By Common Consent#BCC Press

The blog is named after the 1830 revelation given to Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, which instructed that "All things shall be done by common consent in the church, by much prayer and faith, for all things you shall receive by faith."{{cite web |date= |title=Police Beat Roundtable XXI « By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog |url=http://bycommonconsent.com/2010/04/22/police-beat-roundtable-xxi/ |accessdate=2012-03-04 |publisher=Bycommonconsent.com}} This statement is now canonized as Doctrine and Covenants 26:2 in the LDS Church.{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/26.2?lang=eng |title=Doctrine and Covenants 26:2 |publisher=churchofjesuschrist.org |date=2012-02-21 |accessdate=2012-03-04}}

Although "By Common Consent" was used immediately as a working title for the blog, readers were asked to give suggestions on a permanent name. Suggested names included:

• "The Rameumptom" — Before moving to the current URL, the blog's URL was rameumptom.blogspot.com{{cite web | url=http://www.rameumptom.blogspot.com | title=We've moved! | publisher=Rameumptom.blogspot.com | accessdate=2012-03-04}}
• "Zeezrom, Esq." — An homage to the heavy presence of legal professionals in the Mormon blogging community
• "Cureloms & Cumoms"
• "By the Regular Sign" — A reference to the custom in the LDS Church to show support for a given proposition by raising the right hand
• "Fifth Nephi" — A reference to the Book of Mormon's four books of Nephi
• "Times & Seasons 2" — At the time BCC was established, Times & Seasons was the dominant Mormon blog
• "Pay On Gross" — A reference to a common debate among Mormons about whether tithing should be paid on net or gross income.{{cite web|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/2004/03/13/a-name-and-a-blessing/ |title=A Name and a blessing « By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog |publisher=Bycommonconsent.com |date=2004-03-13 |accessdate=2012-03-04}}

Although By Common Consent was originally created to provide a place for more politically liberal members of the LDS Church to discuss issues,{{cite web |title=Political Leanings |url=http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/03/political-leanings/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223134232/http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/03/political-leanings/ |archive-date=2012-02-23 |accessdate=2012-03-04 |publisher=Times & Seasons}} a vast majority of the content found on BCC is not political in nature. The topics of posts frequently address practical application of tenets of the LDS faith, Mormon history, analysis of ancient and modern scripture, poetry, music, humor, and current events.

The blog gets updated daily by the "permas" (permanents) with additional posts provided frequently by guest bloggers. The blog supports comments from readers and aims to maintain an environment that fosters respectful interfaith dialogue, even though the majority of participants in comment discussions are adherents to the LDS Church. It includes articles, discussions, scholarly research, satire, devotionals, and humor.

Since 2004, BCC has introduced several recurring features, including:

• Friday Firestorm:{{cite web|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/07/11/your-friday-firestorm-analysis-1/|title=Your Friday Firestorm: Analysis|publisher=By Common Consent|accessdate=2013-09-26}} An open thread in which readers debate short, out-of-context passages taken from the scriptures or sermons from LDS Church leaders.
• The Illuminated Matsby:{{cite web|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/?s=%22The+Illuminated+Matsby%22|title=The Illuminated Matsby|publisher=By Common Consent|accessdate=2013-09-26}} A digitally manipulated image by Matt Page blending Mormon culture, doctrine, history, and pop culture is presented without context or explanation as "an image of faith and devotion."
• Thursday Morning Quickie:{{cite web|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/?s=%22Thursday+Morning+Quickie%22|title=Thursday Morning Quickie|publisher=By Common Consent|accessdate=2013-09-26}} An open thread in which readers debate short passages taken from an LDS youth program manual from 1956 on topics pertaining to dating, marriage, love, and related topics.
• The Top 10 LDS Musicians You've Never Heard Of:{{cite web|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/?s=%22The+Top+10+LDS+Musicians+You%E2%80%99ve+Never+Heard+Of%22|title=The Top 10 LDS Musicians You've Never Heard Of|publisher=By Common Consent|accessdate=2013-09-26}} A series of guest posts promoting new musical artists who do not write or perform LDS music, focusing on the artistic and musical style of the featured musician and their life experiences.
• Police Beat Roundtable (PBR):{{cite web|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/?s=police+beat+roundtable|title=Police Beat Roundtable|publisher=By Common Consent|accessdate=2013-09-26}} A series in which 4-6 contributors discuss humorous entries from the police reports of The Daily Universe, Brigham Young University's campus newspaper.
• You Make the Call:{{cite web|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/?s=%22you+make+the+call%22|title=You Make The Call|publisher=By Common Consent|accessdate=2013-09-26}} As explained by permablogger Kevin Barney in the first edition of You Make the Call: "A friend reminded me of those old commercials featuring a close play in an NFL game, with the tagline You make the call!. The idea was for the TV viewer to pretend he is the referee and call the play how he sees it, and then compare the actual call the referee made in the game. So, in that spirit...this is a game where we examine a close play, and in the comments section of this blog, presumably without the benefit of guidance by the Spirit, we state our case for the call the official should make."{{cite web |author= |date=2007-11-12 |title=You Make the Call – By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog |url=http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/11/12/you-make-the-call/ |accessdate=2013-09-14 |publisher=Bycommonconsent.com}}
• Correlation: An Uncorrelated History:{{cite web|author=|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/2010/03/03/correlation-an-uncorrelated-history-part-1-the-mormon-underground/ |title=Correlation: An Uncorrelated History (Part 1 — The Mormon Underground) – By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog |publisher=Bycommonconsent.com |date=2010-03-03 |accessdate=2013-09-14}} A series that details the cultural preconditions, emergence, historical development, and current configuration of the LDS Church's Correlation program.
• Theological Polls:{{cite web|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/?s=%22theological+poll%22|title=Theological Poll|publisher=By Common Consent|accessdate=2013-09-26}} A poll is embedded in the blog presenting readers with a question, typically related to some obscure or speculative element of Mormon doctrine or policy, often forcing respondents to choose between dichotomous or polemic answers.
• Church-Hacker:{{cite web|author=|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/2011/05/18/church-hacker-1-the-guest-professional/ |title=Church-Hacker #1: The Guest Professional – By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog |publisher=Bycommonconsent.com |date=2011-05-18 |accessdate=2013-09-14}} A series inspired by Lifehacker.

