Author: Julie M. Smith

I live in Austin, Texas, with my husband, Derrick, an electrical engineer. We have three boys: Simon ('98), Nathan ('01), and Truman ('04). We are a homeschooling family and I also teach at the LDS Institute here in Austin. I have a BA in English from UT Austin and an MA in Biblical Studies (Theology) from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, where I specialized in the study of women in the New Testament. I wrote my thesis on Mark 14:3-9, which I explored from literary and feminist perspectives to determine how the story teaches the audience about Jesus's identity. I wrote a book, Search, Ponder, and Pray: A Guide to the Gospels. It contains 4,000 questions (no answers) designed to get the LDS reader to really think about the scriptures and to introduce the major findings of biblical studies to the general reader. I like to read, buy books, and go out for ethnic food.

Defending the Wise Latina

by Julie M. Smith • July 15, 2009 • 50 Comments

I’m grumpy that Sotomayor didn’t stand by her snark. She should have.

FHE Lesson #9

by Julie M. Smith • July 6, 2009 • 3 Comments

Lesson #9: Prophets

Why I Married Him

by Julie M. Smith • June 29, 2009 • 9 Comments

Seven-year-old son to my husband, who was recently called as his Primary teacher:

The Accidental Environmentalist

by Julie M. Smith • June 23, 2009 • 40 Comments

I never really set out to be environmentally conscious–not that I don’t like the idea, of course, just that other priorities . . . well, took priority.

FHE Lesson #8

by Julie M. Smith • June 20, 2009 • 6 Comments

Lesson #8: Talking to Heavenly Father

Mormon Theology Seminar Podcasts

by Julie M. Smith • June 1, 2009 • Comments Off

Podcasts from the seminars sponsored by the Mormon Theology Seminar are now available online.

LDS Readings of Revelation 21-22

by Julie M. Smith • May 10, 2009 • 3 Comments

The Mormon Theology Seminar is beginning a seminar on Revelation 21-22.

FHE Lesson #5

by Julie M. Smith • May 9, 2009 • 3 Comments

Lesson #5: Jesus Made the Earth

FHE Lesson #4

by Julie M. Smith • May 3, 2009 • 2 Comments

Lesson #4: We Are Free to Choose

DIY Mormon Art

by Julie M. Smith • April 23, 2009 • 3 Comments

Step One: Be nice to Ardis so that she’ll send you high-resolution files of art that you have fallen in love with.

FHE Lesson #3

by Julie M. Smith • April 19, 2009 • 2 Comments

Lesson #3: Our Savior

Too Easy, Too Soon

by Julie M. Smith • April 19, 2009 • 13 Comments

This morning I woke up to find my youngest child wearing accurately-buttoned church clothes and eating a hot breakfast that he had made without help. He might as well have handed me a pink slip.

Thank you, Valerie Hudson

by Julie M. Smith • April 15, 2009 • 95 Comments

For the first time ever, I’ve read a defense of the anti-same-sex-marriage movement that didn’t make me cringe. HT: Nate Oman.

FHE: Proverbs 15:1

by Julie M. Smith • April 11, 2009 • 10 Comments

I’m taking a break from the Gospel Fundamentals FHEs this week; if you’re really clever, you’ll be able to reverse engineer what kind of problems are plaguing the Smith household this week.