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Featured Author
Gary C. Lawrence
MEET AUTHOR Gary C. Lawrence
Gary Lawrence is a public opinion pollster who received a B.A. from BYU and a Ph.D. from Stanford. He is the author of three books: How Americans View Mormonism, Mormons Believe … What?!, and The War in Heaven Continues. His Church callings include a mission to South Germany, bishop, early morning seminary teacher, consultant to the Missionary Department, and service on a variety of Church task forces. He currently serves as an ordinance worker in the Newport Beach Temple. Gary and his wife Jan live in Orange County and have four children and seven grandchildren.
Author's Published Articles
A Different Conversation Opener: Ask About Your Friend’s Pastor
Your friend’s beliefs are useful to know, but what he…
Before They’ll Be Interested In Us, We Must Be Interested In Them
It’s such an obvious truth that I almost hesitate to…
What Sets the Church Apart: Vertical, Geographic, and Unpaid
Whenever the Church mobilizes its members to clean up after…
No One Joins the Church Because They Lose a Debate
There is no persuasion without contrast. But contrast need not…
How Many Fellow Christians Want the Original Church to Return?
First of all, do they believe Christianity today is as…
The Best Casual Comment to Interest Someone in the Church
If someone believes in life after death, why should life…
We’re Good at Teaching; What We Need Are More Listeners
The Lord has reserved many choice spirits to come to…
Pre-Mortality: 39 Million Already Believe As We Do
But they haven’t yet found the Church. It’s inside them,…
What Happened to the Joseph Smith Question?
If people could ask our Heavenly Father any question at…
If God Held a Televised News Conference ….
In a recent national survey, we asked 1053 fellow Christians…
Excessive Texting of the Emoji Laden
Ever notice two people sitting at a table texting and…
If You Can’t Love Your Neighbor, At Least Feel Sorry For Him
Even if you find the ideal neighborhood, there will always…
Humor in Heaven … or … Will There Be Jesters in the Courts on High?
Humor lightens our load. President David O. McKay pitied those…
Being Generous is Not the Same as Being Kind
Say the word “generous” and more times than not what…
Introducing a No-pressure Way For People to Explore Our Doctrine
Many people are curious about us, but hesitate to ask…
“The Hesitation Hump”: Why those Curious About the Church Don’t Ask Us Questions
The curious want a comfortable way to find out about…
Oddball Ways to Start a Religious Conversation
Ever get tired trying to bring up the gospel in…
“Get a Grip” Is Not A Pejorative Phrase
Though often used with a “You’re so stupid” or a…
Earth Day and Its Hilarious Prophets
As the world celebrates Earth Day this week, and climate…
Our National Debt’s Impact on the Turning of Hearts
A society’s actions may not always trigger immediate consequences. What…
The Staff the Nation Shall Lean Upon
As my son played on a grade-school soccer team, the…
How the Constitution Answers Four Historical Problems – Power, Dominion, Daddies and Whims
What did the world look like before 1787? Why was…
When This Nation Will Be on the Very Verge of Crumbling…
Every family taking a trip has heard from the back…
Tomorrow’s Headlines: “Psychic Wins Lottery” and “Hermit Gets COVID”
Oh, the fun and enticements of chance. Whether it’s wizards…
“Look at Me, Look at Me” – The Sad State of Pride
Whether in business, politics, the arts or science, those who…
Modern Theories and Isaiah’s Warning for Our Day
Does Isaiah’s upside-down warning describe today? The clever use of…
Flattery Will Get Them Everywhere
An old adage says, “Flattery will get you nowhere.” Ha.…
Pardon My Values, But Merry Christmas to All
Why all the “Happy Holidays” PC drivel from our fellow…
The Winter of My Youth – A Bizzing-Time Empire
You don’t know what bizzing is? Well, hold on and…
Turning Civil Tension Into Church Growth
Planting seeds is more important than winning arguments.
Crony Capitalists and Shadow Socialists – The Competition Factor
Competition in the marketplace is a natural enemy to socialism…
Capitalism – A Dirty Old Word That Means … Creativity?
