Afterlife Jobs: Start Planning Now As we Mormons all know, there is no rest after death. There is no cool glass of lemonade sitting at the end of the mortal marathon. Rather, upon the shedding of this tabernacle of clay, we will continue in the ongoing work in close collaboration with the living. There’s not even a weekend; we die on Tuesday and clock in Wednesday morning.

Afterlife Jobs: Start Planning Now

As we Mormons all know, there is no rest after death. There is no cool glass of lemonade sitting at the end of the mortal marathon. Rather, upon the shedding of this tabernacle of clay, we will continue in the ongoing work in close collaboration with the living.…

Reflections on Religion and/in Politics Question: How does one avoid using religion or religious language as merely a tool to justify policies privilege one group over another? *** In the United States, many used Christianity to justify the enslavement of others and as the basis for laws that enshrined racial segregation. The Ku Klux Klan used the language of Christianity to justify all sorts of abhorrent behavior and statements.

Reflections on Religion and/in Politics

Question: How does one avoid using religion or religious language as merely a tool to justify policies privilege one group over another? *** In the United States, many used Christianity to justify the enslavement of others and as the basis for laws that…

The Proclamation in the Courts As part of a project I'm working on, I've been looking at the Church's use of The Family: A Proclamation to the World in litigation. For the most part, that means where the Church's attorneys have referenced the Proclamation in amicus briefs. The Proclamation has largely not shown up in litigation where the Church is party to the litigation and is also largely absent from judicial opinions.

The Proclamation in the Courts

As part of a project I'm working on, I've been looking at the Church's use of The Family: A Proclamation to the World in litigation. For the most part, that means where the Church's attorneys have referenced the Proclamation in amicus briefs. The Proclamation has…

NBNE. Joseph Smith’s Favorite Axiom

I'm still harping on Joseph Smith's remarks at the Nauvoo Lyceum, January 5, 1841. (See my previous post published on US Tax Day 2026). One of Joseph Smith's occasional references in sermons was the NBNE. The acronym means, No Beginning, No End. More precisely,…

Observation of the Sectarian God. (by Joseph Smith) From, MS 155, Box 4, fd 4, Church History Library, a manuscript's opening salvo. This excerpt was taken from a William Clayton text, from a Joseph Smith teaching apparently delivered at a community school (Lyceum), January 5, 1841. Clayton's original is not extant. The content is clearly Joseph Smith's teaching, though the archetype is unknown. I only bring it up because it's so closely related to the content of the current temple teaching, at least some of which is likely sourced from this document.

Observation of the Sectarian God. (by Joseph Smith)

From, MS 155, Box 4, fd 4, Church History Library, a manuscript's opening salvo. This excerpt was taken from a William Clayton text, from a Joseph Smith teaching apparently delivered at a community school (Lyceum), January 5, 1841. Clayton's…

Tax Day 2026: Riders of the Purple Sage On August 30, 1921, Utah Senator and Apostle Reed Smoot sent a telegram to Heber J. Grant. William Brady and Paul Rogers, high-ranking employees of the Fox Film Company, had just promised him that they would stop showing the movie Riders of the Purple Sage and would never show it again. Grant sent a return telegram the following day, asking Smoot to wire his "sincere thanks for their generous actions," and congratulating Smoot.

Tax Day 2026: Riders of the Purple Sage

On August 30, 1921, Utah Senator and Apostle Reed Smoot sent a telegram to Heber J. Grant. William Brady and Paul Rogers, high-ranking employees of the Fox Film Company, had just promised him that they would stop showing the movie Riders of the Purple Sage…

In Which I Make the Trump Jesus Post About Us When the first Mormon art propagandist, CCA Christensen, began painting Mormon history in a flat, literalistic, maudlin style, he could not have predicted that another Mormon would one day deeply influence artificial intelligence with a similar flat, literalistic, maudlin style. But, that is so. I'm speaking, of course, of LDS artist and MAGA propagandist John McNaughton, who will not hang his political art or Trump-theme NFTs in his home, and who has a reach that has extended so far art historians of the future may call his “fantastical scenes rendered in a flat, hyperrealist style” the single most important training source of AI slop.

In Which I Make the Trump Jesus Post About Us

When the first Mormon art propagandist, CCA Christensen, began painting Mormon history in a flat, literalistic, maudlin style, he could not have predicted that another Mormon would one day deeply influence artificial intelligence with a similar flat,…

When It All Fell Apart I was married on December 13, 2013. After some debate, we chose the Mesa, Arizona, temple rather than the recently dedicated Gilbert temple. The Mesa temple was a staple of my youth. I had grown up seeing its Christmas lights, doing Baptisms for the Dead in its font, and had taken out my own Endowment there. It felt like a part of who I was, like an extended family member in and of itself, without whom the wedding wouldn't feel right.

