Now that 2014 is in the rear view mirror, it’s time to start looking for the best and worst of this past year. Start your nominations! We want to highlight YOU and your favorite Mormon blogs. Once again Ziff, the mighty numbers cruncher of Zelophehad’s Daughters will handle results presentation at the end of this event. Because some of these are pretty common, we will start with a few nominations, but feel free to add your own in the comments below.
Here are our 2014 Wheaties categories:
Best big blog:
Best group blog:
- Wheat & Tares
- Juvenile Instructor
- Faith Promoting Rumor
- Zelophehad’s Daughters
- Doves and Serpents
- Exponent II
- Peculiar People
- Worlds Without End
- Main Street Plaza
- Rational Faiths
- Mormon Mentality
- Times and Seasons
- Modern Mormon Men
- Segullah
- No More Strangers
Best podcast:
- Mormon Matters
- Mormon Stories
- Mormon Expression
- FMH Podcast
- Mormon Expositor
- The Cultural Hall
- Engaging Gospel Doctrine
Best Mormon Facebook community or discussion forum:
- FMH FB Group
- StayLDS.com/forum
- exMormon reddit
- Mormon Hub (FB Group)
- New Order Mormon (NOM)
Best Bloggernacle Controversy:
- Kate Kelly Excommunication
- Bloggers targeted (John Dehlin, Rock Waterman, Kirk Caudle)
- Mormons in Torture Policy
- Cliven Bundy takes on Feds
- New Polygamy Essays on LDS.org
Best humorous blog:
Best apologetic blog:
Best new blog (first published in 2014):
Best solo blog:
Best new blogger:
Best blog layout/graphics:
Best overall blogger:
Best commenter:
Most memorable comment:
Funniest thread:
Best post title:
Best humorous post:
Best satirical post:
Best historical post:
Best post series:
Best poetry post:
Best apologetic post:
Best spiritual post:
Best doctrinal post:
Best post on church policy:
Best personal post:
Best faith crisis post:
Best current events post:
Best book/article review:
Best contribution to the Bloggernacle in 2014:
Best contribution to interfaith dialogue:
Best Mormon Activism:
Write-in category:
And here are the categories for the Tarefic Awards!
Worst Mormon Internet Drama:
Biggest Soapbox Commenter:
Commenter that started the most arguments:
Most missed personality on the Bloggernacle:
Worst Mormon Activism:
Worst Comments:
Write-in category:
If you think of another category we haven’t listed, feel free to nominate! Also, please spread the word! Some blogs didn’t know about the nominations until it was too late.
Please include a link to the 2014 blog/post/comment that you nominate if you wish it to be considered. Put your link in [brackets] so that it will get through our spam catcher. As always, you are welcome to nominate yourself, but try to think of some other bloggers to recognize too. For-profit blogs will not be considered. This thread is the place to make any thoughtful comments, concerns or suggestions on the categories or the process. They will be duly considered by our panel. Thank you for your participation. It’s YOU that makes the Wheaties and Tarefic Awards great!
Wheat & Tares 
On the basis of these numbers: (http://www.the-exponent.com/were-number-one-i-mean-1029545/) you might want to move Rational Faiths from the group blog to big blog category.
I don’t know if Meg Stout at M* is new this past year, but I guess I just noticed her and she has done some interesting stuff. Particularly interested in the recent
http://www.millennialstar.org/the-compassionate-mormon-drinking-as-though-water-matters/
Although we are small, and have had a couple minor set backs, I would love to see Exploring Sainthood in both FB communities and in the small blog category. Thanks
I am new to the wheaties, I didn’t jump in with both feet into the bloggernacle until 2014. If I had known I would have been keeping a list of my favorites . . . now I know for next year.
I definitely think Approaching Justice should be a part of the group blog nominees.
I would like to make the following nominations:
Best post series: When the Temple Hurts on fMh (http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/2014/10/when-the-temple-hurts-introduction/)
I would also suggest a write-in category along the lines of Best Contribution to Processing News of Excommunications. I think a lot of excellent work was done on this topic. I would nominate Dan Wotherspoon’s podcast series “Perspectives on News of Possible Excommunications of LDS Activists” in this category. (http://mormonmatters.org/2014/06/12/231-perspectives-on-news-of-possible-excommunications-of-lds-activists-part-1/)
I want to nominate the Maxwell Institute Podcast. Blair Hodges does outstanding work.
I want to nominate Andrea Radke-Moss’ post at the JI:
http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/mormon-studies-in-the-classroom-mormon-women-patriarchy-and-equality/
but I’m unsure whether to nominate it under historical, church policy, or ?? It was my favorite 2014 post in the ‘nacle.
I would like to nominate Mormon Women Stand for worst Mormon Activism.