Under socialism’s tut-tuts, pursuing gain is greed. Socialists believe people…
If We Were Never Hungry, Would Anything Get Done?
Agency is not only a gift, but a commandment to…
Socialism Says Must; Christianity Says Should
In 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt called for passage into law…
The Question: Equal Opportunity or Equal Outcome?
Most people want equality of opportunity. Socialists want equality of…
The Second Reason Socialism is The Anti-Agency
To facilitate equal distribution and prevent excess accumulation of wealth,…
Why Socialism is The Anti-Agency
If society’s collective wealth is equally distributed regardless of unequal…
“Government Is the Only Thing We All Belong To.” Uh, Really?
During an informal get-together, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev asked Prime…
A Better Meaning of Pro-Choice
Without agency, there is no progress. Without choices, there is…
The Not-So-Secret Combination
The Book of Mormon warns of secret combinations – alliances…
Looting – Fruits of a Rule-Happy Society
While Joseph Smith said, “I teach them correct principles and…
Decentralization – How the Church Outperforms Governments
In 1995, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “As the work…
“Never Let a Virus – er, Crisis – Go to Waste”
Centralized power concentrated among a few is easier to usurp…
The Third Threat of Coronavirus
"Ever-increasing centralization of power in the federal government in Washington,…
What is the Scariest Verse in the Scriptures?
Earthquakes in divers places, a desolating scourge, a great hailstorm,…
Climate Change – The Great Inoculation
God at times sends catastrophic events to warn people to…
Modes of Innovation – Dissatisfaction, Serendipity, Curiosity, Momentum
Innovation is the application of creativity. It’s the excitement of…
Creativity: Beauty and the Feast
If Napoleon had not invaded Russia, would Tchaikovsky still have…
Victimhood – “It’s Not Fair” and Other Fragrant Whines
Those who complain the most accomplish the least.
Opinion: Anti-Trump Voters Should Pray Trump Wins Florida and Ohio
Despite punditry to the contrary, Donald Trump can still be…
The Great Constitution Apostasy: A Parallel
The apostasy from true Christianity required a restoration. The establishment…
Stay Informed in the Fight for Religious Liberty
Religious freedom is at stake. How to keep your eye…
Stand Up and Be Counted: More Than a Metaphor
Elder Robert D. Hales counseled us in General Conference to…
Gay Marriage – A Surprise Factor in Spreading the Gospel
Efforts to destroy a God-given institution may weaken that institution…
Netanyahu, Obama, and … Zechariah?
Within 15 minutes of Israel’s declaration of independence in May…
Elder Holland’s Verbs
As the battles for faith, family, and religious freedom intensify,…
The Arc of History – The Worship of a False God
Worshiping a golden calf is bad enough for the worshipers,…
Why Not Allow People to Do Dumb Things?
It’s not your fault you’re fat. It’s the fault of…
Senums, Senines and … Barley? Why Alma 11?
In a world of runaway debt, shaky fiat money, and…
“There He Is” – The Triumphant Christmas Yet to Come
No one but the Father knows the hour of the…
Senums, Senines and … Barley? Why Alma 11?
In a world of runaway debt, shaky fiat money, and…
Thanks Be to the Father for the Constitution
The people ordained the Constitution and the Constitution created government.…
Sixteen Powerful Quotes from the Federalist Papers
James Madison’s definition of tyranny should wake us up to…
Nine Key Points from the Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights does not tell the people what…
Ageless Emotions, Timeless Principles
How does a society give leaders sufficient power to accomplish…
Opinion: Is This the King They’ve Been Waiting For?
Two types of leaders fundamentally transform the societies they lead…
Opinion: My Country ‘Tis of Me
In a recent address, President Obama used a first-person singular…
The Cancerous Administrative State
"Even under the best forms of government, those entrusted with…
Cisgender Heteronormative Created He Them?
