Thanksgiving Discussions that Won’t End in Bloodshed

November 21, 2018 by

Image result for samantha or jeannieLast weekend, we were in Salem, Massachusetts taking a two hour walking tour with a local guide. The focus was on overall history of Salem, not just the witch trials, but we did talk about those because it’s kind of the elephant in the room. But our guide was not one of the occultist ones, although my SIL had some good reasons to believe he was secretly a Witch. [1]

Toward the end of the tour, we passed a statue to that most famous of Witches: Samantha Stevens. This reminded me of a simpler time, when the most heated discussion around the Thanksgiving table was Samantha or Jeannie. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Family, Film & Television, Holiday, Media, Rants, You Make the Call

Are Mormons Anti-Modernists?

January 5, 2016 by

As the Ammon Bundy headlines continue to dominate the news cycle, many have been wondering whether these views are inherently Mormon as the Bundy clan claims or if Mormonism encourages these types of attitudes.  While this episode has a libertarian theme, which may or may not relate to the question of anti-modernism, I wanted to revisit a post I wrote in 2013 about the anti-modernist streak that seems to be emerging in various faith traditions, including Mormonism.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Books & Journals, Current Events, Doctrine & Policy, Economics, Modern Era, Mormon, Mormons!, Politics, Religion, Science, Scriptures, Society & Culture, Sunday School, You Make the Call Tagged With: , ,

March Madness – Modern Mormon Prophets Region

March 12, 2014 by

It’s March Madness Bracket season, and it’s been too long since we’ve done anything remotely likely this.

A couple of notes:

  • Voting closes in 24 hours.
  • Seeds have been assigned in the only appropriate fashion: Apostolic seniority.
  • Ancient Prophets, Early Mormonism, and False Prophets regions are forthcoming.
  • Relevant questions for your consideration include:
  1. Who is more prophetic?
  2. Who would win in a leg wrestle?
  3. Whose talks better to read than to listen to? [Read more…]
Filed Under: Mormon, Polls, You Make the Call

Theft at Church

April 10, 2011 by

I stole today…during church…in the church building…in front of the young men I was about to teach a lesson to.

Our stake is collecting donations for a rummage sale/street fair that we do every year, and the donated stuff is sitting in the room where the young men meet for priesthood meeting.

Sitting right on top of the pile this morning was D. Michael Quinn’s Early Mormonism and the Magic World View. I figured it was an odd choice for a donation, and an even odder thing for our stake to sell for 50 cents to some guy munching on a funnel cake.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Books & Journals, Features, You Make the Call, Young Men Tagged With: , , ,

You Make the Call: Confession of Past Discretions

December 20, 2010 by

The following question is posed by an anonymous BCC reader:

You’re the bishop. A 45 year-old member of the church presents himself in your office. He has only recently become active in the church. He stopped attending shortly after he was ordained a priest nearly 30 years ago. He is married with a wife and 3 kids, ages 8, 10, and 12. The wife is not a member, but she is interested in the church, and on her prompting, the family is starting to attend. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Family, Mormon, Theology, Doctrine & Policy, You Make the Call

You Make the Call: Spouses and Boy Friends

April 27, 2010 by

Not “boyfriend”: Boy. Friend. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Mormon, Navel-Gazing & Poetic Observation, You Make the Call

You Make the Call: The Gospel as a Weapon Edition

January 19, 2010 by

Suppose that you are faithful Latter-day Saint who lives in a part of the world where there are few members of the Church, and everyone knows each other–or knows someone who knows those you don’t. A small, close-knit network of several 3rd and 4th generation families and their children, minimally impacted by converts and migration.

Suppose further that your spouse is a very well-respected member of the Church–generally regarded as a highly spiritual person, faithful to temple covenants, magnifies callings, has friends in lofty local leadership positions, and serves in the ward otherwise in ways that demonstrate to all observers that he is an honest, loving, faithful Latter-day Saint, husband, and father. Suppose, however, that the truth is, your spouse is a monster who uses the gospel as a weapon to demean you, to malign you, and to compel you into submission in all areas of life. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Mormon, Women, You Make the Call Tagged With:

You Make The Call: Marriage Counseling

October 11, 2009 by

You just moved into this branch 3 months ago and last Sunday they made you the branch president. During the week  sister X(*), a woman in the branch whom you barely know, made an appointment with you and shared some sad, shocking news: her husband has been unfaithful to her and broken his marriage vows. She offers as evidence the fact that she observed him entering a “house of ill repute” (her words) twice during the past week. She even has the dates and times written down.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Family, Marriage, Mormon, You Make the Call

You Make The Call: Holiday Party Edition

December 16, 2008 by

You’re hosting a holiday party in your home for your office co-workers. You are the only Mormon, and your co-workers know of your peculiar-peopleness. Several of them have nervously approached you to ask whether the customary holiday party alcohol will be forbidden at the party (none of them expect you to purchase alcohol or to drink it).

YOU MAKE THE CALL!

[poll id=”128″]

Filed Under: Holiday, Mormon, You Make the Call

You Make the Call (Conference Weekend Edition)

October 4, 2008 by

In case anyone would like to cleanse the palate from all of the conference discussion, one of my mystery correspondents just sent me another “you make the call,” which is based on an actual situation: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Family, Marriage, Mormon, You Make the Call

You Make the Call – Women in Priesthood Meeting (Gasp!)

September 25, 2008 by

Previous installments in this series have examined questions from the perspective of a priesthood leader. This post puts a wrinkle in the theme by asking a question about what a woman should do.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Mormon, Theology, Doctrine & Policy, Women, You Make the Call

You Make the Call No. 7

August 4, 2008 by

As a reminder, I have not authored any of the posts in the You Make the Call series. They have each come from a mystery correspondent. This one is grounded in a real situation, but the facts have been changed to render it more in the nature of a hypothetical: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Mormon, You Make the Call