The Kindle version of This Abominable Slavery is now available for instant delivery for only $14.39. The hardback release date is October 18.

Today is release day for This Abominable Slavery. The Kindle edition is still dominating the Stingy Cowboy (sorry cowboy, maybe try being less stingy?) Hardcopies are 5% off on Amazon and should start shipping today. Still haven't seen any in the wild and I don't have mine yet.

Arrived today!!

Oxford is offering free access to the first chapter of This Abominable Slavery, in case you want to kick the tires before you decide to buy. Free access is available now through Nov. 30. Click here: academic.oup.com/book/58151/cha…

After I was hit by one of three cars racing about a week ago, the trooper called. He said he had no idea how I am still alive. He said it was the most violent thing he'd seen on video happening to a car in his 24 year career, across over 1000 accidents. Here's what's on my mind.

Bollards win again! World Bollard Association™ did you see this one?

The New Books Network just released this podcast on This Abominable Slavery, hosted by Miranda Melcher. Check it out here: newbooksnetwork.com/this-abominabl…

Lots of myths of the value of public higher education, especially while policymakers consider budget reallocation. Public higher ed increases wages, employment, and economic mobility. Best ROI for policymakers. My column in Deseret News deseret.com/opinion/2025/0…

Higher ed has its problems, but it’s still one of the crown jewels of American institutions, writes Michael Kofoed UT Knoxville in Deseret News Opinion. deseret.com/opinion/2025/0…

Harriet Church is one of only 3 formerly enslaved women to receive full temple rituals in the CofJCofLDS. Even more remarkable, Harriet married & then was sealed in the SL Temple to her former enslaver, Thomas Church. Read Harriet's story here: exhibits.lib.utah.edu/s/century-of-b…

John Taylor Church’s mother was formerly enslaved to his father before the family moved to Utah Territory in 1878. Early in life John was promised priesthood ordination in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but was subsequently denied.

Really good department chairs matter in keeping academia from collapsing on itself. Recognition needed. insidehighered.com/opinion/career…

When Alwilda Jackson married George Jett she was 19 & George was 35. It was a 2nd marriage for both but one that lasted. Jett was a pioneering Black Latter-day Saint in KY & he must have shared his faith with Alwilda who also joined. Meet Alwilda here: exhibits.lib.utah.edu/s/century-of-b…

Grateful for these BYU law professors for speaking up. Worth reading. deseret.com/opinion/2025/0…

When Mary Church was born in 1863 in TN, her father was her enslaver. At age 16, she received LDS temple rituals & served as proxy when her father was vicariously sealed to his deceased first wife. Meet Mary here & learn the rest of her remarkable story: exhibits.lib.utah.edu/s/century-of-b…

"no one has died" because of feeding USAID to the woodchipper, Elon claimed. In this devastating piece the NYT went out and learned some of their names and stories:

William Franklin Church was the first son born to his formerly enslaved mother following her emancipation at the end of the Civil War. Census records identified him as Black in Tennessee and white in Utah. 1/4

Excited to welcome Nicholas Shrum to University of Utah next year as the Graduate Research Fellow in Mormon Studies. Congratulations Nicholas!

For those of you participating in Holy Week, here is a piece on Holy Saturdays, the day between the agony of the cross and the wonder of the empty tomb. Shout out to Matthew Wickman for introducing me to Holy Saturdays in his book, Life to the Whole Being. wayfaremagazine.org/p/holy-saturda…

This is probably one of the best speeches in committee I have EVER heard. We often hear passionate emotional speeches and I applaud that, but this is a forensic dismantling of a woman who arrogantly thinks she and the administration she belongs to are above the law. THEY ARE