“Rumors of wars” aren't what you think…
Jesus said that before his return the world would be filled with wars and rumors of wars. We obviously understand what war is, but few realize what "rumors" Jesus was referring to. Connor shares scriptural and historical examples to bring clarity to this confusion.
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Government welfare: an evil dole or a necessary evil?
For generations, Latter-day Saints in need have been counseled first to help themselves, then to get help from family members, and then the Church. But that has now changed, with bishops being encouraged to point members to government welfare programs. When did this change occur and why?
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Should the Church’s Finances Be Transparent?
This week, the SEC fined the LDS Church $5 million for intentionally hiding information about its investments. Why was this hidden to begin with? Connor argues that the scriptures require financial transparency by the Church in order for its members to give "common consent."
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These “Anti-Mormon” Attacks Didn’t “Break My Shelf”
Critics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ often barf up a long list of supposed "gotchas" in an attempt to overwhelm ignorant and unsuspecting victims who are unfamiliar with church history or scholarship. Do their criticisms of the faith withstand scrutiny? How should Latter-day Saints respond?
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Which Wars Are Actually Justified?
Latter-day Saints are a "warlike people" despite being commanded to "renounce war and proclaim peace." Even worse, they often fail to abide by modern revelation—one that is essentially ignored by the church—that spells out which wars are actually justified.
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Truth vs. the Depopulation Psychos
Dr. Paul Erhlich famously (and wrongly) claimed in 1968 that hundreds of millions of people would die of starvation, and this week was on 60 Minutes spouting the same fearmongering nonsense. Evil is called good, lies are advanced as truth, and "experts" are held up as credible by a corrupt media. But what's the truth, and what do we do about it?
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Why I Stopped Praying in Shakespearean English
The T-words (thou, thee, thine, thy) used to be familiar and informal, but now are archaic and "reverential"… so why do we still use them? Connor shares some history and thoughts as to why he no longer speaks like Shakespear half a millennia ago.
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Should We Support the Constitution?
Musing from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Connor discusses some of the scriptures that mention the Constitution to review whether Latter-day Saints are required to support it. And if we aren't, what should we be doing to ensure people aren't "in bondage to one another"?
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Are you paying too much tithing? (Probably…)
Have you ever actually read the law of tithing? If you do so while referencing the 1828 dictionary (to understand the meaning of words at the time), a far different picture emerges than what is understood by most people in the church today. And it probably means that you're paying more than is required of you.
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Moroni and Hypocritical Christians
Too often we gloss over or altogether ignore a select set of scripture versus that rebuke us for our hypocrisy and apostasy, wrongly thinking that they don't apply to us. In this musing, Connor discusses how Moroni was speaking about and to us in his condemnation of our corruption.
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Is Religious Freedom the Right Fight?
While many in the Church focus on religious freedom, including most recently President Dallin H. Oaks in a recent speech in Rome, it is worth considering if this narrowing of our concern to religious matters excludes other areas where we as a church community should publicly fight for freedom. Joseph Smith, for example, proclaimed a desire to defend the "civil and religious" liberty of all people. Should we?
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The Politics of Pioneer Day
What has become a second "Independence Day" of sorts has special meaning for members of the LDS Church whose heritage requires them to recognize that the government is full of "damned rascals," as Brigham Young once called them, who fail to secure our rights and often persecute instead of protect us.
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Are You in the Majority or Minority?
The Bible's story of Elisha and the hosts of heaven surrounding Syria's army should help followers of the Way realize we're in the majority even though our positions and actions might be in the mortal minority, subject to scorn and derision from peers, neighbors, and family members.
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Patriotic Mormon Rameumptoms
Should we sing patriotic songs in sacrament meeting? Is it appropriate to bear testimony of the "land of the free" and the like, especially for people who do nothing about it? Connor shares why he skipped church today and why the 4th of July worship service has been problematic for him in the past.
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Mormons are Too Mainstream
God has said that we're condemned for our "vanity," and it's the same problem the children of Israel experienced when they told Samuel they wanted a king to be "like all the nations." What does this mean for followers of "the Way"?
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We Are an Idolatrous People
Why did a modern prophet say that we, the Latter-day Saints, are "an idolatrous people"? While it's easy to dismiss and deride the early Israelites for their idol-chasing tendencies, what might we learn about their mistakes that apply to our own commitment to God today?
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Should I Be Excommunicated?
In a religion that involves ongoing revelation, our beliefs are always subject to change. Some Latter-day Saints might be further along in their access to spiritual insights than us… so what does it look like to enforce membership restrictions on people who believe (and even advocate for) things that might fall outside of the mainstream?
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My Church Shouldn’t Be My Political Opponent
There's a perception that the LDS Church controls politics in Utah. Connor shares several examples of how this has worked in the past, and explains why lobbying the legislature creates problems for Mormons who disagree with the Church's stance.
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Are Christians Deceived?
We often talk about wars and events happening elsewhere, but we don't know "the hearts of men in [our] own land." Why do we fall into the trap of fixating on external issues when there are so many internal issues we need to be fixing? Connor elaborates on an oft-ignored scripture to discuss its modern application.
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Does the Prince of Peace Approve of War?
With the Russia and Ukraine controversy unfolding, what should Latter-day Saints believe and advocate? Is it okay to support war, either directly or indirectly? Connor reviews a modern revelation (God's law on war) that few people even pay attention to, let alone heed.
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Beards, Ankles, and Whited Sepulchers
BYU bans beards, BYU-Idaho prohibits shorts, and some suggest that obedience to these Pharasaical policies helps show our obedience to God. But if the Lord looketh on the heart, why do we so heavily fixate on the superficial as a measure of our devotion to God?
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Can Christians Break the Law?
Is civil disobedience ever justified by God? When is it okay to defy the government? Connor discusses these questions in light of Romans 13, the 12th Article of Faith, and D&C 134, which are commonly cited by those who claim we should submit to the state.
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When is a Prophet Actually… a Prophet?
Are the leaders of the Church always inspired? What is "prophetic counsel" that we are supposed to follow? And how can we determine what is from God and what is merely good advice to consider? Connor shares some historical examples to suggest the importance of not assuming that everything leaders say is inherently from God.
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Should the Church Fight the State?
Despite claiming to care about religious freedom, why is the Church not speaking out against its threats today? Connor discusses the difference between institutional and individual obligations to support freedom, and why those who claim to worship God need to do something about it.
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What the War in Heaven Actually Means About Agency
Many members of the LDS Church misunderstand what the War in Heaven was all about. They think that Satan wanted to "force us to be righteous," but no scripture supports this viewpoint. Connor discusses how Lucifer wanted to persuade people to commit sin while thinking they could avoid the consequences of their actions — a tactic that continues today.
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