Happiness - Mormon Matters

Marriage Counseling: Waste of Money or Balm of Gilead?

AdamF July 30, 2010families, Happiness, love, marriage 22 Comments

I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that most of you could use some good marriage counseling. Yes, you. “…do ye …

Uplifting Non-LDS Music

jmb275 July 21, 2010Happiness, LDS, media, music, spirituality 32 Comments

I really like music. I like just about every kind of music. I like to choose it according to my mood to help me achieve …

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 …

A Tribute to Charity

Ray February 13, 2010Charity, children, christ, faith, families, Happiness, LDS, marriage, Mormon, resolutions, service 11 Comments

My father had a stroke on Wednesday. The artery in his neck is 95% blocked, and he will have surgery to try to correct that …

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 …

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 …

Temple Wedding Petition

James December 12, 2009accountability, apologetics, apostles, Bible, book of mormon, Charity, children, Culture, curiosity, doctrine, doubt, faith, families, General Authorities, General Conference, Happiness, historicity, Jesus, joseph, LDS, Leaders, liberal, marriage, missionary, Mormon, Mormons, plan of salvation, testimony 161 Comments

A temple wedding petition to is being circulated to promote love and happiness in the family by changing the church’s stance on civil marriages preceding temple …

The Single Mormon Girl and the Priesthood

single mormon chick December 7, 2009church, Culture, doctrine, eternity, faith, families, fear, feminism, general, Happiness, LDS, love, marriage, Mormon, Priesthood, religion, salvation, temple, testimony, women 32 Comments

Everybody blogs, right? Why not me? Looking for my niche, my angle, and the one thing that seemed to make me stand out in my …

Utah Happiest State in Nation

Mormon Heretic November 14, 2009Culture, depression, Happiness, Mormon 32 Comments

Andrew Ainsworth did a post back in March wondering if Mormon Culture is Depressing Utahns? If we can blame depression on Mormon Culture, apparently it …

When the Spirit leaves……

Jeff Spector June 25, 2009accountability, apostasy, church, faith, God, Happiness, Mormon, Mormons 41 Comments

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion …

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 Power of Choice

Jeff Spector June 18, 2009accountability, Happiness, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, plan of salvation, religion, salvation, spiritual progression, theology 74 Comments

One of the most important doctrinal points of the LDS Church is the power of choice, called agency or free agency in the Church. In …

Good Man Gone

Ray May 21, 2009accountability, Beatitudes, burdens, Charity, death, eternity, faith, families, Happiness, love, marriage, Peace, plan of salvation, questioning, righteousness, salvation, Sermon on the Mount, spirituality, temple, testimony 15 Comments

A week ago, I attended the viewing and funeral of a man in our stake who died of an unexpected heart attack. He was in …

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.

Worship or Whine?

Jeff Spector May 12, 2009accountability, Charity, children, christ, church, faith, families, General Authorities, Happiness, LDS, meetings, Mormon, orthodox, Priesthood, sacrament meeting, testimony 85 Comments

This post was inspired by David Stout’s series of posts on LDS Worship, Part II and Part III as well as HawkGrrrl’s post entitled “More …

Mormon Masks

Hawkgrrrl May 11, 2009apostasy, Asides, Beatitudes, Bible, Charity, children, christ, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, Discrimination, diversity, doubt, families, fear, Happiness, inter-faith, Jesus, LDS, Leaders, love, marriage, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, orthodox, parables, Peace, questioning, religion, testimony 17 Comments

Often people have a hard time with intimacy (intimacy = “into me see”) because they feel vulnerable. They would rather deal with ideas than people, …

Is Accountability a Good or Bad Thing?

Ray April 28, 2009abuse, accountability, burdens, christ, Culture, depression, faith, grace, Happiness, mercy, Mormon, Peace, religion, repentance, righteousness, salvation, spiritual progression, spirituality, surviving 12 Comments

I am struck regularly by how many members fail to focus on the life of Jesus and, thus, fail to realize that there are incredible …

Are we going to be Eunuchs after this life?

James April 27, 2009abuse, book of mormon, burdens, Culture, curiosity, Discrimination, diversity, doubt, education, eternity, faith, families, fear, Folklore, general, General Authorities, General Conference, God, Happiness, history, Humor, Jesus, joseph, Logic, marriage, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, obedience, orthodox, prophets, questioning, religion, resolutions, salvation, scripture, sexuality, smith, spiritual progression, spirituality, tesimony, theology, thought, women 79 Comments

My home teacher (who is very cool) came by yesterday to drop off some starter cables for my car and as one does in that …

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).

