As I’ve been reading through the various blogs, posts and media reports about the Ordain Women movement, as a result of the church’s letter that came out yesterday, I noticed something:….I’m different. Kate Kelly told the Salt Lake Tribune
Category: Testimony
Symbolic beliefs can counter cognitive dissonance, but at a cost
My MSP contributions thus far
I’ve been a contributor to Main Street Plaza for a few years now. Recently, I’ve been posting a lot less frequently because my interests have developed in other directions than Mormonism. This is probably because I’m 30 years old and left the Church half-my-life ago! Looking back through my posts,…
Merry Christmas!!
Folks, I am really sorry to have missed doing SiOB the other day — especially considering that it was going to be the gay polygamy issue!!! From the minute I finished work on Friday evening, I had a million things to do to get ready for Christmas! So, even though…
Unweaving the tangled web: Michael Oborn’s “The Complete Mystery of Matthew Alcott”
Do you ever wonder what’s in the secret vaults of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Have you ever imagined what you’d do if you had access? Matthew Alcott was a humble archivist working for the church when some previously undisclosed documents caught his eye, including Joseph Smith’s…
Affirmation Update
Since my post a few days ago about the recent Affirmation conference I’ve been in a lively and polite discussion with Affirmation leaders. They’ve defended themselves well regarding my statement that “Affirmation at times seems too focused on helping gay Mormons maintain…their ties to the Mormon Church.” They pointed out…
Paved With Good Intentions – Part IV
Arrived in Tucson, July 1983 – hotter than hell and – unknown to us at the time – our last stop on the path of Mormonism. Larry was still in the military and our first residence was in a local rental. We settled into our ward and it quickly became…
Paved with Good Intentions – Part III
Picture it – Sicily – 1922. Sorry, that’s Estelle Getty’s line. FYI for the younger crowd – Estelle played Sophia Petrillo on the Golden Girls sitcom. But, we digress. Actually, it was Mt. Home, Idaho – summer 1981. The turmoil of the past eighteen months was behind us and we…
Pride parades this summer: Will MBB march again, and if so, will they allow signs that advocate equality?
Summertime is upon us, which means it’s time for planning for the annual Pride parades. Last year was the first time Mormons marched in Pride in large numbers. The contingent in Salt Lake City was the largest, marching behind a banner titled Mormons Building Bridges (MBB). MBB garnered nearly all…
The Curious Case of Mormons and LGBT Rights
If you haven’t already, check out my article published yesterday on Religion Dispatches!
Joseph vs. The Gold: Help me script it!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08wRRff8x0k Ever since seeing this not so good version on youtube, I’ve been wondering what a good recreation of the Joseph Smith run with the plates might look like. Â It’s all based on Lucy Smith’s account: “The plates were secreted about three miles from home… Joseph, on coming to them,…