A Philosophical Approach to God
“For what is time? Who can readily and briefly explain this? Who can even in thought comprehend it, so as to utter a word about it? But what in discourse do we mention more familiarly and knowingly, than time? And, we understand, when we speak of it; we understand also, when we hear it spoken of by another. What then is time? If no one asks me, I know: if I wish to explain it to one that asketh, I know not: yet I say boldly that I know, that if nothing passed away, time past were not; and if nothing were coming, a time to come were not; and if nothing were, time present were not.”
BYU TV – The District: Episode II
The District Brothers and Sisters A few missionaries struggle to find someone to teach. The Sisters try to help a family decide on baptism, but when tragedy strikes at home, Sister Voyles has to decide if she should stay or go home. Click here to watch episode...
Mike is interviewed on A Thoughtful Faith Podcast
I really enjoy a new facebook group that was created by the people at A Thoughtful Faith podcast community. One day when I was browsing their wall and saw a post that they were looking for people to interview. I quickly suggested my brother Mike. They took up the...
Joseph Smith’s Use of Seer-Stones in the Revealing of the Book of Mormon
Last Sunday I was interviewed by Micah Nickolaisen for "A Thoughtful Faith" podcast (click here to go to A Thoughtful Faith podcast homepage). During our chat, I discussed a two-part lesson that I gave to the combined Aaronic Priesthood in my ward that examined...
The Pedagogy of Modesty
I have two daughters. I am concerned with the messages they will receive once they enter the Young Women's organization of the LDS church. At the top of my concerns is how, traditionally, modesty has been taught within our LDS culture. I am concerned with the...
If your pants are too tight…
Recently in the news we got a little taste of a "Mormon moment" when on Valentine’s Day a male BYU student passed a note to a female student declaring that she was immodestly dressed and should think about how her appearance was affecting others. I'm sure he was just...
Suggestion Box: The LDS Garment Part 2
In a previous post regarding the LDS garment, we had a lot of positive affirmation that we weren't the only ones who recognized various issues with the garment. In fact, it is one of our most viewed blog posts to date. In the first post I merely outlined some of the...
Book of Mormon Lesson 45: Ether 1-6
"Never Has Man Believed in Me As Thou Hast" The Book of Ether Click here to listen to Jared Anderson's podcast that goes over this lesson. The abridgment of the Jaredite record is promised in Mosiah 28:17-19. In 1920, a headnote was added that read: "The record of...
Nearly a Year in the Bloggernacle – Thoughts and Reflections
It has been almost a year since my brothers and I started this small blog. So, we thought it would be fun to do a little reflecting on what we have done, what we have learned from our blogging experience so far, and what we hope to do in the future. Over a year ago,...
Know Your Market – Lessons from City Creek
One day while driving from Provo to Salt Lake City, I noticed a billboard for City Creek, the new church-owned mall. The billboard featured an attractive model dressed very nicely in a button-up shirt and jacket with the City Creek mall in the background. Once I...
A Book Review – The God Who Weeps: How Mormonism Makes Sense of Life
A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to attend a baptism of a new convert to the LDS church. Adult baptisms almost always make me weepy, because it's so beautiful to see an adult freely choose to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ and become a Christian....
Book of Mormon Lesson 44: book of Mormon 7-9
"I Speak unto You As If Ye Were Present" Mormon2's Message to the Latter-day Lamanites: book of Mormon 7:1-10 Click here to listen to Jared Anderson's podcast and read his lesson notes that go over this lesson. 7:2, 3, 4, 5 "Know ye that..." 7:9 "..if ye believe...
The District, Episode 1: A Review
The District – Episode 1 In the great tradition of Utah-Mormonism seeing something successful and then ripping off the idea (insert Mod-bod clothing, trampoline fun-houses, etc), we at rationalfaiths.com have decided to mimic The Mormon Expositor podcast's weekly...
One Great Whole
This talk was given at the Convocation of the Latter-day Saint Community at Stanford University on October 16th 2012 in the Memorial Church. The annual Convocation of the Latter-day Saint community at Stanford University gathers all Stanford alumni, faculty, staff,...
Why I am Mormon
In the tradition of the Sunstone Symposium's "Why I Stay" and "Pillars of My Faith," my brothers and I decided to begin a series called "Why I Am Mormon." Following is the first of these personal essays, written by me, Mike Barker. I hope you enjoy it. "Lord, I...
Book of Mormon Lesson 43: book of Mormon 1-6; Moroni 9
"How Could Ye Have Departed from the Ways of the Lord?" We are trying to track how people are coming to find our Book of Mormon Sunday School posts. Would you mind just leaving a comment on how you found this post? Did you find it through an e-mail, Mormon Stories...
LGBTQ Mormon Crisis
Two Printable handout for bishops and stake presidents that talks empirically about LGBTQ suicides:
The LGBTQ Mormon Crisis: Responding to the Empirical Research on Suicide
Youth Suicide Rates and Mormon Religious Context: An Additional Empirical Analysis
The Barker Brothers’ Projects
These videos were created for Latter-day Saint parents and allies to voice their love for their LGBT brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. They want to give a message of comfort and support to other parents who are navigating the difficult conflicts that can arise in families around this issue.
“Cogito!” (“I think!”) follows the intellectual adventures of a recovering academic outside the walls of academia.
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