For best personal post:[http://www.mormonmentality.org/2014/07/13/lessons-from-a-sunburn.htm#more-7638]
Also seconding: Andrea Radke Moss JI post suggested by Kristine A., for whichever category is appropriate.
Best podcast, the new A Thoughtful Faith:[http://athoughtfulfaith.org/]
If you haven’t read it yet, this is a good time to check out Ziff’s 2014 funny ‘nacle comments roundup, and that’s always a great place to remember some nominations.
For funniest thread, the discussion that followed Scott B.’s post at BCC titled “If You Like Trunk-or-Treats You Probably Don’t Have a Testimony.” A number of people dropped by to misunderstand his tone and chastise him for being so uptight, many of them in funny ways. My favorite was one person who questioned the veracity of Scott’s story that “No lie, there were 482 people killed last year alone in our stake parking lot when 1,723 minivans all tried to depart simultaneously and the ensuing traffic jam became sentient, unleashing its wrath upon all who dared turn their keys in the ignition.”
[http://bycommonconsent.com/2014/10/22/if-you-like-trunk-or-treats-you-probably-dont-have-a-testimony/]
Some nominations for funniest post:
Petra at ZD uses a series of GIFs to show what every Bloggernacle argument about feminism looks like. [http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2014/03/09/every-bloggernacle-argument-about-feminism-as-told-in-gifs/]
The Expert Textpert at Expert Textperts gives odds on various things being said or done at Conference. [http://www.experttextperts.com/2014/03/general-conference-what-are-odds-20_31.html]
Hawkgrrrl at W&T uses a series of GIFs to report on Conference. [http://www.wheatandtares.org/14040/conference-report-in-tweets-gifs/]
Ardis at Keepapitchinin reviews some of the strange and wonderful search terms that have led readers to her blog. [http://www.keepapitchinin.org/2014/05/07/is-it-ethical-to-eat-mormons/]
Sara Katherine Staheli Hanks at fMh reports silly and unexpected uses suggested for the #ItWasMom hashtag. [http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/2014/05/hashtag-hijinks-itwasmom/]
Jessie Jensen at BCC lists some suggested reserved parking spaces at church. [http://bycommonconsent.com/2014/07/20/wwjp/]
Angela C. at BCC revises and expands her Mormon Jargon post. [http://bycommonconsent.com/2014/07/24/mormon-jargon-2/]
Petra at ZD uses Monty Python GIFs to explain the meaning of Mormon feminist life. [http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2014/10/05/monty-pythons-the-meaning-of-mormon-feminist-life/]
Craig H. at T&S explains how the kids in his neighborhood would rather learn about Reformation Day than trick or treat. In addition to being very funny, this post has the added benefit of being really interesting. [http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2014/10/a-crazy-wild-reformation-day/]
Some nominations for best satirical post:
Melyngoch at ZD comments on the PR department’s response to OW with “Mr. Kafka Goes to Temple Square.”
[http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2014/03/19/mr-kafka-goes-to-temple-square/]
Lynnette at ZD also comments on the same topic with “The Camelot Convention.”
[http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2014/03/25/the-camelot-convention/]
Mike C. at ZD congratulates the Church for responding to a nonexisted movement in “The Movement to Hang Pictures of Female Leaders in Church Buildings.” [http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2014/04/05/the-movement-to-hang-pictures-of-female-leaders-in-church-buildings/]
Cruelest Month at the Exponent decries the practice of men openly wearing neckties, which point to their genitals and thus needlessly arouse women. [http://www.the-exponent.com/neckties-priesthood-attire-or-lucifers-lust-pointer/]
Hermia Lyly at Young Mormon Feminists offers “a modest proposel for BYU-friendly ‘gay-marriage cards.'” [http://youngmormonfeminists.org/2014/08/21/a-modest-proposal-for-byu-friendly-gay-marriage-cards/]
Geoff Nelson at Rational Faiths outlines a future apologetic reinterpretation of the Family Proclamation that is compatible with gay marriage. [http://rationalfaiths.com/lds-marriage-2112/]
Ziff at ZD (yes, I’m a self-nominator) rewrites the Mormon Gender Issues Survey to make it more comfortable for Mormons who like everything correlated. [http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2014/12/09/a-correlated-mormon-gender-issues-survey/]
I second that post by Hermia Lyly. That was the funniest thing I read all year. [slow clap]
Some nominations for best solo blog:
Flunking Sainthood (Jana Riess)
KiwiMormon (Gina Colvin)
Keepapitchinin (Ardis Parshall)
Also, two other podcasts to consider including are Infants on Thrones and A Thoughtful Faith.
And for Facebook community, I think Mormon Stories should be included.
Also second KiwiMormon. Love pretty much everything she writes.
