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
Why are Mormon women terrified to speak in sacrament meeting?
By Jana Riess — August 4, 2014
Of course Mormon women are terrified. Of course they spend half their allotted time explaining why they’re not worthy to speak their mind. They're expected to give talks they have not been trained to deliver in settings in which it would never otherwise be considered appropriate to have them stand up front.
I’m joining the “Book of Mormon challenge.” And no, watching the musical doesn’t count.
By Jana Riess — August 1, 2014
Today I signed up to read the Book of Mormon with a group over the next 239 days. Yes, pathetically enough, I need an entire freakin' village to keep me on the spiritual straight and narrow.
R-rated content in a PG Mormon life
By Jana Riess — July 30, 2014
It’s true that some R-worthy movies, books, and music have little to offer, either in artistic value or moral strength. But others absolutely do. For Mormons to close ourselves off to those cultural truths sight unseen is ridiculous.
Polygamy “not popular” among Mormon pioneers, says new book
By Jana Riess — July 29, 2014
What was life like for Mormon pioneer women in polygamy? In an excellent new book, Paula Kelly Harline lets them tell us in their own words.
Journalist praises Mormon singles wards: “We are going to treat you like grownups”
By Jana Riess — July 18, 2014
Naomi Schaefer Riley heralds the Mormon singles ward for giving young adults actual responsibilities, but says that patterns of later marriage may add to defections from the Church.
Mormonism unpopular among Democrats, African Americans, and young adults
By Jana Riess — July 17, 2014
Mormonism has a so-so approval rating of 48% overall -- but it's notably lower among young adults, African Americans, and Democrats.
The Mormon soft sell
By Jana Riess — July 15, 2014
After years feeling uncomfortable with the many artificial ways Mormons evangelize, being encouraged to make friends just for the sake of making friends was good news indeed.
Mormon bishop: “I wasn’t going to excommunicate anyone”
By Jana Riess — July 14, 2014
There’s a lot Bob Rees didn’t know when he was first called to be a Mormon bishop. But he did know one thing: he was not going to excommunicate anyone.
Mormons most likely to disapprove of Obama
By Jana Riess — July 12, 2014
According to figures released yesterday, Mormons are the least likely to approve and most likely to disapprove of President Obama than any other religious group -- by far.
Why Mormons need the Book of Abraham
By Jana Riess — July 10, 2014
It’s a brave new world now when Mormons are left with only the teachings of the Book of Abraham itself, and no props of alleged history. What does this scripture say that we still need? What would we do best to forget?
5 ways to get your Mormon news fix
By Jana Riess — July 8, 2014
When the top LDS story this week is the resurgence of the Mormon cricket, you know it's a slow news week. But here are 5 great ways to get your Mormon news when things do start hopping again. (See what I did there? That was a cricket joke. You're welcome.)
How Mormonism stacks up against the Slow Church movement
By Jana Riess — July 7, 2014
By most standards of the Slow Church movement, Mormonism is a terrific success. By others, though, we're failing craptastically.
Tackling the Bible with Brian McLaren: “We Make the Road by Walking”
By Jana Riess — July 3, 2014
Why are there contradictions in the Bible? Why does the God of the Old Testament seem so different than the God of the New? "In science, better theories with more explanatory power eventually triumph over less effective theories," says Emergent theologian Brian McLaren. "I think we have something very similar in the Bible."
Excommunicating my Mormon rage
By Jana Riess — July 2, 2014
In all the swirling accusations last week over Kate Kelly's excommunication, several people saved my heart from despair, their voices rising up on both sides to remind me of the kindness of the Savior.
