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, …
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 …
Mormon Persecution Complex
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 …
Roadshows: Are They Gone Forever?
Today’s post is by Ghost Writer. Definitely Definitely Watch The Video Above – all will be explained later
“What Children Know”: A Children’s Rebuttal to Elder Ballard’s Conference Talk
Late last night as I was putting the finishing touches on my Monday morning blog post, I heard a faint knocking on the front door …
Open ‘Nacle Invitation: What were your favorite moments/quotes from General Conference?
An open ‘nacle invitation: What were your favorite moments/quotes from General Conference?
Life and Affliction (part two with another to come)
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 …
Are More Missionaries Staying Native?
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 …
The Amazing Adventures Of “The Mormon Answer Man”
Look up there . . . . who’s that emceeing the Ward Roadshow? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s the Mormon …
Deep in the Heart of Mormondom
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 …
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
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 …
“The Whole Church is Under Condemnation”: The Talk that Changed the Church
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 …
My Top Ten Non-Mormon Lives
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 …
Liberal Mormonism II: Why I am a Liberal Mormon
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 …
Putting the Fun Back in Fundamentalist
Another chance to turn your brain off…and laugh.
The Purpose of the Church
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 …
News from the Mormon Literary World
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 …
Trickle-Sideways Mormonomics and Consecration’s Legacy
“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 …
Gathering the Good of Other Faiths
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 …
Elijah: Prophet, Seer, and Mass Murderer?
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 …
Happy Valley – A True Life Story
Today’s post is by Ghost Writer. Coming to a theatre near you (if you live in Utah) March 28th
Too Quick to Pry and Judge?
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 …
What If They’d Put Nauvoo in Iowa?
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 …
“The Gods Too are Fond of a Joke.” -Aristotle
A chance to turn your brain off…and laugh.
Liberal Mormonism I: Diagnosis
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 …
Game: Identify the Mormon
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 …
The Future of Mormon History
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 Have Never Been Omnipotent, But I Have Loved
Consider the following lists of attributes of God:
the stuff of loving
This post is by Heather B. I believe that transparency is the way we love. A friend once told me, “You can’t love someone if …
Part 3 Testimony: “Forget Jesus, I have an Announcement!”
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 …
Socioeconomics of Utah Mormonism: One of many case studies in theo-economic failure
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 …
A Soldier’s Walk for Peace
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 …
Mark Your Calendars — 2 Upcoming Conferences IRL
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 …
Boycott 10,000 BC The Movie
When I saw the trailer for this movie one giant big ‘THING’ came to my mind . . . . Human Kind didn’t live in …
Prophetic Counsel About Sex Within Marriage: A Brief History
Over the years, the LDS First Presidency has made various statements about sexual relations between husband and wife. Unsurprisingly then, Mormons seem to hold divergent …
Mormons as “Restorationist Christians”
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 …
Politics Mingled With Scripture
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. …
Deconstruction and the Book of Mormon Part 3
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 …
Women’s Retreats — Slumber Parties for Grownups
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 …
Part 2 – Testimony: “And then we went to the Grand Canyon…”
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 …
Geraldine Ferraro and the Mormons
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 …
New Sins for a New Century.
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, …
How Mormons Are Buddhists & Vice Versa
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 …
Imagine: An Honorable Release
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 …
“She’s a Monster”: A Media Generated Controversy
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 …
What Comes Next for the FLDS Church?
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 …
What is “The 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 …
Gathering God’s Words to “All Nations”: When, Where, How, and Who Cares?
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 …
Unto the Pure
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 …
My Disenchantment with Church and State—Part 2 The State
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 …
The Jagged Little Pill We Call Mormonism
. . . . there I was writing my ex-wife a letter trying to explain what a Temple Marriage and Sealing is and what it …
The LDS Church and the BSA: Part 2 Why Scouting Won’t Disappear
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 …
“Believest thou…?”: Faith, Cognitive Dissonance, and the Psychology of Religious Experience by Wendy Ulrich, Ph.D
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 …
My Disenchantment with Church and State—Part 1 The Church
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 …
Scouting is a What?
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 …
The Unfinished Restoration: A Global Vision
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 …
My Top Ten Cultural Sins, or Why I Don’t Mark My Scriptures
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 …
Clinton Comes to Kirtland
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 …
The Church and the BSA: part 1
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. …
Can We Laugh Here?
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 …
Testimony Part 1: ” I Know the Church is True”
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 …
Reed Smoot Hearings: A Review and What it Says About Today
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 …
What Happens When We Die? A “New” Perspective?
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, …
“Please bless the food that it may change on a molecular level to provide us with additional strength that we would not get otherwise…”
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 …
What If Everyone Found Out the Mormon Plan of Salvation Was True?
