Latter-Day Saints

Mormon excommunication was not designed to happen this way, say scholars

By Isaac Barnes May, Samuel S. Wells — April 24, 2021

(RNS) — Joseph Smith designed an innovative and humanitarian system of church discipline that protected the rights of the accused. So what happened? Two scholars explain.

Mormon excommunication: Need not be present to win!

By Jana Riess — April 22, 2021

(RNS) — I find excommunication to be not only a theologically barbaric practice but also one of dubious utility. It doesn’t come from the example of Jesus. It also doesn’t work.

Likes and prayers: Facebook tests new ‘prayer post’ feature

By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 21, 2021

(RNS) — The idea for prayer posts grew out of the myriad ways users have connected over Facebook while distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the spokesperson.

Overcoming Mormon doubt is hard when you’ve never been given the tools

By Jana Riess — April 8, 2021

(RNS) — LDS leaders want doubters to be able to magically know how to do something we’ve never taught believers how to do, which is to understand that we could be very wrong in what we are currently thinking about religion.

Mormon leader blasts some right-wing US extremists, but will they know he’s talking to them?

By Jana Riess — April 5, 2021

(RNS) — Latter-day Saint apostle Dallin Oaks just sounded the alarm about the recent actions of some Trump supporters in the United States. But the talk did not let liberals off the hook, either.

Younger US Mormons voted for Biden, but Trump performed well overall

By Jana Riess — April 1, 2021

(RNS) — Millennials and Mormons of color chose Biden over Trump, but overall, two-thirds of US LDS Church members voted Republican.

The Mormon Israel and the problem with “Let God prevail”

By Jana Riess — March 29, 2021

The overall idea of translating "Israel" as "let God prevail" ignores the original story, in which Jacob actively refuses to let God prevail.

Study: Americans overwhelmingly support LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws

By Yonat Shimron — March 23, 2021

(RNS) — The 2020 American Values Atlas study from PRRI finds that at least 60% of every U.S. religious group favors laws that would protect LGBTQ people from discrimination. But religious leaders are another matter.

Mormon leaders accused of fraud, misusing tithes in lawsuit filed by brother of former Utah governor

By Bob Smietana — March 23, 2021

(RNS) — A prominent former church member filed suit after reading an IRS whistleblower report claiming the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had $100 billion in assets that were not being used for charity.

What the LDS church wants to know from young adult Mormons

By Jana Riess — March 22, 2021

(RNS) — A peek behind the scenes of a landmark survey of LDS church members reveals the stirrings of possible change.

No more live endowment sessions in Mormon temples

By Jana Riess — March 16, 2021

Something important is lost when we erase history in the name of efficiency and a franchised, on-brand temple experience.

“Allergic to religion”: Conservative politics can push people out of the pews, new study shows

By Jana Riess — March 12, 2021

Various studies have argued that one reason for the rapid rise of the "nones" may be a backlash against the actions of the Religious Right. Three political scientists have now proved that there's a direct connection.

Netflix docuseries ‘Murder Among the Mormons’ is TV worth watching

By Jana Riess — March 4, 2021

(RNS) — 'Murder Among the Mormons' is a gripping docuseries, and largely free of Mormon-bashing. If anything, it lets the Church off the hook a little too easily.