- RL on Cutting Edge Latter-day Saint Research, March 2026: “The Demography article is more interesting to me and is available here: https://www.ryantcragun.com/the-demography-of-exiting-retention-and-conversion-among-members-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-in-utah/amp/” Apr 1, 06:53
- on What Was Revealed to You In Church (Or What Did Church Lead You to Think About Yesterday), 3/29)?: “Our sacrament meeting was also essentially a musical Easter service. I think it might take us a while to figure out what to do with Palm Sunday, but I think it has a lot of potential as a holiday. We regularly have a Sacrament meeting stream, which is important for ward members who live far away (at least half of them) on Sundays when the weather is bad (most of the winter, which isn’t over yet). The stream is also useful for grandparents in another state who want to see their grandchildren’s musical numbers. I can see organizational advantages to having quorum meetings and Sunday School every week. It will require some additional tinkering with the Come Follow Me and quorum/Relief Society curriculum to make it work. Spread a talk/lesson over two weeks? Focus on one thing?” Mar 31, 19:24
- on How Many Latter-day Saints Have Ever Had An Elective Abortion? How Did They Feel About It?: “Chip, I feel sorry for you. Yes, you quoted one sentence from Elder Oaks from a long-ago 1999 address, but you omitted the very next sentence: “Our members are taught that, subject only to some very rare exceptions, they [meaning our members] must not submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for an abortion.” Can you explain the limiting words “counsels its members” and “possible exceptions for its members” in the church’s current official statement? Please remember the old adage that we listen to living prophets, not dead prophets, or something like that. You are desperately recalling the past, but I invite you to consider the present in the form of the church’s official current statement at https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/official-statement/abortion. You may have the last word, however outdated or uncharitable it might be. I have brought the horse to water, so to speak, but I cannot and wouldn’t want to force you to drink. Best wishes.” Mar 31, 19:18
- on How Many Latter-day Saints Have Ever Had An Elective Abortion? How Did They Feel About It?: “You are using a statement that says “the Church’s position on this matter remains unchanged,” and arguing that it means that the Church position on this matter HAS changed. The Church opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience. To support this statement I will cite Dallin H. Oaks, who said in 2001: “The Church opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience.” (https://bit.ly/3NZW2tb) The Church’s position on this matter remains unchanged. And we should be teaching this doctrine in our Relief Society and Elders Quorum meetings.” Mar 31, 18:57
- on A Review: Changemakers: Women Who Boldly Built Zion: “*Louis and Eunice (1 Timothy 1:5) *Lydia (Acts 16) *Emma Hale Smith *Aurelia Spencer Rogers *Adele Cannon Howells *Chen Lin Shu-liang *Ada Davis and Mercedes Amparo *Priscilla Sampson-Davis *Ardeth Kapp *Olga Kovarova *Melissa Wei-tsing Inouye” Mar 31, 18:28
- on What Was Revealed to You In Church (Or What Did Church Lead You to Think About Yesterday), 3/29)?: “Our sacrament meeting was all musical numbers to celebrate Palm Sunday (and basically Easter since we won’t meet next week). It went well, despite yours truly singing. My wife is a convert and she misses the Holy Week rituals she grew up with, so it was fun to see the Primary children waving palm leaves while they sang, even if they were paper. It seemed a little odd not to have any speakers at all, but it reminded me that what we know about Jesus isn’t nearly as important as how we feel about him, and music conveys that well. I’m cautiously optimistic about the upcoming change to second hour. Only having 25 minutes of class time should prompt teachers to pick a single objective, hopefully by revelation, and focus the entire lesson on accomplishing it. Two short, tightly-focused lessons a week could be a good thing.” Mar 31, 14:54
- on A Review: Changemakers: Women Who Boldly Built Zion: “Who are some of the women profiled in this book?” Mar 31, 13:05
- on How Many Latter-day Saints Have Ever Had An Elective Abortion? How Did They Feel About It?: “Chip, Your link was to an outdated 1991 version of the church statement, but I provided the complete text of the current version. Yes, my reading of the church’s current official statement tells me that the church limits its counsel to its own members, and my reading of the current statement and the immediately preceding statement tells me the church has no position on abortion legislation or demonstrations. I understand some church members may occasionally teach beyond the current official statement, but I rely on the current official statement. I fully support religious liberty, so I support the right of Latter-day Saints to avoid elective abortions, and for others to similarly follow their own religious teachings, if any, on the matter. Regarding legislation, I sustain the privilege of all citizens to make their own decisions at the ballot box. Best wishes.” Mar 31, 12:34
- on How Many Latter-day Saints Have Ever Had An Elective Abortion? How Did They Feel About It?: “@Mortimer – Your world view is really bizarre. Apparently suggesting, “Let’s not kill this baby” is terrifying to you. But saying, “Let’s chop this living baby to pieces, crush her skull with pliers, vacuum everything out, and then maybe we can sell her organs to research labs” is A-Okay. I don’t get it.” Mar 31, 11:05
- on How Many Latter-day Saints Have Ever Had An Elective Abortion? How Did They Feel About It?: “@ji — Your paraphrases that “the church has no position on abortion legislation or demonstrations” and “the church appropriately limits its counsel to its own members” are inaccurate and misleading. The church policy that “remains unchanged” explicitly says, “We continue to encourage our members as citizens to let their voices be heard in appropriate and legal ways that will evidence their belief in the sacredness of life.” (https://bit.ly/4sHlFOu) So the Church *does* have a position officially encouraging members to participate in legal demonstrations and other pro-Life activities. And the Proclamation on the Family is addressed as “A Proclamation to the World” (not just to members of the Church), and states simply “We affirm the sanctity of life.” (https://bit.ly/47BmJLr) You can find dozens and dozens of statements like these in the Doctrinal Library compiled at Latter-day Saints for Life: https://bit.ly/47zsA45 The LDS Church is unequivocally opposed to elective abortion. The list of possible exceptions is very small (less than 1% of all abortions), and is clearly intended to be interpreted in a very constrained manner. But I can also confirm that “A person who seeks forgiveness with “godly sorrow” (2 Corinthians 7:10; see also 3 Nephi 9:20) and “full purpose of heart” (3 Nephi 18:32) may repent and be forgiven for the sin of abortion.” (You left that part out of your quotation.) I have many friends in this work who have experienced this transformation in their own lives, and it is a beautiful thing to witness.” Mar 31, 10:10
