CHI #3 Whose marriage is this anyway?

Since the CHI deals with LDS church doctrine and in places draws from the scriptures there are many good things said in this handbook. The problem is that the way it is treated is as though it is the gospel. We are expected and many members and leaders do take it to be 100% authoritative [...]

Seeking the Good of Others

Meat Sacrificed to Idols: One of the issues in the first-century church that was addressed in writing by Paul concerned meat that had been sacrificed to idols.  Debates over what to eat might seem strange within a church established by a man who said: “Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into [...]

Priesthood Offices in a Tribal Setting

Church ordinations During the time of Christ, one of the qualifications for priesthood was that men had to be married.  (See 1 Tim. 3: 2, 12 and Titus 1: 6.)  During the time of Joseph Smith, adult men were ordained to both Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods.  Later, during brother Brigham’s time the Aaronic priesthood began [...]

Mormon.org profiles: enhanced membership tracking?

Someone communicated to me that this past Sunday in their elders quorum, the elders quorum president said that next week (which would be tomorrow) there would be a digital camera ready to take everyone’s picture so that all the elders of his ward could have their own profile on Mormon.org. The elders quorum president said [...]

The faith of God, part thirteen: How charity fits in

Continued from part twelve. Charity on a series about faith? On December 20, 2007, I wrote the following on this blog: Mormon also talked about faith (and hope and charity) in Moroni 7. Like Ether and Helaman, quoted in the previous part, Mormon explains that faith precedes hope. (See Moroni 7: 41-42 “…ye shall have [...]

Questions Regarding the CHI #2

This is number two in a series. I add here the preface to each of these posts on the CHI. Since the CHI deals with LDS church doctrine and in places draws from the scriptures there are many good things said in this handbook. In fact so far the vast majority is either administrative policies [...]

Questions Regarding the CHI #1

This is the first in a series of posts. I have decided how I will proceed with bringing to light some of the hidden things of the Church Handbook of Instructions. I know of no prohibition regarding sharing this information. The Lord is very open. The only things of God that are hidden are hidden [...]

Unlicensed marriages and what the Brethren can do about them

First Presidency letter On October 18th, Zo-ma-rah blogged about a First Presidency letter that was read in his sacrament meeting. He wrote: This Sunday was interesting. After opening the meeting we were greeted with a nice letter from the Brethren™. The letter instructed us to not participate in self help groups. Specifically they instructed [us] [...]

Wives, follow your husbands! – Patriarchy, androcracy and the egalitarian tribe

My text for this post are the following scriptural passages, written by the apostles Peter and Paul: Peter: Wives, be in subjection to obedient and disobedient husbands Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conduct [...]

The Spirit of Freedom

The Spirit of Freedom Alma 61:15 says in part, “according to the Spirit of God, which is also the spirit of freedom which is in them.” For years when I read that I thought Pahoran was being a little over the top to equate the spirit of freedom with the Spirit of God. He wasn’t. [...]