quick-to-pry-and-judge/ Nauvoo was a mistake. At the close of the Missouri Mormon War in the winter of 1838-39, the Saints crossed the icy Mississippi. The people of Quincy, Illinois, were aghast at their condition and opened their hearts and their homes to the refugees. A new gathering place needed to be ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/25/what-if-they%e2%80%99d-put-nauvoo-in-iowa/ A chance to turn your brain off...and laugh. http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/24/the-gods-too-are-fond-of-a-joke-aristotle/ Let me be clear about a few things. First, I have been diagnosed as a liberal Mormon. Second, liberal Mormonism has been discussed before in ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/24/liberal-mormonism-i-diagnosis/ I was recently asked by a journalist for my observations on the new Mormon prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and I thought I'd share my responses here and inquire what others would say in answer to the same questions: 1. Have you ever met President Monson and, if so, do you have ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/23/thoughts-on-president-monson/ Let's play a little game. In order to be eligible to play, you MUST NOT be a current viewer of American Idol. If you are familiar with any of the contestants on season 7, consider yourself disqualified. This game is actually more of an experiment in ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/22/game-identify-the-mormon/ This past Thursday, Claremont College hosted a very good panel discussion with Richard and Claudia Bushman and Richard Turley on the future of Mormon history.  I asked Claudia if she would e-mail me a copy of her talk, and whether I could distribute it.  Here it is, unedited, but with ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/21/the-future-of-mormon-history/ I have not had a chance to review the original paper, but this news headline from the 11th of March caught my attention and I thought it deserved a blog entry here at Mormon Matters. Though the sample size is medium, the findings show how rife STD's are in US ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/21/new-evidence-for-sexual-discretion-stephen-wellington/ Consider the following lists of attributes of God: Omnipotent Loving Merciful Gracious Omniscient Just Omnipresent Unchanging Truthful / Cannot lie No Respecter of Persons Slow to Anger Long-suffering / Patient Infinite Eternal Sovereign It seems to me that we can actually split this list into two lists: those attributes of God that we share with Him and those attributes of God that we don't share, at ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/21/i-have-never-been-omnipotent-but-i-have-loved/ I believe that transparency is the way we love. A friend once told me, “You can’t love someone if you can’t talk to them.” I think we were discussing boys or dating at the time, but the older I get, the more I agree with her. I think this means at least ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/20/the-stuff-of-loving/ This part 3 of Testimony is just for fun. I will give you four examples of some of the stranger testimonies I have heard. No doubt I have forgotten the strangest ones. But these are the ones that come to mind. You can check out Part 1 and Part 2 ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/20/part-3-testimony-forget-jesus-i-have-an-annoucement/ I grew up in the capital of Mormonism, the heart of Salt Lake Valley. I straddled the two dominant cultures in that valley and experienced tension in my relation to both of those cultures. I lived and went to Church on the west side while through my Junior High and ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/19/socioeconomics-of-utah-mormonism-one-of-many-case-studies-in-theo-economic-failure/ Sgt. Marshall Thompson, a Mormon GI from Utah, who served in Iraq speaks about his Anti-Iraq War protest walk, his experience in Iraq, his hopes for an end to the occupation and his fears of protesting in the "reddest state in the country". http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/18/a-soldiers-walk-for-peace/ Meeting together in person to exchange ideas, you ask? Haven’t you heard of the "internets" John Hamer? Hasn’t the awesome nature of the MormonMatters Blog made attending a Mormon studies conference IRL (in real life) as obsolete as reading a printed book?! As incredible as online connections can be, you can’t ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/18/mark-your-calendars-%e2%80%94-2-upcoming-conferences-irl/ When I saw the trailer for this movie one giant big 'THING' came to my mind . . . . Human Kind didn't live in the time of the woolly mammoth! Or did we? I started to question myself, my religion, Christianity, Judaism, Creationism, etc. I started to believe that ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/17/boycott-10000-bc-the-movie/ According to the all-knowing Wikipedia, the Latter Day Saint movement (including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is “Restorationist” (as apposed to Orthodox or Protestant, etc. Is “Restorationist” a comparable category to Protestant? When people ask me if I’m Christian, or what type of Christian I am, is ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/16/mormons-as-restorationist-christians/ The bloggernacle has seen a good deal of political chatter this past year. Mormons have typically been political active, and are usually pretty predictable voters. While the Church emphatically asserts its political neutrality, it is no secret that the Mormon political mold spells something along the lines ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/16/politics-mingled-with-scripture/ Orson Scott Card has written some on King Mosiah, but I've got another point. He flees the land of their first inheritance. He arrives in the midst of a people who have fought many wars. Next thing you know, and the narrative doesn't mention it at all, a Nephite faction ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/15/deconstruction-and-the-book-of-mormon-part-3/ I always loved a good slumber party when I was a kid. The unlimited unhealthy snacks, eardrum-splitting music and endless giggling held enormous charm to my 13-year-old self. But it was the element of “naughtiness” that really appealed to me. The rumors of spiked punch and illicit visits by boys. ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/14/womens-retreats-slumber-parties-for-grownups/ In part 1 on Testimony, I discussed that oft heard phrase, “I know the Church is True.” In this 2nd part, I'd like to focus on what a Testimony is supposed to be. In part 3, we’ll have some fun as I relate some of the more memorable testimonies I ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/14/part-2-testimony-%e2%80%9cand-then-we-went-to-the-grand-canyon%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/ No, I don't have any profound knowledge about Mormonism and Ferraro, but the recent uproar over her comments about Obama have raised a question in my mind. First,  a word about race, Mormonism, and America.  Like it or not, race is still an issue in almost everything we do.  We can't ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/13/geraldine-ferraro-and-the-mormons/ There seems to be a lot of head scratching over the converted Lamanites suddenly taking the name "Anti-Nephi-Lehies" in The Book of Mormon. (Alma 23:17) To our modern ears it sounds like the Lamanites decided that they were against all that the Nephites stood for. It's like some new convert ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/13/anti-nephi-lehies-a-possible-explanation-a-new-church-folk-doctrine/ Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti, the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Catholic Church, was asked by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano what, in his opinion, are the "7 deadly sins of the 21st Century." Here is what he had to say: Bloomberg News parsed his remarks into a clip-n-savable ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/13/new-sins-for-a-new-century/ A few months ago, I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting in which I discussed how studying other religious faiths and their scriptures had enriched my life. When the meeting was over, a couple approached me and said they wanted a copy of the talk to give their daughter ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/12/why-mormons-are-buddhists-vice-versa/ General Conference, April 2008 President Thomas S. Monson steps to the pulpit and says: "Brothers and sisters, thank you for your prayers. They have sustained me as I have wrestled with the feelings of inadequacy which naturally beset one who is called to this office. After prayerful discussion with my brethren of ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/12/imagine-honorable-release/ I am not an Obama supporter and this article is not politically motivated. It is actually a commentary on how the media often creates a controversy rather than reporting an existing controversy. This issue has been weighing on my mind since the Danzig case and the Salt Lake Tribune's quick retraction ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/11/%e2%80%9cshe%e2%80%99s-a-monster%e2%80%9d-a-media-generated-controversy/ Since news first broke that the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or FLDS church) was building a new Zionic city in western Texas, I’ve been excited to watch history unfold (and perhaps repeat?) At first there was little more on the site than three large ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/11/what-comes-next-for-the-flds-church/ I know the church is true.  I love the church.  They are disaffected with the church.  We go to church.  I discovered that the church was not what it said it was.  What exactly, does ‘church’ mean?  Where is ‘the church”?  Who does it belong to? What does “church" mean? Is it ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/10/what-is-the-church/ At a recent General Conference, Elder Oaks reiterated the Book of Mormon prophecy that “the Lord will eventually cause the inspired teachings He has given to His children in various nations to be brought forth for the benefit of all people.” [1] So inquiring minds may want to ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/10/gathering-gods-words-to-all-nations-when-where-how-and-who-cares/ Every so often I meet someone who has chipped a nail and then concludes as a result that there is no God or that God is not good. While there are variations on the theme, the bottom line is that the person has noticed adversity and decided that there ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/09/trials/ Not too long ago I came across an interesting passage in the New Testament that caught my attention and gave me pause. It is found in the obscure book of Titus, chaper 1 verse 15, which reads: "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/09/unto-the-pure/ MY DISENCHANTMENT WITH THE STATE Perhaps I should blame Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Amy Goodman or John Pilger for my enlightenment. Or perhaps I should thank the neocons, George Bush and Tony Blair for waging an illegal war, as