Over the years, BCC has featured a number of authors from the LDS community. The contributors to the blog come from backgrounds including homemaking, law, history, social sciences, humanities, fine art, biology, chemistry, and computer science. Religiously, the contributors represent "a varied swath of their lived religion," with different approaches to faith, doctrine, and religious living.{{cite web|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/info-contact/|title=About Our Site|publisher=By Common Consent|accessdate=2013-09-26}} Additionally, several of the contributors write for other online or print publications on topics such as literature, politics, pop culture, and science.{{cite web|url=http://theredbrickstore.com/ |title=The Red Brick Store |publisher=The Red Brick Store |date= |accessdate=2013-09-14}}{{cite web|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/russell-arben-fox/|title=Russell Arben Fox|publisher=By Common Consent}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kulturblog.com/ |title=A pop culture blog |publisher=Kulturblog |date=2011-11-10 |accessdate=2013-09-14}}{{cite web |author=Steve P |date=July 21, 2012 |url=http://sciencebysteve.net/ |title=The Mormon Organon |publisher=Sciencebysteve.net |accessdate=2013-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902152421/http://sciencebysteve.net/ |archive-date=September 2, 2013 |url-status=dead }}

Note: the asterisk (*) denotes original authors.

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{{Col-break}}Hodges B.

: Holds a master's degree in religious studies from Georgetown University and works at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young.

{{Anchor|Cynthia L}}Cynthia L.

: Holds a PhD in Computer Science.

{{Anchor|Jonathan A. Stapley}}J. Stapley

: Chemist and executive at a startup firm; also independent historian of Mormonism{{cite web |url= https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=1528933 |work= Social Science Research Network |title= Jonathan A. Stapley's Scholarly Papers |accessdate= August 24, 2010 }} and member of the editorial board of the Journal of Mormon History.{{cite web |url= http://www.mhahome.org/pubs/ |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080212034906/http://www.mhahome.org/pubs/ |archivedate=February 12, 2008 |accessdate= August 24, 2010 |work= MHAHome.org |title= Staff of the Journal of Mormon History }}

;John C.

: Librarian and founder of the Mormon blog Faith Promoting Rumor{{cite web|url=http://www.faithpromotingrumor.com |title=Faith-Promoting Rumor — Exploring Mormon Thought, Culture, and Texts |publisher=Faithpromotingrumor.com |date= |accessdate=2013-09-14}}

;Karen H.*

: Washington D.C.-based attorney, holds B.A. in Russian, Masters degree in Security Studies

;Kevin Barney

: Tax attorney, Mormon apologist, and expert in Biblical languages.{{cite web |url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/religion_theseeker/2011/05/king-james-bible-finds-new-life-in-mormon-church.html |title=King James Bible finds new life in Mormon Church |last=Barney |first=Kevin |date=May 2, 2011 |website=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=November 15, 2017}}

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;Kristine Haglund*

: Editor, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. Current research ({{as of|2024|lc=on}}): Mormon aesthetic theory and practice; history of Mormon women's publications, including blogs; Mormon women's and children's history; Mormon hymnody and children's songs{{cite web |url=http://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/2010/08/mormon-publishing-the-internet-and-the-democratization-of-information |title=Mormon Publishing, the Internet, and the Democratization of Information |last=Hagland |first=Kristine |date=August 9, 2010 |website=Patheos |accessdate=November 15, 2017}}

;Rebecca J.

