LDS temple

Why did I choose, twenty years ago, to become a Mormon?

That would have been an odd choice in the best of circumstances for a Presbyterian divinity student studying for the ministry, but September 1993 was not the best of circumstances: it was a time when prominent Mormon scholars and feminists were being excommunicated from the LDS Church. I was baptized even while reading in the New York Times about the disciplinary actions the Church was taking against people like me.

Why did I become a Mormon then? And why, twenty years later, do I continue to choose, every day, to remain a Latter-day Saint?

Earlier this month I gave a talk on that very topic in Salt Lake City. That “Why We Stay” session from Sunstone is now available for free online here. Panelists include Parker Blount, Michael Vinson, and my friends Curt Bench and Kristine Haglund as well as myself. If memory serves I was the first speaker; I don’t think the accompanying PowerPoint presentation is here though.

P.S. Just as a follow-up to Monday’s post: Thank you all so much for the remarkable design feedback on the Twible logo. I haven’t made a decision yet because I have an appointment with the designers early next week — but I will announce a contest winner soon!