LDS

What is Mormon Stories Podcast, and How Do I Listen?

January 9, 2008
By John Dehlin

Welcome to Mormon Stories Podcast — the most popular LDS/Mormon-themed podcast on the Internet (between 4,000 and 6,000 listeners per episode) For those of you looking for some interesting, Mormon-related content to try out your new Christmas iPods — allow me to explain what Mormon Stories podcast is, and how to listen: Why do...
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Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons | 9 Comments »

Seeking Permabloggers for New Group Blog on Mormon Culture

January 9, 2008
By John Dehlin

As an act of obedience to Elder Ballard, I’m looking into the option of turning Mormon Matters into a group blog (like T&S, BCC, the Cultural Hall and FMH). Our slant would be:
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Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons | 15 Comments »

Is Polygamy Still Mormon Doctrine?

January 8, 2008
By John Dehlin

Stephen M and his comments about the recent PR film put out by the church entitled “Mormon Myths and Reality” inspired this post. Today’s LDS Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:61 reads: “And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood—if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse aanother, and the first...
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Posted in LDS, Mitt Romney, Mormon, Mormons, Polygamy | 123 Comments »

New LDS Church PR Video: Mormon Myths and Reality

January 8, 2008
By John Dehlin

So…what do ya’ll think? Honest? Candid? Refreshing? Duplicitous? Reactions, please. My reactions:
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Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons, pr, public relations | 41 Comments »

Bonus: 2 Mormon Mavericks — William D. Russell and Richard D. Poll

January 7, 2008
By John Dehlin

I wanted to share with you the testimonies of 2 heroes of mine….one new, and one old. William D. Russell: For over 40 years, William D. Russell has been a progressive voice among the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (now the Community of Christ). This is his story — from a...
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Posted in Faith, History, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, rlds | 2 Comments »

The Mormon Peace Project — Please Support

January 5, 2008
By John Dehlin
The Mormon Peace Project — Please Support

I’m becoming a big fan of William Vanwagenen (of Mormon Worker fame) — and he’s at it again. As mentioned in today’s SLTrib, if your brand of Mormonism compels you to be inclined against (instead of towards) war, please consider signing this petition. Go William go!!!!
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Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Peace, War, anarchy, mormonism | 4 Comments »

A Quick Analysis of “What Is It About Mormonism?” — The Amazing New York Times Magazine Article

January 5, 2008
By John Dehlin
A Quick Analysis of “What Is It About Mormonism?” — The Amazing New York Times Magazine Article

Holy smokes this guy nails it: a must read for thinking/seeking Mormons. The most interesting parts to me — that are most relevant to our current political and cultural situation as Mormons with the Mitt Romney campaign — are: “This period of resisting persecution by living outside the law taught Mormons that secrecy can...
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Posted in LDS, Mitt Romney, Mormon, Mormons, Politics | 23 Comments »

Bonus: The Story of D. Michael Quinn — In His Own Words

January 4, 2008
By John Dehlin

No I was not able to get an interview with D. Michael Quinn — but my buddy Clay turned me on to this 1994 Sunstone “Pillars of My Faith” presentation by Michael Quinn — and it does a wonderful job telling Michael Quinn’s story, in his own words. Love him, hate him, or indifferent...
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Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Podcast, Sunstone, quinn, september six | 5 Comments »

The Three Reasons This Mormon Thinks Romney Didn’t Win Iowa

January 4, 2008
By John Dehlin

The Three Reasons I Think Romney Didn’t Win Iowa: He’s managed his campaign in a way to make him appear like a flip-flopper, and as lacking meaningful convictions. To many, he appears to be a blatant opportunist. I’m not saying these things are true — only that they appear to many to be true. ...
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Posted in LDS, Mitt Romney, Mormon, Mormons | 31 Comments »

Mormon Stories #110: Lessons on the Costs and Benefits of Big Church Changes: From the RLDS Church to the LDS Church, With Love

January 1, 2008
By John Dehlin

This is a presentation given at the 2000 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium entitled: “The Decade of the Sixties: The Early Struggles in the RLDS Shift from Sect to Denomination”. It is a discussion of how, during the 1960s the RLDS Church made very decisive steps toward shedding its sectarian past. It began the decade...
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Posted in Church, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Podcast, Sunstone, rlds | 29 Comments »

