Doves and Serpents | With open minds and Mormon hearts.

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0July 14, 2012
Grondahl Restored 26

For other cartoons in this series, click here. This cartoon, as always, is posted with the kind permission of The...
6July 14, 2012
36 A Mormon in the Cheap Seats: Truth or The Onion?

Because Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah, it’s important that it is ‘dressed appropriately.’
6July 13, 2012
Unexpected Spiritual Experiences: Afraid to Pray?

I only know that I wasn’t strong enough to let the lamplight keep glowing, tiny as it was. I...
7July 12, 2012
6 Psaltery & Lyre: Christine Butterworth-McDermott, Two Poems

Christine Butterworth-McDermott is an associate professor of English at Stephen F. Austin State University, where she teaches creative writing, fairy...
15July 11, 2012
Help Wanted: Punishing tweens and teens

When I was a tween/teen, we didn’t ever really get punished-at least I don’t remember being punished. We didn’t...
8July 10, 2012
Unexpected Spiritual Experiences: Knock, Knock, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

I got into gear. This was the main event. We took out our scriptures and flipchart. We...
8July 9, 2012
Our Favorite Mormons: A Hidden Jewel

This summer as you watch Olympic athletes receive their medals, I ask you to remember the individual who founded a...
2July 8, 2012
Ride to Church on Texas State Highway 21

During a recent drive through east Texas, on a 130 mile stretch of Hwy 21 that I have driven a...
4July 8, 2012
Mutual Improvement Associations: Tools, Tents, and Radiant Hope

Today’s powerful and inspiring Mutual Improvement Associations comes from our guest blogger, Mark. Let’s begin in typical LDS-sacrament-meeting-talk fashion and...
2July 7, 2012
Grondahl Restored 25

For other cartoons in this series, click here. This cartoon, as always, is posted with the kind permission of The...
10July 5, 2012
5 Psaltery & Lyre: Tyler Chadwick, “On Crucifixion by J. Kirk Richards”

Tyler Chadwick is a doctoral candidate in English and the Teaching of English at Idaho State University and his poems...
7July 5, 2012
Guest Post Invitation: Unexpected Spiritual Experiences

I begged God to change her. But instead, God changed me. . . By the time we arrived in Massachusetts...
8July 4, 2012
On conquering our fears

My Stuart is a pretty cautious kid. (That’s a nice way of saying he’s scared. Of pretty much...
3July 3, 2012
Teaching Sex: On Labels

Labels affect how we treat others. When we label someone as gay or straight, we often treat them as though...
6July 2, 2012
Teaching Sex: It Seemed Terrifying

When dating I thoroughly enjoyed cuddling, holding hands, and kissing. I felt guilty for just how much I enjoyed kissing...
2July 1, 2012
Ride to and walk through Pride with Mormon Allies

Today’s Ride to Pride comes to us from Ren, who has done another Ride for us and has shared some...
1June 29, 2012
Grondahl Restored 24

For other cartoons in this series, click here. This cartoon, as always, is posted with the kind permission of...
10June 29, 2012
35 A Mormon in the Cheap Seats: A Visit to the Grandin Printing Shop on E. Main

I’m in the Grandin Printing Shop on E. Main in Palmyra. An affable guide is doing his best to impose...
6June 28, 2012
4 Psaltery & Lyre: Aaron Michael Kline, Two Poems

Aaron Michael Kline received his BA in Theatre and English from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas.
10June 27, 2012
PROUD

Part 1 — Setting the Stage Earlier this week I sat and thought about the weekend. Should I march in...
5June 27, 2012
525,600 minutes

We’re on a family trip. Notice that I didn’t call it a family “vacation” because that implies rest and...
7June 25, 2012
My Own Personal Canon: Being Happy

Before we begin, I have a few announcements to make. First, I turned forty this week. I know! That’s a...
9June 24, 2012
34 A Mormon in the Cheap Seats: Charity by Force?

