Bloggernacle - Mormon Matters

Doubting My Doubts

Andrew S July 24, 2010Anti-Mormon, Bloggernacle, church, Culture, doubt, Mormon, Mormons, questioning 144 Comments

I’ve occasionally heard a curious phrase…”Doubt your doubts.” “Be skeptical of your skepticism.” I have wondered what these phrases could mean and of what import …

Bloggernacle Performance Art

Andrew S June 5, 2010art, Bloggernacle, Culture, Mormon 15 Comments

As an outsider and newcomer, I must admit that there are just some things about the Bloggernacle that I cannot even begin to grasp. One …

A Non-Historical View of the Book of Mormon

James May 15, 2010Anti-Mormon, apostasy, apostles, Bible, Bloggernacle, book of mormon, burdens, church, community of christ, curiosity, diversity, doctrine, doubt, education, faith, fear, historicity, history, LDS, liberal, Logic, Mormon, orthodox, restoration, tesimony 73 Comments

Perhaps the time has come in the church to recognize that some members want to openly espouse a non historical view of the Book of …

What the Golden Rule Does NOT Say: or, “Jesus wouldn’t recognize that rationalization.”

Ray April 28, 2010Bible, Bloggernacle, Charity, christ, gay, homosexuality, inter-faith, Jesus, LDS, love, meekness, mercy, Peace, religion, resolutions, Sermon on the Mount 24 Comments

One of my monthly New Year’s Resolutions last year was taken from Matthew 7:9-12, a slight change in my original plan. (See here.) These verses state: …

Increased Civility in Our Conversations

Ray April 2, 2010Bloggernacle, Charity, christ, christianity, cross, diversity, Happiness, Jesus, LDS, love, meekness, Mormon, Peace, Sermon on the Mount 27 Comments

On this Good Friday, I want to make a request based on a wonderful post I read over at By Common Consent by one of …

Charity: Self-Analysis Tool: Do I Vaunt Myself; Am I Puffed Up?

Ray March 20, 2010Bloggernacle, Charity, Culture, diversity, doctrine, love, meekness, mercy, Peace, resolutions, spirituality 20 Comments

My New Year’s Resolution this year is taken from I Corinthians 13:4-7. In a nutshell, it is to become a little more charitable this year. …

Interfaith Marriages by guest Madam Curie

guest January 30, 2010accountability, apostasy, apostles, Bloggernacle, Charity, children, christianity, Culture, curiosity, doctrine, doubt, faith, Happiness, inter-faith, LDS, love, marriage, Mormon, mormon, questioning, salvation, women 30 Comments

A recent post by Cr@ig on Main Street Plaza caused me to reflect on the strength of interfaith marriages. I had hoped to generate a …

2009 Niblets are Here!!

John Dehlin January 15, 2010Bloggernacle, Mormon, mormon, Niblets

Mormon Matters introduces the 2009 Niblets Awards! It’s back! The opportunity to honor the unique and talented Mormon bloggers of 2009. It’s a chance to …

Think for yourself or not – that is the question .Cognitive Dissonance 1

James January 9, 2010accountability, apostasy, apostles, Bloggernacle, book of mormon, Charity, Culture, curiosity, doctrine, doubt, faith, General Authorities, history, LDS, Leaders, Logic, Mormon, Mormons, obedience, ordinances, questioning, revelation, Scriptural translation, tesimony, thought 70 Comments

Is a “believing heart” really a positive attribute?