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, …

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

Go to Church or Die!

Hawkgrrrl March 2, 2009apostasy, Asides, Charity, church, Culture, curiosity, death, diversity, doubt, faith, families, fear, Happiness, Humor, inter-faith, LDS, meetings, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, prayer, Priesthood, questioning, religion, spirituality, testimony, theology, thought, Word of Wisdom 11 Comments

A recent article in Time discusses several studies about the correlation between faith and health. Does church attendance contribute to a healthier, longer life? Is …

Shipbuilding: Tasks or Vision?

guest March 1, 2009apostasy, Asides, burdens, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, diversity, doubt, faith, fear, General Authorities, God, Happiness, LDS, Leaders, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, obedience, orthodox, parables, Peace, questioning, religion, spirituality, theology, thought 9 Comments

Spending a week in the Pacific Northwest on vacation, surrounded by boats and the vastness of the sea, when I read this quote from Antoine …

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

The Role of the Church in the Pursuit of Righteousness: Why It Works for Some and Not for Others

Ray February 12, 2009Anti-Mormon, apostasy, church, Culture, doubt, faith, Happiness, homosexuality, Mormon, Mormons, Peace, religion, righteousness, spirituality 18 Comments

Last April, as I was contemplating my monthly New Year’s resolution (Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness), something struck me quite forcefully – something I had …

Zero Population is the Answer, My Friend . . .

Hawkgrrrl February 9, 2009Asides, children, church, Culture, curiosity, depression, Discrimination, diversity, doubt, families, feminism, Happiness, LDS, love, marriage, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, questioning, religion, theology, thought, women 16 Comments

Thought I’d catch your attention with that line from “Saturday’s Warrior,” the bane (or bastion, if you don’t know what you’re talking about) of Mormon doctrine.* …

Celibacy and Sexuality

Andrew S February 9, 2009gay, Happiness, homosexuality, love, marriage, Mormon, Mormons, sexuality, spirituality 64 Comments

As they say, sex sells. The church has had a lot to say about sex and sexuality. It’s been on a winding path, but over …

Story Time: A Thought Experiment

Andrew S February 5, 2009burdens, depression, doubt, faith, Happiness, obedience, repentance, spirituality 30 Comments

Names and identities have been invented and caricatured as necessary. Miller is a member of the church. He magnifies all of his callings, does all …

Gender: A State of Mind

Faithful Dissident February 4, 2009children, Culture, eternity, gay, grace, Happiness, homosexuality, love, sexuality, theology 49 Comments

This is a post written initially on my own blog. It was reprinted on Feminist Mormon Housewives a while back. It created a very lively …

Why Is It So Hard for Many Ex-Mormons to Join Another (Traditional) Christian Denomination?

Ray January 28, 2009Anti-Mormon, christianity, church, Culture, excommunication, Happiness, Mormon, religion, resignation, testimony 85 Comments

I had a job a long time ago as the Training Manager at a company that was going through the ISO 9000 certification process. For …

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

Why I Almost Went on a Mission

Andrew S January 16, 2009doubt, faith, Happiness, missionary, missions, Mormon, Mormons, obedience, questioning, testimony 86 Comments

I hear there’s a Primary song — “I hope they call me on a mission.” I’ve never actually heard it sung, but I vaguely know …

Does Religion Devalue Human Life?

Hawkgrrrl December 30, 2008Charity, christianity, church, curiosity, Happiness, inter-faith, Mormon, questioning, religion 31 Comments

Answer: Yes. Any questions?

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 …

Temperance Movement and The Word of Wisdom

James December 26, 2008apostasy, Bible, book of mormon, christianity, church, conference, Culture, curiosity, diversity, doubt, faith, fear, Folklore, general, General Authorities, General Conference, Government, Happiness, history, international, jehovahs witnesses, LDS, Leaders, liberal, media manipulation, missionary, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, orthodox, religion, restoration, testimony, theology, thought, Word of Wisdom 63 Comments

For almost two centuries the Word of Wisdom is solid proven evidence to many members that the Church is true.

Joy to the World…

guest December 17, 2008burdens, christ, christianity, Culture, doubt, faith, Happiness, Jesus, Mormon, music 8 Comments

Today’s post is by Rachel Maw. I’m the kind of person that could listen to Christmas song all year long.

