Hey gang, let’s recap what happened this week in Mormonism and Mormon History. Vamos!

RACE:

Darron Smith addresses the LDS Church’s recent article on Mormonism and Race.

POLYGAMY:

Nate Oman’s thoughts on race, sex, and religion, as related to the renunciation of an anti-polygamy law, are available at Religion and Politics.

Peggy Fletcher Stack discusses the LDS Church’s newest article on its history. The topic, perhaps released in response to the tearing down of anti-polygamy legislation in Utah, is on Utah era polygamy.

Mormon Historians need to be aware it’s illegal to teach others what polygamy is in Mississippi. Apparently, teaching yourself about polygamy is all right.

POLITICS:

This map shows the dominant religious group in each county in the United States. This map could be particularly valuable to academics who address Mormon culture (and the Mormon culture region).

Utah Representative Jim Matheson (D) has decided not to run for re-election, Mia Love appears to be primed for another run at a seat in the House.

Good friend of JI, John Turner, examines the revoking of an anti-polygamy law in Utah.

JB Haws talked with Jana Riess about his new book, The Mormon Image in the American Mind: Fifty Years of Public Perception. JB is someone as kind and generous as he is brilliant, you’ll enjoy the interview immensely.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Richard Bushman participated in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on the exMormon subreddit page. Bushman’s patience is to be commended.

Religion and Ethic Weekly takes a look at Mormon missionaries in light of the new age requirements for missionary service in October 2012.

A film on a transgender Mormon, called Transmormon, was released this week.

MORMON HISTORY: STATE OF THE FIELD

If you haven’t read the Mormon Studies Review, it is time to fix that. Here are three FREE articles from the inaugural issue, including articles from Tom Tweed, Katie Lofton, and our own Matt B.

Also, a friendly reminder to like Juvenile Instructor on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Monumental news in the study of Mormonism: it appears that Connell O’Donovan has located an African American convert to Mormonism who converted before James Manning James. Margaret Blair Young shared the news on her blog.

Marriage:

Friends of JI:

Our friends at Religion in American History suggest how the social gospel(s) could be studied in the American West, with implications for studying Mormonism.

This podcast interviews the first gay couple married in the state of Utah.