Mormon Stories #109: How to Stay in the LDS Church after Losing Your Faith

January 1, 2008
By John Dehlin

In this seminar (recorded live at the 2007 Northwest Sunstone Symposium in Seattle), I discuss techniques for staying in the LDS church after a major trial of faith. Additional links include: The essay from which I based this presentation. The PowerPoint deck from this presentation. The music used in this presentation (please purchase from...
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Posted in Doubt, Faith, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Sunstone, Testimony | 8 Comments »

Some Bonus Material, and a Break

December 25, 2007
By John Dehlin

Dear dear friends, Family and work duties are demanding that I (as I’ve done in the past) take a break from Mormon Stories for a bit. As a parting gift, I wanted to leave you with a few extra goodies (some of which many of you will have already seen/heard/watched): My Workshop Entitled: How...
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Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons | 10 Comments »

“Mary did you know?”: (A Christmas Card to the World Pt. 2)

December 24, 2007
By John Dehlin

A dear neighbor of ours here in Logan, UT created these 2 music videos as Christmas cards to her friends and family. I wanted to share these with the rest of you. If you enjoy, please share with others.
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Posted in Christ, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, christmas, jesus | 1 Comment »

Breath of Heaven: (A Christmas Card to the World Pt. 1)

December 23, 2007
By John Dehlin

A dear neighbor of ours here in Logan, UT created these 2 music videos as Christmas cards to her friends and family. I wanted to share these with the rest of you. If you enjoy, please share with others.
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Posted in Christ, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, christmas, jesus | No Comments »

Mormon Stories #108: The Best Articulation of My Own Mormon Testimony That I’ve Ever Found — Elbert Peck and “Remnants of His Faith”

December 21, 2007
By John Dehlin

In the 1995 Salt Lake Sunstone symposium, Elbert Peck spoke in the annual “Pillars of my faith” presentation about the “Remnants of his faith.” This presentation represents (to me) the closest thing I’ve ever found to expressing how I now feel about my Mormon faith. I hope some of you will find value in...
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Posted in Faith, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Testimony, elbert, peck | 1 Comment »

7 Reasons This Mormon Thinks Mitt Romey Will Win the 2008 Republican Nomination

December 21, 2007
By John Dehlin

7 Reasons This Mormon Thinks Mitt Romey Will Win the 2008 Republican Nomination: Fred Thompson is not energetic enough Giuliani is too corrupt (mafia connections), too sexually immoral (for conservatives), and too politically liberal John McCain is too old, has had too many cancer scares, has anger issues, and has questionable enough ethics to...
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Posted in LDS, Mitt Romney, Mormon, Mormons, Romney, mitt | 17 Comments »

Mitt Romney Is Really Close to Winning the Republican Nomination

December 19, 2007
By John Dehlin
Mitt Romney Is Really Close to Winning the Republican Nomination

I think it is looking more and more likely that Mitt Romney is going to win the Republican nomination (which was my original prediction, and has been my inclination all along). Romney is now tied for the lead with Giuliani in national polls, and I will eat my trousers if Huckleberry, McCain or Thompson...
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Posted in LDS, Mitt Romney, Mormon, Mormons, Politics, Romney, mitt | 16 Comments »

The LDS Church (Sort of) Answers 21 Questions about Mormon Doctrine at FoxNews.com

December 19, 2007
By John Dehlin

It looks as though Fox News worked w/ the LDS Church to publish answers to some of the typical questions regarding Mormon doctrine. Most of the answers seem relatively accurate…here are the few that did not seem right to me (either because they come across as “partial” or “technical” truths, but not the “whole...
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Posted in LDS, Mitt Romney, Mormon, Mormons, Politics, Romney, mitt | 53 Comments »

Mormon Stories #107: Elbert Peck and Sunstone Magazine Pt. 4 – The September Six and the Decline of Sunstone

December 19, 2007
By John Dehlin

In part 4 of this 4 part series, Elbert Eugene Peck (editor of Sunstone Magazine from 1986 to 2001) discusses the 1993 September Six excommunications, the decline of Sunstone, and his thoughts on Sunstone’s future.
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Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Podcast, Sunstone, elbert, peck, september, six | 7 Comments »

Seeking Input on a New Screencast: “The ‘Other’ Mormon Heroes”

December 17, 2007
By John Dehlin

I’m working on a new screencast similar to the others I’ve released to date (“Why they leave” and “Blacks and the LDS Priesthood“). This one is entitled: “The Other Mormon Heroes: What a Difference a Few Decades Can Make” — and it runs about 45 minutes (takes a few minutes to load). It is...
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Posted in History, LDS, Mormon, Mormons | 24 Comments »

