Sunday Musings

Joseph Smith once prophecied that the persecuted Saints would have to flee westward for the Rocky Mountains. Or… did he?

A never-before-released journal sheds light on longstanding influence by Church leaders in Utah politics.

How closely do church leaders line up with the broader membership, and the population at large, when it comes to education and professional expertise? The answers may surprise you… or not.

What was once considered scripture for decades was decanonized without the consent of church members. Whatever happened to the Lectures on Faith?

When it was introduced, the Word of Wisdom was shared as a suggestion and not commandment. So when did it change into a commandment upon which our admittance to the temple is conditioned?

A new group of self-described leftist Mormons have written a manifesto attempting to reconcile their Marxist views and their alleged Mormon faith.

A widely repeated story about apostasy has a questionable source. What are we to make of Thomas Marsh turning on Joseph and the Saints?

Critics have long alleged that the Book of Mormon was a creation of Joseph Smith's mind, but that claim doesn't withstand scrutiny.

Without clear boundaries between which is which, members can become confused about what is from God and what isn't.

Astute readers may need to read between the lines to answer an important question about the circumstances God's people faced in the New World.

What happened in 1978 that led the First Presidency to speak out so strongly in favor of vaccines? And how do their past statements relate to today's vaccines?

While the spread of pornography has risen, mentions about it in general conference have declined.

Modern revelation suggests that the Latter-day Saints are going to bear the brunt of God's apocalyptic fury. If true, why aren't we talking about it?

These individuals hang on my office wall, inspiring me daily to stand up for truth in a world filled with lies.

The temple garment was once thought to be revealed to Joseph and that it should remain in its original form. Why has that changed?

Despite huge steps being taken to bring more transparency, a critical set of documents remains hidden in the First Presidency vault. Why?

A public speech by President Benson led to a private rebuke by the prophet. 30 years later, that speech reached scriptural status.

Is it worth forgiving and forgetting what happened in one of the greatest events of mass psychosis?

The prophet Joseph once prophecied that one day only Latter-day Saint women would be willing to bear children. Or… did he?

Recent survey data shows how reluctant Latter-day Saints are to have social and political issues discussed in church.

Numerous examples exist of church decisions being made out of concern for the institution's image. What can we learn from what scripture says about focusing on outward appearance rather than what is right?

Covenant Path? Think Celestial? How about Ponderize? These and more catchphrases ebb and flow with popularity. But how frequently are they used, and why?

We worship a Jesus who is loving and peaceful, and who wants us to be united. How do we reconcile this with what He himself said regarding the divisiveness His gospel would create?

The Church ditched the Boy Scouts of America and introduced a new youth program based on goal-setting and enriching activities. But is it working?

Frequently cited statements that are claimed to have been spoken by Joseph Smith are published in Church manuals, taught by Church leaders, and shared by Church members. But are they all accurate?

There's a wide discrepancy between the number of of people who say they are regular church-goers, and what some new data reveals is actually true.

The Book of Mormon's second most important purpose receives hardly any attention in our lesson manual this week. Any guesses as to why?

Can we actually be "in the world but not of the world"? How do we flee Babylon if we're not physically separating like in ancient times?

Throughout scripture, God called out the righteous from among the wicked before a destruction. Does this set a pattern that will repeat today?

If the second president of the restored Church introduced several false teachings, what does that mean for the Church today?

Why have each of the major doctrinal innovations advanced by the Church's second president been rejected?

The scriptures are clear that God's people repeatedly abandon the faith while deluding themselves into thinking they are righteous. Why do we think we're immune from this trend?

Shortly before being murdered, Joseph Smith spoke twice on the topic of multiple Gods, sharing provocative teachings that angered his fiercest critics. Do these doctrines still stand?

A small group of left-leaning Latter-day Saints are making the case that our faith requires not supporting Trump. Are they wrong?

The scriptures say that casting out evil spirits will be a sign of Christ's believers. Is it happening today, or do we prefer to ignore the topic?

Since Joseph Smith founded The Church of Christ, it has seen a number of breakoffs, including some in modern days as well. Why are there so many different denominations within the Mormon umbrella?

Do Latter-day Saints draw near to the principles of the Constitution while their hearts are far from them?

Amid a loneliness epidemic and a decrease in social connection, could church cultural halls be turned into community centers to repair social fabric and bring people together?

When one's eternal salvation hinges on the unique personality, biases, and leadership style of a local leader, for some this becomes a costly game of leadership roulette. Can the system be improved?

Mormon portrays Captain Moroni as a near-perfect man, but did all of Moroni's military actions have divine sanction?

The notorious Skull and Bones order originated at Yale and exists in only one other location: the University of Utah, where President Nelson graduated. Was he a member, and what implications does this have?

The Angel Moroni is missing from all recent LDS temples being constructed. In this musing, Connor shares the history and trends and explores why the change was made to remove Moroni.

When Jesus called people to preach the gospel, both during His time on Earth and also in more recent revelation, He told missionaries to follow a practice that has since been abandoned. But why?

Was "Honest Abe" the Great Emancipator who preserved the Union, as some church leaders have taught? An honest review of history suggests otherwise.

The Church just extended by five years the amount of time that unmarried Mormons can remain in their Young Single Adult ward. But is this a sign of a greater societal problem we need to grapple with?

Zelenskyy and his crew visited with leaders from the Church, but not the First Presidency. Why might that be?

Under what circumstances is it still okay to use the term "Mormon"? The recent changes have also produced some interesting legal updates that has gone unnoticed… until now.

The Deseret News once claimed that C.S. Lewis was the top-most quoted non-Mormon in general conference. Turns out, they're wrong. So who is it?

Church leaders have said conflicting things about whether we are supposed to live the law of consecration today. What does God expect us to do to live this celestial law?

Mainstream Christians criticize Mormons for having additional scripture beyond the Bible, yet themselves rely on doctrinal creeds that are not in the Bible. What gives?

If the Sabbath was made for man, then what are we supposed to actually do during that day?