James December 27, 2009accountability, apologetics, apostasy, Bloggernacle, book of mormon, Charity, christianity, curiosity, Mormon, new order mormon 98 Comments

I would like to introduce Madam Curie which many of you know her by on her replies at Mormon Matters she also has her own …

In the Shadow of the Temple by Guest

guest December 22, 2009apologetics, apostasy, apostles, baptism, Bloggernacle, book of mormon, burdens, christianity, church, cinema, Culture, curiosity, depression, Discrimination, doctrine, doubt, education, faith, families, Folklore, General Authorities, Happiness, historicity, LDS, Leaders, liberal, Logic, marriage, media, Mormon, mormon, obedience, ordinances, polygamy, questioning, resignation, righteousness, spiritual progression, temple, tesimony 283 Comments

A close friend of mine who wishes to remain anonymous recently saw in the shadow of the temple his story follows: In October, I was …

How to Provide Critical Feedback to Church Leaders Church Without Getting Excommunicated

Andrew October 15, 2009apostles, Bloggernacle, doubt, General Authorities, LDS, Leaders, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, prophets, questioning

If you didn’t happen to read the February issue of Ensign Magazine in 1987, you missed some valuable instruction about how to provide critical feedback …

Great Expectations: What Are Your Hopes and Predictions for General Conference?

Andrew September 29, 2009apologetics, blacks, Bloggernacle, conference, curiosity, doubt, faith, families, Folklore, gay, General Authorities, General Conference, LDS, Leaders, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, orthodox, Priesthood, questioning, race, revelation 58 Comments

“It’s the MOST WONderful TIIIME of the YEARRRRRR.” The leaves are starting to change color. The evenings and mornings are a bit crisper. Even the …

What if the Brethren decided to allow gay marriage? by Justin Perry

guest August 16, 2009Anti-Mormon, apologetics, Bloggernacle, burdens, church, Culture, curiosity, Discrimination, doctrine, doubt, faith, gay, homosexuality, Leaders, Logic, love, marriage, media manipulation, Mormon, news, questioning, sexuality, thought 184 Comments

What if the Brethren decided to allow gay marriage? They’d have to do a lot of back-peddling to explain why they were suddenly in favor …

Apostate = someone who fails to honor his own conscience

James August 3, 2009accountability, Anti-Mormon, apostasy, Bloggernacle, book of mormon, doctrine, doubt, faith, Mormon 92 Comments

The third ward verses the seventh ward. Us verses them. Insiders verses outsiders. My buddies and I were third warders. We were full of ourselves. …

Obama and Elvis are cousins

James July 23, 2009blacks, Bloggernacle, Charity, church, Culture, curiosity, Discrimination, diversity, doctrine, faith, Folklore, inter-faith, LDS, liberal, Mormon, President Monson, race, racism 17 Comments

President Barack Obama met with President Monson on Monday in the Oval Office, thanking President Monson for a thorough history of the first family.

There is only one issue in the Bloggernacle and all other things are only appendages to it.

Jeff Spector July 16, 2009Bloggernacle, christ, christianity, church, Culture, doctrine, faith, Jesus, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, prophets, restoration, testimony, theology 22 Comments

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again …

Church Doctrine is Like the Bloggernacle

Bored in Vernal July 15, 2009Bloggernacle, doctrine 13 Comments

Bloggernacle aficionados have been trying to define our little corner of the internet for years now. Everyone has a vague idea of what the term …

Adam and Eve: the First TBM & NOM

Andrew June 29, 2009accountability, Bloggernacle, church, diversity, doubt, faith, General Authorities, history, LDS, Leaders, liberal, Logic, love, marriage, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, new order mormon, obedience, orthodox, parables, prophets, questioning, religion, scripture, spiritual progression, spirituality, symbols, testimony, thought

There have been several attempts over the years to categorize Mormon “belief-styles”: Orthodox Mormon versus Liberal Mormon, Iron Rod Mormon versus Liahona Mormon, and so …

WHAT THE WORLD THINKS OF GOD

James June 23, 2009apostasy, Bloggernacle, catholicism, Charity, christ, church, curiosity, death, depression, Devil, doubt, faith, fear, God, Happiness, inter-faith, international, jehovahs witnesses, Jesus, Mormon, religion 15 Comments

The ICM poll of 10,000 people in the USA, UK, Israel, India, South Korea, Indonesia, Nigeria, Russia, Mexico and Lebanon was carried out for the …

