On February 25th, 2000 — in the heat of the LDS Church’s Prop 22 efforts in California to ban same-sex marriage — a young LDS …
Wealth & Worthiness
I have long believed that the Church’s reliance on a lay clergy is both one of its strongest selling points, as well as one of …
The Sunstone Report
I attended the Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium on Friday, August 8th. I hadn’t been to Sunstone in ten years. The last time I came, I …
Common Scriptures in Review: The Only True and Living Church
D&C 1:30 As the resident parser, here goes: First, here is verse 29: And after having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my …
Evidences and Reconciliations 8/11/08
I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat …
A Blast From the Past: Mormons and the Olympics
For many Utah latter-day saints, Olympic season brings with it a sense of deep nostalgia. It was six years ago that the world focused in …
Virtual RS/PH #15: Establishing the Cause of Zion
Okay, last week I said the death lesson was going to be tough. Frankly, I think a Zion lesson is no picnic either. I’m looking …
Segregated Sundays
Today’s post is by Rachel Maw. I was scanning through the news stories over at cnn.com when I came across this article, “Why many Americans …
What Judgment Day Might Be Like?
There is a lot of information given in the scriptures and the revelations concerning our next life and how the final judgment will take place. …
News Matters– A Public Display of Religion
Welcome back to News Matters– a news feature which presents an LDS look at current events with an opportunity for our readers to interact from …
The Proper Focus of Leadership: Organizational or Individual?
This perhaps will be the only post I write that simply is a series of questions, but these questions have enormous implication for the Church …
What it Really Means to Live the Gospel
I think if you did a survey of LDS Church members and asked the question: “What does it really mean to live the gospel?” You’d …
Binding Members to the Church
President Hinckley has reminded that we all need at least three things to remain firmly in the faith—a friend, a responsibility, and “[nourishing] by the …
God is a Star Trek Fan: The Kobayashi Maru = Plan of Salvation
In the Star Trek II movie “The Wrath of Khan,” the opening scene is a failed military engagement in the Klingon neutral zone. The Federation …
Virtual RS/PH #14 – Words of Hope & Consolation @ Time of Death
A word to the teachers out there. I know what you are thinking. Something like, “Ugh. I got the death lesson?!” So, if you have …
In Defense of Sad Songs
I was recently asked by someone dear to me to join the fray here at mormonmatters.org, and I looked forward to the challenge. I must …
Is One Date Enough?
I’m thinking about weddings a lot recently. Probably because I’ve been going to lots of them. Many friends and family members are getting married, announcing …
Lessons Learned (aka Thanks, Bloggernacle!)
Unfortunately, a confluence of factors — vacation, increased tasks at work trying to make up for said vacation, shuttling daughters to and from various summer …
Coming to Zion, tembling all the way
I am painfully aware that I haven’t posted anything in a long time. Sigh, too much to do, not enough time to do it all. …
The other version of the Abraham story
What if Abraham had disobeyed God? Here’s the other version of the story I dug up after breaking into secret Illuminati archives and comparing translations …
News Matters
Our new news feature will present an LDS look at current events with an opportunity for our readers to interact from a Mormon viewpoint. Your …
Of Thee’s and Thou’s
From the earliest days of primary, latter-day saints are taught that the proper pronouns to use while praying are “thee,” “thou,” “thy,” and “thine,” and …
Spiritual or Just Religious?
Is your spiritual journey the same as your religious journey, or is religion just one of the facets of your spiritual life?
Common Scriptures in Review: “Come Unto Me”
While pondering the concept of spiritual poverty earlier this year, something struck me that I hadn’t considered previously quite in that way. I have believed …
Excommunication: Shame or Fame?
We’ve all seen the headlines: Excommunicated: LDS Church boots creator of ‘Men on a Mission’ calendar Local gay Mormon faces excommunication LDS author facing excommunication …
I’m Okay; You’re Okay
I have one component to my life that prompts little discussions from the lowliest church member to most recently the temple president and I really …
Ralph Nader in Utah
Friends in Utah and in Surrounding States — Seeing Ralph Nader speak (as a Congressional Intern) was a highlight of my life. He remains a …
Confessions of a Coffee Heathen
In the past, I consumed large amounts of Mountain Dew and “energy drinks.” I’m getting older now (almost 40). My insides just can’t tolerate the …
For Pioneer Day, a Prophet of Peace
Prophet of Peace This is why I love President Monson! He has the common touch and appears to love people. If you watch the video …
Becoming a Moderate Mormon
We’ve established that there are conservative Mormons (obviously) and there are liberal or “new order” Mormons. Taking the politico-religious rhetoric to its next logical conclusion, …
Foundations of Becoming: Thoughts on Spiritual Poverty
Matthew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” As I was pondering the phrase “poor in spirit” …
A Question, Part 2 of 2
Last week we speculated on where the church would be today if it had not extended the priesthood to blacks thirty years ago, and now …
Evidences and Reconciliations 7/21/2008
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary …
Mormonism as Spiritual Survival of the Fittest
In earthly nature, the term natural selection refers to the process that results in the survival and reproductive success of individuals or groups who adjust …
10 Reasons Why Gay Marriage is Wrong (for fun)
1) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.
