Bloggernacle Back Bench: Giving Mormonism a voice

Welcome back to the Bloggernacle back bench: a comfortable place to observe, learn and discuss.

As your guide to the world of LDS blogs, I thought Id begin this weeks installment with a main reason why the Bloggernacle is so amazing.

Voice.

Voice?

Yes, voice. Not only is the Bloggernacle a voice for change and an outlet for conversation, but it can include your voice. You can go in and make suggestions, talk about issues, bring up new topics, be artistic, etc. You can even have an anonymous voice if you wish. But your voice can be heard.

It isnt always heard, comments can be deleted — although if you REALLY want to be heard you can create your own web space, but that is a discussion for a future column.

Nonetheless, I know of no other outlet where your voice can combine with voices from around the world in dynamic dialogue.

Voice.

Here are some especially compelling Bloggernacle voices from the last week:

Power Pick: "Sagging," "grime," "rickety" or even "crackhouse." Do these words describe your ward? "Portrait of a Ward" skillfully describes one unnamed ward somewhere in the world. Do you remember attending a similar ward? Does this describe your ward? Do those benches in your heated building seem a bit softer now? Check out this potent post at Nine Moons.

Poignant Pick: "The Childless Ones" post at Times and Seasons highlights an article of the same name from a 1916 Relief Society Magazine. With beautiful, intuitive, and delightfully-dated language, it comforts those who are unable to have children, and advises others to curtail judgment and instead offer support. Favorite line: "Let our tongues be wise and our comments slow." And skim through the comments for some heart-touching personal experiences and insights.

Background Check: Title: Mormon Mentality. Subtitle: Thoughts and Asides by Peculiar People. Tags: humor, humanity, politics, history.

On October 3, 2006, Mormon Mentality uploaded its "Welcome" post. Born from the ashes of The Banner of Heaven experiment, Mormon Mentality is "an open

place, and that's the way we like it."