The Facade of Activity

Jeff Spector June 5, 2009accountability, Bloggernacle, church, Culture, faith, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, new order mormon, religion, sacrament meeting, spirituality, testimony 154 Comments

You see them every week at Church, attending their meetings, performing their callings, shuttling their children to this or that activity. They are active in …

An Explanation of My Reduction in Participation

Ray May 14, 2009Bloggernacle, Charity, church, Culture, diversity, faith, LDS, meekness, Mormons, orthodox, questioning, religion, surviving 23 Comments

[Please pardon the personal nature of this post, but I want to take the opportunity to write this personally.] For the past two years (almost), …

Interfaith International British DJ

James May 13, 2009apologetics, Bible, Bloggernacle, book of mormon, books, burdens, catholicism, Charity, children, christ, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, death, Discrimination, diversity, evangelicals, faith, families, fear, Folklore, general, God, Happiness, history, Humor, inter-faith, international, introductions, Jesus, LDS, Leaders, liberal, Logic, love, marriage, media, missionary, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, news, orthodox, parables, Peace, plan of salvation, podcast, polygamy, prayer, questioning, resolutions, scripture, Sermon on the Mount, service, spiritual progression, spirituality, television, theology, thought, women 10 Comments

OK Paul technically isn’t exactly an international DJ, not unless you consider that you can listen to his interviews on line.

Does the LDS Church claim to be “an exclusive conduit to God”?

Andrew April 21, 2009apologetics, apostasy, Bloggernacle, church, God, Happiness, LDS, Mormon, mormon, plan of salvation, Priesthood, prophets, questioning, spiritual progression, theology 141 Comments

Recently, a veritable Icon of the Bloggernacle, who for purposes of anonymity we shall call “Aloysius Miller”, published a post stating: “I don’t see the …

Families Forver Naked and Not Ashamed

James April 6, 2009abuse, adultery, Anti-Mormon, apostasy, Bible, Bloggernacle, burdens, BYU, children, christ, christianity, church, civil disobedience, Culture, curiosity, diversity, education, environment, faith, families, fear, general, Happiness, history, Mormon, religion, righteousness, sexuality, theology, thought, women 311 Comments

Mormon Matters Motto is Exploring Mormon culture in a balanced way- so bare with me on this one (excuse the pun).

The Untold Story of Black Mormons by Guest

guest April 2, 2009Anti-Mormon, apologetics, baptism, Bible, blacks, Bloggernacle, book of mormon, books, burdens, BYU, Charity, christianity, church, cinema, Culture, curiosity, Discrimination, diversity, doubt, education, evangelicals, faith, families, fear, Folklore, General Authorities, history, joseph, LDS, liberal, Logic, Mormon, obedience, prayer, Priesthood, prophets, questioning, race, racism, religion, resolutions, restoration, righteousness, scripture, tesimony, theology 33 Comments

When I served a mission in eastern Canada in the early 90s, there were many things I was grateful for (warm boots, wool suits, fairly …

The Problem with Whistleblowers

Hawkgrrrl March 30, 2009abuse, Anti-Mormon, Bloggernacle, burdens, catholicism, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, Discrimination, diversity, doubt, excommunication, faith, feminism, General Authorities, General Conference, LDS, Leaders, love, meekness, missionary, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, obedience, questioning, religion, thought 22 Comments

A whistleblower is someone internal to an organization who alleges misconduct. So, what if the organization is the church? Does the church handle whistleblowers effectively …

In Praise Of Good Bishops

Shawn Larsen March 18, 2009Bloggernacle, Leaders, Mormon, Priesthood 73 Comments

Here’s the one lesson I learned from my 3.5 year stint as an Elders Quorum President: never, ever aspire to be a Bishop. Seriously, it …

When Evil-Speaking Creeps Unawares Among Us

Ray March 16, 2009Anti-Mormon, apologetics, apostasy, Bible, Bloggernacle, diversity, grace, inter-faith, Mormon, politics, questioning, religion, righteousness 11 Comments

Last week, there was some heated debate here about More Open Mormon History. I don’t want to open that exact same discussion all over again, …