: Writer, mother.{{Anchor|Russell Arben Fox}}Russell Arben Fox

: Assoc. Prof. of Political Science, at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. From 2008, Book Review Co-Editor, Dialogue{{cite web |url=http://www.freewebs.com/mmfraf/rafvitae.htm |title=Russell Arben Fox |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221135725/http://www.freewebs.com/mmfraf/rafvitae.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 21, 2016 |website=Freewebs}}

{{Col-break}}

;Steve Evans*

: Principal founder of By Common Consent. Prolific commentator on Mormonism and new media, and, Mormonism and social memory. Wisconsin resident. Lived in Seattle with his family {{as of|2024|lc=on}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/2010/08/future-of-mormons-on-the-internet |title=The Future of Mormons on the Internet |last=Evans |first=Steve |date=August 9, 2010 |website=Patheos |accessdate=November 15, 2017}}

;{{Anchor|Steven L. Peck}}Steven P.

: Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Integrative Biology at Brigham Young University, from 2000, teaching History and Philosophy of Biology and Bioethics.{{cite web |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110109012738/http://lifesciences.byu.edu/DirectoriesInformation/Directories/FacultyStaff/tabid/166/ctl/FacultyProfile/mid/5712/NetID/SLP73/Default.aspx|url=http://lifesciences.byu.edu/DirectoriesInformation/Directories/FacultyStaff/tabid/166/ctl/FacultyProfile/mid/5712/NetID/SLP73/Default.aspx+%22(801)+422-4145%22&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us|archivedate=January 9, 2011 |title= Peck, Steven L. |work= LifeSciences.BYU.edu}} {{As of|2024}}, authored books, poetry, a novel and essays with Dialogue, Covenant, BYU Religious Studies Center, Irreantum, Amer. Tolkien Society, Newsweek and elsewhere.{{cite web |url= http://sciencebysteve.net/?page_id=2 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080917102625/http://sciencebysteve.net/?page_id=2 |archivedate=September 17, 2008 |accessdate= August 26, 2010 |work= The Mormon Organon |title= A BYU Bio-Professor Explores Science and Faith}}

;Tracy M.

: Tracy McKay, writer, graduate student at George Washington University (Fall 2012).

;W.V. Smith

: Professor of Mathematics at Brigham Young University and independent historian. Author of Textual Studies of the Doctrine and Covenants: The Plural Marriage Revelation (Greg Kofford Books, 2018).

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{{div col}}

• John C. Hamer: Independent researcher, historian, and mapmaker
• Margaret Blair Young: Author and documentarian{{cite web |url=http://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/2010/08/the-colorful-lds-future-the-future-of-those-of-african-descent-in-the-mormon-church |title=The Colorful LDS Future |last1=Young |first1=Margaret Blair |authorlink1=Margaret Blair Young |last2=Gray |first2=Darius Aidan |authorlink2=Darius Gray |date=August 9, 2010 |website=Patheos |accessdate=November 15, 2017}}
• Aaron B. Former Seattle attorney.
• Adam S. Miller
• Brad Kirmer , PhD candidate in sociocultural anthropology at the University of Michigan, with interests in semiotics, Marxist theory and Christian conversion.{{cite journal |publisher= Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought |page= 242 |title= Contributors |date= Spring 2009 |url= http://dialoguejournal.metapress.com/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,1,8;journal,6,30;linkingpublicationresults,1:113395,1 }} Contributed an article about early Mormon economics to "Mormonism: A Historical Encyclopedia" in 2010.
• Kyle M.

:Blogger, musician, advertising executive, former missionary in Finland.

• Miles M

:Writer, former missionary in Russia.

• M. Norbert Kilmer:

:European high school teacher.

• Matt Page

:Graphic designer and artist.

• Natalie B.

:Law student.

• Ronan JH

: European teacher.

• Sunny Smart
• Sam MB

: Physician and medical researcher in Utah.

• Scott B.

: Economist in Southern California and proud alumni of Utah State University.{{div col end}}

BCC also features content produced by guest authors from the Latter-day Saints community, including sociologist Armand L. Mauss,{{cite web | url=http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/06/07/the-race-issue-thoughts-on-the-state-of-the-field/ | title="The Race Issue:" Thoughts on the State of the Field | publisher=By Common Consent | date=2007-06-07 | accessdate=2013-09-14 | author=Guest author}} biographer Gregory A. Prince,{{cite web|author=|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/2009/10/07/jeanne-cheverton-dunn/ |title=Jeanne Cheverton Dunn – By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog |publisher=Bycommonconsent.com |date=2009-10-07 |accessdate=2013-09-14}} and parenting author Richard Eyre.{{cite web|author=|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/2009/10/22/four-dimensional-success/ |title=Four-Dimensional Success – By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog |publisher=Bycommonconsent.com |date=2009-10-22 |accessdate=2013-09-14}} Additionally, BCC periodically posts interviews with members of the LDS community, with comedian and author Elna Baker, and Michael Otterson, the former managing director of Public Affairs for the LDS Church.{{cite web|author=|url=http://bycommonconsent.com/2009/06/09/interview-with-michael-otterson/ |title=Interview with Michael Otterson – By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog |publisher=Bycommonconsent.com |date=2009-06-09 |accessdate=2013-09-14}}

