salvation - Mormon Matters

Eastern Orthodoxy: Theosis/Deification

Mormon Heretic July 6, 2010catholicism, christ, christianity, doctrine, Early Christianity, LDS, Mormon, mormon, salvation, scripture, spiritual progression, theology 28 Comments

Covenant Theological Seminary is a Presbyterian Seminary. They have online courses that you can listen to for free! If you pay tuition, you can get …

Wandering Mormons as Nephites

FireTag June 27, 2010book of mormon, doctrine, doubt, faith, families, Jews, Mormons, salvation, scripture 14 Comments

More than two years ago, the Holy Spirit began insisting that I re-read the Book of Mormon. Of course, I didn’t immediately recognize the impulse …

Pharisaical Observation

Jeff Spector May 11, 2010doctrine, Jews, Mormons, obedience, ordinances, orthodox, religion, righteousness, salvation, spiritual progression, theology, time management, Word of Wisdom 30 Comments

I wrote a post some time ago on whether they Pharisees were given a bad rap in the New Testament. It can be found here. …

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 …

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 …

Brother Brigham Brother Young

James December 6, 2009abuse, adultery, Anti-Mormon, apostasy, apostles, baptism, blacks, burdens, Charity, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, death, depression, Discrimination, doubt, eternity, excommunication, faith, historicity, LDS, Leaders, marriage, media, Mormon, Mormons, obedience, ordinances, polygamy, Priesthood, prophets, race, repentance, salvation, tesimony, thought, Utah, women 6 Comments

Recently I drove up Little Cottonwood Canyon with my brother and nephew. This is the canyon in which many of your ancestors pulled out the …

What is the Final Destination for Apostates and Ex-Mormons?

Andrew S November 13, 2009accountability, apostasy, eternity, LDS, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, righteousness, salvation 89 Comments

I’ve always taken it as a given that Mormonism’s view of the afterlife shuffle has always been more universalizing than most of the other alternatives. …

A Baptism for the Dead Dilemma

Jeff Spector October 28, 2009baptism, LDS, love, Mormon, ordinances, plan of salvation, religion, salvation, temple 41 Comments

Last January 2009, I wrote a piece “Stop Baptizing Our Dead.” I spoke about groups who objected to the LDS Church baptizing the dead that …

Vagueness as a Gospel Principle

Jeff Spector October 20, 2009accountability, baptism, blacks, doctrine, doubt, faith, General Conference, LDS, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, obedience, plan of salvation, prophets, questioning, race, religion, revelation, righteousness, salvation, spirituality, testimony, Word of Wisdom 23 Comments

“For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a …

Highway 61 Re-revisited: Fear and Trembling before Faith

Aaron R. aka Rico August 9, 2009christ, doctrine, doubt, faith, fear, God, Jesus, Mormon, resignation, righteousness, salvation, testimony, theology, violence 27 Comments

Oh God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son” Abe says, “Man, you must be puttin’ me on” God say, “No.” Abe say, “What?” God …

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 …

Women are from Venus, Men are from Kolob

Hawkgrrrl May 27, 2009abuse, adultery, Asides, burdens, children, church, Culture, curiosity, doubt, faith, families, feminism, Humor, LDS, Leaders, Logic, love, marriage, mormon, Mormons, orthodox, polygamy, questioning, religion, salvation, sexuality, theology, thought, women 75 Comments

Based on my experience, I would guess that the majority of LDS women under age 65 would say that polygamy is NOT an eternal principle …

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 …

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 …

Murder: As Bad As We Think?

Faithful Dissident March 25, 2009Bible, christianity, repentance, righteousness, salvation, scripture, violence 88 Comments

I’ve always been under the impression that premeditated murder is an unforgivable sin. Is it?

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

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

Born To Believe

Faithful Dissident February 19, 2009doubt, eternity, faith, God, history, plan of salvation, questioning, religion, salvation 14 Comments

A while back, some of us had an interesting discussion on my blog called “The Faith Gene.” We were examining the possibility that certain people were …

What is Truth?

guest February 13, 2009Anti-Mormon, apologetics, apostasy, Asides, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, faith, LDS, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, obedience, prayer, questioning, religion, righteousness, salvation, spiritual progression, spirituality, testimony, theology, thought 6 Comments

When it comes to religion – can everyone know truth? Can anyone? Today’s guest post is from Justin Perry.

Upon What Rock?

Hawkgrrrl February 4, 2009Bible, catholicism, christ, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, inter-faith, Jesus, LDS, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, ordinances, Priesthood, prophets, religion, salvation, scripture, symbols, thought 33 Comments

There’s a difference in interpretation between how LDS and non-LDS view the statement by Jesus to Peter when he says “Thou art Peter, and upon …

Virtual RS/PH #22: Gaining Knowledge of Eternal Truths

Hawkgrrrl December 7, 2008christianity, curiosity, doubt, education, history, joseph, LDS, Leaders, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, prayer, Priesthood, prophets, questioning, religion, salvation, smith, spiritual progression, spirituality, theology, thought, Word of Wisdom 32 Comments

Mormonism has a focus on gaining knowledge that is unique in Christendom, largely due to the emphasis that Joseph Smith placed on learning. Joseph’s total …

Half-way Mormons: A lesson from the Puritans

John Nilsson December 3, 2008christianity, church, doubt, faith, history, inter-faith, Mormon, religion, salvation, spirituality, testimony 25 Comments

I hope everyone enjoyed their turkey and stuffing for Thanksgiving last week. One thing I appreciate about the Puritans, other than their fondness for a …

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 …

When Is Your Ox in the Mire?