Dual-Membership, Dual-Priesthood
A good friend from my high school and college days contacted me a couple of months ago. He told me the news that he was …
Celestial Marriage Amendment
I read this letter in the Salt Lake Tribune this morning, and even though I know it’s a satirical slam, I could not help but …
Righteous Judgment
The seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew begins with: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
Something the Southern Baptist Convention Can Learn from the Mormons
The following article highlights something that the Mormon Church has been criticized by some for doing for years, but it is the Southern Baptist Convention …
Analogies of Belief: Expecting the Polar Express
What does it mean to say you believe something or “believe in” something? Would a child say they believe in Santa Claus? Or would they …
Wearing Pastel Pantsuits
It was back in the 1980’s, and she wore a pastel pantsuit to Church. It wasn’t just any pastel pantsuit, either. This was a sophisticated lady; …
The Genetics of Sin
There is a lot being done in the medical field to help patients understand their genetic predisposition toward certain ailments. Isn’t the same true for …
A Question, Part 1 of 2
Put on your speculation hat—or, if it works better for you, peer into your hat—and see what you come up with on the following question: …
Common Scriptures in Review / Foundations of Becoming: The Process of Perfection
[NOTE: This is the third post in the series, “Common Scriptures in Review”, but it also is the first post in another series explained at …
Obedience: Virtual RS/PH #13
Welcome to the second virtual co-ed 3rd hour. This week’s lesson is a topic that is often a seething hotbed of Mormon Matters controversy: “Obedience: When …
Is “Unconditional Love” Really Possible?
When I used to work as an editor at the LDS Church’s Ensign magazine, I remember that the correlation committee instructed us not to use …
Proof Texting for Fun and Prophet
Recent articles got me thinking about the practice of Prooftexting, which Wikipedia defines as follows: Prooftexting is the practice of using decontextualised quotations from a …
The Scriptures are a What?!
Obviously, the scriptures are: The inviolate unchanging word of God, replacing him for us at this time. Any inspired writing or sermon that is useful …
Common Scriptures in Review: Remembering
As I’ve said previously, although I truly enjoy intellectual analysis, what grounds me are my experiences – things that are so vivid and unexplainable that …
The Case for Marriage
I’ve enjoyed a book by Linda J. Waite and Maggie Gallagher called The Case for Marriage: Why Married People Are Happier, Healthier, and Better Off …
Paul: Apostle, Misogynist?
“I’m not bad. I’m just drawn that way.” Jessica Rabbit Plenty of criticism is heaped on post-restoration church leaders. There seems to be a tendency …
Praise, Honor & Glory Be to God
I have been struck for a long time by the different ways that people interpret and speak of praise, honor and glory – particularly how …
Our Foundation Stories Part VI: The Laying on of Hands
This is the last installment of Our Foundation Stories, I promise! As a child, I heard the story of the restoration of the Aaronic and …
Virtual Co-Ed RS/PH: Missionary Work (Lesson 12)
Welcome to the first ever Virtual Co-ed Relief Society/Priesthood Lesson (at MM anyway)! Here’s why you should join the discussion: Virtual – you can participate …
Mormonism = Paganism + Christianity
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 …
Ignoring Scripture
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 …
Jeff Nielson’s “Open Letter to California Mormons” Encouraging Oppposition to LDS Church on Gay Marriage Issue
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, …
True Religion: Why There Can Be At Most One
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 …
“All we can hope for is for God to bring us home.” (Thanks, Stephen.)
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 …
How My Wife Exercises Her Priesthood
Tired of talking about gay marriage? How about women and the Priesthood? 🙂 In all seriousness, let me share with you a recent experience that …
Why Mormon Blogs Can’t Be Civil
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; …
A Church of Visionary Dreamers
“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, …
A Chapel Entrance Plaque
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 …
Evidences and Reconciliations (6/30/08)
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 …
Open Thread: Your experiences in church today w/ the LDS anti-gay marriage statement
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 …
Michelangelo and Mormonism
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. …
So What is God?