judged by the UN, in Iraq and destroying my naive ideal of ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/08/my-disenchantment-with-church-and-state-part-2-the-state/ . . . . there I was writing my ex-wife a letter trying to explain what a Temple Marriage and Sealing is and what it means regarding our son. You see my current wife and I wanted her daughter, my older son, and our younger son, to all be sealed ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/08/the-jaged-little-pill-we-call-mormonism/ After what has been discussed about Scouting in the Church, I wanted to share some inside information that I have to explain why the Church will probably stay with Scouting (Cetus Paribus, meaning the homosexual ban remaining). A year ago I was part of a seminar with Frazier Bullock, who is ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/07/the-lds-church-and-the-bsa-part-2-why-scouting-wont-dissappear/ Once upon a time there was a young man that grew up in a wonderful Mormon family. Though he had no regrets about growing up Mormon, he had to admit he was different in one way from his family and others; he was innately an intellectual. Now by this, I do ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/06/believest-thou-faith-cognitive-dissonance-and-the-psychology-of-religious-experience-by-wendy-ulrich-phd/ MY DISENCHANTMENT WITH CHURCH As long as I can remember, I was always rebellious against what I felt was unjust coercion, but I feel it was not until my mission that I started to come into conflict with authority. At points I felt that missionary managers did not care about me or ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/06/my-dissaffection-with-church-and-government-a-story-of-hope/ By the 1980s the Church had clear and convincing statistical evidence that Scouting had no net positive effect on the long term success of LDS youth (using gospel markers such as temple marriage and missions) or on their activity rates. Several efforts were made to look for replacements. More than twenty ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/05/scouting-is-a-what/ Mormons tend to think of the Restoration as a discrete series of events that began with the First Vision and concluded with the Martyrdom. Because we tend to view the Restoration as something that has already occurred, we don't seem to talk much about whether there is something more ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/05/the-unfinished-restoration-a-global-vision/ 10. I don't mark my scriptures. The last time I did was 12 years ago and it was to make it easier to find the key scripture passages I used to teach the missionary discussions. I still have my marked-up seminary scriptures. They are sadly disfigured from the ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/04/my-top-ten-cultural-sins-or-why-i-dont-mark-my-scriptures/ Several posts ago, I wrote about the morality of other Christians referring to Mormons as non-Christian without explaining their non-standard use of the word "Christian." Far from claiming that they should call us "Christians" I suggested how they could morally call us "non-Christians" without misrepresenting our beliefs. That article was actually ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/04/religions-in-their-own-words-the-morality-of-misrepresenting-other-religions/ I was in the offices of the new Kirtland Temple Visitor Center last Thursday when the call came through. According to the mayor's office, Bill Clinton was coming to Kirtland on Saturday --- to hold a rally and to tour the Temple. This would make Clinton the first US ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/03/clinton-comes-to-kirtland/ In 2010, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) will celebrate its Centennial anniversary. In 2012, the Church will celebrate its centennial contract with the BSA. With these upcoming historic events, its likely controversy over the BSA and its links with the LDS Church will grow for a time. On a ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/03/the-church-and-the-bsa-part-1/ It seems almost every Sunday in our ward someone takes the time to crack a joke from the podium. I find this ever so wonderful being one who enjoys a good laugh. But what I have found out, by pure experimentation, is that I am the only one in the ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/02/can-we-laugh-here/ The first time I attended the LDS Church was a Fast and Testimony Meeting at the University Ward in Berkeley, California. Coming from a background where a liturgy was the Sabbath Service with very small amount of a sermon or speech coming from the Rabbi or Bar/Bat Mitzvah kid, ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/02/testimony-part-1-i-know-the-church-is-true/ Title: The Mormon Church On Trial: Transcripts of the Reed Smoot Hearings Editor: Michael Harold Paulos Publisher: Signature Books Reviewed by Nicholas S. Literski For decades, talk of the Reed Smoot Hearings has conjured up claims of religious persecution, duplicitous testimony, and shocking admissions.  