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Blog Archives
Was Polygamy Good for Women?
I think there is an unexamined assumption that polygamy in general is misogynistic, as if there were an equation in our minds and three or four or five women were needed to be ‘equal’ to one man in a polygamous worldview. I am wondering if we might explore that assumption. Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Book of Mormon Family Home Evening: Lesson Six
BMS: Lehi’s Dream MBM: (not included) Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Book of Mormon FHE: Lesson Four
BMS: The Brass Plates MBM: Nephi’s Faith (Actual thing that happened during this lesson: Me: “So why did they need to get the brass plates?” Nathan, two years old: “Because they didn’t have anything to eat dinner off of!”) Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Around the Blogs
(Note to Kaimi–I hope I am allowed to do this without starting a turf war.) Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
“This is only a test. . .
. . . if it were an actual commandment, this message would be followed by a theologically sound explanation . . .” Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Book of Mormon FHE: Lesson Three
BMS: Lehi Leaves Jerusalem MBM: The Wilderness Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Newly-Discovered Tablet Sheds Light on Pre-Existence
Look, my proto-Semitic is a little rusty, but since I found the facsimile online and the real scholars are busy, I thought I’d take a stab at it. It cuts off in the middle, but before that is an interesting little dialogue with some compelling parallels to the doctrine and practices of the Restoration. Someone told me that FARMS is planning a special issue on it in a few months. Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Typical LDS Women
Michelle recently wrote that she considers some of the women at T & S ” . . . such a breath of fresh air because they are so well-educated, intelligent, and unafraid to put forth strongly held opinions. But may I point out the emperor’s lack of clothes and say you are not typical LDS women?” Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Book of Mormon FHE: Lesson Two
For an explanation of these FHE lessons, click here. Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
WANTED . . . no LDS need apply
OK, so the lawyer thread has got me thinking: are there any careers that a Latter-day Saint just can’t do? Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
‘Learned in all the arts and cunning’
So I’m reading Alma 10 for Sunday School this week and thinking about lawyers: Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Book of Mormon FHE: Lesson One
In our family, we tie our FHEs to our daily scripture study. We go through the standard works sequentially, study one story per week, and base our FHE on that story. We’ve made it through the OT and NT this way and it has been great. We’re starting the Book of Mormon, and I have decided to post my lessons here in case anyone is interested. Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Rebekah
I’ve been thinking about Genesis 27 where, according to the headnote, Rebekah ‘guides’ Jacob in receiving a blessing intended for Esau. Even the Institute manual concedes that this story “is a troubling one in many respects.” Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
The Daughters of Zelophehad
On several occasions, I have asked rooms full of adults if anyone could relate the story of the daughters of Zelophehad to us. No one has ever been able to do it. That’s a shame. This story needs to be brought forth out of obscurity, to grace the flannel boards in Primary, to star in Family Home Evening (it does in the Smith house!), and to take its rightful place in the cozy canon alongside Jonah, Daniel and his lions, and Nephi. 4 people like this post. Like Unlike Read more »
Warning: A Rant
Babies are making me crazy. I can’t talk over them in Gospel Doctrine and I can’t hear over them in Relief Society. For a Church that’s so pro-family, why is that we do nothing for the 0-17 month crowd except force their parents to spend two hours each week trying to get them to stop licking people’s shoes? Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Leading the Church Astray
My question about what precisely we mean when we say that the prophet will never lead the Church astray came up on another thread. I’d like to explore that question here. A few notes to begin the discussion: Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
True to the Faith
True to the Faith was introduced to the Church in the April 2004 Ensign: “The Church has issued a new doctrinal guidebook aimed at youth, young single adults, and new members. True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference is a collection of brief, simple statements on gospel doctrines and principles. Almost 200 pages in length, the book is intended to supplement the scriptures and the counsel of current Church leaders. Young men and young women may use it as a resource to assist them in achieving their Duty to God and Personal Progress awards. The book is designed to... Read more »
Mothers Day Revisited
The diveristy of opinions that my previous post on Mothers Day generated has led me to spend a lot of time this week pondering the following question: If I had to give a talk in Sacrament Meeting on Mothers Day, what exactly would I say? Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Mother’s Day
It’s almost Mother’s Day. I don’t like Mothers’ Day. You might expect to hear that from a woman who is childless, or who has strained relations with her children. I’m a married, at-home mom, and I enjoy being a mom. But I still don’t like Mothers’ Day. Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Anyone Wanna Read a Paper?
I submitted a paper topic to BYU’s The Religious Educator and they asked me to write the paper. Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Yet Another SSM Post
Somehow I ended up on the official Church website for UK and Ireland and found this on the top of the page: “The Gender Recognition Bill, which is currently being considered in the House of Commons will allow a man to become a woman in law (and vice versa). This means transsexuals will be able to marry in their assumed sex. The legislation also makes it a criminal offence to disclose the birth sex of a transsexual. We stress that this Bill poses a real threat to religious freedom and we oppose it because we believe it runs counter... Read more »
LDS Education Theory
Because I plan on homeschooling my children through high school, I have spent a lot of time thinking about educational theory (I also have a teaching certificate and I taught briefly in public schools in California.). Is there such a thing as an LDS-based educational theory? Could there be? What would it look like? Do we need one? Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Sister Benson
I’m reading President Benson’s biography. You probably already know that he grew up, the oldest of eleven children, on a sugar beet farm in Idaho. At one point, when his mother was expecting her eighth child, his father was called on a mission. Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Sunday School Lesson 14
I’m going to experiment with posting some of my Sunday School lessons; not because I think I can do better than Jim does, but because he asked me to post them! 1 person likes this post. Like Unlike Read more »
The Educated Layperson’s Guide to ______
I like to read; I think most of us who hang out here do. But I have discovered that as soon as I get even a teeny bit beyond topics that I studied in school, I don’t really know where to go for book recommendations. Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
LDS Hermeneutics
My least favorite thing about graduate studies in biblical studies was coming to the realization that there was a multisyllabic, Latin- or Greek- derived word for everything, and that precious few of these words would be found in a standard dictionary. Elder Dallin H. Oaks had an experience with this: Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
Reproductive Ethics
As a result of the ‘saved in childbearing’ discussion, my husband and I came up with two interesting ethical questions: Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »
More Prooftexts
I was inspired by Kristine’s post to think about prooftexts. My nomination is 2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: Be the first to like. Like Unlike Read more »



