I caught this story today about Mormon missionaries being called to serve their missions fielding questions via online chats at the MTC. My first thought was, “Wow! That makes Oklahoma seem pretty exotic.” Then I wondered just how easy it is to chat with a missionary. Turns out, the website…
Category: Mission
Who Deserves a Memorial?
Do LDS Missionaries who died while serving missions deserve a memorial? Samuel the Utahnite thinks they do, and, in fact, has created a web page remembering those who have died in the service of the LDS church since 1999. He reports that he has gotten numerous complaints from faithful Mormons…
Celebrating African Americans in Europe
Although Europeans suffer just as much, if not more, from racism as Americans, accomplished African Americans have traditionally received more respect on the old continent than in their home country.
A Convert’s Conscience
Although he appears to be a star professor at BYU, I have only become aware of Robert Millet’s efforts during the last two years. As a convert, I have to admit that his approach to investigators distresses me somewhat. I know that Millet means well when he suggests to side…
pesky Mormon missionaries
I caught this article today about a Christian Orthodox priest trying to get Mormon missionaries kicked out of Bulgaria for, get this, proselytizing in an Orthodox Church during Easter services. There’s “zealous evanglism” and then there’s over-the-top, in-your-face, you-are-all-going-to-hell-unless-you-convert evangelism. If the account of the priest is accurate, wow, those…
Mormon Replacement Rate Negative in United States
According to the Pew U.S. Religious Landscape Survey the replacement rate of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has dropped to 80%. That means that for every five members who leave Mormonism behind four new converts join the Church. In 2001, the CUNY Religious Identification Survey had found…
blast from my mission past
Here’s a fun little article from a Ghanian convert to Mormonism. Oh the memories. I remember using all of those same Biblical verses to defend Mormonism on my mission in Central America. Does anyone else remember doing this (or are you still doing it)? I have to admit I’m much…
What to do with Mormon missionaries?
So, here’s an intriguing quandary for you. I have a colleague, a full professor who has taught Psychology of Religion for about 30 years. He knows more about what makes religious people tick than just about anyone else in the world (he has, quite literally, written THE BOOK on it)….
Meanwhile… (after the Escape)
As I sipped my champagne I just knew it couldn’t be this easy. What if the president stopped the plane? What if they let him come on board to talk to me? What if God made the plane crash? Three hours later in New York City I had to dodge…
Escape From San Juan
As the light turned green, I drove through the intersection and turned into the airport entrance at Isla Verde, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was 2:30 in the morning and I had nowhere to hide until my flight left at 7:00. I parked conveniently close to the terminal and…