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 …
The Parable of the Elephant
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 …
My Mormon Midlife Crisis
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 …
Why we need more apostates
Explosive Church growth has had a real impact on one of the core experiences many LDS had growing up — knowing apostates. The lack of …
Neo-Fundamentalism Part 3: LDS Premillennialism
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 …
A style of our own
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. …
The Danzig Case: Does the LDS Church Influence Members to Oppose Same Sex Marriage?
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 …
Why I Am Not a Disaffected Mormon
There seem to be a number of disaffected Mormons lurking the Bloggernacle these days. I am not one of them. Here is why.
A Veil Runs Through It: A Mormon Cosmogony
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 …
A guide to edifying Others
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 …
BYU and the Honor Code
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. …
The Ammon Approach: Redefining Missionary Work
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 …
Overview and Discussion of Church Growth
According to Beliefnet.com the 10 largest churches of 2007 in the US are:
The Sad Story of Sally, Native American Daughter of Brigham Young
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 …
Who are these Anti-Mormons?
This post is by Heather B. I’m not a member of the LDS church, although I was once. I’ve had many members ask me over …
Lost Hemisphere: A Traditional Book of Mormon Geography
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 …
Peculiar People: Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses
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 …
The Prophetic Accomplishments of President Gordon B. Hinckley
“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 …
Cool Website Enables Collaborative Timelines
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 …
God is a What?!
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 …
Gay Christian Awarded Approximately $94,000 for Discrimination by The Church of England.
John Reaney took the Hereford diocesan board of finance to an employment tribunal after his appointment as a youth worker was blocked.
WWJB: What Would Jesus Blog?
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, …
The Book of Mormon: Paving the Way for the Doctrine & Covenants
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 …
Mormon Superheroes
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 …
Reconstruction Part 2: Abandoning “Being Right” In Search of “Having Joy”
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 …
The Reason for the World
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 …
Mormon Family Shrinkage
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. …
Can Mormons Be Savvy Voters?
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 …
Breaking News: Romney Dropping Out
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 …
Neo-Fundamentalism Part 2 – Historical Millennialism*
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 …
“Theoconservativism” – Extremism under the Guise of Religion?
Being a latitudarian, I hold the separation of church and state as part of my sacrosanct liberality.
The Book of Mormon: Keystone
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 …
9 Mormons Who Ran for President
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 Church is a “what”?
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 …
Passage to Zarahemla: An Interview With Chris Heimerdinger
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 …
Reconstruction Part 1: Like a Wave, Driven and Tossed
Not so long ago I thought I knew certain things were true and wavering was a self-inflicted condition. I also really thought I was an …
For time and all eternity
This post is by Heather B. My husband and I were married and sealed to each other in an LDS temple over 6 years ago. …
Personal Reflections on President Hinckley
“Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah! Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer.” -W.W. Phelps, “Praise to the Man,” Hymn #27, LDS Hymnbook, 1985 …
Joseph Smith, On His Own Terms
In studying Joseph Smith in the 1970s I was struck by how often Joseph Smith would remind the brethren that they did not know as …
President Hinckley Passes Away At Age 97
The LDS Newsroom reports: President Gordon B. Hinckley, who led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through twelve years of global expansion, has …
The Deconstruction of Mormonism
I am trying to keep to a once-a-week blog post, generally on Sunday evening. The passing of President Hinckley is surely sad news for all …
LDS Myths about Reorganized Latter Day Saints
My uncle emailed me the other day. The bishop in his ward gave a talk about the Kirtland Temple and explained how the LDS church …
Robert Millet & Krista Tippet Pt. 1: “God as Man” Doctrine “Theologically Tangential”
I really, really enjoyed Krista Tippett’s latest interview with (perhaps) the LDS Church’s arch-theologian: Dr. Robert Millet. I have about 4 or 5 posts in …
Church’s (Official?) Position on Biblical Interpretation
Brother Jensen thinks the story of Jonah spending three days in a whale’s belly is not literally true, but is a beautiful metaphor of Christ’s …
What Ethical Standards do Mormon Consumers Have?
Amy Goodman from Democracy Now Interviewing Charles Kernaghan, the executive director of the National Labor Committee
Should I Care if My Christian Neighbors Call Me a Non-Christian?
Evangelical Christians have been very vocal over the last century in denouncing Mormons as a “non-Christian” religion. Even the more moderate Catholic and Protestant sects …
Puddleglum as a Skeptical Believer
My wife says I have a naturally skeptical personality, sometimes to the point of pessimism. I have probably passed up being a millionaire many times by …
A Primer on Neo-Fundamentalism
There is a fascinating community of—I’ll call them neo-fundamentalist LDS (NFLDS) for now—out there who illuminate a cultural template that I find greatly missing on …
Polygamy, what it really implies (Part Two)
Leaving aside the implications of polygamy as to the lessened value of males to society and to families, the other question that arises is just …
Bigfoot, the Three Nephites and the Lost Tribes of Israel
Today’s post is by SuperNerd. I would like to give a shout out to all the Ward crazies…Where have you all gone? Every Ward has …
Album Review: First Light—Scenes from the Restoration
I count my enjoyment of film scores as my eccentric musical hobby. While others examine the credits of movie posters looking for actors or directors, …
Got Gender?: A Modest Proposal
Men don’t understand women very well. I understand them even less because I grew up with brothers. No sisters. This may have contributed to my …
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection…
This post is by Heather B. About a week ago, I had to explain death to my four year old. It was one of those …
MYTHBUSTERS: The “One True Church”
There are a lot of myths both inside and outside Mormondom about the LDS claim to be the “one true Church.” That claim is difficult …
Converts to the Church: Quality versus Quantity
In 2006, there were more than 272,800 convert baptisms in the Church. A year later, I wonder how many are still active? As President Hinckley …
JS and MLK — Blood Brothers?
