The Spaulding Manuscript as Jeffersonian idealism, and not a Book of Mormon...
(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here) Solomon Spaulding’s “Manuscript Found,” an unpublished novel by the 18th and 19th century minister, is a topic of interest to...
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Near-death experiences get treatment from a Mormon perspective
(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here) I’m fascinated by the pop science/theology behind near-death experiences. I’ve read the “Life After Life” books by Raymond Moody...
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‘Mission Rules’ a too-rare example of realistic fiction about the LDS...
(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here) There’s a scene in “The Mission Rules,” — a short fiction book comprised of the LDS missionary experiences (link) of “Elder...
View ArticleThe first John D. Lee trial was waged in the court of public opinion
(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here) In the Winter 2013 “Journal of Mormon History,” there’s an interesting article from Robert H. Briggs, a lawyer and historian from...
View ArticleImmigration deal signals a GOP surrender on the issue
The Republicans have surrendered on the battle over immigration reform, and that’s actually a sensible move. Ignore the boasts that the immigration deal will include tough border enforcement or that...
View ArticleAdam & Steve play underscores changing LDS views on gays, gay marriage
I had the opportunity to read the script of ”Adam & Steve and the Empty Sea,” a two-character play that is playing at the Wagner Center in Salt Lake City. I hope to see the play. It involves...
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White boards that are bullet resistant another proposal to curb school violence
Since the Sandy Hook school massacre in December, how to prevent these types of massacres have dominated the news. There are various gun control laws being debated and others, notably the NRA, have...
View ArticleBoy Scouts’ dithering over its gay and lesbian problem makes it look bad
(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here) The Boy Scouts of America have taken a (temporary?) step back from doing a good deed, and that’s a shame. When the Scouts announced...
View ArticleUtah’s decision to give women the vote was later rescinded by the feds
(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here) In the 19th century, Utah’s polygamy was often described as one of the twin barbarisms of society, slavery being the other. As...
View ArticleIn 1981, LDS prophet Kimball resigned in the ‘Mormon manner’
(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here). The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI surprised a lot of people, and for good reason — it had been almost 600 years since the last...
View ArticleThe temporary, mistaken ban on allowing women to pray in sacrament meeting
(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here). I was listening to a Mormon Stories interview with writer Carol Lynn Pearson when I heard her say that in the 1970s, women were not...
View ArticleMost Americans are skeptical of the doom-and-gloom arguments against the...
You never know with Congress and the White House, but it seems to me there’s an excellent chance the sequestration cuts of $85 billion are going to happen on Friday. The president’s out there pitching...
View ArticleFrom Mormonism to punk, a visit to the devil, and back to Mormonism
Christopher K. Bigelow is well known as a Mormon blogger, writer, publisher and author of several books. He started the Mormon literary journal, Irreantum, and the satirical Sugar Beet. He’s written...
View ArticleWeek of sequester, Rand Paul might cause upheaval to the political norm
This has been a big week in politics. Two events occurred that have a strong potential to disrupt the political norm and effect major changes. The first was the collective public yawn over the...
View ArticleTraditional Mormon ‘Last Days’ theology similar to Bible Belt beliefs
(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here.) There’s a 2007 clip video of Mitt Romney stumbling over the question, “Do the Mormons believe the Garden of Eden is in Jackson...
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Why does ‘The Bible’ TV show have to make Satan look like President Obama?
I am really enjoying the History Channel miniseries, “The Bible.” It’s been very interesting and in my opinion, well produced. I’ve tried to tune out friends, within my own faith, who want to nitpick...
View ArticleDoubt, rather than knowledge is most compatible with faith
Michael Vinson, of Salt Lake City, a master’s graduate of the Divinity School of the University of Cambridge, has a fascinating essay in the current issue of Sunstone. Titled, “The Crisis of Doubt in...
View ArticleSenate Democrats finally have a budget plan, and boy it stinks
One should be happy that Senate Democrats have produced a budget plan. After all, it’s been a few years since that responsibility was fulfilled. Earlier this month, one was finally unveiled by Sen....
View ArticleOliver Cowdery’s ‘Article on Marriage’ embarrassed the LDS Church in its...
(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here). During its first several decades, LDS Church leaders included an “Article on Marriage” in the faith’s Doctrine and Covenants....
View ArticleThere are more subtle ways for banks, nations to erode savers’ accounts
Many have been outraged, and justifiably, of the European Union and the busted nation of Cyprus’ efforts to tax the bank deposits, guaranteed or not, of Cyprus banks’ depositors. As columnist Thomas...
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