When It All Fell Apart

I was married on December 13, 2013. After some debate, we chose the Mesa, Arizona, temple rather than the recently dedicated Gilbert temple. The Mesa temple was a staple of my youth. I had grown up seeing its Christmas lights, doing Baptisms for the Dead in its font, and had…

In Which We Pontificate Upon Schedules

On March 30, 2026, the First Presidency announced a new meeting schedule for the two hour block. Unsurprisingly, we have thoughts:

Watching Jesus’ Spiritual Monitors Beep

I’m writing this at 11pm a few weeks before Easter, an hour or so into spending the night with my son in the emergency department. He’s fine, at this point they’re just observing him as a precautionary measure. He is sound asleep. I am watching over him and…

On Palm Sunday, Jesus Rode a Kids’ Bike According to Mark's gospel, on what we call Palm Sunday: "[T]hey brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

On Palm Sunday, Jesus Rode a Kids’ Bike

According to Mark's gospel, on what we call Palm Sunday: "[T]hey brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then…

LDS Church and the Cross: New Statues on Temple Square A couple of years ago I posted a brief reflection about the LDS Church’s complicated relationship with the cross. The short story is this: despite the fact that early saints wore the crucifix as jewelry, that early churches were adorned with cross-related imagery, and that the Laie, Hawaii and Cardston, Alberta temples both have a cruciform design, the cross fell out of fashion with the LDS Church… but it’s making a comeback!

LDS Church and the Cross: New Statues on Temple Square

A couple of years ago I posted a brief reflection about the LDS Church’s complicated relationship with the cross. The short story is this: despite the fact that early saints wore the crucifix as jewelry, that early churches were adorned with…

Women and Sunday School Yesterday I learned from Peggy Fletcher Stack that the Church had made a massive policy change: ward Sunday School presidencies are no longer the exclusive domain of men. Effective immediately, women can serve as Sunday School presidents and counselors. It should surprise nobody that I have thoughts about this. After all, more than two years ago(!) I wrote a…

Women and Sunday School

Yesterday I learned from Peggy Fletcher Stack that the Church had made a massive policy change: ward Sunday School presidencies are no longer the exclusive domain of men. Effective immediately, women can serve as Sunday School presidents and counselors. It should surprise…

Do You Attend the Temple? LDS leaders have been unequivocal when it comes to the importance of the temple. Reiterating past leaders’ statements, and consistent with subsequent leaders’ views, Gordon B. Hinkley asserted that “no member of the Church has received the ultimate which this Church has to give until he or she has received his or her temple blessings in the house of the Lord.” This sentiment is ubiquitous in LDS teachings—it is…

Do You Attend the Temple?

LDS leaders have been unequivocal when it comes to the importance of the temple. Reiterating past leaders’ statements, and consistent with subsequent leaders’ views, Gordon B. Hinkley asserted that “no member of the Church has received the ultimate which this Church has…

“We Need … Your Voices” If a woman's voice falls in the forest and nobody hears it, did the woman speak at all? Recent changes have gradually reduced the visibility and speaking time of women in worldwide Relief Society broadcasts. Find out what has changed.

“We Need … Your Voices”

If a woman's voice falls in the forest and nobody hears it, did the woman speak at all? Recent changes have gradually reduced the visibility and speaking time of women in worldwide Relief Society broadcasts. Find out what has changed.

Post Image

An I Ching Reading for Our Times

Standing as a wanderer above a sea of Orange fog, I do what all seekers do when faced with a new and rubbish world order: I consult the oracle.

bycommonconsent.com/2026/03/11/an-i-ching-re...

“High Church” and “Low Church” in LDS Worship In a recent post of mine, the comments took a quick (and interesting) diversion into whether people preferred “high church” or “low church.” For those not familiar with those terms: “High church” is used to describe worship that emphasizes ritual, formal liturgies, ordinances, and have strong priestly presence. A Catholic Midnight Mass is an example of “high church”— heavy on ritual, use of formal liturgies, celebration of the Eucharist, and all of it is overseen and administered by a strong priestly presence.

“High Church” and “Low Church” in LDS Worship

In a recent post of mine, the comments took a quick (and interesting) diversion into whether people preferred “high church” or “low church.” For those not familiar with those terms: “High church” is used to describe worship that emphasizes ritual,…

Mental Health Monday: The Godhead of Trauma Once again, posting while it’s still Monday in Hawaii. Also, note that the new garments poll is still active, and I will aim to publish the results next week. I look forward to reading your thoughts! You know how in the Pixar movie Inside Out, Riley has all those emotions in her head, and they all talk to each other? There’s a reason that movie is popular.

Mental Health Monday: The Godhead of Trauma

Once again, posting while it’s still Monday in Hawaii. Also, note that the new garments poll is still active, and I will aim to publish the results next week. I look forward to reading your thoughts! You know how in the Pixar movie Inside Out, Riley has…

A Reflection On Boundaries and Community Every community has boundaries. Boundaries are, in many ways, what helps define a recognizable community. The community does this, but not that. It wears this, but not that. It believes this, but not that. Every community—from sports teams, to gamers, to religious groups, to political parties—has these sorts of markers. And these markers can be  both explicit and implicit.