This is the first in my posts with the title “The Continuing Crisis.” Each will discuss issues that either are, or should be, front and …
“I don’t know that we teach it”
In the latest LDS manual for priesthood and Relief Society sunday meetings, it features the teachings of Joseph Smith and will be in use for …
What Is “Mormon Doctrine?”
In my first post I discussed why God was concerned with creating creeds and using them as a test of one’s allegiance to God. In …
God as Codependent
If there is something truly unique about Mormon doctrine, it is the image of God. I agree with Sterling McMurrin, that its not always easy …
Defending the Faith
I’ve never been very political. It’s not that I’m a total slacker – I always read the platforms of both parties and I keep up …
McConkie In Action
Today’s post is by Wade Nelson. I hope this doesn’t come across as a slam on Elder McConkie. While I disagree with many of his …
“Sorceries, and Witchcrafts, and Magics”
By about 325 A.D. the Nephites had reached this point: “And it came to pass that there were sorceries, and witchcrafts, and magics; and the …
The Only Truly Creedless Church on the Face of the Whole Earth
“[Unlike the Latter-day Saints] Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be asked out of their church. I want the liberty of thinking …
Why I Voted for Mitt in Today’s Michigan Primary
I just got back from my neighborhood polling place, where I voted for Mitt Romney in the Michigan primary. Let me tell you why… Mitt …
The Continuing Crisis
Well folks, this is my first post in this community. I’m glad to be here. Those who know me will recognize the title of this …
I’m Right and Everyone Else is Wrong!
Today’s post is by Zane Chartrand. When I was a missionary I once knocked on a door and after I had introduced my companion and …
Do You Happen to Know So and So….
Have you ever noticed how small the LDS Church world is? It is not uncommon to run into people who know people you know. I’ve …
Snack Time
My favorite time in the nursery was snack time. Oh, it’s not what you might think. I didn’t love snack time because I could snitch …
“Preach My Gospel” and the Ripple Effect
In 2004, the Church released the long-anticipated “Preach My Gospel” manual, replacing the six discussion manuals and the pink “Missionary Guide.” This was a major …
Planet Kolob to Mormons: It’s not our weird beliefs, it’s our credibility
We know there’s a problem. Here’s how the bulk of us as Mormons see the problem: SYMPTOMS: Americans have an anti-Mormon bias which manifests itself …
Yet Another John
I don’t know what the prevalence of the name John on Mormon Matters says about this site or our parents’ predilection for monosyllabic British boy’s …
Greetings from Stevo/Steve/Stephen from the UK….
Hey there everyone,
Looking to turn Mormon Matters into a Group Blog
As an act of obedience to Elder Ballard, I’m looking into the option of turning Mormon Matters into a group blog (like T&S, BCC, the …
Open Line Saturday (September 1st) on Mormon Matters
OK…we’re trying something new. We’re going to invite you, our listeners, to call in and join us for Mormon Matters tomorrow. The time: 8:30pm – …
Episode 11: Our Favorite Books on Mormonism
In today’s episode, J. Nelson-Seawright, David King Landrith and I discuss our favorite books on mormonism (listed below). J. Nelson-Seawright’s Recommendations D. Michael Quinn: The …
Episode 9: Big Love and Mormon Fundamentalist Polygamy Part 1
Today’s episode is on HBO’s “Big Love” and Mormon Fundamentalist polygamy. Panelists include: John Hamer, Ann Porter, Tom Grover and host John Dehlin. Extra Readings …
I’ve Applied a Fix: Please Help Me Test
I’ve applied a fix: please help me test. If you’re using iTunes, please delete your subscription to Mormon Stories, and re-subscribe and see if you …
Problems Downloading
Several people are having problems downloading this podcast (either it doesn’t download, or it only downloads a portion). Please, please, please help us troubleshoot. If …
Episode 3: The Mountain Meadows Massacre
Note: Mormon Matters podcast is now available through iTunes. You can subscribe to the podcast by clicking on the iTunes button at the top right …
Announcing Mormon Matters
Mormon Matters is a weekly audio program exploring current events, popular culture, politics and spirituality within Mormonism — first as a podcast, and eventually by …