President Russell M. Nelson recently voiced a concern that “too many of our brothers and sisters do not fully understand the concept of priesthood power and authority. I fear that too many of our brothers and sisters do not grasp the privileges that could be theirs.”Some are surprised to learn that priesthood authority, privileges, and power apply to women as well as men. On the other hand, many women feel undervalued, voiceless, and marginalized regarding the priesthood. Our limit...

In a time of declining social connections and trust in institutions, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stand out in their relationship to their religion. Drawing from multiple national datasets, this report explores Latter-day Saint religious activity, belief, belonging, and personal well-being, examining them in context of other religious groups and denominations in the United States. The findings suggest that, while religious participation has declined nationwide...

This book, a unique examination of the activist striving to work for more holistic social change, creates a conceptual framework to give visibility to the complexity of activist practice that spans environmental and social justice concerns.

According to the media, the church is rapidly shrinking, both in numbers and in effectiveness. But the good news is, much of the bad news is wrong. Sociologist Bradley R. E. Wright uncovers what's really happening in the church: evangelicals are more respected by secular culture now than they were ten years ago; divorce rates of Christians are lower than those who aren't affiliated with a religion; young evangelicals are active in the faith. Wright reveals to readers why and how statistics...

In innumerable discussions and activities dedicated to better understanding and helping teenagers one aspect of teenage life is curiously overlooked. Very few such efforts pay serious attention to the role of religion and spirituality in the lives of American adolescents. But many teenagers are very involved in religion. Surveys reveal that 35% attend religious services weekly and another 15% attend at least monthly. 60% say that religious faith is important in their lives. 40% report that...

Few people realize that polygamy continues to exist in the United States. Thus, world-wide attention focused on the State of Texas in 2008 as agents surrounded the compound of The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) and took custody of more than 400 children. Several members of this schismatic religious group, whose women adorned themselves in “prairie dresses,” admitted to practicing polygamy. The state justified the raid on charges that underage marriage was...

In 2012, Mormon General Authority Marlin K. Jensen acknowledged that members are leaving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints "in droves." Access to the internet is often credited and blamed for this mass exodus, where members learn about problematic doctrines and cover-ups of LDS history.Many are happy as Mormons. And many are not. Those who leave, and those doubters who stay, face struggles that few others can understand. Much of this suffering is caused by manipulativ...

Polygyny - the practice of having multiple wives - has existed since ancient times and is still practiced in many countries throughout the world. In We Want for Our Sisters What We Want for Ourselves, Dr. Patricia Dixon (aka Dr. Ra Heter) argues that the practice is one the African American community should consider adopting as well. According to Dixon, the concept of monogamy was spread by Christianity and created an unrealistic and romanticized notion of marriage that leaves man...

Winner of the Distinguished Book Award from American Sociology Association Sociology of Religion Section Winner of the Richard Kalish Best Publication Award from the Gerontological Society of America Few things are more likely to cause heartache to devout parents than seeing their child leave the faith. And it seems, from media portrayals, that this is happening more and more frequently. But is religious change between generations common? How does religion get passed down ...

For all its advances, our secular age has also weakened ties to religious belief and affiliation, and Latter-day Saints have not been immune. In recent years, many faithful Church members have encountered challenging aspects of Church history, belief, or practice. Feeling isolated, alienated, or misled, some struggle to stay. Some simply leave. Many search for a reliable and faithful place to work through their questions. The abundance of information online can leave them frustrated. P...

Wasted Faith: A Satanic View of Established Religions examines modern religion for a better understanding of the effects religion has on our world. Churches are selling the "Prosperity Gospel" to worshipers who give their mortgage payments to a religious club, which only serves greedy wants and desires. This book takes an unflinching look at established religions from a Satanic point of view.This is the Book to Buy★★★★★by shaitan - May 1, 2020A fantastic read! This bo...

This resource is intended to help individuals understand their rights to exercise their faith in the public school arena. It is also designed to help families, students, teachers, school officials, and community leaders sort through the current legal maze of religious expression in America’s public schools.In 1947, the United States Supreme Court took a sharp left turn in its interpretation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution as it w...