This week I was contacted by a reporter from the Daily Beast. She was interested in our efforts to change the name of an account posing as President Russell M. Nelson. When the article was published, however, it painted a picture very different than what had occurred. The article reads as though it is about a man trying to “process the trauma” of his time in the Church, and the bullies trying to stop him. The truth, of course, is... Read more
Which of these is the actual Twitter page for the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? This: Or this: I hope most of my readers are good enough internet sleuths to be able to tell that the second is the real one. It has considerably more followers. Its Twitter handle (the @ name) is authentic. And it includes the blue check mark of a “verified” account. But in an everyday conversation, without seeing the entire... Read more
“Oakland Temple” by Nila Jane Autry What is Everyone Going On About? There is a good chance that if you are a Latter-day Saint or frequent conversations about the faith you have heard something about changes that have recently occurred in the temple. Starting January 1, 2019, social media posts have suggested that the temple experience is now different. The next day, the First Presidency released a statement on temples. While they didn’t confirm any changes, it did say “Over these... Read more
Living in Texas but writing about the Church of Jesus Christ, I have the benefit of approaching the major Utah newspapers with some detachment. I don’t have to follow them for my local political news or have neighbors looking at what’s been dropped at the end of my driveway. But I have often found myself defending the Salt Lake Tribune. As the local newspaper, it covers The Church of Jesus Christ in critical ways more often than any other media... Read more
The Deadpool franchise is rereleasing their most recent film in a PG-13 version dubbed “Once Upon a Deadpool.” In the film, Deadpool captures Fred Savage (who starred as the little boy in “Princess Bride”) and tells him a storybook version of the film editing out the portions that made the film rated R. The film seems like it might be a hit with Latter-day Saint audiences who love “Princess Bride” and PG-13 edits of R-rated movies. But on that front, the film... Read more
Perez Hilton, the popular entertainment blogger, chose to use his platform late last week to lash out at the Church of Jesus Christ. Kristin Chenoweth, the popular Broadway performer, perhaps best known for originating the character of Glinda in “Wicked,” is set to perform with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square for their annual Christmas concert December 13-15. Chenoweth will join a long list of celebrities that have performed with the Tabernacle Choir including Angela Lansbury, Sting, Yo-Yo Ma, and... Read more
In my first post on why I love the Church of Jesus Christ, I focused on how I loved that it was true. I meant that in the strictly literal, by the book definition, that everyone would normally acknowledge. But I think the Church is also true in other, more metaphorical, ways. In navigation a compass points towards magnetic north, which is close but not quite at “true” north. Depending on its location, a ship’s navigator needs to calculate a... Read more
Americans are having fewer children than ever before. Why? Well according to to the Deseret News’ recent American Family Survey, the most common factor in deciding to have children was finances. 97% said financial considerations were important. This was higher than be married, be in a relationship, have health insurance. All of which is to say, apparently I’m weird. Really weird. I graduated with a degree in English (would you like fries with that) in the late spring. And while... Read more
This weekend some numbers from the upcoming “Next Mormons Survey” broke suggesting large numbers of Latter-day Saints are bothered by high profile excommunications. 43% of temple-recommend holders say they are troubled. 66% of millennial members say they are troubled. Unsurprisingly those who reported less commitment to the church were more troubled by the excommunications (though several commentators conflated those numbers suggesting without basis that the excommunications caused the lower commitment.) But across the board, a large number of Latter-day Saints say... Read more
Christopher D. Cunningham
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It’s Time to Choose to Be Offended
In October 2010, Elder David Bednar delivered a General Conference talk titled “And Nothing Shall Offend Them.” This talk has been especially long-lasting. And it has firmly placed “Choose to be offended” into the Latter-day Saint lexicon. He said, “To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.” What has happened recently is that this language has been misappropriated and decontextualized by those who oppose efforts by Latter-day Saints to ask... Read more