- Lisa G. on Breaking the Auto-Pilot: Brent Yorgason on Alternate Tunes for Familiar Hymns: “I’m not so much into the idea of using alternate tunes just for the sake of variety, but I’m very much into the idea of using different tunes for some hymns because they’re *better* than the ones we have. I’d also love to see a few of our commonly known tunes paired with different texts…. for example, some of the several more triumphant texts that are usually sung to the tune HYFRYDOL (In Humility Our Savior) or the less controversial texts that are usually paired with KINGSFOLD (If You Could Hie to Kolob(.” Nov 7, 11:14
- on When the Church Takes a Political Position, Election Eve Edition: ““You’re right, as a lapsed member, I’m not entitled to a say in Church priorities. But as an apparent active member, neither do you.” Right. Neither lapsed nor current members have a say in church priorities. This is simply the reality. But another reality is that both the church and every individual have to tend to their own needs. Sometimes, those needs converge. Sometimes, they differ. When needs differ, it is okay for an individual to have a priority that differs from the church’s priority. In such a case, I hope the individual will not condemn the church, and that the church will not condemn the individual. Aren’t the individual and the church both allowed to participate in the public square?” Nov 7, 08:27
- on Breaking the Auto-Pilot: Brent Yorgason on Alternate Tunes for Familiar Hymns: “The 1985 Hymn book provides for using alternate tunes but it’s been ignored for 40 years. The Meter appendix shows which hymns can be sung to the same tunes. It makes matching easy. I agree that it would liven our singing.” Nov 6, 23:05
- on When the Church Takes a Political Position, Election Eve Edition: “All I’m doing is encouraging the Church to do more for the poor, they have the resources both financial and human. You’re right, as a lapsed member, I’m not entitled to a say in Church priorities. But as an apparent active member, neither do you. I would encourage you to at least consider how you (and your blog participants) might do more to help poor members and their neighbors in developing countries. I know I’m trying to.” Nov 6, 22:26
- on Breaking the Auto-Pilot: Brent Yorgason on Alternate Tunes for Familiar Hymns: “Shape notes were a style of notation used in the early United States to make it easier to learn music. They were taught through group lessons that were referred to as “singing schools”. A lot of the early American hymns are associated with them. I should probably edit that, though. Not every person learned the hymn tunes that way. I think it was more with the temples that the Church started singing schools and choirs, but they weren’t necessarily using shape notes. ” Nov 6, 21:06
- on When the Church Takes a Political Position, Election Eve Edition: “Roger, I’ve been at this for 20 years now. With enough repetition, eventually I remember details. Your international service is laudable, but not every volunteer understands that every organization has to set priorities and work within a budget. I assume you do. An organization can focus on finding a cure for malaria, or for rabies, but not both. Or if it has the budget and capacity for both, it still has to choose those two things instead of an unlimited number of other things. If it doesn’t choose what to focus on, it’s wasting its resources and accomplishing far less than it could. It’s true of budgets, and (to get back to the point of Stephen’s post) it’s true of political activity. You think the Church should change its priorities, and of course you do, because you think everything the Church does is a pointless, meaningless waste of time. That also means that you can only offer cheap criticism: cheap, in the sense that it costs you nothing. You’re evading the work of balancing priorities, or working out compromises with people who prioritize the Church’s missions differently, or supporting people who serve different parts of the organizational mission, or staying informed about what the Church is doing today, or supporting the Church in any way, really. You are (and have always been) invited to take a seat at the table, but it comes with a price that you’re not willing to pay.” Nov 6, 20:15
- on When the Church Takes a Political Position, Election Eve Edition: “I was raised LDS. Went on a 2 1/2 yr mission to France and Belgium. And got a BA for BYU during the Wilkinson administration. During my time in Europe, the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing and we were asked to defend the Church’s discriminatory policies toward blacks. Blah, blah, blah. Over the last 20 years, I’ve done a lot of volunteer work in developing countries. I’ve seen a lot of International poverty around the world, some involving members. Yes, I’m now agnostic. But when I see how much good the Church could be doing, I do get frustrated and want to encourage a change in priorities. Jonathan G., I’m flattered that you remember somethings about me. Do you keep files on commenters? They say that personal attacks are a desperate form of dialogue.” Nov 6, 16:58
- on Cutting Edge Latter-day Saint Research, October 2026: “I don’t think the “journal” of Mormon Polygamy merits attention.” Nov 6, 12:51
- on Breaking the Auto-Pilot: Brent Yorgason on Alternate Tunes for Familiar Hymns: “Chad, what are “shape-note singing schools”?” Nov 6, 12:47
- on Breaking the Auto-Pilot: Brent Yorgason on Alternate Tunes for Familiar Hymns: “Sometimes I get so bored singing “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet” yet again that I’ll sing the words to “O Home Beloved” instead.” Nov 6, 08:32
