Flunking Sainthood
The Ash Wednesday Mormon
By Jana Riess — February 18, 2015
Rumblings in various pockets of Mormondom suggest I'm not the only Latter-day Saint who finds our cheerful omission of Christ's suffering strange, even theologically impoverished. More Mormons are giving Lent a try.
Will Mormon missionaries lead the way out of racism?
By Jana Riess — February 13, 2015
“'My' missionaries were part of an experiment," says guest blogger Margaret Blair Young. "Previously, Anglo missionaries had been paired with Anglos. Now, they were paired with Congolese and other Africans. How would they all fare?"
On Mormon excommunication: So quick to judge
By Jana Riess — February 11, 2015
Instead of pointing fingers at my church for telling someone whose work has been important in my life that they are no longer considered part of the fold, I am forced to point that finger at myself.
Mormon podcaster John Dehlin excommunicated from LDS Church, say early reports
By Jana Riess — February 10, 2015
My heart goes out to John, Margi, and their children. I know that in the last weeks people on all sides have made accusations and counter-accusations, not always with the most charitable voices. I am not at all surprised by the Church's decision, and I'm sure John isn't either. But it's a loss nevertheless.
Mormon woman volunteers to be whipped to save Saudi blogger
By Jana Riess — February 6, 2015
Mormon Katrina Lantos Swett, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, has offered to be whipped 100 times to help save a Saudi blogger from an inhumane punishment.
New theory connects a Native American prophet with Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon
By Jana Riess — February 5, 2015
Peter Manseau's new book suggests that Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon may have been influenced by a Seneca religious prophet who died 200 years ago.
The Mormon TV show I won’t be watching tonight
By Jana Riess — February 4, 2015
On the one hand, good for TLC reality show star Melinda Bird, who seems to embody the optimistic can-do spirit that is the best of the Mormon religion. On the other hand, have the rest of us not yet graduated from the seventh grade, that we are so interested in watching her be romantically rejected?
Mormon Relief Society president finds “intense joy and intense frustration” in the inner city
By Jana Riess — January 30, 2015
How do you host ward activities if nobody has a car and the ward boundaries stretch from here to forever? Or if the Relief Society is mostly single moms and there are no YW/YM to help babysit their kids? An Atlanta Relief Society president shares the reality from the trenches.
Mormon garment survey
By Jana Riess — January 29, 2015
Hats off to the LDS Church and to Beehive Clothing for sponsoring a detailed survey on what Mormons like and dislike about temple garments.
Mormon leaders advocate gay rights . . . with protections for “religious freedom”
By Jana Riess — January 28, 2015
I’m proud of my Church’s statements yesterday affirming equal rights under the law for all LBGT persons. So why do I not feel 100% jubilant? Where they lost me is in playing the victim card.
What’s wrong with helicopter parenting
By Jana Riess — January 27, 2015
When I was a kid, everyone was "free range" -- our parents said good-bye to us in the morning and hello again at dinner. Today they would be arrested for it.
My daughter isn’t a Mormon anymore
By Jana Riess — January 23, 2015
"I honor my daughter’s choice to become an atheist," says guest blogger Mette Ivie Harrison. "She has already taught me a lot in her life and I suspect she will teach me still more."
7 Mormon books that changed the conversation in 2014
By Jana Riess — December 31, 2014
The funniest Mormon memoir, the wisest Dear Abby advice book, and the most gripping suspense novel: here are my picks for 7 game-changing Mormon books of 2014.
Mormon feminist explores gender roles in new mystery novel
By Jana Riess — December 30, 2014
"The structure of patriarchy—and this is not unique to Mormonism at all—tells men that it’s appropriate for them to wield power over women," says mystery novelist Mette Harrison. "This can lead to abuse over and over again."
The fallout of Mormon fixations with what we eat, wear, and say
By Jana Riess — December 18, 2014
Sometimes I feel like I belong to a religion that would be less likely to rebuke a member who made millions designing torture techniques than it would to censure that same man if he uttered the F word in public.
