Mormon Bloggers

This is an inspiring video about depression that was 6 months in the making. Please share it with your friends and family. This video is based on a 55-minute talk by Carrie Wrigley from the 2005 BYU Education Week. The full talk, Christ-Centered Healing from Depression and Low Self-Worth is available in video and mp3 format from BYU Broadcasting. A transcript of the full talk is available from Morning Light Counseling.  Read More →

Criticizing Mr. Beck is a lot like shooting fish in a barrel, one could do it blindfolded, and likely intoxicated, but where’s the satisfaction?  But every once in a while (all too often for my taste) a new pearl of crazy pops out of the man’s mouth that just begs for commentary of one form or another.  Most recently, Mr. Beck has decided to provide us with his own particular spin on religion. In essence, according to the ever-incisive Beck, if one is a member of a church that seeks to promote “social justice” one ought to leave it immediately, for such churches are promoting either socialism or Nazism. Seriously, Glenn?  You’re now telling your listeners what church they should be a member of, based on your own warped political ideology?  And what of our own faith sir?  Yes, I refer to the religious identity that I reluctantly share with you, Brother Beck.  To be sure, “social justice” is not a value that is specifically addressed in Mormonism,... Read the rest of this entry »

Once upon a time I was working full-time as a nanny. I had just gotten back from my mission and I was deeply unhappy. My days were spent commuting in the snow, taking care of children and sitting in my room. I had no friends. This is starting to sound a lot more pathetic than it actually was, for although I was lonely and sad most of the time, that kind of solitude only makes one more appreciative of all the things one can do alone. I started working in the temple. I went for runs. Nobody pulled me out of that darkness. I pulled myself out. Then, fortunately, I made some of the best friends I have ever had, and that was incredible. During the course of my pulling-myself-from-abyss time, I decided I wanted to buy a car. This is harder than it sounds when one is working off the books and lived in a foreign country without employment for the previous year or so. I talked to some people and they were sympathetic but ultimately unhelpful. I remember the following evening well. ... Read the rest of this entry »

Moral courage: How do we define it? Simply, do what is right, even if it isn’t popular or otherwise easy.  Read More →

Easter is a month away and my thoughts are turning to one of the most sacred events in the history of humanity. While our culture and society today has created a more commercialized version of Easter as that of easter egg hunts, the easter bunny, and an excuse to munch on chocolate (as well as [...]  Read More →

SALT LAKE CITY 26 February 2010 : An apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints addressed students at the annual Mormonism 101 series convened at Harvard Law School. From the Ames courtroom on the Cambridge, Massachusetts campus, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, discussed the tenets of his Mormon faith seeking to “illuminate several premises and ways of thinking that are at the root of some misunderstandings about our doctrine and practice.” 26 February 2010 The following is a transcript of a talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, member of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles, at Harvard Law School on 26 February 2010. I welcome this opportunity to speak in what our hosts have called “Mormonism 101.” In his fine lecture last year Judge Thomas Griffith said he was giving “an introduction to the Mormon faith.” I intend to do the same, speaking from my special responsibility as an apostle called to speak as a witness of the gospel plan and... Read the rest of this entry »

ulie talked recently about how members of the LDS (Mormon) church attend meetings for three hours each Sunday. The main meeting, for all ages, is sacrament meeting. Sacrament meeting is held in the chapel of the church building. (Click here for a video tour of a chapel.) Members are encouraged to arrive to sacrament meeting a few minutes early. I love doing this so that I can hear the prelude music, and also because when I’m early, I get the seat I want! Arriving early helps me because I feel a peace wash over me when I enter the building, since I am not rushed and stressed out. I believe that my children can feel it too. Often they are running in the parking lots and yelling, but once we sit down in the pew, they whisper instead of yell and they sit quietly (most of the time). Prayer is a big part of a sacrament meeting. Before the meeting begins someone from the bishopric (similar to a pastor and his assistants) asks a member of the congregation to say the opening and closing prayers.... Read the rest of this entry »

~by Jen H. Not long ago, I sat in our Sunday meetings at church and listened to a very well thought out, well prepared and inspired lesson on the remarkable Prophet Joseph Smith.  A few things really struck me as listened to the moving lesson. Most profound is that, I knew Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, and that was re-confirmed to me with 100% certainty. I have always had very strong feelings about the Church and the truth of it and because of that, I have never questioned the validity of Joseph Smith because I knew it all to be true. Besides having been given the spiritual confirmation that he is a true prophet, there is no way a man would have endured what he did had he not believed in what he was doing to be irrevocably true. He endured so much, suffered so much and did so much to restore Christ’s gospel on the earth. What an amazing burden that must have been but he demonstrated faith beyond my comprehension. I fear I would have been a coward; I do not think I could... Read the rest of this entry »

“Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.” –Joseph Smith (D&C 123:17)  Read More →

Growing up I heard a lot of talk about how bad going strapless was. Being a male, I really didn’t think to much about it. However, I think about it a lot nowadays, with three daughters in my home. I have come to wonder what modesty really is. In a previous post I outlined what was [...]  Read More →

How the whole Church came to be under condemnation. Why the Book of Mormon is so important.  Read More →

I gave the following talk in another ward today: photo credit: ashley.adcox We all must repent The scriptures and church history provide us with many inspiring stories of individuals who have repented of previous sins and become mighty men and women of God. Alma the Younger, the rebellious son of the high priest who spent his time trying to destroy the faith and testimony of his countrymen, was confronted by an angel of the Lord and struck dumb for three days. He awoke a new man, ready and eager to prove to his earthly and heavenly fathers that his conversion was sincere and previous wrongs would now be made right. A Pharisee named Saul was a prominent persecutor of the early Christians who participated in the murder of Stephen, one of the seven chosen by the first set of apostles. While on the road to Damascus to continue his oppression of the followers of Christ, he had a vision of Jesus Christ himself and was left blind for three days as a result. Saul turned his life around, became... Read the rest of this entry »