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This month we welcomed the arrival of our grandson, Max, pictured here with his father and grandfather. -Three generations of Banta men content without priesthood blessings. "If Grammy still went to Relief Society I'd be wearing 2 booties." Proof, Gentle Readers, that our species can survive in a world of gender equality, sans inspiration from the Brethren.

This week I am proud to present an EXCLUSIVE with Insana Dee, the featured speaker at the 2014 ExMormon Foundation Conference, also known as the President of the Sisterhood of the Licked Cupcake Society and the Annie Oakley of ExMormonism! Donna Banta: Welcome to Ward Gossip, Insana Dee. I'm humbled that you agreed to visit my little blog. Insana Dee: Thanks Donna, I'm happy to be here. Donna: You're a speaker at next month's ExMormon Foundation Conference. Did you ever once in your devout LDS childhood imagine you would be speaking at an ExMormon conference? Dee: No, but I did figure out early in my upbringing that I was not Celestial Glory material. Donna:  Did this make you feel out of place? Dee: Actually, it freed me up to just have fun. Donna: Good for you. How did your family react to all the fun you were having? Dee: Back when I was about 12 or 13 years old my mom rented this run down, shabby old saddle shop in Fairview (Utah). We spent a summer fixing it up and...

Last Sunday, at our monthly ExMormon gathering at the San Francisco Ferry Building, we welcomed some newcomers who had recently left the LDS Church. Like most emerging ExMormons, the first question on their lips was, "What should I tell my believing family?" It's a common dilemma. So common that the better part of an excellent book about leaving Mormonism is devoted to the subject. But lucky for you, Gentle Readers, I happen to be an experienced expert on this and all subjects pertaining to ExMormon etiquette! In that spirit, I invite you to read my 2   SIMPLE RULES FOR DEALING WITH YOUR BELIEVING MORMON FAMILY : SIMPLE RULE NUMBER 1: Don't Explain I know it's counterintuitive. As a newly escaped Mormon, you've spent the better part of your life both privately and publicly explaining everything from your recent masturbation lapse to the mysterious tan line on your mid-thigh. But really, you don't owe anyone an explanation for why you decided to leave the ...

I used to dread the weekend. It's one of my most cringe-worthy Mormon memories. Back when I was a young mom, my hands covered in eczema, on the last morning of the work week, I'd roll out of bed and think to myself, Oh shit, it's Friday.  Or, according to the ExMormon Urban Dictionary, OSIF. The reason being that after Friday comes Saturday. And everyone who has been a member of the one and only true church knows that Saturday is that special day when Mormons get ready for Sunday. Literally. There's even a song for kids. Saturday is a special day. It's the day we get ready for Sunday: We clean the house, and we shop at the store, So we won't have to work until Monday. We brush our clothes, and we shine our shoes, And we call it our get-the-work done day. Then we trim our nails, and we shampoo our hair, So we can be ready for Sunday. So while the other families in our neighborhood were off boating, camping, or lazing around the pool, the Bantas were making 8 a.m....