All those in favor of building a new sports stadium, please bring $100 cash and come down this Saturday and...
1June 24, 2012
Walk to Church in Hyde Park, Chicago

Today’s Walk to Church comes to us from Jenna in Chicago, who writes: We are moving from Chicago to the...
1June 23, 2012
Grondahl 23

For other cartoons in this series, click here. This cartoon, as always, is posted with the kind permission of...
11June 21, 2012
3 Psaltery & Lyre: Sarah Dunster, “The Death of Ginny”

Sarah Dunster is an award-winning poet and fiction writer. Her poems have been published in Dialogue: a Journal of Mormon...
24June 20, 2012
Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut

Last week I read this comment in an online Facebook group: “My daughter’s handout from Young Women’s today: Your greatest...
6June 19, 2012
Teaching Sex: Confronting Corianton

He came home weeping after meeting with the Lord’s representative and feeling like he was dirt because he was told...
5June 17, 2012
Ride to Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Today’s Ride to Church comes to us from Joanna in Albuquerque. Joanna is one of the first non-Mormon people...
3June 15, 2012
Teaching Sex: It’s Not the Stork

Sometimes, he would preface with, “do you really want to know, because you won’t be able to un-know it.”
2June 14, 2012
2 Psaltery & Lyre: M. Brett Gaffney, Two Poems

M. Brett Gaffney graduated with a BA in English from Stephen F. Austin University and is currently pursuing an MFA...
6June 13, 2012
Teaching Sex: Sex Talk (Somewhat) Misremembered

My only hope now is that my son will also positively misremember my talk with him.
15June 13, 2012
I’m not a Runner

I recently went to the doctor to discuss my “blood pressure issue” (read = I have high blood pressure). ...
13June 11, 2012
Letting Live

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that my perspective on life is limited. Life itself is complex and multi-faceted,...
1June 10, 2012
Grondahl 22

For other cartoons in this series, click here. This cartoon, as always, is posted with the kind permission of...
5June 10, 2012
Ride to Pride

Today’s Ride to Pride is a slideshow of pictures from last week’s Pride Parade in Salt Lake City, UT in...
15June 9, 2012
Teaching Sex: On Reframing Negative Assumptions

It’s time to get rid of the “sin next to murder” rhetoric: a closer reading of the text in Alma...
7June 7, 2012
Teaching Sex: Two Tables?

He walked forward and thrust in his hand. He pulled it back out to reveal . . . the centerfold...
0June 7, 2012
Grondahl 25

For other cartoons in this series, click here. This cartoon, as always, is posted with the kind permission of...
13June 7, 2012
1 Psaltery & Lyre: Our Lord Jesus in Drag

Dayna Patterson is the newest blogger at Doves & Serpents. Her poems have appeared in Dark Lady Poetry, Persona, Words...
18June 6, 2012
On Parental Hope and Heartbreak

I’ve read two things recently that bothered me-perhaps especially as the wife of Mr. Cheap Seats. Exhibit A: An...
4June 6, 2012
Coming Soon to a Life Near You

Saturday was a terrible day. Nothing better than the bald statement, as they say. I was blue, so many shades...
8June 4, 2012
Teaching Sex: My Body Can Do That?

I wondered what it would feel like to take my arousal from beginning to end, instead of cutting it off...
2June 4, 2012
About

About Psaltery & Lyre In the words of Canadian poet Anne Simpson, “Poetry dares us to locate the white heat...
56June 4, 2012
Psaltery & Lyre Submission Guide

Welcome to the Psaltery & Lyre submissions page! Please follow our guidelines carefully: Read what has already been posted in...
17June 4, 2012
Sunday Morning

Today’s guest post was originally published by Marion Jensen on his personal blog: The Open Author. Our gratitude to...
3June 3, 2012
Ride to Church in Huntsville, Texas

Today’s Ride to Church comes to us from Karin (sister of Doves and Serpents’ Heather) and her daughter Synneve. ...
10June 3, 2012
Good Grief

But in that moment, I acknowledge the reality that it’s nearly impossible for me to go back, for my faith...
1June 2, 2012
Grondahl 21

For other cartoons in this series, click here. This cartoon, as always, is posted with the kind permission of...
8June 2, 2012
Teaching Sex: I Apologize

I apologize after sex. Yes, I literally say, “I’m sorry.” Actually I have come a long way in recent years...