No We Won’t Ask
I work hard to be publicly positive. I tend toward depression, and I found I was much happier when I distanced myself from current events news and activism that is just about trying to get my voice heard. I look for ways to do things with more immediate effects,...
Lying for the Lord?
The LDS Church is currently engaged in a systematic and officially endorsed effort to misrepresent some of its teachings to the outside world. This is not a new phenomenon. As far back as the Nauvoo period, “Joseph [Smith] publicly and repeatedly denied he was...
Why No Revelation?
One of the reasons I fell in love with Mormonism is that while investigating the Church I read the word "Ohio" in the D&C. This may seem an odd reason to some but for me it was evidence that this was a Church all about the here and now. Joseph prophesied about...
CELEBRATING HOLY WEEK AS MORMONS
CELEBRATING HOLY WEEK AS MORMONS NOTE: A year ago, after listening to a Mormon Matters podcast series about the different Easter traditions, my bishop asked if I would do some research into the different Holy Week traditions and give a proposal to the Ward Council of...
Attending the Priesthood Session like I’m the Queen of Persia
Tomorrow evening I will walk with my sisters… or more accurately stand in line with my sisters—and seek admittance into the priesthood session of general conference. Many are calling it a protest. I’m inclined to dismiss the complaint, because it would seem these days...
The One
If you're so unhappy, why stay? they shouted, why not leave? You are alone. Things do not change here ever. Why do you wander? they shouted, pride or sin? You are the one to blame. We follow. We know what's right. The One loved the ninety and nine and left, searching...
For Our Daughter. Again.
Last October, I wrote a post about my wife's involvement with Ordain Women and their initial appearance in the standby line at General Conference, requesting entry to the General Priesthood Session. It's a short post, and you should read it for context here. For Our...
To Be A Prophetess
To Be A Prophetess God called you by a blessed name, Prophetess Then wove Heaven into the palms of your hands. As we floated down the river Nile It was our lives you watched over Our victories you prophesied and imagined into song But, Prophetess, there will be those...
What did Moroni REALLY tell Joseph Smith?
Moroni is one of the most crucial figures in the Restoration. According to Joseph’s accounts, Moroni acted as Joseph’s angelic tutor for 6 years. According to Joseph’s accounts, Moroni prepared this unschooled farmboy for the immense mantle of prophethood. According...
What Not To Wear
Have you ever seen the TV show "What Not To Wear" on TLC? In case you haven't, it’s a reality-based show starring two fashion experts, Clinton and Stacy, who help people in desperate need of fashion makeovers (these people are nominated by their friends and/or...
An Insider’s View–a personal review
I want to apologize for the negative, critical review I wrote about Grant Palmer's book, An Insiders View of the Mormon Origins. While I don't share the authors beliefs on several topics, I believe I was ungenerous in my examination and treatment of his writing, and I...
We Brought All The Wrong Things
My name is Allison Jensen, I am currently completing my undergrad degree in the English Honours program at the University of Calgary; I'm going to be doing a Master's in Contemporary Literary Studies at Lancaster University in the Fall and can hardly contain my nerdy...
What are the doctrines of the Priesthood?
Rather than some never-changing, dead structure, Priesthood is dynamic and living. It has grown and developed. Changes have occurred. I believe that it will continue living and growing. Please, let’s keep our history in mind when we decide to engage with others about Priesthood and the possibility of the gender ban being removed.
The Prodigal Son
Our ward recently had stake conference and in Relief Society we were given a lesson on The Prodigal Son by our stake president. It was a wonderful lesson and I was touched by the words and thoughts that were shared by my wonderful stake president and members of my...
Prayer: A Reflection
PRAYER: A REFLECTION by Michael Barker I was driving home early in the morning the other day. I was listening to the On Being podcast; Paul Ellie was being interviewed regarding his unusual biography about the intersecting stories of four literary Americans of the...
I, Weirdo.
There was a time when I just wanted to fit in. I wanted to be liked. It's a basic human need but I think that it's also a fairly universal desire. Unfortunately, I was an awkward kid, transplanted mid-year in a small school in a small town where the cliques were...
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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