Sunstone Magazine Quoted Today on NBC’s Meet the Press

December 16, 2007
By John Dehlin

Kinda fun. Sunstone magazine (or San-stone) was quoted today on NBC’s Meet the Press interview with Mitt Romney. You can access the entire interview here, and the question/quote begins around time code 4:37. Go Sunstone!!!
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Posted in LDS, Mormons, Romney, Sunstone, mitt | 2 Comments »

Trying to See the Positive in This Whole Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Lawrence O’Donnell Thing

December 16, 2007
By John Dehlin

Holy moly. This guy ( Lawrence O’Donnell ) is a maniac! He’s not backing down in the slightest — guns are a’blazin!!!! I knew this was coming…the whole “litany of dark Mormon doctrines played out in the mainstream press” thing. Do we (as Mormons) owe Mitt Romney / Lawrence O’Donnell / Mike Huckabee a...
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Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Romney, huckabee, mike, mitt | 23 Comments »

Mormon Stories #106: Elbert Peck and Sunstone Magazine Pt. 3 – “Alternative Voices”

December 16, 2007
By John Dehlin

In part 3 of this 4 part series, Elbert Eugene Peck (editor of Sunstone Magazine from 1986 to 2001) discusses the events leading up to the 1993 September Six excommunications, including the “Alternative Voices” speech by Dallin H. Oaks in 1989, and the First Presidency’s “Statement on Symposia” in 1991 — all of which...
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Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Sunstone, elbert, peck | 1 Comment »

Elder Ballard Encourages Mormon Blogging and Podcasting

December 16, 2007
By John Dehlin

Wow. This really is unbelievable. LDS Apostle M. Russell Ballard is openly encouraging faithful LDS Church members to blog and podcast, and is mentioning specific blogs.  I’m truly speechless. There’s even a press release on the subject, and the full transcript. Man. Hold on to your hats, folks. This is gonna get interesting.
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Posted in Bloggernacle, LDS, Mormon, Mormons | 4 Comments »

Mormon Stories #105: Elbert Peck and Sunstone Magazine Pt. 2 – The People of Sunstone

December 13, 2007
By John Dehlin

In part 2 of this 4 part series, Elbert Peck (Editor of Sunstone Magazine from 1986 to 2001) discusses many of the central people of Sunstone, including Leonard Arrington, Bonner Ritchie, Eugene England, Lavina Fielding Anderson, Ed Kimball, Orson Scott Card, Peggy Fletcher Stack, Scott Kinney, and many others.
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Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Sunstone, elbert, peck | 1 Comment »

The LDS Church and FAIR Address the Teaching of Jesus and Satan / Lucifer Being Brothers

December 13, 2007
By John Dehlin

For those interested, the LDS Church has been very open/candid about the belief that Jesus and Lucifer are brothers. “On first hearing, the doctrine that Lucifer and our Lord, Jesus Christ, are brothers may seem surprising to some—especially to those unacquainted with latter-day revelations. But both the scriptures and the prophets affirm that Jesus...
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Posted in Apologetics, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Romney, jesus, lucifer, mitt, satan | 8 Comments »

Calling All European Mormons: EMSA Conference 2008, Call for Papers

December 13, 2007
By John Dehlin

Hey…if my buddy Ronan is involved, it’s worth your time. What? The European Mormon Studies Association Annual Conference. Organized together with the Department of Comparative Religion at Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland When? 21–22 August 2008 Who? Keynote Address: Heikki Räisänen, Professor of New Testament Exegesis Emeritus, University of Helsinki Call for Papers: “Mormonism...
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Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons, europe | No Comments »

Baptist Press Does an Analysis of Mormonism / the LDS Church in the Context of Mitt Romney

December 12, 2007
By John Dehlin

This is kinda interesting. Baptist Press is doing a multi-part series on Mitt Romney and Mormonism. The currently released articles include: An Introduction: When Mormons Come Part 1: About the Mormons Part 2: Mormons and the Bible Part 3: Archeology and the Book of Mormon Part 4: Mormonism and the Book of Abraham Is...
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Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Romney, baptists, mitt | 10 Comments »

Jan Shipps: What made Romney’s big speech so Mormon

December 12, 2007
By John Dehlin
Jan Shipps: What made Romney’s big speech so Mormon

I love Jan Shipps AND the Christian Science Monitor (and thanks to Eric for the referral). What made Romney’s big speech so Mormon His tent vision fits his church’s bid to enter the religious mainstream. By Jan Shipps from the December 11, 2007 edition Bloomington, Ind. – When Mitt Romney gave his “Faith in...
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Posted in LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Romney, mitt | 1 Comment »