Hawkgrrrl November 14, 2008apostasy, church, General Authorities, General Conference, obedience, orthodox, prophets, questioning, salvation, spiritual progression, spirituality, sports, theology, thought 35 Comments

You probably know the Primary song about Sunday observance by heart: Saturday is a special day It’s the day we get ready for Sunday We …

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 …

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 …

Feeling Guilt: Repentance or Excuse?

Jeff Spector September 19, 2008book of mormon, christ, christianity, church, faith, LDS, Mormon, repentance, salvation, scripture, spiritual progression, theology 10 Comments

Here is an idea that has been kicking around in my head for many years. I thought I would see if I could really articulate …

Is Pride the Only Sin?

Hawkgrrrl September 12, 2008book of mormon, christ, christianity, church, Culture, faith, General Conference, Happiness, LDS, Leaders, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, prophets, questioning, religion, repentance, salvation, scripture, thought 10 Comments

Can all sins be reduced to just one sin: pride? Is pride essentially the root cause of all sins?

Virtual RS/PH #17: The Great Plan of Salvation

Hawkgrrrl September 7, 2008Asides, church, eternity, faith, families, God, Happiness, inter-faith, Jesus, LDS, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, plan of salvation, prophets, questioning, religion, repentance, restoration, salvation, scripture, smith, testimony, theology, thought, Word of Wisdom 5 Comments

A unique facet of Mormonism is our view of God’s plan for his children, or our purpose in life. Today’s lesson focuses on what JS …

An Act of Violence

Clay Whipkey September 5, 2008apostasy, diversity, eternity, excommunication, faith, fear, God, Mormon, Peace, repentance, resignation, salvation, theology, violence 47 Comments

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God[…] and another book was opened, which is the book of life[…] And whosoever was …

How Active Are You? How Orthodox Are You? A Self-Assessment

John Nilsson September 4, 2008book of mormon, christ, christianity, church, curiosity, doubt, eternity, faith, General Authorities, God, historicity, Jesus, joseph, LDS, liberal, Mormon, Mormons, new order mormon, obedience, orthodox, Priesthood, prophets, religion, repentance, restoration, sacrament meeting, salvation, scripture, Sermon on the Mount, smith, temple, testimony, theology, Word of Wisdom 67 Comments

Take this assessment and find out: (Taken from D. Jeff Burton’s For Those Who Wonder : forthosewhowonder.com. Similar to a Correlation Department survey on Religion …

What is Heaven? What is Hell?

Andrew September 3, 2008Happiness, inter-faith, LDS, love, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, obedience, salvation 26 Comments

We pray. We read scriptures. We go to Church. We fulfill our callings. We obey our Church leaders. As much as we’d like to think …

Merging with God

Brian Johnston September 3, 2008christ, God, Mormon, plan of salvation, salvation, spiritual progression, Trinity 16 Comments

We talk all the time in our Church about returning to God some day. Everything we do in life is to gain experiences, and then …

Virtual RS/PH #16: Revelation & the Living Prophet

Hawkgrrrl August 17, 2008apostasy, Bible, book of mormon, books, christ, christianity, church, Jesus, joseph, LDS, Leaders, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, new order mormon, obedience, orthodox, questioning, religion, restoration, salvation, scripture, smith, theology, thought 11 Comments

Finally, a lesson that really makes you think! This is probably my favorite JS lesson this year (no one dies or has to move to …

What Judgment Day Might Be Like?

Jeff Spector August 8, 2008Mormon, plan of salvation, repentance, salvation, spiritual progression 17 Comments

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. …

Binding Members to the Church

Bored in Vernal August 4, 2008conference, Devil, history, obedience, salvation 14 Comments

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 …

Virtual RS/PH #14 – Words of Hope & Consolation @ Time of Death

Hawkgrrrl August 3, 2008baptism, children, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, death, eternity, evangelicals, faith, families, history, inter-faith, joseph, LDS, Leaders, love, marriage, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, Peace, plan of salvation, questioning, religion, salvation, spiritual progression, thought 22 Comments

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 …

I’m Okay; You’re Okay

guest July 27, 2008Asides, church, Culture, curiosity, death, doubt, eternity, faith, families, inter-faith, LDS, love, marriage, missionary, missions, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, questioning, religion, salvation, temple, thought, women 102 Comments

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 …

The Genetics of Sin

Hawkgrrrl July 15, 2008Asides, children, christianity, church, Culture, curiosity, general, history, LDS, marriage, Mormon, mormon, Mormons, plan of salvation, questioning, religion, repentance, salvation, theology, thought, Word of Wisdom

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 …

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 …