A Whirlwind History of Frivolous Lawsuits Against Latter-day Saints
Many commentators feigned shock with the recent Huntsman lawsuit. They shouldn’t be. Similar “publicity stunt” lawsuits have been going on for a long time.
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The Fraud Mark Hofmann Still Perpetuates
“Murder Among the Mormons” highlights how Mark Hofmann perpetuated a narrative about transparency in The Church of Jesus Christ. Though Hofmann was stopped, that problematic narrative lingers.
The Witness of Women
The Jewish holiday of Purim which is celebrated today, honors Queen Esther, who risked the wrath of her Persian husband-king to save her people. This essay is a tribute to women who have risked much to witness both anciently and in our day.
Building Israel: The First Few Millennia Are Always Hardest
An institutional lens is useful for thinking about Israel as the unfolding “Kingdom of God,” since it is a durable, multifaceted social structure that has been important for thousands of years.
A Response to Radical Orthodoxy Criticisms
Since the publication of “Latter-day Saint Radical Orthodoxy: A Manifesto,” a number of questions and concerns have arisen. I respond here to a few of the more prominent ones.
The Challenge of Chosenness
With a new year comes a new focus of study for Latter-day Saints—and an opportunity to think more expansively about what “the Church” is.
Radical Orthodoxy in Simple Terms
A recently released so-called “Radical Orthodoxy Manifesto” has made some waves. But what exactly does it mean?
Continued Restoration of Religious Freedom: Tanzin v. Tanvir and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
The recent Supreme Court opinion Tanzin v. Tanvir allows those harmed when their religious freedom was violated to seek monetary damages. This case plays a pivotal role in the effort towards restoring religious freedoms.
Soul and pre-existence in pop culture
While the afterlife is often seen in pop culture, the premortality is seen much less. Why? And why does the subject remain so irresistible to artists?
Latter-day Saints and the problem of “performative objectivity”
McKay Coppins’ recent Atlantic feature on the church noted a tension among Latter-day Saints trying to authentically live their faith while fitting into a culture that rejects them. Should we expect Latter-day Saint historians to be able to avoid that same challenge?
What Led Me to Radical Orthodoxy
A new “manifesto” on radical orthodoxy has been widely discussed. Where did its ideas originate? One author explains.
Reckoning with the Generational Estrangement of the Covid age
Covid is setting generations against each other. But it doesn’t have to. Latter-day Saint practices have helped prevent much of the present generational angst.