This linear thinking of progression, which the majority of the Mormons I know were nursed with, goes something like this: Line upon line, precept upon precept, we slowly learn and improve, forever, until we become like God. I like this about Mormonism. I’m all for a growth mindset, but as a Mormon woman in recovery for perfectionism, eating disorders, and people pleasing, I’ve had to learn to set boundaries. First boundary: I’ve long given up trying to be like God.... Read more
I know, I know. It would be better for me to just stay in my place, but I have to say one more thing about the sexism in ex-Mormon communities. I recently talked about this on Facebook and experienced some pretty intense pushback in some ex-Mormon spaces. It’s clear Mormon feminists have lost ground in our online spaces in the last four years. I guess the ex-Mormon community likes us when we are poking the church in the eye, but... Read more
When we doubt, we grieve the loss of certainty. As a companion piece to be read alongside the LDS church’s recent articles on leaving the church, I’d like to offer my advice to Mormons who are doubting. This is based on my experience with assisting Mormons in transitional spaces for over a decade as well as my work as director of a non-profit Mormon studies organization that has had an important part to play in scholarship that sometimes disrupts a... Read more
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) has a long and complex relationship to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I’ve worked with historian Clair Barrus on constructing a timeline of LDS involvement, and sometimes interference with the ratification of the ERA. Special thanks to Clair Barrus, Colby Townsend, Ardis Parshall, Joanna Smith and others who helped make this history available. TIMELINE OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT AND THE LDS CHURCH: During 1896: When Utah entered the Union in 1896 the... Read more
I grew up with a “less-active” father. In Mormon parlance, this means my dad attended church regularly but only one of three of our meetings (Sacrament) and he didn’t pay his tithing. In Mormon terms, this made him a “less-righteous” priesthood holder. Because I’ve promised my family I’d limit how I talk about them, I’ll just say this. My father is a very honest, principled man. But I didn’t see him as such because he didn’t “exercise his... Read more
This eulogy was delivered June 8, 2019 in Sandy, Utah at his funeral service. I wrote it this week after Roy’s passing and it is posted with permission from Roy’s family and those who knew him best. We grappled with posting it publicly for several reasons- one is that Roy’s story has been picked up by nearly every news outlet around and it hurts us to see a story perpetuated out there that we knew would have hurt Roy. Second,... Read more
This weekend, the President of The Church (the Mormon one) reminded the world that The Gospel isn’t for everyone. I’m completely serious. Let me explain. At the 2018 October General Conference, the prophet and President of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ spoke firm words that he called, “a matter of great importance.” He spoke about changing the name of the church and refraining from using the nickname “Mormon” when referring to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He... Read more
**TW: This post contains strong themes of sexual and ecclesiastical abuse** Several months ago I was leaked some pages from a devastating deposition that detailed some of the more heinous crimes of Warren Jeffs, current prophet of the FLDS group (a break-off sect of the LDS or Mormon church). I can say definitively that this was one of the worst things I have ever read. Words fail to describe what a horrific ordeal victims as young as 8 years-old had... Read more
Over the past few years there have been many changes in the once FLDS controlled twin cities of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona. A public school has reopened, a community election was held, businesses and families are moving back in to town. Even amid those positive changes, there is still much healing from trauma, family reunification and economic empowerment that needs to take place. Listen to the podcast episode that covers the history of holidays in the... Read more
Guest post by Lizza Jacobs Nelson A few weeks ago after a long day of freeway and hours of listening to the Year of Polygamy podcast, the Boise temple unexpectedly appeared in my windshield, a literal beacon of light in the starless night as it was so often metaphorically explained. Except this time I didn’t feel the usual drop of peace or nudge of a smile. I felt sick, like I wanted to purge not only from the stomach but from... Read more
Mormon Fundamentals
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