International Ignorance

Faithful Dissident March 13, 2009Bloggernacle, church, Happiness, history, international, media, Mormon, news, questioning, scripture, spiritual progression 28 Comments

Someone mentioned in a blog post that I read recently about how accessible materials and information about the Church are for us these days: blogs, …

The Bloggernacle: The Church’s Unofficial Complaint Department

Jeff Spector March 12, 2009Bloggernacle, church, faith, LDS, Leaders, Mormon, Mormons, Peace 40 Comments

Since I began using the Internet, I discovered both the positive and negative aspects of it. One can find a wealth of information heretofore unattainable …

Big Love -Big News

James March 10, 2009abuse, adultery, Anti-Mormon, apologetics, apostasy, baptism, Bloggernacle, book of mormon, burdens, Charity, children, christ, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, Discrimination, diversity, doubt, education, faith, families, fear, FLDS, general, God, Happiness, history, inter-faith, Jesus, joseph, marriage, media, meetings, Mormon, Mormons, movies, news, obedience, ordinances, orthodox, polygamy, Priesthood, prophets, religion, resignation, RLDS, salvation, scripture, spirituality, television, temple, testimony, theology, thought, Utah, women 33 Comments

More Open Mormon History

Mormon Heretic March 6, 2009apologetics, apostasy, Bloggernacle, conference, history, LDS, Leaders, liberal, Logic, Mormon 139 Comments

I attended a few Mormon History Conferences last weekend. I gave a more detailed account on my blog, but wanted to see how Mormon Matters …

Filtered Visions by guest Reuben Collins

James March 2, 2009apostasy, baptism, Bible, Bloggernacle, book of mormon, books, christ, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, death, diversity, doubt, education, faith, families, fear, Folklore, general, General Authorities, historicity, liberal, Logic, love, marriage, Mormon, Mormons, obedience, prayer, religion, sacrament, salvation, spirituality, temple, tesimony, theology, thought, Trinity, women 9 Comments

I’ve been thinking about Levi Peterson’s The Backslider lately (SPOILERS AHEAD).

Why aren’t Mormons Green?

James February 23, 2009apologetics, Bible, Bloggernacle, book of mormon, BYU, Charity, children, christ, christianity, church, conference, Culture, curiosity, doubt, education, faith, General Authorities, General Conference, geography, God, Government, Happiness, international, LDS, Leaders, liberal, Logic, media, Money, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, obedience, politics, prophets, questioning, religion, resolutions, reverence, righteousness, sacrament, salvation, service, surviving, testimony, thought, Utah 56 Comments

Horus Bible Parallels

James January 25, 2009Anti-Mormon, apologetics, apostasy, Bible, Bloggernacle, book of mormon, books, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, diversity, doubt, education, evangelicals, faith, fear, Folklore, general, history, inter-faith, international, Jesus, LDS, Leaders, liberal, marriage, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, movies, new order mormon, orthodox, parables, questioning, religion, scripture, Sermon on the Mount, spirituality, tesimony, theology, thought, Uncategorized 22 Comments

Recently I saw Religulous here and he touched on Horus here and a few of the parallels between the story of Horus and Jesus. Many …

A Brand New Year

James January 23, 2009Bible, Bloggernacle, books, catholicism, christ, christianity, church, cinema, conference, Culture, curiosity, diversity, education, faith, families, general, General Authorities, General Conference, God, Happiness, Humor, international, introductions, Jesus, joseph, LDS, Leaders, liberal, love, media, media manipulation, meetings, missionary, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, movies, music, obedience, podcast, prophets, race, religion, spirituality, tesimony 29 Comments

The Difference Between Mercy and Kindness:How Does It Apply Here?

Ray January 3, 2009Bloggernacle, meekness, mercy 12 Comments

I was struck last year, as I worked to understand mercy better, by the difference between mercy and kindness. If I had not focused on …

Can you be a Unitarian and a Mormon at the Same Time?

