Loren Marks

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Articles

The High Demands of the Devoted: “Why Do They Do It?”

Jan 14, 2025 | latterdaysaintmag.com | Loren Marks

The following first appeared in Public Square Magazine. Special Note From the Authors: When Orthodox Jews write the Divine Name, they typically write it “G-d” out of respect. When using their words, we follow this practice. On their long, difficult, and sometimes discouraging journey far from the comforts of the Shire, Tolkien’s Samwise Gamgee told Frodo Baggins to remember the old stories: “Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going.
Faith, Hope, and BYU: Sandra's Inspiring Journey

Jan 10, 2025 | publicsquaremag.org | Loren Marks

All four of Sandra’s grandparents had divorced at least once, long before she was old enough to understand what divorce even meant. In the case of one grandparent, the number of divorces would eventually reach 10. Complicit in those divorces were various forms of infidelity and addictions to drugs and alcohol. Sandra knew early on that she wanted something very different in her life.
Faith, Hope, and BYU: Sandra's Inspiring Journey

Jan 10, 2025 | l8r.it | Loren Marks

All four of Sandra’s grandparents had divorced at least once, long before she was old enough to understand what divorce even meant. In the case of one grandparent, the number of divorces would eventually reach 10. Complicit in those divorces were various forms of infidelity and addictions to drugs and alcohol. Sandra knew early on that she wanted something very different in her life.
The Great Idea of America: Lessons from a Mixed-Politics Marriage | Meridian Magazine

Oct 30, 2024 | latterdaysaintmag.com | Loren Marks

The following first appeared in Public Square Magazine. The year is 2015. Ryan is a passionate Democrat. Jeff, one of Ryan’s closest friends for many years, is an ardent Republican. Both are good people with good hearts—but they have sharply divergent political views. In a low moment, both Ryan and Jeff explode in an online social media exchange that includes phrases like, “I honestly cannot fathom how any decent person could vote for ________.” Their relationship is deeply damaged.
Political Tolerance: The Secret to Rebuilding Broken Relationships

Oct 28, 2024 | publicsquaremag.org | Loren Marks

The year is 2015. Ryan is a passionate Democrat. Jeff, one of Ryan’s closest friends for many years, is an ardent Republican. Both are good people with good hearts—but they have sharply divergent political views. In a low moment, both Ryan and Jeff explode in an online social media exchange that includes phrases like, “I honestly cannot fathom how any decent person could vote for ________.” Their relationship is deeply damaged.
Political Tolerance: The Secret to Rebuilding Broken Relationships

Oct 28, 2024 | l8r.it | Loren Marks

The year is 2015. Ryan is a passionate Democrat. Jeff, one of Ryan’s closest friends for many years, is an ardent Republican. Both are good people with good hearts—but they have sharply divergent political views. In a low moment, both Ryan and Jeff explode in an online social media exchange that includes phrases like, “I honestly cannot fathom how any decent person could vote for ________.” Their relationship is deeply damaged.
How Couples Perceive the Influence of God in Their Marriage | Meridian Magazine

Oct 2, 2024 | latterdaysaintmag.com | Loren Marks

The following first appeared on Public Square Magazine. Special note from the authors: Orthodox Jews often refer to the supreme being as The Master of the Universe or as Hashem (which means “The Name”). Additionally, to honor and show respect to the name of God they will write it as “G-d” (in case the piece of paper with God’s name on it is thrown away or otherwise defaced). To respect their belief, we spell the name of God as they do in quotes from Jewish participants.
Religious Family Gets Offended By Nephew’s Shrek-Themed Birthday Party

Jun 27, 2024 | inkl.com | Loren Marks

Shrek is the beloved cartoon ogre who has become as iconic as Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny. But as today’s story shows, he could also cause strain among religious families. Reddit user Acceptable_Pick_4664 wanted to throw her five-year-old son a Shrek-themed birthday party. However, the chosen motif offended her brother, a devout Christian. The original poster (OP) was left in a tough spot between her child and sibling and asked the TwoHotTakes subreddit for advice.
Lessons from America's best fathers

Jun 15, 2024 | deseret.com | Loren Marks

So what are the ingredients of good fathering? We decided to find out by interviewing men identified by others as especially good examples of the same. Over the past three decades, we have asked diverse American clergy to point us to the most exemplary families in their congregations so that we could interview them and learn the secrets behind their success. Our American Families of Faith project now includes about 300 racially diverse families from all regions of the United States.
Finding the Eternal in a Mortal World

May 20, 2024 | publicsquaremag.org | Loren Marks

This is adapted from an episode of “The Raising Family Podcast” S1E10 Solemly Proclaim, Reverence and False Idols. Sociologist Roger Friedman recently wrote that we live in a world that is “an arena of warring gods.” From a social science perspective, those gods include the economic and political gods of money, fame, and power. Other “gods” include consumerism, pop icons, and football.