If important words lose meaning, so do the concepts for…
About That Food Storage You Thought You Owned
"Stroke of the pen, law of the land, kinda cool."…
Old Dead White Men Versus Old Dead White Men
"What could a bunch of old white men who lived…
Secular Religion and Its Three-Pound God
If someone claims the human mind is the greatest power…
Calling Shots and Pulling Strings
Nice Try, Pinocchio
The Jealous Little Brother
News Item: City-owned cemetery refuses to allow the word "Jesus"…
Deception by What Abraham Lincoln Called “Sophistical Contrivance”
"A highwayman holds a pistol to my ear, and mutters…
California GirlsJust when you thought laws couldn’t be sillier.
A few days ago, California Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation…
Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall; Who’s the Sulliest Of Them All?
News article: Harry Reid tells reporters that Mitt Romney is…
Twist and Shout: Seven Traits of Book of Mormon Pretzels
On to the scene comes Jared's daughter, exceedingly cunning and…
The Great Apostasy: From Creedal to Grave
False doctrines pushed the Church into the wilderness; their demise…
The Trinity Creeds: Roadblocks to Understanding Christ’s Atonement
A tangible resurrected Being will never be compatible with a…
Op Ed: The U.S. Constitution – Our Feet to the Fire
The battle to defend the Constitution is a repeat of…
Opinion: The Danger of Dissing Sacred Things
Diminishing appreciation of the Constitution poses a substantial danger to…
Answering Criticisms: “Mormons Aren’t Christians”
Why would we claim to be the original of something…
Opinion: Football, Showboating, and Tim Tebow
If a quarterback prays after a successful play, what does…
Opinion: Ten Predictions and Probabilities for 2012
The coming year may well be a hinge year in…
Opinion: Of Babies, Banks, Bush, Obama, and Greece
Some day, the fobbed-off-onto next generation will wake up and…
Global Warming and Those Who Love and Make a Lie
Greedy climate scientists know the weakness of their position, but…
Why Didn’t We Grow on Trees?
Man's legal authority cannot trump an institution, founded before this…
Frenzy Precedes the Miracle … At Least the Special Ones
Accelerated events may not indicate the Second Coming is imminent,…
Answering Attacks on the Church with Judo
Practitioners of judo do not throw fists, but are taught…
Polygamy: The Convenient Rumor That Won’t Die
Hey, give us time. We've only been trying for 120…
Excerpt: “Mormons Are Blind Followers…”
Are Mormons blind followers or have they found a way…
She Jumped From the Temple into the Great Salt Lake
Or ... Why I wrote a book about falsehoods, exaggerations,…
The Real Villain in the Economy
Out-of-control spending, unfunded liabilities, onerous government regulations, people who don't…
Moral Disapproval – So Politically Incorrect
Attorney General Eric Holder announced yesterday that the Obama administration…
Odd Evidence of Christ’s Divinity
There is only one religious culture that shrinks from pronouncing…
Prophets: A Better GPS
Every day, thousands of Americans plug their desired destinations into…
Pardon My Values, but Merry Christmas to All
Why all the Happy Holidays PC drivel from our fellow…
Harry and Glenn Revisited: Questions for the Bus Drivers
Before supporting a political organization, it helps to ask a…
Glenn Beck and Harry Reid – Future Buddies?
You show me a church that has both Glenn Beck…
Smell of the Lamp, Smell of Engraving
Given the ease of correcting mistakes written on paper, it…
The Nukes of Iran – Part of the Plan?
Containment worked with the Commies, why not with the Khomeinis?
Israel, the World, and the Shadow of Gideon
From flotillas to U.N. votes, the nations of the earth…
Faith, Hope, and . Government?
A recent Audience Alliance poll found that charity is alive…
Neville Chamberlain Visits BYU
Under Brzezinski's reasoning, use of force to stop tyrants is…
Easily Offended or Easily Entreated
If someone wrote an article about Mormon crickets, the comments…
Why Don’t They Just Laugh At Us?
The critics should rearrange their chairs and look at this…
The Spiritual Origins of Halloween
Children offering to pray for neighbors' ancestors in return for…
Washington and Zarahemla: The Beltway-Nephite Disease
The only element of king-men-ism absent from Washington today is…
Global Warming-A Clever Inoculation?
In the smothering news coverage of global warming, many who…
Gardeners or Engineers?
What Nobel-prize winning economist Friedrich von Hayek said of a…