Ask a Mormon Sex Therapist

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife is a psychotherapist who focuses on issues surrounding female sexuality and feminism within the LDS framework. Questions are asked from listeners and answered on the podcast.
Under The Banner Of Heaven or Abuse?

Under The Banner Of Heaven or Abuse?

“…Watching the hit series, Under the Banner of Heaven, take liberties to correlate pervasive domestic abuse with uniquely Mormon religious beliefs has seemed to strike an unexpected chord with society at large. Except it’s not unexpected at all—at least not for those members who have encountered the garden variety of similar situations portrayed…”

Rules For Men Who Want To Be Decent Humans

Rules For Men Who Want To Be Decent Humans

“…I want to be clear here: Men are continually operating under the assumption that their feelings and comfort must always take precedence over the participation and safety of women within the community. And this hurts women. Period. This makes our community unsafe. Period. This creates a lot of the same problems we all experienced in the church. Period…”

What The Christmas Message Means to Me

What The Christmas Message Means to Me

The Christmas message is always inspiring. A young, first-time mother facing social ostracism gives birth in the most humble of circumstances far from home after a long journey. Surrounded by farm animals and their smell, laying in hay Mary gave birth to our Savior. The Christmas story is one of hope for a brighter future, of love for the immigrant, the refugee, and the cast out, of strength in the face of adversity, and of devotion to our God.

An Exploration of Exploitative Spiritual Practices Within The Mormon Cultural Context

An Exploration of Exploitative Spiritual Practices Within The Mormon Cultural Context

“. . . I struggled greatly to decide what was ultimately more important–my spiritual beliefs that were precious and to my heart or my own self-worth and dignity that would be preserved by honoring the truth of what happened in the bishops office that night. There was no right answer in my mind, as denying what happened felt like a betrayal to myself, while sharing it felt like a betrayal to my religion . . . “

“Panpsychism”: is the universe alive with consciousness? Some parallels with early Mormon theology.

“Panpsychism”: is the universe alive with consciousness? Some parallels with early Mormon theology.

“Thus, Joseph believed that ‘spirit’ (in the traditional Christian sense) is itself comprised of some type of material matter. He also believed some version of the idea that spirit, which is conscious and self-aware (D&C 93), is material at the most fundamental level (D&C 131). This is not too different from the idea of panpsychism now being discussed by mainstream physicists and philosophers.”

— Once and future permablogger Benjamin Knoll illustrates some parallels between early Mormon theology and a recent physics theory of consciousness.

Christ Kept His Scars–And We Can Too

Christ Kept His Scars–And We Can Too

“…It our our scars, our mistakes, our blemishes, and our darkest moments that lend itself to true and genuine empathy, connection, love, acceptance and belonging–all of the things Christ taught and all of the things he embodied…”

Is Being Headstrong And Unruly A Bad Thing?

Is Being Headstrong And Unruly A Bad Thing?

Three years ago. It happened. I have replayed the events in my mind a thousand times. Even doing trauma work (a lot of it) to disentangle them from the gray space where they seem to be stuck, bouncing around like ping pong balls that never stop. I was injured, harmed....

Survey analysis shows Latter-day Saints are generally supportive of the Trump policy agenda, but not as much as Evangelicals

Survey analysis shows Latter-day Saints are generally supportive of the Trump policy agenda, but not as much as Evangelicals

“Stronger religiosity matters a little in driving a few Latter-day Saints away from Donald Trump and his policy agenda, but for the most part religion matters less than partisanship in driving the political attitudes of American Latter-day Saints when it comes to Trump and Trumpism.”

— Permablogger Benjamin Knoll discusses a recent analysis of religion and support for President Trump’s agenda

Who Mary Is To Me: A Survivor’s Story

Who Mary Is To Me: A Survivor’s Story

“….How many times did Mary whisper ‘Me Too’ in the quiet corners of the ally ways to other women who faced a plight she knew too well. Did other women find her, seek her — was she their rock? Did she share her story in hushed tones, telling other women, “I believe you. Yes, for some survivors — Mary didn’t just birth the Savior, she simply is a savior….”

Dear Church: Stop The Trauma And Start The Healing

Dear Church: Stop The Trauma And Start The Healing

“…You may have heard of Trauma-Informed Care. It is all the rage right now and for good reason. More organizations and faith communities are adopting trauma-informed policies in order to ensure the health and well-being of their members. But one that hasn’t, at least not yet, is my church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints……and the non-trauma informed….”

Three Lesbians and a Bisexual Woman Receive Revelation

Three Lesbians and a Bisexual Woman Receive Revelation

A little over five years ago, I could finally be honest about my sexuality. Prior to that, my life was pretty much what one would consider very active and faithful in the LDS church. I went on a mission and served in many leadership callings, solidly focused on living what I thought at the time was God’s will for me.

Dear Church: Stop Preaching Forgiveness Without Teaching Boundaries

Dear Church: Stop Preaching Forgiveness Without Teaching Boundaries

“…Forgiveness should never be taught or framed as a necessary requirement for healing in situations of abuse, profound mistreatment, or exploitation. Instead, a clear and distinctive caveat should be made that in abusive situations in which a person has been victimized and traumatized, the requirement for forgiveness is absolved from the victim’s burden and the primary focus should be on safety and healing, however and whenever that may come organically to the victim…”

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These videos were created for Latter-day Saint parents and allies to voice their love for their LGBT brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. They want to give a message of comfort and support to other parents who are navigating the difficult conflicts that can arise in families around this issue.


Cogito!” (“I think!”) follows the intellectual adventures of a recovering academic outside the walls of academia.

Quote of the Month

"It is not as a child that I believe and confess Jesus Christ. My hosanna is born of a furnace of doubt." (Fyodor Dostoevsky)