Nominations for best post series:
Sara Katherine Staheli Hanks’s “When the Temple Hurts” at fMh [http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/category/temple/when-the-temple-hurts-series/]
The Exponent’s Birth/Rebirth series. Here’s the introductory post: [http://www.the-exponent.com/birth-series-intro-new-years-baby/]
Scott B.’s “Ranked” series at BCC (e.g., here’s “Things Financial Transparency Would Reveal About the Church, Ranked.” [http://bycommonconsent.com/2014/12/09/things-financial-transparency-would-reveal-about-the-church-ranked/])
One more for funniest post (How did I miss this?): Julie M. Smith’s “What the Smith Boys Said This Year” at T&S [http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2014/12/what-the-smith-boys-said-this-year-9/]
Are posts on Reddit or New Order Mormon eligible to be nominated for stuff?
Some of them are better than some blog posts.
Nominating Brandt Malone’s “Mormon News Report” for the write-in category under “Best Mormon News Coverage.” Has been compiling Mormon news from legitimate news sources for over a year both in a daily email and in blog posts on The Cultural Hall.
Nominating Julie Smith for Best Overall Blogger.
PangWitch, I don’t see a reason to exclude them. Can you provide a link to Reddit or NOM website with your nomination?
Nomination for best doctrinal post http://rationalfaiths.com/disgracing-god-for-prophets/
Another doctrinal post nomination http://www.the-exponent.com/reflections-on-elder-oaks-remarks-in-the-priesthood-session-of-general-conference/
Persinal post nomination http://www.the-exponent.com/renovating-my-faith/
Policy post nomination (I think. Mods, feel free to recatgorize any of my nominations if you think they fit better elsewhere.) http://www.the-exponent.com/we-are-putting-our-eggs-in-the-wrong-basket/
Personal post nomination http://www.the-exponent.com/exponent-birthrebirth-series-after/
Post title nomination http://www.the-exponent.com/leaving-the-old-ship-zion-to-walk-on-water/
Doctrinal nomination.http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/2014/04/purple-flowers-and-powerful-women/
Best policy post: [http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2014/08/the-problem-with-local-change/]
and: [http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2014/05/another-partial-response-to-brother-otterson/]
Best doctrinal post: [http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2014/05/a-partial-response-to-brother-otterson/]
and: [http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2014/03/a-kingdom-of-priests/]
Best current events post: [http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2014/10/do-women-count/]
Best post title: [http://www.wheatandtares.org/14440/what-would-dolores-umbridge-do/]
Best policy: [http://www.wheatandtares.org/14613/denied-temple-recommends-and-apostate-relatives/]
Best interfaith dialogue: [http://bycommonconsent.com/2014/09/24/chiune-sugihara-%E6%9D%89%E5%8E%9F-%E5%8D%83%E7%95%9D-and-the-triumph-of-christian-conscience-over-worldly-obedience/]
Best current events: [http://bycommonconsent.com/2014/03/20/a-victory-for-pluralism-in-the-dismissal-of-the-uk-fraud-case-against-president-monson/]
I have some posts to nominate for some of the categories. I’m not always sure what categories they fit best in, so please move them to better categories if you don’t think they fit where I’ve put them.
For best spiritual post:
“Such a Time As This”, Cynthia L., BCC [http://bycommonconsent.com/2014/10/09/such-a-time-as-this-remarks-at-stanford-convocation/]
For best doctrinal post:
Men, Women, and Modesty, Julie M. Smith, T&S [http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2014/02/men-women-and-modesty/]
Unbreakable, Tracy M, BCC [http://bycommonconsent.com/2014/03/01/unbreakable/]
What Are the Blessings of the Priesthood, Alison Moore Smith, T&S [http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2014/06/blessings-of-priesthood/]
Peace on Earth, Patrick Mason, Rational Faiths [http://rationalfaiths.com/peace-earth/]
The Doctrine of Celibacy, Thomas Montgomery, Rational Faiths [http://rationalfaiths.com/doctrine-celibacy/]
For best post on church policy:
Fix This!, mraynes, The Exponent [http://www.the-exponent.com/fix-this-2/]
Church Discipline: Women Disciplined By Men, April Young Bennett, The Exponent [http://www.the-exponent.com/church-discipline-women-disciplined-by-men/]
Our Sisters are Leaving, Karen H., BCC [http://bycommonconsent.com/2014/05/22/our-sisters-are-leaving/]
