Gender
Matriarchy and Patriarchy at Baptism
My brother called me up a few days ago and asked me if I would serve as a witness to his son’s baptism. Of course! I’d be honored. Then I realized why he asked me. Traditionally, it seems that grandpas serve as witnesses at LDS baptisms. But grandpa died a year ago. While I was […]
Is the Church Running Scared? (Plus Elizabeth Smart Notes)
The LDS Church has been subject to increasing leaks and protests lately. MormonLeaks has been publishing internal documents (some mundane, some embarrassing), and some people have been sneaking cameras into church to record Protest-imonies. Apparently Jeremy Runnells and Sam Young have had excommunication proceedings posted online as well. Is the LDS Church becoming even more […]
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 […]
Why They Don’t Need Heavenly Mother
“Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose”, so states the Proclamation on the Family. “ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents.” Many feminists want to talk about her. The funny thing about this, […]
Parenting Taboos – Part 1
With Father’s Day here, maybe it’s a good idea to talk about parenting Taboos. Parents Rufus Griscom and Alisa Volkman (I guess she didn’t take his last name–maybe that’s another taboo) gave an interesting Ted Talk (episode 3 available on Netflix) where they discussed parenting taboos. I created a transcript, and here’s what they had […]
Missionary work in Mongolia
I had an interesting conversation this weekend. A met a man who had served as mission president in Mongolia. I didn’t know much about Mongolia, and thought it was part of China. At one time it was, I guess, but the Soviets took over after World War 2, and forced the country to use the […]
How do we Agitate Faithfully?
In the previous post on my blog Dehlin and Bennett Put on Notice, I was surprised that the discussion of April Young Bennett’s resignation of the board of Ordain Women, instead of John Dehlin’s pending excommunication. (Incidentally, Dr. Nancy Ross of Dixie State University in St. George, Utah and Jessica Finnigan at King’s College London […]
Mormon Heretic 