Mormon Heretic
Sealed Servant?
This past weekend, I had occasion to attend an unusual sealing ceremony. One of my wife’s co-workers is in her 70s. Her husband passed away last year. Yesterday she was sealed to her dead husband. Her son served as proxy for her deceased husband. (Incidentally, she has been married and divorced to 2 other men […]
Comparing 1978 to 1985
Continuing with the theme of Black History Month, I thought I’d reflect on changes in the past 30 or so years. In 1978, the LDS Church announced the lifting of priesthood restrictions. In 1985, the RLDS Church (now known as the Community of Christ) announced the lifting of priesthood restrictions on women. Not a single […]
The Mormon Church & Blacks
February is Black History Month. I recently finished Matthew Harris & Newel Bringhurst’s most recent book, The Mormon Church & Blacks: A Documentary History. The black priesthood ban has been a pet topic of mine; I have written nearly 60 posts on the topic over the past 8 years.
Reviewing Religion of a Different Color
I finally finished Paul Reeve’s book Religion of a Different Color. Paul highlights the strange evolution of Mormons, once seen as not white enough, now seen as too white. From page 270, …as late as 2012 the perception persisted in some corners that Mormons were racist and that there were few or no black Mormons. […]
War on Christmas? Blame Christians
Starbucks got a lot of flack because they used plain red cups this year instead of ones decorated with snowflakes as in years past. Steven Colbert had a funny bit about it. But did you know that from a historical perspective, it was Christians who don’t like to celebrate Christmas?
Interfaith for Mormons
The past few years, my stake has put on a Christmas Interfaith Celebration. The problem is this: it is not really interfaith at all because only Mormons come. Sure, I live in Utah County, home of the highest concentration of Mormons anywhere, and frankly, the few non-Mormon churches that are here meet in strip malls. […]
The Idolatry of Following the Brethren
I sometimes feel LDS church members are guilty of idolatry. Perhaps it is not completely the members fault; We have been told so much to “follow the brethren” that we have built them up as idols, and fail to “study it out in our minds, and ask God if it be right.” Early church leaders […]
The Saddest Funeral
All funerals are sad, but I attended a memorable funeral a few weeks ago. Almost six years ago, I expressed my discomfort in home teaching a mentally ill man. When I first met him, he told me he was a paranoid schizophrenic, he heard voices, and he didn’t want Obama to take away his […]
Blacks and Gays
I am still appalled by the new church policy banning baptisms for children of gays and polygamists until age 18. A distant relative of mine was just released as stake president, and I told him that I feel this new church policy has set the church back 100 years. That was an understatement; it’s more […]
Suffer little children, and forbid them not
Matthew 19:13-14 13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. History is repeating itself. The LDS Church surreptitiously released some changes to […]
Mormon Heretic 