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 …
A letter from my sister…
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 …
Polygamy and Same Sex Marriage
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 …
Raising “Good” Children vs. Raising “Happy” Children
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 …
Mormon Coffee-Table Books?
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, …
Sin and Transgression vs. Morality
[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 …
Common Scriptures in Review: “God Would Deliver Them”
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 – …
On Three Almighties, One Moral Will, and Why This Post is a Complete Waste of Time
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 …
Which Church Activities Do You Miss?
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? …
White-Washing
“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?
Evidences and Reconciliations 06/23/08
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: …
Our Foundation Stories Part V: The Meaning of the Book of Mormon
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 …
The Bright Night of My Soul
Andrew wrote a beautiful and moving post recently – “Dark Night of the Soul“. In reading that post and the subsequent comments, I had an …
News Flash: LDS Church WILL Be Actively Opposing Gay Marriage in California This November
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 …
True Discipleship: It’s DOING more than KNOWING
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 …
What kind of Mormon are you-Internet or Chapel? – James Leverich
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 …
God is a What?! Part Two
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 …
The Good Samaritan: A Lesson in Spiritual Numbness?
(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 …
A Few Choice Words on Swearing
What constitutes swearing? Is it always wrong? If so, why?
Active in the Church
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 …
God is a What?! Part One
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 …
Evidences and Reconciliations 6/16/08
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 …
Our Foundation Stories Part IV: The Book of Mormon Translation
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? …
Father’s Day Reflections
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 …
Gender Roles Debunked!
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 …
Your posterity shall “avenge the blood of the Prophets and Patriarchs” with the help of savage Indian warriors
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 …
Rock the Gerontocracy!
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 …
Brainwashed?: Polygamists & Terrorists
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 …
When Moral Issues Become Political Issues
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 …
The Book of Mormon: Would You Regularly Study Inspired Fiction?
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 …
The Gospel Caught on Tape?
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 …
Evidences and Reconciliations 6/09/08
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 …
Our Foundation Stories Part III: The Book of Mormon Comes Forth
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, …
30 Years of Authorized Black Priesthood
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 …
What Do You Think about Sunstone?
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. …
How’s Your Mo-Dar?
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 …
Finding the truth
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 …
Ok, So What If It Isn’t True?
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 …
Our Foundation Stories Part II: The Meaning of the First Vision
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 …
Mormon Ancestor Worship
Do Mormons practice a form of ancestor worship? What does it mean that we must be saved “with all our dead”?
Evidences and Reconciliations 6/02/08
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 …
Voting Mormon
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 …
Rethinking Repentance
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 …
The Next MHA
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 …
Birds & Bees in Utah County
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 …
The Fallout Story
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 …
Certainty: Blessing or Curse?
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 …
Taking Back Sunday: A Call To Put Up Or Shut Up
Beyond white shirts, facial hair and Coke — the Bloggernacle’s equivalent of the Holy Trinity — nothing gets Mormon bloggers’ collective knickers in a twist …
Surviving Early-Morning Seminary
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, …
Our Foundation Stories Part I: The First Vision or the First Visit?
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 …
6 Minutes 44 Seconds
This could be the most meaningful six minutes and 44 seconds that you spend today.
Evidences and Reconciliations 5/26/08
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 …
Nurturing Humor
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 …
Mormon Christians
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? …
all we can do
“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 …
The Church and US – Guest Blog by Michael Albert from Znet
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 …
Breaking News: Texas State Court Says Children Improperly Seized
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 …
MormonNews: The End Of Temple Work As We Know It?
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 …
Shadows and Spirituality
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 …
Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness
A guest post by our friend Ray I view the purpose of this life as becoming like Jesus was in His mortal life – and …
People Who Helped Me Stay Mormon Part II: Roger Keller
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 …
Is there always a Trigger before Revelation? – James Leverich
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 …
Evidences and Reconciliations 5/19/08
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, …
“Knowing” & Other Leaps of Faith
I’ve been thinking lately that perhaps the greatest difference between Mormons along all points of the spectrum is not the degree of faith they have …
The Book of Mormon: For Our Day
Ezra Taft Benson taught that “the Book of Mormon … was written for our day. The Nephites never had the book; neither did the Lamanites …
Dealing with feelings of betrayal — when your spouse apostatizes
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 …
Offenders for a Word, Part 2 – Do Mormons Worship Jesus?
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 …
What Would Jesus Buy – Come Confess Your Shopping Sins!
