Tag Archives: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Mormon one-size-for-all Sacramental goblet was a casualty of the progressive era

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here.) I was talking to an elderly woman in my LDS ward and I asked her if her father had mentioned partaking of the Sacrament in a large ward … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged 1890-1930, Common sacramental goblet, Journal of Mormon History, Justin R. Bray, President Heber J. Grant, President Joseph F. Smith, Progressive era, Sacrament Cup, Sacramental trays and tiny cups, Seldon Clawsen, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Lord's Supper During the Progressive Era | 11 Comments

Letter to a Doubter important essay from Mormon scholar Givens

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here.) LDS author and scholar Terryl Givens’ “Letter to a Doubter” has been widely circulated since he presented the essay/lecture in a speech to a Mormon fireside last fall. … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged B.H. Roberts, Beliefs, Certainty, Doubt, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Faith, Letter to a Doubter, Mormonism, Terryl Givens, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 144 Comments

Did an angel with a drawn sword force Joseph Smith to start polygamy?

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here.) In his biography of Joseph Smith, “Rough Stone Rolling,” author Richard Lyman Bushman relates a popular Mormon legend/history regarding the Mormon prophet and his embrace of polygamy. He … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Angel with a drawn sword, Brian C. Hales, George D. Smith, Joseph Smith, Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner, Mormon folklore, Mormon history, Polygamy, Richard Lyman Bushman, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 28 Comments

Bednar’s talk on chastity most significant of April LDS conference

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon, click here.) The media coverage focused on the first LDS woman to give a prayer in LDS General Conference and the sight of a very old Apostle Boyd K. Packer rasping — from a chair … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Changing attitudes on sexual behavior, Elder Boyd K. Packer, Elder David Bednar, Immorality, Law of Chastity, Lucifer, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 20 Comments

Elijah Ables, a black Mormon priesthood holder in the 19th century

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here). Elijah Ables is no stranger to Mormon history, although he’s virtually unknown to anyone who relies exclusively on LDS correlation. Ables was a black man who was ordained … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Brigham Young, Elijah Ables, Joseph Smith, Journal of Mormon History, LDS Church policy on blacks, Missionary Work, Priesthood authority, Racism, Russell W. Stevenson, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 27 Comments

Oliver Cowdery’s ‘Article on Marriage’ embarrassed the LDS Church in its polygamy heyday

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here). During its first several decades, LDS Church leaders included an “Article on Marriage” in the faith’s Doctrine and Covenants. Penned by early church leader Oliver Cowdery, it stated, … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Brian C. Hales, Doctrine and Covenants, Emma Smith, Fanny Alger, Joseph Smith, Law of Consecration, Oliver Cowdery, Polygamy, Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Article on Marriage, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 10 Comments

Doubt, rather than knowledge is most compatible with faith

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Doug Gibson

Michael Vinson, of Salt Lake City, a master’s graduate of the Divinity School of the University of Cambridge, has a fascinating essay in the current issue of Sunstone. Titled, “The Crisis of Doubt in the Church,” it offers the proposal … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Apostasy, Doubt, Faith, Knowledge, Michael Vinson, Sunstone magazine, Testimony, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 24 Comments

Traditional Mormon ‘Last Days’ theology similar to Bible Belt beliefs

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here.) There’s a 2007 clip video of Mitt Romney stumbling over the question, “Do the Mormons believe the Garden of Eden is in Jackson County, Missouri?” Romney was clearly … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged "Prophecy and Modern Times", Christian fundamentalism, Conservative Mormonism, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Ezra Taft Benson, Garden of Eden, Jackson County Missouri, Mitt Romney, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The last days, W. Cleon Skousen | 186 Comments

The temporary, mistaken ban on allowing women to pray in sacrament meeting

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here). I was listening to a Mormon Stories interview with writer Carol Lynn Pearson when I heard her say that in the 1970s, women were not allowed to offer … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged By Common Consent blog, Carol Lynn Pearson, Discrimination, Mormon history, Mormon Stories, Prayers, Priesthood authority, Sacrament meeting, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Women praying | 22 Comments

In 1981, LDS prophet Kimball resigned in the ‘Mormon manner’

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here). The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI surprised a lot of people, and for good reason — it had been almost 600 years since the last pope resigned. In … Read More