A Review of Diary Of Two Mad Black Mormons
Title: Diary Of Two Mad Black Mormons Authors: Zandra Vranes and Tamu Smith Page Count: 240 Publisher: Ensign Peak IBSN: 160907839X The last book I saw with “black” and “Mormon” in the title came in the form of Last Laborer: Thoughts and Reflections Of A Black Mormon,...
A Priesthood Holder’s Ramblings about Ordain Women and Female Ordination
This post is true to its title. It is written by a holder of the priesthood, "the power of God delegated to man to act for the salvation of the human family", as Elder Oaks put it in last conference. It is also written as a reflection of my mental roaming without any...
How the Ancients Read the Bible
These matters of interpretation have obvious considerations for our own times, and the liberties we might take in reading holy writ. It is a cautionary tale that scriptural interpretation is only as good as the vision of the world one seeks to create with it.
Jesus Would Do His Home Teaching
Home teaching is a rare opportunity to serve and love our neighbors in intimate environments. Although I don't make it out every month, it is a program I love and cherish. Serving in the midst of our brothers and sisters is a reflection of Jesus' own ministry where he...
Moroni’s Promise is Not About the Book of Mormon
I was having a conversation with a friend about how doctrine changes in the Church. I made the claim that a form of the trinity is taught in the Book of Mormon, most clearly evident in Abinadi’s teachings. He told me that that isn’t possible, because he knows that our...
The Book of Mormon’s Historicity and Supporting Evidence – part 2
“The Book of Mormon as a text is congruent with the records known from pre-Columbian Mesoamerica in all general ways and in many detailed ways.” In part 2 Cody Calderwood provides evidence that supports the historicity of the Book of Mormon.
The King James Version in the Book of Moses, Part 4
This is Part 4 of the series locating the extent of dependence of the Book of Moses on the text of the KJV Genesis. You can see Part 1 here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here. All of these posts are based on the textual analysis of Kent P. Jackson, The Book of Moses and...
The Book of Mormon’s Historicity and Supporting Evidence – part 1
“Using Mesoamerica as the location for the Book of Mormon not only lines up well geographically, but it also parallels what archaeologists have found with cities in the same time frame in that area.” With a Mesoamerican focal point, Cody Calderwood explains why one can rationally believe in the historicity of the Book of Mormon.
Leaving the Church, but Finding Faith
A hot button issue in religious dialogue lately has been the hemorrhaging of millennials from their institutional religions. The general hypothesis for the reasons why center around social issues. I don’t qualify as a millennial, but this prevailing progressive...
Why are Mormon Feminists upset by the temple?
"We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression." -Articles of Faith, 2 The second article of faith allegedly makes a bold and clear statement of doctrine. It is a doctrine Mormons are pretty proud of and has never been...
The King James Bible in the Book of Moses, Part 3
This is Part 3 of the series locating the extent of dependence of the Book of Moses on the text of the KJV Genesis. You can see Part 1 here, Part 2 here, and Part 4 here. All of these posts are based on the textual analysis of Kent P. Jackson, The Book of Moses and...
On Death, Discomfort, and Deity
Last July I attended a meeting on the dynamics of faith and doubt in Mormonism with presentations by Teryl and Fiona Givens and Richard Bushman. Toward the end there was a moment while others were speaking as Richard Bushman sat quietly, almost motionless, his...
The King James Bible in the Book of Moses, Part 2
This is Part 2 of the series locating the extent of the dependence of the Book of Moses on the text of the KJV Genesis. You can see Part 1 here. Like Part 1, the text of the OT2 Moses is taken from Kent P. Jackson, The Book of Moses and the Joseph Smith Translation...
Is the Family Proclamation scripture? Does it matter?
Since its release in September of 1995, perhaps no other official Church text in the last 20 years has elicited more debate as to its nature, meaning and importance than The Family: A Proclamation to the World (hereafter in this post to be referred to as "the Family...
JOSEPH SMITH’S POLYGAMY VOLUME 3: THEOLOGY – A BOOK REVIEW
Note: This is a review of volume 3 only. To read my view of volume 1, click here. To read my review of volume 2, click here. Let me say something upfront. Of the three-volume series by Hales, this one I looked the least forward to reading. My assumption was that it...
What revelation isn’t
In the first part of this epic two-part series on revelation I discussed the difference between "pillar of light revelation" and "everyday revelation." Now it’s time to touch on three things revelation isn’t: uniform, exclusive, or perfect. Uniform People experience...
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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