Jana Riess
Senior columnist Jana Riess is the author of many books, including "The Prayer Wheel" (Random House/Convergent, 2018) and "The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church" (Oxford University Press, 2019). She has a PhD in American religious history from Columbia University.
All Stories by Jana Riess
Aftermath wisdom from Mister Rogers: ‘Look for the helpers’
By Jana Riess — November 9, 2016
(RNS) In times of disaster, take the advice of Mister Rogers. Look for the helpers.
Why Mormons should vote for Hillary Clinton
By Jana Riess — November 7, 2016
Guest blogger Robert A. Rees argues that Clinton shares core Mormon values in a way that Trump never has -- and from all appearances never will.
Trump robocaller ‘apologizes’ for smearing Mormon Evan McMullin as a ‘closet homosexual’ — then drops racist shocker
By Jana Riess — November 3, 2016
(RNS) Apparently the racist provocateur who just called Evan McMullin a 'closet homosexual' and wants all nonwhites to be deported is a Mormon.
Top 10 funniest tweets about the ‘Mormon Mafia’
By Jana Riess — November 2, 2016
Last week, the #MormonMafia thumbed their noses at Trump supporter Lou Dobbs on Twitter, with hilarious results.
Most US Mormons approve of church’s LGBT exclusion policy, study shows
By Jana Riess — October 28, 2016
(RNS) One year after the LDS Church banned children of same-sex marriages from baptism and baby blessings, most current Mormons agree with the policy -- and most former Mormons hate it.
Retooled LDS website says people can be ‘Mormon and gay’ — but they need to stay celibate
By Jana Riess — October 25, 2016
Today, the LDS Church relaunched a website aimed at helping gay Mormons and their families understand how much they are loved. While the Church's doctrine remains the same (no homosexual sex), its approach and language have evolved.
Evan McMullin can beat Donald Trump in Mormon-dominated Utah
By Jana Riess — October 21, 2016
(RNS) As Mormons' coolness to Donald Trump turns to revulsion, who will get the Utah vote?
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.
Satan’s plan for Mormon parenting
By Jana Riess — October 8, 2016
Despite the fact that agency is so important to Mormon doctrine, what we preach is often closer to Satan’s plan of enforced obedience than it is to Christ’s plan of mercy, says guest blogger Mette Harrison. This is especially true when it comes to children.
Worldwide, only 25 percent of young single Mormons are active in the LDS Church
By Jana Riess — October 5, 2016
A leaked video of a behind-closed-doors 2008 meeting of the LDS Church's top leaders revealed some startling statistics about the Church's youngest adult members.
15 highlights from LDS General Conference
By Jana Riess — October 3, 2016
(RNS) Is home teaching about to change? Is caffeinated Diet Coke really okay? And what did Elder Ballard say to people who are thinking of leaving the LDS Church? Here are 15 impressions from this weekend's General Conference.
7 dating tips for Mormon women, helpfully mansplained for you
By Jana Riess — September 30, 2016
Single Mormon women: You've been hijacked by dangerous feminist ideologies that prevent you from recognizing that you can never be happy without a man. Any man. So sisters, get with the program.
Dismantling Mormon purity culture
By Jana Riess — September 27, 2016
Elizabeth Smart and others are taking aim at rape culture within Mormonism and America -- and getting results.
LGBT Mormons are out and proud in Provo art exhibit
By Jana Riess — September 21, 2016
Mitch Mayne is one of about two dozen LGBT Mormons whose faces grace a new art exhibit -- telling the world, and particularly LGBT Mormon youth, that it's possible to be gay and fully integrated into Mormon life.
Mormons are less Republican this year, and Trump is not the only reason why
By Jana Riess — September 15, 2016
(RNS) Does Mormons' dislike of Donald Trump explain why some are exiting the GOP? We unpack the new Pew data on religion and political party affiliation.
