Flunking Sainthood
In the Mormon heaven, friends are forever too
By Jana Riess — October 29, 2014
“For me, heaven is just as inconceivable without my friends as it is without my family,” says guest blogger Mette Harrison. “If Christ viewed friendship as one of the greatest loves, why wouldn’t we Mormons think the same?”
Young, Mormon, and Republican
By Jana Riess — October 28, 2014
Many people get more conservative, at least politically, as they age. Unless they are Mormons under age 30, who affiliate overwhelmingly as Republicans.
Mormon underwear: Church says there’s “nothing magical or mystical” to see here, folks
By Jana Riess — October 20, 2014
I can understand why it seems strange to non-Mormons that our holy garment is underwear, but to me that is exactly the most beautiful thing about it. What article of clothing could we choose that would be more profane, at the end of the day? What could be more tied to the messiness of being human?
“I know the Church is true,” and other Mormon muddles
By Jana Riess — October 17, 2014
When Mormons say we "know the Church is true," what do we mean? Does it merely *contain* truth, or is it the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Love that cries with you: A plea for Mormon compassion
By Jana Riess — October 15, 2014
"Inactive people like me don’t need cookies and a half-hearted note," says guest blogger Alexandra Michelle Rucinski. "We don’t need letters telling us the light is missing from our lives. We need you Mormons to do the thing you sang about in Primary. We need you to try to be like Jesus."
Mormon missionaries break dance, save baby ducks, and more on YouTube
By Jana Riess — October 13, 2014
These YouTube videos show us a Mormonism that's fun, spontaneous, and caring -- a religion that's out in the streets, helping the world reunite its many lost baby ducks.
Pork Belly-up: Eric Facer’s winning “New Mormon Voices” contest entry
By Jana Riess — October 9, 2014
Despite Brother Facer's objections to the stake's buying a pig farm, "the train for hog heaven was leaving with or without him." Read Eric Facer's winning entry about his dad in the New Mormon Voices blog contest.
Mixed reviews for “Meet the Mormons”
By Jana Riess — October 8, 2014
The "Village Voice" asks who would want to pay $14 to see the new "Meet the Mormons" documentary in theaters. Fellow Mormons, that's who. Is that enough?
Mormon doubts? Let’s talk about them
By Jana Riess — October 3, 2014
If you're a Mormon who struggles with doubt, join our book club. Over five Fridays, we'll be reading "The Crucible of Doubt" in chunks and discussing it.
What’s wrong with BYU-Idaho’s Mormon dress code
By Jana Riess — September 19, 2014
With regard to the BYU-Idaho dress code, it might be good for Mormons to remember that Jesus’ only words about clothes in the entire New Testament were an admonition for us to stop worrying so much about them.
My Mormon family may not be forever
By Jana Riess — September 18, 2014
How do you respond when your kids don't want to be Mormon anymore? Guest blogger Mette Ivie Harrison says her daughter doesn't need to be LDS to be righteous.
Mormon money and the end of “full disclosure”
By Jana Riess — August 19, 2014
There is a healthy accountability in Mormon leaders standing up before the membership twice a year to go over the budget. Boring? Yes, certainly. But boring is kind of the idea.
“Should I marry a non-Mormon?”
By Jana Riess — August 14, 2014
A Mormon reader asks whether she should marry her Greek Orthodox boyfriend.
On Mormon blogging, by an “accomplice of Lucifer”
By Jana Riess — April 14, 2014
There will be disagreements in the Church. That's just a given. But we don't need to seek to destroy one another just to come out on top in some theological or political argument.
Leaving Mormonism . . . and finding my way back (part 2)
By Jana Riess — April 4, 2014
Yesterday we had the first of two parts of novelist Mette Ivie Harrison’s personal story of losing faith in Mormonism. Today she reveals how she is trying to find her testimony again, returning to prayer and to church activity. As you can see, she rejects the “blame the victim” response that many Mormons have when […]