Mickey Mouse is the Anti-Christ!!! 🙂 NOW….hold up your credit card to the screen
New Same-Sex Marriage Ruling; Same Old Polygamy Stereotypes
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 …
A Child’s Prayer: Are we doing enough?
Are we satisfied just paying tithing and fast offerings?
People Who Helped Me Stay Mormon Part I: Jeff Burton
Before John Dehlin, there was Jeff Burton.
An Hour of Peace and Rest
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 …
R-LOVE-ution
PRESS PLAY AND THEN READ. 🙂 Creating Zion requires 2 things: 1) A Vision of what it is like 2) Faith we can achieve it.
Give Said the Little Revenue Stream
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 …
James Madison on the Inadequateness of Language
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 …
How Progressive Mormons Are Actually Retro Mormons
In the year 2035, how will Mormon beliefs compare to previous generations? If “progressive” Mormons have their way, Mormon beliefs in 2035 will more closely …
Affliction (final post in the series)
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 …
Offenders for a Word – Part 1 – Is Jesus God?
I love words – I love to read, write, talk – but I think words leave out almost everything. That [is] frustrat[ing]… feeling that what …
A Jewish Rabbi Defines Monotheism
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 …
Believing Christ
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 …
How Change will Occur in the Church
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 …
Theology Quiz
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 …
Through the Ears of a “Gentile”
“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 …
A Latter-Day Tower of Babel?
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 …
Mormon Miracles: Seeking for a Sign
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 …
When Obedience Doesn’t Bring Happiness
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?
The Nature of God and Bible Bashing Sharing
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 …
Why a Testimony of the Gospel is Not Enough
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 Mormon Urge to Glurge
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 …
Local Priesthood Keys – Our Religious Lynchpin
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 …
Raising the Bar
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 …
Subliminal Battle for our Free Agency
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 …
Mormon Coffee
Hi, my name is Andrew, and I’m a diet Coke-oholic.
A Testimony of the Devil
“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 …
A Method to our Mormonism
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 …
Men: The Weaker Sex?
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 …
The Parable of the Merciful Judge
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 …
Shabbos Yom Tov Pesach with My Friend Sam
It was a sunny Saturday and I was sitting in the synagogue with my friend Sam…
God’s Hit List in the Book of Mormon
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 …
What if Joseph Smith Published the Book of Mormon Last Year?
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 …
The Sun Never Sets on the Mormon Empire: Cultural Colonialism
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 …
A Case Study on Racism and Learning to Forgive: Anthony Walker’s Mother
This is the story of forgiveness.
Preaching in Alamo
Over spring break, I preached in Alamo. No, not THE Alamo.
From the Great Wall to the Bloggernacle With Love
Clay Whipkey and I are in China — and visited the Great Wall 2 days ago. As we contemplated what to discuss on top of …
Eating & Drinking in Church: A New Trend?
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 …
Laymen = Clergy: The Genius of Mormonism?
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 …
Slandering the Lost Sheep
When I talk to Mormon friends, occasionally someone will mention a mutual friend or acquaintance who claims to have left the LDS Church because of …
an ad litem’s request
The ad litem sends thanks for the input.
Why Hollywood Should Convert to Mormonism
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 …
Celebrating John Dehlin
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 …
The Evil of Flip Flops and Pants
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 …
The Greek and Roman Testaments: A Scriptural Analogy
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 …
Rethinking The “Moral vs. Political” Question For An International Church
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 …
A California Mormon visits the other Zion
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. …
The End of Polygamy (Again)?
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 …
The Establishment of Religion & Elder Christofferson
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 …
“From the crossroads of the West”
Years ago, my wife and I skipped our ward meetings to attend Music and the Spoken Word and thoroughly enjoyed it.
A Non-Member Kirtland Experience
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 …
The Banking Industry: A Moral Hazard
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 …
Nepotism in the Church
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 …
Putting Away Childish Things: My Evolving View of God
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 …
Nauvoo or Disneyland?
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 …
Drop it! Who’s Worthy to Take the Sacrament?
Is it ever appropriate to intervene when someone “unworthy” is going to take the sacrament? What level of “unworthiness” makes such intervention justified?
Bootlegged: Utah and the 21st Amendment
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 …
Shouldn’t This Be Against the Honor Code?
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. …
Awakening to Our Awful Speculation
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 …
Little Mosque on the Prairie: What Mormons Can Learn from Muslims
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 …
Liberal Mormonism III: Prognosis
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 White Shirt’
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, …
Why Eugene England Still Matters
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 …
Meeting a New Earth-The First Pregnant Man Interviewed By Oprah
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 …