Conversations about the religious and spiritual life on the other side of fundamentalism
 
Category: <span>Utah Culture</span>

319: The LDS Church and its Billions: Prof. Sam Brunson

On the 17th December, the Washington Post published an article about a former employee of Ensign Peak Advisors, (a not for profit corporation constituted under the direction of of the Corporation of the President of …

313: Murderous Times: The Mormon Reformation: Lindsay Hansen Park

In order to really understand the LDS Church, one absolutely needs to understand Mormon history. There are few periods in Mormon history that are darker and more defining than the Mormon Reformation. Lindsay Hansen Park …

267: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Affinity Fraud: Mark Pugsley

Mark Pugsley is a lawyer in Salt Lake City Utah who specialises in recovering money lost by investors due to bad advice or misconduct.  He has represented victims of investment fraud and unsuitable investment recommendations …

257: The Sins of Brigham: The granddaughters of Brigham’s wives speak out: Jacobs, Jensen & Chamberlain

While Mormons claim Joseph Smith as the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is still very much Brigham Young’s church.  Brigham’s leadership was formative in shaping the LDS movements as …

248: What happened to the Cross?: Michael Reed on Free Masonry, Roman Catholics and Mormonism’s perplexing relationship with the Cross

Mormons don’t have a robust theology of the cross.  They are more inclined to say that, ‘We celebrate the Living Christ, not the death of Christ’.  Though Mormons claim to be Christian this defining sign …

238: How we ended up living in Warren Jeff’s house: Glyn & Jena Jones

A couple of years ago Jena and Glyn Jones sold up everything they had and went on the road on a hunch that God had a mission for them.   On their last dollars, and to …

230: Race and the Making of The Mormon People: Max Mueller

How racist was Joseph Smith?  Can the LDS Church really claim Jane Manning James as an example of Joseph Smith’s progressive ideals?  There’s plenty of evidence to suggest that Joseph Smith had a theological imagination …

222: Further Gendering the Temple Baptistry: Joanna Smith & Paula Baker

Mormon Temple policy doesn’t change a great deal from year to year, so the 14 December 2017 announcement that extends the rights of Baptistry officiation to 16-17-year-old boys was a surprise. While this might bring …

219: Growing up Tongan in Salt Lake City: Moana Uluave Hafoka

With the promise of education, social mobility and gathering in Zion, many Tongan and Samoan Mormons have made Utah their home.  But what are the challenges for Polynesians growing up in Salt Lake where wealth, …