Intimidated by the multiple volumes of original source material, would-be ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/02/reed-smoot-hearings-a-review-and-what-it-says-about-today/ This past wave of media attention on Mormonism has not been very kind. In a number of venues and outlets, ranging from national network news, to the mainstream newspapers, to blogs and Youtube, many Mormon beliefs have been lampooned for their oddities and eccentricities as they came ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/01/what-happens-when-we-die/ I’m out of the YSA circuit now, but when I was there I often heard the prayer, “Please bless the refreshments, that they may nourish and strengthen our bodies.” It was funny because the “refreshments” were usually cookies and punch. I am glad I was never called on ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/03/01/%e2%80%9cplease-bless-the-food-that-it-may-change-on-a-molecular-level-to-provide-us-with-additional-strength-that-we-would-not-get-otherwise%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/ 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 around the world rejoice! They were right all along about Jesus being the Son of God. But after Jesus has been here for a while, ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/29/what-if-everyone-found-out-the-mormon-plan-of-salvation-was-true/ 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. A Letter to Glenn Beck February 29, 2008 Dear Mr. Beck: First, let me tell you that I am not a regular viewer of your program. My ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/29/my-open-letter-to-glenn-beck/ 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 rest. As I got older, the rest became more differentiated; there were Catholics and Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Baptists, Syrian Orthodox, Church of ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/29/what-do-joseph-smith-and-gladys-knight-have-in-common/ 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 meanings for me as I've wrestled with some of life's tougher questions. You might call it the "Parable of the Elephant." This is ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/28/the-parable-of-the-elephant/ 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 phase of questioning myself, my identity, and my place in life, with accompanying feelings of anxiety, dissatisfaction, and disillusionment. Nearly all these feelings focus on my ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/28/my-mormon-midlife-crisis/ Explosive Church growth has had a real impact on one of the core experiences many LDS had growing up -- knowing apostates.  The lack of them hampers us and in many ways we need more apostates. After all, it used to be that everyone, while growing up, would know at least ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/27/why-we-need-more-apostates/ 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 of premillennialism. The Second Great Awakening was typically seen as symbolic of the “refreshing of times” as spoke by Peter and a rejection of ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/27/neo-fundamentalism-part-3-lds-premillennialism/ One stumbling block to communication between Mormons and other types of Christians is our use of the word "church" -- sometimes at least -- as a synonym for "religion." The word "church," as used in the New Testament, meant an assembly or congregation. (Presumably the entire body of believers in Jesus in ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/26/a-baptist-view-of-being-the-one-true-church/ 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.  When I mentioned that I got accused of just wanting clothing that let me see into the bosoms of others, and a friend quipped up ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/25/a-style-of-our-own/ 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 can read about the details on various sites, but I'll post links to the back-stories below. This post is just about opening a ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/25/the-danzig-case-does-the-lds-church-influence-members-to-oppose-same-sex-marriage/ There seem to be a number of disaffected Mormons lurking the Bloggernacle these days. I am not one of them. Here is why. Feb. 24, 2008 - 9:05 a.m. My wife and three of our daughters are already at church; I'm lagging behind at home with a straggler. My six year-old still ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/25/why-i-am-not-a-disaffected-mormon/ 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 entering the school. Governor Orval Faubus tries in vain to stop the students from attending the school even though 3 years earlier Brown v. Board ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/24/discrimination-like-ive-ever-seen-before/ 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 fill the world through a process of natural selection. Several millions of years ago the ancestors of humankind diverged from our nearest surviving cousins and ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/24/a-veil-runs-through-it-a-mormon-cosmogony/ 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 about that once they realize the gross errors the rest of the world has fallen into and the way the world is sinning against them.  ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/23/a-guide-to-edifying-others/ Ever since its initial publication in 1830, the Book of Mormon has been the subject of countless studies.  This post is the first of a series to introduce those who may be familiar with these studies to some of the more prominent of these writings as a starting point.  While ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/22/bookends-2-book-of-mormon-studies-orson-pratt/ 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. (Link here) While BYU has stressed the importance of a wholesome environment since the Karl Mäser days, it wasn't until the 1940's that an ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/22/byu-and-the-honor-code/ In 1991, Dr. Robert F. Bohn gave this great talk at the Sunstone Symposium titled "Cultural vs. Gospel Doctrine and the 'Unsaid Sermon Phenomenon'". I recently listened to the recording and found it poignant, practical, helpful, and encouraging. As an illustration of the topic, here's an example: Original quote from a ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/21/cultural-doctrines-the-unsaid-sermon/ 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 article is actually about a certain flawed way of thinking that we all sometimes fall into. As such, I admit up front that I know ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/21/the-improbable-versus-the-nearly-impossible-the-existence-of-jesus/ 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 the whole earth, Church members may expect to see exponential Church growth, with significant year-over-year gains in the number of convert baptisms. However, over ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/20/the-ammon-approach-redefining-missionary-work/ According to Beliefnet.com the 10 largest churches of 2007 in the US are: 1) The Catholic Church (67.5 million) 2) The Southern Baptist Convention (16.3 million) 3) The United Methodist Church (7.9 million) 4) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (5.7 million) 5) The Church of God in Christ (5.5 million) 6) National Baptist ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/20/overview-and-discussion-of-church-growth/ 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 saddened me and I felt the need to share it with someone. My wife became the unwilling person I shared it with. Part way through ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/19/the-sad-story-of-sally-native-american-daughter-of-brigham-young/ I’m not a member of the LDS church, although I was once. I’ve had many members ask me over the years, why we left. When I try to explain, I tend to get cut off mid sentence, with protests about how the sources or people I am quoting are Anti-Mormon ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/19/who-are-these-anti-mormons/ 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 already very geographically minded and the book cries out for a map. So make a map we did. Mustering the tools of choice for the preschool ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/18/lost-hemisphere-a-traditional-book-of-mormon-geography/ 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 often I hear underhanded remarks about other religious groups. Its not a common topic of conversation, but when the subject turns to Jehovah's ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/18/peculiar-people-mormons-and-jehovahs-witnesses/ "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 the history of the church, it has been somewhat easy to determine revelation from the Lord given to the people by one of His servants, a ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/17/the-prophetic-accomplishments-of-president-gordon-b-hinckley/ Deuteronomy 15:12-15 "in the seventh year, you shall let him go free from you ..." or 16-18 "be your servant forever" That is right. Eight years in the wilderness. Anyone who stayed, went from a seven year hitch to a permanent slave under the law. The entire household, except for the masters, became property. That ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/17/deconstructing-the-book-of-mormon-part-two/ 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 to be able to create or edit timelines for whatever subject catches your fancy.  John Dehlin started one off called Critical Moments in Mormon History. ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/16/cool-website-enables-collaborative-timelines/ 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 and a small collection of sources. Very little of what I see is based on interviews with either God or a wide cross section of ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/14/god-is-a-what/ 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 and the pursuit of happiness. A century ago, however, our ancestors and the country fell far short of achieving that ideal. 1910 was in the ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/14/the-first-black-apostle-a-black-history-month-story/ John Reaney took the Hereford diocesan board of finance to an employment tribunal after his appointment as a youth worker was blocked. Bishop of Hereford Anthony Priddis has apologised and gay rights group Stonewall said the "substantial compensation" sent a clear message. Mr Reaney, from Colwyn Bay, Conwy, said he was ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/13/gay-christian-awarded-approximately-94000-for-discrimination-by-the-church-of-england/ 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 War II): Upon assembling, I asked the men present how many of them had been on missions. Fully 50 percent of them raised ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/13/its-more-than-a-religion-mormonism-as-family/ 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, and I couldn't stand the duplicity any longer. As I've continued to come out to more friends, I've learned I have to be ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/12/wwjb-what-would-jesus-blog/ 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 doctrine. Having covered this topic in a Gospel Principles class, I then noted to the class that the Doctrine and Covenants was the "advanced doctrine" book. ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/11/the-book-of-mormon-paving-the-way-for-the-doctrine-covenants/   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 of Captain Confederacy, an alternate history comic series where the South maintains its independence, the Mormons and Indians break away and form their own states, etc.             And ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/11/mormon-superheroes/ 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 ambiguity (essentially the opposite of right/wrong clarity) is inseparably interwoven into the LDS gospel. I've been taught my whole church life to "choose the right" ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/11/reconstruction-part-2-abandoning-being-right-in-search-of-having-joy/ 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 Yamaha keyboard in my room, and I often load up an iTunes playlist and jam along. So when it comes to contemporary music, ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/10/the-reason-for-the-world/ 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. Two of my aunts and uncles have nine and ten kids, respectively. Even after living through it myself, I still can't imagine how this was done! ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/10/mormon-family-shrinkage/ 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 his candidacy. The argument is that a large percentage of Republican primary voters have anti-Mormon sentiments that kept them from supporting the candidate who, by ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/09/can-mormons-be-savvy-voters/ 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 power to inspire, teach, and heal. That said, I would like some changes to the music section of the handbook. If I were in charge, here ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/08/new-rules-for-church-music/ How does this apply to Mormonism? Does Mormon culture encourage, or discourage curiosity? Does the LDS church leadership encourage, or discourage curiosity? Is the average Mormon curious? Is the average Bloggernacler curious? http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/08/a-new-take-on-fundamentalism-faith-and-curiosity-orhow-i-love-the-curious/ 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: "We may never know the full story since the bishop does not wish to comment and the school is citing privacy to keep things quiet. Regardless, ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/08/byu-baseball-player-kent-walton-reinstated-on-team/ 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 for the story.  Romney is quoted saying: This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and our supporters ... ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/07/breaking-news-romney-dropping-out/ 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 America—that of neo-Fundamentalism.  Semantically this is my term, because I want to peel it apart from what we typically think of as Fundamentalist LDS (those ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/07/neo-fundamentalism-part-2-%e2%80%93-historical-millennialism/ Being a latitudarian, I hold the separation of church and state as part of my sacrosanct liberality. This brings to mind a fear expressed by Jefferson: In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/06/theoconservativism-extremism-under-the-guise-of-religion/ http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/06/bill-maher-on-larry-king-live-mormons-as-shapeshifters/ 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 Gospel Principles group that had no new converts at the time. I came into class and issued the following challenge to the class. Challenge: You need to ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/05/the-book-of-mormon-keystone/ 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 fascinating story of 9 Mormons who ran for president prior to Mitt Romney's bid and I thought I'd briefly share their stories while Mitt's fate ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/05/9-mormons-who-ran-for-president/ Read the Deseret News article here. The article notes:  "At age 80, President Monson is one of the youngest men to become church president in the past quarter century. President Hinckley was 84, and Presidents Howard W. Hunter and Ezra Taft Benson were 86. President Spencer W. Kimball became president Dec. ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/04/new-first-presidency-monson-president-eyring-and-uchtdorf-counselors/ 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 just what the Church is, not descriptively, but metaphorically. Something that is extremely accurate, I've found, is to compare the Church to a ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/04/the-church-is-a-what/ 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 say much more about me than they do Brother Millet. That said -- in part 3 of this series, I'm going to make my argument that ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/04/robert-millet-krista-tippet-pt-3-robert-millet-as-a-budding-sunstone-or-new-order-mormon/ [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. Some questions for discussion.... What do we NOT know about the story that the church is not able to tell us? (we should always ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/03/byu-expells-its-best-baseball-player-for-not-attending-church-enough/ 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 first in what became a sizable collection of LDS fiction targeted primarily at a young Mormon market. Now, he steps into the film making arena ... http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/03/passage-to-zarahemla-an-interview-with-chris-heimerdinger/ I've been reading through a new compilation of early patriarchal blessings, given by the first Mormon Presiding Patriarchs: Joseph Smith