Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons

(Comments can be left in the article itself--other LDS film articles can be found here.)

“True” and “Truth” are two of the most commonly used words within the LDS lexicon.  And yet, as with most all abstract terms, they are subject to differing interpretations.

I do not personally believe in literal omnipresence. I believe that God has a body of flesh and bones. I believe that the spirit and the body, inseparably connected, bring a fullness of joy. I believe that God is enthroned in yonder heavens. These things seem incompatable with literal omnipresence to me.

Shooting Star (Heber Holiday) (D+)

(Comments can be left in the article itself--other LDS film articles can be found here.)

Online rumors persist (probably just wishful thinking) that someday soon the Church is going to switch to a two-hour block instead of the current three.

Obviously in such a two hour arrangement the sacrament service will remain, but members seem to disagree as to whether the cut to the current three-hour block should be the Sunday School hour, or the Auxiliary Hour (Elders' Quorum/Relief Society/Young Men/Young Women/High Priests/etc...).

Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each:

A cry unto repentance against... well, you know who you are. Pardon me while I go wash the dust from my feet.

Meet "David", my imaginary neighbor...

"David" got laid off from work recently, and his family is struggling.  In the spirit of benevolence and charity, I decide to give David $500 in cash to help take care of his family.  David and I both understand that this is a one-time gift that won't be repeated by me, nor will need to be paid back by him.

No doubt everyone is familiar with the story in Church history about how Joseph Smith prophesied an upcoming assassination attempt on U.S. President Andrew Jackson in 1836, which was then foiled?

No?  The reason you probably haven’t heard this story is because of the constant efforts of the enemies of the Church—and the anti-Mormon agenda of the media--who have conspired to keep the details of the story under wraps for decades in order to deny direct evidence of Joseph Smith’s prophetic calling and ability.

Well…okay, the real reason you probably haven’t heard this story before is because I made it up.

So I saw the new Star Trek movie the other night. My wife is a Star Trek nut, and a bit of a 'purist', so I took her to the movie for Mother's Day Eve.

If you haven't wished a Happy Mother's Day to that special mother in your life, get the heck off the internet and go do it... ...Did you? Good. Now we can continue.

No, not "Paradox", our young and brilliant contributor, but actual paradoxes—where two contradictory ideas are entwined together within LDS policy and culture.

[Previous looks at comic-book movies from a gospel perspective: Superman | Batman]

When X-Men reached theaters in 2000—followed by sequels in 2003 and 2006—it was unique among the other recent modern comic-book movie adaptations for a number of reasons:

1) X-Men was the first true ensemble comic book to make it to movie screens (assuming you don’t count Batman AND Robin) with a variety of different characters instead of one primary ‘hero’.

2) X-Men's unique approach to ‘realism’.

When discussions of polygamy arise, most people seem to be clear on two things:

1. Polygamy oppresses women
2. Polygamy is men’s wildest dream come true.

Allow me to anoint myself the representative for all mankind (literally, ‘man’-kind), and tell you something that may shock and surprise you:  men don’t want polygamy.

It seems obvious it would be very difficult to be a prophet...so much so that I doubt anyone who thinks seriously about it would ever aspire to be one.

Whenever our family listens to General Conference, the instant the "Amen" finishes on the closing prayer of a session, I run up and turn off the radio or TV.

Why?  A simple reason--to avoid hearing the rush of Church-centric commercials that immediately follow conference session broadcasts.

Creating effective social policy is always tricky, even when working from a basis of fundamental principles one believes in.  Some recent news items of interest show the difficulty of figuring out what "correct" social policy or response should be in complicated situations.

Last year, I discussed the idea of “reconciliation”, particularly reconciling different (and potentially contradictory) ideas.  Reconciliation happens when you have (or appear to see) a gap between two ideas that you want to form a bridge between, because you feel they are both correct and valuable, and don’t want to be forced to choose one or the other.

Here in the 21st century, it is interesting to note how the ever-present march of advancing modern technology has influenced the Church.  In comparison to the 19th century--or even 20 years ago--technological advances have provided a wealth of changes to the Church experience.

“But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.” Alma 32: 41

There seems to me to be an effort going on within the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to bridge the 'gap' between Mormonism and Evangelical Christianity. I belive that these efforts are mostly motivated by love, and are very well intentioned. But what should be the purpose of such a bridge?