142: A Review of “The Mackintosh’s Story – A Son Comes out and a Family Loves”
Is the newest video released on the Mormon and Gay website about a young gay Mormon man coming out to his family helpful or harmful? Is this video just "giving cover" for the LDS Church's policy regarding those of the LBTQ community and their children? All these...
Book Review of Hearts of the Fathers: A story of Heaven, Hell, and the hope of new life after life by Sheldon Lawrence
By Lalove Foster I've read many good books in my life, but there are a select few that stick with me, shaping a little piece of who I become. Hearts of the Fathers: A story of Heaven, Hell, and the hope of new life after life by Sheldon Lawrence is one of those books....
“Heed” Does Not Mean “Obey,” That Would Be Too Easy
[Though this post begins with a political reference, it is not a post about politics or partisanship.] I was listening to Sean Spicer yesterday try to explain when Donald Trump should be taken at his word and when he is merely joking. It’s actually a tough distinction...
Sister Jones and Six Men
Utah’s Escalating Suicide Crisis and LDS LGBTQ Despair
But it is not just our youth. EVERY age group below age 50 saw a substantial increase in suicides in 2015… The adult figures are very bad, but the youth trajectory is beyond alarming.
The Bright Blessed Day/ The Dark Sacred Night
Nancy and I like to call our current lives a Trump/ Peña Nieto sandwhich. Donald Trump is the 45th President of the United States, Enrique Peña Nieto the 62nd president of Mexico and we as deportees get to live between their policies; human ping pong balls as one spit...
Why do Mormon Prophets Receive Prophesies?
141 CES Podcast, episode 27: 2 Thessalonians
Why would a penis ward off the superstition of the "bad eye." Who wrote 2 Thessalonians? What can we learn about the early Christian movement by reading 2 Thessalonians? All of these questions and more are discussed in this episode of The CES Podcast with Dr. Sheldon...
A metaphorical interpretation of the temple recommend interview questions
“Borderlands” Mormons who wish to make temple worship part of their spiritual life sometimes struggle with the temple recommend interview process. This is often due to the disconnect they experience between a literal interpretation of the recommend questions and their...
Armed with Righteousness? To What End?
This month’s First Presidency Message in the Ensign is an instructional essay by Eyring on remaining faithful and spiritually strong. They are: https://www.facebook.com/LDS/photos/a.333341641549.197242.18523396549/10154897060886550/?type=3&theater I struggle with...
Church History: A Journey, Not a Destination
Almost three years ago, I took a trip with my family to visit Church history sites across the country, from Utah to New York and back. We planned it carefully, before my oldest daughter left home for college and when my youngest would be old enough to appreciate it....
140: CES Podcast, episode 26: 1 Thessalonians
Did Dr. Greaves play Black Sabbath and Judas Priest on the Ricks College radio station when he worked there as a DJ? What were some of the concerns that Paul was addressing in his first letter to the Thessalonians? When was 1 Thessalonians written? All of these...
The Note I Wish I Would Have Received After About One Year or So of Marriage
Pieter Bruegel the Elder - The Fall of the Rebel Angels (1562) So, how are you? How is [insert spouse name here]? I ask because this is usually right around the time that people at least start to really fall out of love. Some people by now feel thoroughly out of love....
Am I Latino Yet? An Awakening
Note: This originally published in the Huffington Post on February 12, 2017 Recently I changed my Facebook profile name from Michael to Miguel. This was in response to some thoughts I've had lately about my Guatemalan heritage and conversations with my prima, and my...
Tainted Eternal Love
"I know that love eternal will not be denied..." - the Moody Blues In honor of Valentines Day being last week, I would like to reflect on my marriage. First, let me make it clear that according to the teachings of the LDS Church- or even the church I was raised in – I...
Mormons Building Bridges Retreat
I recently attended a Mormons Building Bridges Contemplative Retreat in Sundance, Utah. Attendees were asked to participate in introspective questioning and sharing about gender identity and sexual orientation in relation to LDS policy and Mormon theology. The retreat...
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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