Senior Missionary Couples, Living in Zion, Mormon Mentality [http://www.mormonmentality.org/2014/02/01/senior-missionary-couples.htm]
Equal Means Something, Julie M. Smith, T&S [http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2014/03/equal-means-something/]
The Mormon Underwear Monopoly, April Young Bennett, The Exponent [http://www.the-exponent.com/the-mormon-underwear-monopoly/]
The Church Is Pro-Choice, TopHat, The Exponent [http://www.the-exponent.com/the-church-is-pro-choice/]
Introducing Informed Consent to Bishop’s Interviews, April Young Bennett, The Exponent [http://www.the-exponent.com/introducing-informed-consent-to-bishops-interviews/]
When Home is Not a Haven, Jessie, Segullah [http://segullah.org/daily-special/when-home-is-not-a-haven/]
If You’re Not Part of the Solution, Emily U, The Exponent [http://www.the-exponent.com/if-youre-not-part-of-the-solution/]
Do Women Count?, Julie M. Smith, T&S [http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2014/10/do-women-count/]
For best personal post:
Compassion-and-service, Rosalynde Welch, T&S [http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2014/02/compassion-and-service/]
The Altar and the Font, Rune, fMh [http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/2014/05/the-altar-and-the-font/]
_Never Let Me Go_ by Kazuo Ishiguro: An Analogy for How I Feel at Church, Leah Marie Silverman, Rational Faiths [http://rationalfaiths.com/_never-let-go_-kazuo-ishiguro-analogy-feel-church/]
For best current events post:
4 Reasons Why Disaffected Mormons Become Atheists, Andrew S, W&T [http://www.wheatandtares.org/13566/reasons-disaffected-mormons-become-atheists/]
The Deviation: a Look at the Santa Barbara Shooting, Rune, fMh [http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/2014/05/23222/]
And for best blogger, I second Moss’s nomination of Julie M. Smith. Another nomination: April Young Bennett
Best commenter: New Iconoclast aka Grey Ghost
I second Hedgehog’ s suggestion to move Rational Faiths to the big blog category.
Another nomination for best commenter: RJH (aka Ronan) of BCC
More nominations for best commenter: Andrew S, Kristine A
Here’s a few nominations, and I’ll try to nominate Tareffic contenders as well.
1.) WHEATIE Write in: Ziff for Bloggernacle Historian
2.) WHEATIE Best contribution to the Bloggernacle 2014: Lindsay Hansen Park for her Year of Polygamy series (especially in light of the LDS Church’s polygamy essay)
3.) TAREFFIC: Worst Mormon Internet Drama – SUMMONSGATE (LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson issued Summons to appear in UK Courts via Tom Phillips)
4.) TAREFFIC: Most missed personality on the Bloggernacle
5.) TAREFFIC: Worst Mormon Activism – Mormon Women Stand
Erinaceus, non sum dignis. But thank you all the same!
Best humorous blog: Mormon Tabernacle Enquirer
http://motabenquirer.blogspot.com/
The Bunyion
http://www.thebunyion.com/
The Squirrel
http://rexburgsquirrel.com/
Best humorous post
CHURCH WINS CONTROL OF KEY BLOGGERNACLE BLOGS AFTER HIGH STAKES POKER MATCH
http://motabenquirer.blogspot.com/2014/12/church-wins-control-of-key-bloggernacle.html
PARALLEL DIMENSION’S “ORDAIN MEN” MOVEMENT STILL STRUGGLING
http://motabenquirer.blogspot.com/2014/04/parallel-dimensions-ordain-men-movement.html
MORE GANG VIOLENCE ERUPTS BETWEEN PROMINENT LDS BLOGGERS
http://motabenquirer.blogspot.com/2014/03/more-gang-violence-erupts-between.html
CAPTAIN MORONI’S WIFE BRENDA GIVES HIM FEEDBACK ON CLOTHING CARE, DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE
http://motabenquirer.blogspot.com/2014/02/captain-moronis-wife-brenda-gives-him.html
CHURCH TO BUILD UPSCALE STRIP MALLS NEAR SMALLER TEMPLES
http://motabenquirer.blogspot.com/2014/11/church-to-build-upscale-strip-malls.html
SPIRIT WORLD UPDATE: MORE BUDDHISTS SENT TO WORK WITH MORMONS
http://motabenquirer.blogspot.com/2014/11/spirit-world-update-more-buddhists-sent.html
I second the nomination of Cynthia’s “For Times Such As This” for best spiritual post and Lindsay for best contribution for the prophetic Women and Polygamy series.
Seconding the nomination for Petra’s “Every Bloggernacle Argument About Feminism” and Angela C’s “Mormon Jargon” for funniest posts. Also “Just Say Amen Already” for best humorous blog.
Perhaps under Faith Crisis? Petra’s I Loved To See The Temple: http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2014/09/13/i-loved-to-see-the-temple/#more-11055
If Keepapitchin doesn’t get best solo blog, it will be a dark day for the bloggernacle. That blog is a freaking treasure to this community.
http://www.keepapitchinin.org/