A Reflection On Boundaries and Community

Every community has boundaries. Boundaries are, in many ways, what helps define a recognizable community. The community does this, but not that. It wears this, but not that. It believes this, but not that. Every community—from sports teams, to gamers, to…

All in favor of informal funerals, say…. .. Aye. TW: funerals, death I'll be honest: I've never been to an informal funeral that didn't beat the socks off of a funeral run by any religious leader of any religious persuasion. Not Catholic. Not Baptist. Not LDS. Not non-denominational. Not Methodist. None. Give me the imperfect real over the perfectly planned any day. Growing up my daddy was pallbearer for hundreds of funerals.

All in favor of informal funerals, say....

.. Aye. TW: funerals, death I'll be honest: I've never been to an informal funeral that didn't beat the socks off of a funeral run by any religious leader of any religious persuasion. Not Catholic. Not Baptist. Not LDS. Not non-denominational. Not Metho...

In Memory of Ardis Parshall This morning I opened Facebook and, to my surprise and enormous sadness, learned that Ardis Parshall had passed away. For those who are unfamiliar with her, Ardis was, among other things, the founder and principal blogger at Keepapitchinin, a delightful blog full of forgotten moments and people in Mormon history and wonderful analysis. Not just a blogger, Ardis was contributor to and on the advisory board of…

In Memory of Ardis Parshall

This morning I opened Facebook and, to my surprise and enormous sadness, learned that Ardis Parshall had passed away. For those who are unfamiliar with her, Ardis was, among other things, the founder and principal blogger at Keepapitchinin, a delightful blog full of…

The Good Sacramentan Last month, my kids and I started volunteering at our local chapter of the Burrito Project (note, their website is several years out of date, but the program description is still accurate!). At ages 6 and 8, my kids are beginning to meet the real human struggles of the world, and they both want to help correct injustice and alleviate human suffering.

The Good Sacramentan

Why I Skipped Stake Conference This Sunday was Stake Conference. I decided not to go and, instead, participate in the worship services of my local Episcopal church. This is why: They have sharp, thoughtful, and deeply spiritual female leadership—at Stake Conference it would be an entirely male-led service. The homily delivered was impactful, beautiful, and profound—at Stake Conference it would be just more of the same-old ‘follow the prophet,’ ‘we’re so lucky to be in this church,’ ‘the…

Why I Skipped Stake Conference

This Sunday was Stake Conference. I decided not to go and, instead, participate in the worship services of my local Episcopal church. This is why: They have sharp, thoughtful, and deeply spiritual female leadership—at Stake Conference it would be an entirely male-led…

To the Uncredited 16 And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me. And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.

To the Uncredited

16 And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me. And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life,…

The Irreparable Harm Caused by Refusing to Engage

In my first post here on BCC, I shared a little about the ten years I worked to try and get someone with authority to change the church's policy that resulted in stake Seminary teachers shouldering nearly the entire cost of Seminary. I didn't share…

Changes to SNAP and the Church Last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act made a handful of substantial changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), making it harder for poor individuals and families to qualify for food assistance. The CBO estimates that these changes, which went into effect on February 1, will cause roughly 2.4 million people to lose their eligibility for SNAP. For our purposes, the two biggest changes (in section 10102 of the bill linked to above) both affect work requirements.

Changes to SNAP and the Church

Last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act made a handful of substantial changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), making it harder for poor individuals and families to qualify for food assistance. The CBO estimates that these changes, which went…

Ash Wednesday at Broadview Happy Fat Tuesday! I hope today you're able to enjoy your pancakes, king cake, pączki, or whatever sugar- and fat-laden treat your region uses to celebrate the approaching Lenten season. Lent---the 40-day period leading up to Easter, where Christians traditionally prepare for the Resurrection---begins tomorrow, on Ash Wednesday. And in Chicago, where about one in three people…

Ash Wednesday at Broadview

Happy Fat Tuesday! I hope today you're able to enjoy your pancakes, king cake, pączki, or whatever sugar- and fat-laden treat your region uses to celebrate the approaching Lenten season. Lent---the 40-day period leading up to Easter, where Christians traditionally…

Everything Old Is New Again Unlike many of my fellow BCC authors (and readers), I'm fairly new to the world of religious studies. But I've been listening to The New Testament In Its World, by N.T. Wright [1] and Michael Bird, and I'm captivated hearing stories we tell ourselves in the church told in the context of another comparatively small, young (<200 year old), religion with radically different ideas than its contemporary culture about who God is and how God relates to humanity.

Everything Old Is New Again

Am I My Brother’s Keeper? In their analysis of Genesis 4:9, Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler observe that the LORD’s question “Where is your brother Abel?” is one that asks about “more than location.”[1]  Presumably, the LORD already knew that Cain had killed his brother. Rather—and there is a lot of this in Genesis—this question sets a theme that will be carried throughout the entire rest of the Hebrew Bible.

Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

In their analysis of Genesis 4:9, Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler observe that the LORD’s question “Where is your brother Abel?” is one that asks about “more than location.”[1]  Presumably, the LORD already knew that Cain had killed his brother. Rather—and there is a…

Mormons in the Epstein Files Yes, there are Mormons in the Epstein files. Are LDS influencers exploiting the moment?

Mormons in the Epstein Files

Yes, there are Mormons in the Epstein files. Are LDS influencers exploiting the moment?