Does Joseph Smith Pass the Biblical Prophet Test?
I have always enjoyed scripture study. I was attempting to “feast on the words” of the Bible but it had always been difficult for me. There seemed to often be some bit of historical context I was missing, or certain passages that seemed to contradict Mormon doctrine....
Joseph Smith has Risen from the Grave
It isn’t every day a dead man speaks to you. Much less reads your mind. So when it does happen, I guess it is worth writing about. The day is July 26, 2015. The dead man in question is Joseph Smith. The person he talked to is my wife, Dee. Here is how it all came...
We’re gonna need a bigger boat.
A couple of weeks ago when "the letter" was read in our ward, we stood up and walked out. We weren't grandstanding or trying to cause trouble. But we are LGBT friends and allies, and having already read the letter, we knew it only served the cause of furthering...
SUNSTONE 2015 – A PHOTO JOURNAL
Every year my family makes the obligatory Mormon-Hajj from the mission field to Zion. We usually make it a point to meet with a few of our permabloggers and if possible, to make it to the summer Sunstone Symposium. Here is a photo-journal of our visit to the...
68: Best Two Years Review and Sunstone Highlights
I've never been to Sunstone and sometimes I would like to be able to say that I have never watched Mormon movies like The Singles Ward and others (I can say that I have never watched Church Ball or The Home Teachers, whew!). In this episode Mike Barker makes me want...
Loving The Way That Christ Loves
Part of the reason why Christ was such a revolutionary figure was the fact that he urged all people to love people that are very hard to love. He said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and...
I’m Sorry Argentina
I'm sorry Argentina. I taught you incorrectly. When I served my mission in Rosario, Argentina 94-96 I misled the people I taught. I feel terrible because I fell in love with the people there. I was treated with kindness and respect. They welcomed me into their homes,...
Following The Prophet (When The Prophet Hasn’t Always Been Right)
Sitting in the pew, they sing: Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, Follow the prophet; don't go astray. Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, Follow the prophet; he knows the way. Verse after verse goes by. I look around at all the people singing the words, each...
The Unintentional Perpetuation of Racial Prejudice by the LDS Church
Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects unrighteous actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or...
A North and South Heart
A dear friend, who I will call Jim, of my (former?) partner, and I, after the LDS church's response to the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court on same-sex marriage and then the response to the decision by the Boy Scouts of America to allow inclusion of gay scouting...
URGENT MESSAGE FOR MORMON GAY YOUTH
(The text of the post was originally a post on Carol Lynn Pearson's Facebook page on July 23, 2015.) I have been made aware of three new suicides within the last ten days--all of these in Utah, two young men and one young woman, all three known to be gay and LDS. ...
God’s Love
Note: This was a high council talk given on July 19, 2015 We live in interesting times, times of distress and disorder. Social issues regularly top our headlines causing many to wonder whether or not the end of the world is at our doorstep. Indeed, on the negative...
Time Machines vs. Ward Softball
If you were given a time machine and offered a one time “do-over” in life, would you take it? Would you fly back in time and ask the hot cheerleader to prom? Would you take back something you said to a parent or a friend that you have always regretted? Would you...
“Sad Souls in Happy Valley” why we (still) need to change the way we think about mental health
Authors note: This is a re-post of a previous article with updates and updated resources. "I have of late- but wherefore I know not- lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises, and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly...
A Modest Clarification
It has come to my attention that some Mormons have had "questions" regarding prophetic priorities. I'll break it down so that even a child can understand: if the Prophets and Apostles are talking about something, it matters. If they aren’t talking about it, it doesn’t...
67: Groupthink, Pluralistic Ignorance, and Cults
In continuing our series “The Human Mormon Mind,” I had talked with Michael Barker and Mica McGriggs about the three related concepts of Groupthink, Pluralistic Ignorance and Religious Cults (Dr. Sheldon Greaves chimed in on the last topic as a scholar of...
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.
Follow Us!
Recent Comments