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Using Scriptures to Debunk the Priesthood Ban

Posted by Mormon Heretic on April 11, 2011 in 10 tribes, Canon, Mormon, Movie/Book Reviews, Old Testament, Priesthood, Priesthood Ban, Race, Scripture, Theology

Alma Allred wrote a chapter in the book titled Black and Mormon.  On page 37, he states:

I don’t believe that LDS scripture allows for a restriction against blacks’ holding the priesthood.  Nor do I think that LDS theology can reasonably maintain that today’s blacks are descendants of Cain or that ancient intermarriage with Canaanites perpetuated any racial curse.  Too many scriptures collide with those ideas for them to be valid.

I found this perspective intriguing and  had to learn more. Continue Reading »

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Rick Reilly, Dan Patrick Discuss Jimmer

Posted by Mormon Heretic on April 9, 2011 in Mormon, Sports

Wow, 2 sports posts in a row!  I don’t think that’s ever happened on my blog before.  First of all, I have a disclosure to make.  I’m a big Utah fan.  I’m excited we’re going to the Pac-12.  However, since Rick Majerus left, it has been tough to watch the Utes play basketball.  When they fired Jim Boylen last month, I really hoped they would hire BYU coach Dave Rose.  Instead we get Larry Krystowiac (pronounced Chris-tow-vee-ack).  There have already been references to calling him Coach K–let’s hope that he does half as good as Duke’s coach Mike Krzyzewski–the real Coach K.

After that disclosure, let me just say that while I’m not a fan of BYU, I would have loved to have Jimmer Fredette on my team. Continue Reading »

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Bishop Ainge Takes in His Troubled Nephew

Posted by Mormon Heretic on April 6, 2011 in Christian, Mormon, Sports

It’s not often that I get to talk about sports on my blog.  I came across this interesting article about Erik and Danny Ainge.  Erik is a backup quarterback for the New York Jets, and former starting quarterback for the University of Tennessee.  I was surprised to learn that his uncle Danny is currently serving as bishop in Wellesley, Massachusetts, while working as President of the Boston Celtics.  I had no idea Danny was a bishop.

Erik admitted to using all sorts of drugs since the age of 11.  He is currently in drug rehab in the Boston area, and Danny has opened his home.  While it is sad that Erik has screwed up his life so bad, I am impressed that Danny has taken Erik into his home and assisted with his rehab.  I don’t think I would be so open with a relative with such a serious problem.  I’m greatly impressed with Danny’s service to Erik.

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Scholarship History of the Priesthood Ban

Posted by Mormon Heretic on April 2, 2011 in Canon, Early Mormon History, History, Mormon, Mormon Culture, Movie/Book Reviews, Priesthood Ban, Race

The Priesthood ban for black members of the church is a pet topic of mine.  I have previously discussed Early Black Mormons who held the priesthood, as well as a long 10,000 word article discussing events leading to the ban.  Newell Bringhurst and Darron Smith have put together a list of 9 essays highlighting different studies about black members of the church in their book titled Black and Mormon.  Besides Bringhurst and Smith, contributors include Alma Allred, Ronald Coleman, Darius Gray, Jessie Embry, Armaund Mauss, Cardell Jacobsen, and Ken Driggs.  Racial issues in the church have long held my interest, and I thought it might be nice to discuss the book over a few posts.

Continue Reading »

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14 Comments

Should We Credit Luther for the Apocrypha?

Posted by Mormon Heretic on March 26, 2011 in Apocryphal Stories, Canon, Catholic, Christian, Early Christian History, History, Judaism, Movie/Book Reviews, Old Testament, Scripture

There are many Christian stories not contained in the Bible.  For example, I have reviewed the First Infancy Gospel of Jesus, the Gospel of the Birth of Mary, and the Gospel of Judas (to name a few).  These writings are referred to as apocryphal writings.  Some Christians have referred to the Book of Mormon as the “American Apocrypha.”  Often, we refer to “the Apocrypha” as a specific set of books.  So how did we get “the Apocrypha”?

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Bishop Burton’s Public Stand on Immigration

Posted by Mormon Heretic on March 20, 2011 in Mormon, Mormon Culture, Politics, Race

I’ve always believed the church has a right to make a public stand on political issues.  In protest of the church’s position on Prop 8, gay marriage proponents have floated a proposal that the church should stay out of politics, and should lose their tax-exempt status.  Now that LDS Presiding Bishop David Burton has come out in favor of a guest worker program in Utah (ultra-conservatives call “amnesty”), at least one ultra-conservative is calling for the church to lose tax-exempt status too.  According to Paul Rolly at the Salt Lake Tribune, Continue Reading »

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Bishop Burton's Public Stand on Immigration

Posted by Mormon Heretic on March 20, 2011 in Mormon, Mormon Culture, Politics, Race

I’ve always believed the church has a right to make a public stand on political issues.  In protest of the church’s position on Prop 8, gay marriage proponents have floated a proposal that the church should stay out of politics, and should lose their tax-exempt status.  Now that LDS Presiding Bishop David Burton has come out in favor of a guest worker program in Utah (ultra-conservatives call “amnesty”), at least one ultra-conservative is calling for the church to lose tax-exempt status too.  According to Paul Rolly at the Salt Lake Tribune, Continue Reading »

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Revelation that Warren Jeffs is not a Prophet

Posted by Mormon Heretic on March 16, 2011 in Mormon, Movie/Book Reviews, polygamy, Restorationist Churches

BiV at Wheat and Tares has an amazing 4 minute video of Warren Jeffs in prison stating that he “never was a prophet.”  I decided to make a transcript of the video.  He speaks in a slow, deliberate fashion, indicating he is receiving and dictating the revelation during the filming of the prison video.  Here’s the video and transcript.  (I don’t know who he is talking to–obviously a devoted follower.) Continue Reading »

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Racism, Bigotry, and Prejudice

Posted by Mormon Heretic on March 13, 2011 in Early Mormon History, History, Mormon, Mormon Culture, Politics, Race

In the past, I’ve talked about racism, bigotry, and prejudice.  Some of these issues have dealt with the mosque at Ground Zero, immigration, or statements made by church leaders about the priesthood ban for African Americans.  Prejudice, bigotry, and racism are often used interchangeably, and there can be a lot of overlap.  (In fact, one of the dictionary definition for “bigotry” is “prejudice.”)  Some people object when the terms racist and bigot are thrown around too loosely.

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Development of LDS Temple Worship

Posted by Mormon Heretic on March 6, 2011 in Early Mormon History, Marriage, Mormon, Movie/Book Reviews, polygamy, Temple

I received a wonderful surprise in the mail a few weeks ago.  I received an advance copy of The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History from Signature Books.  It will be released on March 24, and I just added it to my Books and Movies page.  If you pre-order, Amazon is offering it for 34% off.  I haven’t been through the whole book yet, but I wanted to offer some initial impressions.

It’s always hard for active Mormons to talk about the temple except in very general terms.  For example, when I reviewed The Mysteries of Godliness, it made me very uncomfortable, because I felt that David John Buerger went too far in discussing temple ceremonies.  From what I’ve read so far, this book seems to have avoided crossing any lines of confidentiality, and so far has been very interesting to read.

Continue Reading »
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