BYU welcomes students from all faith persuasions, provided those students abide by the Honor Code. However, if one happens to convert from Mormonism to another faith, one loses one's ecclesiastical endorsement. This seems like a strange, strange bit of university legislation, and we actually have some disagreements about it.

Likewise, it appears some Church schools (namely LDS Business College) are clamping down even harder on beards and the Honor Code. The schools say it is business as usual, but some anecdotal evidence suggests increased oppression for the beards.

Is Institute not servings its purpose? Or what is Institute's purpose, then? A vlogger argues that Institute should serve a greater role in ebbing the tide of attrition among attendees. It's interesting. It's not perfect. But it makes us think.

Hey! An author visits every "American" temple, and by "American," we mean United Statesian.

A BYU-Idaho student gets all Ferris Bueller and hacks the school's mainframe to change his grades, thus qualifying him for entry to BYU-Utah AND (ideally) locking down free scholarship money.

The Church has a new survey on Mormonsandgays.org. Hit it up.

There's a new Christmas initiative by the Church! We don't know what it is at the time of recording, but here it is!

Our pal Russell Stevenson, the Mormon History Guy, has a new book coming out, For the Cause of Righteousness, that deals with the forgotten history of black Mormons.

Other stuff: MoTab is going to offer its music for streaming, but not on any service you actually use; the entire Bible in one cheeky Facebook post; Mormon approaches to immigration reform; and Bronco Mendenhall wants guys to postpone their missions until winter semester. #selfish

 

Clicks:

* Allow ex-Mormons at BYU

* The failings of Institute

* Beard crackdowns

* Visiting every temple

* New Mormonsandgays.org survey

* The Ferris Bueller of Rexburg

* Russell Stevenson book! and pre-order here.

* Tabernacle choir to stream Christmas music on a website

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