The Unsung Hero of the Nativity

Hawkgrrrl December 16, 2008Asides, Charity, children, christ, christianity, church, curiosity, doubt, faith, feminism, Happiness, history, Humor, Jesus, joseph, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, obedience, parables, questioning, religion, thought, women 13 Comments

As I was setting up our nativity scene this year, I noticed the wisdom and cultural/racial diversity of the Magi, the docile farm animals (not …

Betting on the House!

James December 9, 2008apostasy, Bible, burdens, christianity, church, curiosity, doubt, faith, Folklore, general, Happiness, LDS, Leaders, media, Mormon, mormon, orthodox, scripture, tesimony, theology, thought 26 Comments

“What do Catholics, Jews and Mormons have in common?” “Catholics don’t recognize birth control, Jews don’t recognize Jesus, and Mormons don’t recognize each other in …

Little Lord Jesus, No Crying He Makes

Ray November 22, 2008apostasy, children, christ, christianity, grace, Happiness, Jesus, repentance, salvation, Sermon on the Mount, spiritual progression 35 Comments

Sometimes, I have to say to my creedal Christian friends, in all sincerity: We really do worship a different Jesus than you do. I mention …

What is a Testimony?

guest November 13, 2008apostasy, Asides, BYU, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, diversity, doubt, faith, fear, Happiness, LDS, Leaders, love, missionary, missions, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, prayer, questioning, religion, salvation, scripture, spiritual progression, spirituality, temple, testimony, theology, thought 10 Comments

Ironically, some of you with “strong testimonies” may think that those struggling with their testimony make only a small percentage of us here today. The …

The Church as a Tool

guest November 7, 2008Anti-Mormon, apologetics, apostasy, Asides, Charity, christ, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, depression, diversity, doubt, education, faith, fear, God, Happiness, history, LDS, mormon, Mormons, new order mormon, obedience, orthodox, parables, Peace, prayer, Priesthood, prophets, questioning, religion, testimony, theology, thought 21 Comments

What is the church to you? A family you must learn to love? A path you must follow? A checklist of items you must do …

The Good News!

Brian Johnston November 6, 2008christianity, faith, God, grace, Happiness, Jesus, Mormon, plan of salvation, repentance 5 Comments

. You dropped down into this crazy, frenetic, gloomy world; stumble and trip in the darkness, trying to feel your way through the valley of shadows. Nothing seems to work …

Everything you can do, I can do better!

Brian Johnston November 2, 2008evangelicals, Happiness, history, Mormon, music 9 Comments

I’ve had this song stuck in my mind for a week or so now. Don’t you hate that? To make matters worse, I keep picturing a …

This Won’t Make It Past Correlation!

John Nilsson October 23, 2008church, faith, Happiness, Mormon, Peace, religion, spirituality 22 Comments

Our quote this week is from another church manual predating Correlation. Who wrote this, and why would the Correlation Committee disapprove?: Just what is the …

Psalms 55:22 – Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord

Ray October 20, 2008burdens, christ, grace, Happiness, Jesus, prayer, surviving 16 Comments

I had an interesting insight during a prayer a few months ago. In all my years as a member of the Church – in all …

Virtual RS/PH #18: Beyond the Veil: Life in the Eternities

Hawkgrrrl October 5, 2008church, death, eternity, Happiness, joseph, LDS, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, plan of salvation, salvation, spiritual progression, theology 18 Comments

This week’s lesson might sound like a repeat from the previous lesson on Plan of Salvation, but it is much more specifically focused on one …

What is the Point of Religion?

Hawkgrrrl October 1, 2008Asides, church, diversity, doubt, faith, God, Happiness, Mormon, obedience, plan of salvation, religion, salvation, theology, thought 16 Comments

I read an interesting blog site that posed this very question from a Hindu perspective. It was thoughtfully worded, so I thought I would include …

Churches are Made for the Ninety and Nine… What About the One?

Clay Whipkey September 17, 2008apostasy, christ, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, depression, Discrimination, diversity, doubt, faith, General Authorities, Happiness, Jesus, Leaders, love, Mormon, obedience, orthodox, parables, questioning, repentance, spiritual progression, surviving, testimony, thought 37 Comments

Believers and non-believers. The faithful and the doubters. Religious conservatives and religious liberals. TBMs and NOMs. These are ways we describe the differences in our …