Ancient Jewish Parallels and Mormon Scripture
In my research at the University of Utah I have mainly focused on Hebrew and Jewish studies, but have had the opportunity of taking a good sampling of courses on Mormon history, text, and practice as well. Both in and out of class I have read many studies that seek to...
46: The Effects of Excommunication on All of Us: Healing Perspectives
The anticipated day has come. John Dehlin has been formally cut off from the LDS church. John has been an ambitious voice and organizer for those who have deep Mormon questions. He has provided a platform for many to share their stories and find people with common...
Is Revelation Just Divine Dictation? – The LDS.org Book of Mormon Translation Essay
As part of their “Gospel Topics” essays, the Church released an article on the translation of the Book of Mormon [1]. Some of the controversial topics discused include the use of the “seer stone” vs the “Urim and Thummim” and the use of a hat along with these stones....
The Inquisition of John Dehlin
I am incensed about the events surrounding the inquisition of John Dehlin. The more I think about it, the madder I get. And then it hits me. I am the one to blame. Why? For thinking. If there is one thing the LDS Church does not want its members to do, it is think....
Mixed Messages and Missing Doctrine
This post was co-authored by Jake Abhau and Lori Burkman. After having many discussions on the current events and press conferences of late, we wanted to put our thoughts into an essay that describes the lack of clarity on so many things. Where did we come from? Who...
45: Heart of Africa with Margaret Blair Young
We as Americans can often be fairly egocentric, and thus our understandings of differing countries and cultures can be fairly poor. In this episode, we speak with Margaret Blair Young, who is currently working on a project which challenges some of the misconceptions...
Goodness is Rarer Than Greatness.
What makes someone ‘great’? Most of the figures to whom we gift the epithet ‘great’ have earned their distinction primarily by being masters of the art of butchery. The vast majority of people known as ‘the great’ are rulers, founders and expanders of empire:...
Learning to Write my Name
I have this memory nestled into the recesses of my brain that pops up every now and again. It is from when I was about four years old, which is remarkable; my memories from early childhood are few and far between. I don’t know why this one stands out, but it is fairly...
The Morning Breaks…
"Everything that is great in life is the product of slow growth; the newer, and greater, and higher, and nobler the work, the slower is its growth, the surer is its lasting success. Mushrooms attain their full power in a night; oaks require decades. A fad lives its...
Book of Mormon on Trial: Bob Rees
This is Bob Rees' essay in response to Earl Wunderli's essay. Below you will find Earl's essay along with Bob's responses in blue. To read Earl Wunderli's essay click here. Hi Bob: Thank you for sending your FAIR paper to Tom Kimball for forwarding to me. I’ve read it...
Book of Mormon on Trial: Wunderli
In 2013, Signature Books published Earl Wunderli’s study of the Book of Mormon, An Imperfect Book: What the Book of Mormon Tells Us About Itself, an analysis, as the subtitle implies, about the internal clues that for Wunderli, point to the book’s origin. Wunderli,...
A Beginner’s Guide to Rational Faiths
This post was written primarily by Geoff Nelson and Thomas Hatton, with help from other permabloggers. I know you've probably seen links to Rational Faiths posted all over the Bloggernaccle. You've probably thought- What is this website? Who runs it? What is rational...
Here Is Our Apology
Dear Queer Mormons, We are So So Sorry. We realize that it is not within our stewardship to apologize for or in behalf of the institution that is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however institutions are cold things bogged down in bureaucracy. Our...
The Legacy of Emma Smith
Over one hundred and thirty years have passed since the death of Emma Hale Smith in 1879. Her life and her legacy have at times been riddled with controversy, as well as accusations of apostasy. It seems that Emma had for many years largely been written out of...
44: Science! – An Old Earth
Geology is my favorite subject in science. It is one of the few disciplines that allow you to get paid to go on hikes and play in the dirt. Beyond the outdoor work environment, Geology tells us so much about the world we live in and plays a crucial role in diagnosing...
Why I Liked What Elders Oaks and Christofferson Said
A few weeks ago, in my continuing efforts to educate myself on LGBT issues, I started watching The L Word, a show that focuses primarily on the day-to-day lives of a Los Angeles-based community of lesbians. At first, I was taken aback because the glamorous lesbians...
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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