James December 29, 2008Anti-Mormon, apostasy, Bible, Bloggernacle, book of mormon, catholicism, christ, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, death, diversity, doubt, education, faith, families, fear, general, God, Happiness, inter-faith, international, Jesus, LDS, liberal, love, media, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, new order mormon, obedience, orthodox, prayer, prophets, service, theology, thought 27 Comments

We should gather all the good and true principles in the world and treasure them up, or we shall not come out true Mormons. Joseph …

MormonStories: Thank you John Dehlin

Brian Johnston October 28, 2008Anti-Mormon, apologetics, Bloggernacle, Mormon, news, questioning 32 Comments

http://www.mormonstories.org/ MormonStories, the site that hosted dozens of audio and video podcast interviews, was retired this weekend. John Dehlin announced he is taking the opportunity …

FacesEast, an Interview with Prairie Chuck

Brian Johnston October 21, 2008apostasy, Bloggernacle, faith, families, inter-faith, marriage, Mormon, new order mormon, temple 12 Comments

This article is an interview with a woman who goes by the online alias “Prairie Chuck.” Prairie Chuck is the leader of a support group …

Witch-Hunting

Hawkgrrrl October 13, 2008Anti-Mormon, apostasy, Asides, Bloggernacle, Charity, church, Culture, curiosity, diversity, fear, Humor, LDS, Leaders, love, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, prayer, religion 14 Comments

Halloween is just around the corner! Have you ever been on a witch hunt? Or have you been singled out by a witch hunter? Here …

Superman vs. Spiderman

Carter Hall September 18, 2008Asides, Bloggernacle, church, Culture, curiosity, diversity, General Authorities, LDS, Leaders, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, prophets, questioning, television, thought 12 Comments

What do Superman and Spiderman have to do with Mormon history? Nothing at all. But maybe something about the two characters relates to the way …

In Defense of Apologists

Hawkgrrrl August 26, 2008Anti-Mormon, apologetics, apostasy, baseball, Bloggernacle, christianity, church, curiosity, Discrimination, doubt, eschatoloty, evangelicals, faith, historicity, history, LDS, liberal, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, new order mormon, orthodox, questioning, religion, testimony, theology, thought 52 Comments

The term “apologist” is often used derisively like the terms “lawyer,” “statistician,” or “telemarketer.” Why are apologists so derided? Is it warranted or just a …

Lessons Learned (aka Thanks, Bloggernacle!)

Shawn Larsen August 1, 2008Bloggernacle, BYU, christianity, church, inter-faith, Mormon 13 Comments

Unfortunately, a confluence of factors — vacation, increased tasks at work trying to make up for said vacation, shuttling daughters to and from various summer …

Becoming a Moderate Mormon

Hawkgrrrl July 23, 2008Asides, Bloggernacle, BYU, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, Discrimination, diversity, doubt, faith, families, history, international, LDS, Leaders, liberal, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, new order mormon, news, orthodox, politics, questioning, religion, reverence, thought 37 Comments

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, …

Something the Southern Baptist Convention Can Learn from the Mormons

Ray July 16, 2008Bloggernacle, christianity, church, evangelicals, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, religion 27 Comments

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 …

Obedience: Virtual RS/PH #13

Hawkgrrrl July 13, 2008Anti-Mormon, apologetics, apostasy, Bloggernacle, book of mormon, christianity, church, evangelicals, faith, God, grace, inter-faith, Jesus, joseph, LDS, Leaders, missionary, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, obedience, orthodox, plan of salvation, politics, polygamy, prophets, questioning, religion, salvation, scripture, smith, spiritual progression, temple, testimony, theology, thought 22 Comments

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 …

Virtual Co-Ed RS/PH: Missionary Work (Lesson 12)

Hawkgrrrl July 6, 2008apologetics, apostasy, Bloggernacle, christ, christianity, church, faith, history, inter-faith, joseph, LDS, Leaders, missionary, missions, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, prophets, religion, salvation, scripture, testimony, theology, thought 10 Comments

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 …