All this talk of Ordain Women has brought an interesting memory bubbling to the surface: It was the last summer my family went to Camp Many Point — probably 1989, the summer before I set off for BYU. I loved going to that camp. It was a beautiful tract of…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Smackdown Edition!!
Do you know how big 2% of Florida is? Check out this helpful post for some perspective. And this past week the corporation that owns it took some time out of its busy schedule to swat a couple of (comparatively) puny groups: Those who were suing them for fraud and…
Missionary Chat: Gods & Planets
I’m kind of enjoying chatting with the missionaries online. Â Since it’s on my own terms, it’s kind of nice. Â Here’s my discussion from this week: Joey: Hello. Sean: Hello! Bob (me): Hi. I have a question for the two of you. Sean: Ok. Bob: Do you, personally, believe that, after…
Why Ordain Women
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
Why has the Church responded to Ordain Women?
Yesterday, the Church sent a letter to Ordain Women, telling them that the movement “detracts from the helpful discussions that Church leaders have held as they seek to listen to the thoughts, concerns and hopes of women inside and outside of Church leadership,” because Ordain Women has made their position…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Cornucopia of scriptures edition!!
The fraud trial of Thomas Monson has begun! Like it or not, I hope you have your popcorn ready!! Looks like the CoJCoL-dS kind of blew it off, banking on the case getting quickly dismissed, but that didn’t happen. It would have been incredible if Monson had gone to court…
Missionary Chat: Philadelphia Apartment Building
I had another question I wanted to run by some Mormons: Why is the LDS Church building a for-profit, 32 story apartment building in Philadelphia? Same rules as before… Bob (me): Hello? Ken: How can we help you today? Bob: I have a question about the LDS Church. Casey: Great!…
Missionary Chat: Florida Property
In case you didn’t catch it, the LDS Church now owns 2% of the state of Florida. Â Since I try not to bug my still Mormon family members about the LDS Church very often, I decided to go to the always available source for thoughts on this: Missionary Chat. Â My…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: What women want edition!
You may have heard that the New York Times published an article on female Mormon missionaries and how cool they are! Mormon women like it for its tone and accuracy: The tone was perfect—respectful without lapsing into the reverence or romanticizing a church publication so often displays for missionary work;…
Sunday in Outer Blogness: No planet for you edition!
As cool as it was when the CoJCoL-dS dumped its racist doctrines, it was clear (even at the time) that there are disadvantages to giving the keys of defining Mormon doctrine over to the quorum of the anonymous website maintainers. Officially endorsing questionable apologetics on the Book of Mormon (like…