Mormonism
When your child resigns from Mormonism
By Jana Riess — February 27, 2018
Mette Harrison's daughter stopped being active in Mormonism years ago, and Mette was at peace with that. So why did it hurt when her daughter decided to formally remove her name from the membership rolls?
Will Mitt Romney’s senate bid turn (more) Mormons away from Trump?
By Jack Jenkins — February 16, 2018
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Romney's pitch reflects a Mormon tradition of polite politics and reservedness about one's faith that differs from other American religious conservatives, in particular evangelicals.
If I had the Mormon prophet’s ear
By Jana Riess — January 17, 2018
A creator of "Despicable Me" and "The Secret Life of Pets" has three wishes for Mormonism in its new era -- and no, it's not that the Minions be put in charge. Today, a guest post from screenwriter Cinco Paul.
Mormons pay tribute to LDS leader Monson
By Mark A. Kellner — January 11, 2018
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) — Thomas S. Monson, considered a prophet by the 16-million-member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Jan. 2 at age 90 after months of declining health.
Max Perry Mueller: Mormons reach a tipping point on Trump
By Aysha Khan — December 21, 2017
(RNS) We asked Max Perry Mueller, author of "Race and the Making of the Mormon People," to consider what 2018 will mean for religion.
Winter books: The ‘Me! Me! Memoir’ edition
By Kimberly Winston — December 5, 2017
(RNS) — Here are 10 memoirs that blend the spiritual or religious with politics, mental health, death and dying, marriage, motherhood, divorce, academia and founding a business.
The Erie Canal and the birth of American religion
By S. Brent Rodriguez-Plate — June 30, 2017
(RNS) Independence Day marks the 200th anniversary of the Eric Canal, the "psychic highway" that nourished the Mormons, the Adventists, spiritualism, a revived apocalypticism, the Oneida Community, the Amana Colony and the Shakers, among others.
Study: Religious experiences trigger brain’s reward circuit in devout Mormons
By Kirkland An — December 5, 2016
(RNS) The study found that their religious actions were associated with activations in the region of the brain central to the reward circuit as well as the region associated with decision making and attention.
How welcoming are Mormons to people with disabilities? At new Hartford temple, some room for improvement
By Jana Riess — October 17, 2016
Ellen Painter Dollar went to the Hartford LDS Temple open house on Friday. But because she would not let temple volunteers "put" her in a wheelchair, she never did get to see the inside of the temple. Mormon hospitality Epic Fail.
Mormon women fear eternal polygamy, study shows
By Jana Riess — July 20, 2016
Carol Lynn Pearson's new book argues that many, if not most, Mormon women feel pain and fear at the prospect of sharing their husbands with at least one other wife for all of eternity. Even if polygamy isn't currently practiced, it's "alive and unwell" in Mormon doctrine and temple sealing practices.
Mormon founder turned over priesthood keys to women, says Deseret Book author
By Jana Riess — June 21, 2016
Fiona Givens, a Deseret Book author and popular Mormon speaker, says early LDS women were given priesthood keys -- and that there is historical tradition linking Heavenly Mother to the Holy Ghost.
Mormon growth slows to its lowest level since 1937. Here’s why that’s great news.
By Jana Riess — April 19, 2016
Why has Mormon growth slowed so much since the heady gains of the 1980s and 1990s, and why is this numeric stagnation considered a step forward?
A letter to my daughter’s Mormon seminary teacher
By Jana Riess — March 10, 2016
Six things that Mette Harrison wishes her child's seminary teacher would do -- or stop doing -- to make the Mormon church a more hospitable place for teens.
Gay Mormon teen chronicles nightmare of conversion therapy in “Saving Alex”
By Jana Riess — February 29, 2016
When she was 15, Alex Cooper's Mormon parents checked her in to a "conversion therapy" program that shamed her for being gay. Now she is telling her story.
Parliament of World Religions convenes in Mormon country — at last
By Kimberly Winston — October 14, 2015
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) The selection of this city for one of the largest interfaith meetings in the world is no coincidence, but a clear sign that both the Parliament of the World's Religions and the LDS church have evolved.
