What do you know about Jane Manning James? I was recently asked a question about her and decided that since I was putting so much time and thought into her story, I should share those ideas here. Jane has been trending lately. Between Elder Ballard’s tribute […]

I haven’t written anything for a long time, but not because my interest in all-things-Mormon has waned.  In fact, I am still almost obsessive in my quest to understand LDS history, doctrine, and culture.  I’m listening to hours of podcasts and voraciously reading books and […]

There are times when I can’t quite figure out how my mind works.  Last Saturday, I woke up way too early, thinking about a conversation I had had nearly two years ago.  At that time someone was making the case that the Church of Jesus […]

Just over a year ago I started this blog with the lofty goal of posting once a week. Recently, I was asked if I had given up on writing since it has been such a long time since I added anything new.  This question has […]

In response to a previous post, someone—we’ll call him David—wrote the following: “Jana, you may be a nice person but you don’t know squat about your cult.” Today I’d like to respond. First, there is the question of whether I’m a nice person.  Well, David, […]

Recently a dear friend asked me a question that I had never heard or considered before.  As nearly as I remember, she worded it something like this, In the Lord’s Prayer in Bible, it says ‘lead us not into temptation’. This line is the same […]

Last year I participated in the LDS church’s #LightTheWorld campaign, along with millions of others.  The goal is simple; focus on Christ and try to be more like him during the Christmas season.  The LDS church just makes this easier by providing a scripture reference, […]

I’ve always been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and by that, I mean that I have been actively participating for more than half a century—attending three hours of services on Sunday, serving in many callings, and going to years […]

Several weeks ago I woke up in the middle of the night with this question, “Had there ever been a time when I was absolutely sure that God had answered my prayer?” It was a strange experience because, while I am a vivid dreamer and […]

A few years ago, if someone had asked me when the restoration of the gospel took place, I would have racked my brain to come up with the dates that correspond to the first vision (1823), the translation of The Book of Mormon (mostly 1829), […]