John C. at BCC published this rather stark post, the basic (and unfortunately familiar) thrust of which is that, if you “lose your faith,” it’s your own fault — not any leaders, GAs, ward members, SS or EQ teachers, Jesus, God or the Holy Ghost. (It was not specified whether…
Category: Culture
Two articles on Mormon culture
I caught this article in the student paper on campus today and nearly wet myself: Utah not only allows guns on campuses, but now wants to make it possible for gun carriers to brandish them openly. Welcome to the Wild West! Is this a Mormon thing, or just whack job…
Motes and Beams
I am fascinated by the reaction to Lawrence O’Donnell’s criticism of Mormon orthodoxy. I understand why many Mormons would feel hurt by O’Donnell’s criticism. Personally, I don’t have a problem with O’Donnell’s criticism, in part, because I find it difficult to disagree with him and, in part, I have embraced…
When It Hits Home
Leave The Light On I was privileged today to witness a speech given by the Mayor of San Diego, CA, Jerry Sanders. You can watch the speech for yourself here. I suggest you do, it’s very moving. In a heartfelt declaration, he announced that after searching his heart, he decided…
Conference, Ex-Mo Style
I know this image was posted on here earlier. But I had to use it again. I don’t know why, but this image spoke to me as I thought of my post for today. It takes the edge off of the nostalgic ennui that I feel in the fall when…
NYT: Mormons, Gentiles and Polygamists
The New York Times is reporting about the Mormon melting pot in St George: Paul Hanson, who lives in a fundamentalist community about an hour from St. George and works for a building products company, said he had come to understand that the Mormon splinter groups and the Mormon Church,…
Sunday Thoughts
Sunday morning I walk through the chapel doors, greeted by Brother Jones who hands me a program. I find my usual pew and sit with my children and my dad who’s visiting. We hear a beautiful prelude hymn, “O My Father†being played by the organist. I open my Book…
Harry Potter, Courage and Liberty
It is my pleasure to congratulate our friend Russell Arben Fox whose review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was so excellent that Ross Douthat picked it up on the Atlantic Monthly. Russell’s review is multifaceted. I will take issue with his observation that the Harry Potter series was…
Linger Longer
I visited my parents last week with my twin two year olds. I live around four hours away from my parents, so we are not able to see them very often. My parents live in the U.S., outside of the Utah, Idaho, Arizona region. I realize that people have different…
A Review of September Dawn
I saw an advance screening of the much anticipated September Dawn on Wednesday night. I’ve spent the week at the Kirtland Temple and the local theater invited all the staff here to a free screening. (I wonder if they issued a similar invitation to the LDS Mormons down on the…