Since the initiation of the Bloggernacle's annual "Niblet" awards in 2005, BCC has consistently won the award for "Best Big Blog."{{cite web |url=http://mormonmatters.org/2010/02/08/2009-niblets-results/ |title=2009 Niblets Results — Analysis |publisher=Mormon Matters |date=2010-02-08 |accessdate=2013-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610094451/http://mormonmatters.org/2010/02/08/2009-niblets-results/ |archive-date=2010-06-10 |url-status=dead }} In 2009, BCC authors won the Niblets in the categories of "Best Overall Blogger," "Funniest Thread," "Best Humorous Post," "Best Historical Post," "Best Personal Post," "Best Doctrinal Post," "Best Current Events Post," "Best Podcast," "Best Book/Article Review," and "Best Contribution to the Bloggernacle."

Several of the blog's long-term guest contributors are also editors or board members of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.{{cite web | url=http://www.bycommonconsent.com/category/dialogue-posts | title=Dialogue-posts | publisher=By Common Consent | accessdate=2013-09-14}}{{cite web |url=http://byustudies.byu.edu/Reviews/Pages/reviewdetail.aspx?reviewID=799 |title=From Tabernacle to Bloggernacle |publisher=Byustudies.byu.edu |accessdate=2013-09-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426055740/http://byustudies.byu.edu/Reviews/Pages/reviewdetail.aspx?reviewID=799 |archivedate=2009-04-26 }} Kristine Haglund, one of BCC's permabloggers, is currently the Editor in Chief of Dialogue, while Ronan JH and Steven Peck, two other permabloggers, serve as Dialogue editors, and other current and former permabloggers contribute to the Dialogue editorial board.{{cite web |url=http://www.dialoguejournal.com/staff/ |title=Staff and Boards | Dialogue – A Journal of Mormon Thought |publisher=Dialoguejournal.com |date= |accessdate=2013-09-14 |archive-date=2008-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804104731/http://www.dialoguejournal.com/staff/ |url-status=dead }}

The editors at BCC inaugurated the non-profit book publisher BCC Press in April 2017, with the intent to publish books of Mormon-themed "philosophy, theology, history, scriptural exegesis, fiction, poetry, personal essays, and memoirs."{{cite web |url=https://www.bccpress.org/ |title=BCC Press |website=By Common Consent Press |accessdate=November 15, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=5165450&itype=CMSID&fullpage=1 |title=Mormon blog opens a new chapter, will now spread the word as a nonprofit book publisher |last=Fletcher Stack |first=Peggy |date=May 3, 2017 |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |accessdate=November 15, 2017}} Serving as president of the press is Steve Evans, attorney and popular Mormon blogger.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldextra.com/special-section/lds/fall2017/an-industry-that-began-more-than-years-ago-mormon-literature/article_4547ffe7-6737-58d3-a341-baece07b9e9c.html |title=An industry that began more than 150 years ago, 'Mormon literature helps us figure out what it means to be Mormon' | LDS Guide 2017: The Mormon Market |publisher=heraldextra.com |date= |accessdate=2017-09-25}} Michael Austin (writer) is the press's director.

File:JSiTunes.jpg

BCC is also the home of the BCC Zeitcast,{{cite web |url=https://bycommonconsent.com/category/features/bcc-zeitcast/ |title=BCC Zeitcast |website=By Common Consent |accessdate=November 15, 2017}} one of the Bloggernacle's few podcasts. The BCC Zeitcast is typically approximately 30 minutes in length and takes the form of a talk radio, with anywhere from two to five contributors participating in a given episode. The podcast consists of a free-flowing conversation on Bloggernacle meta-topics, popular culture, current events, religious topics, or news from the world of Mormonism.

The first BCC Zeitcast was posted on January 11, 2007, with subsequent episodes recorded and posted semi-regularly until Spring 2009.{{cite web |url=https://bycommonconsent.com/2007/01/11/zeitcast-1/ |title=BCC Zeitcast 1: The Inaugural BCC Podcast |date=January 11, 2007 |website=By Common Consent |accessdate=November 15, 2017}} During this period, the primary contributors were permabloggers from BCC such as Steve Evans, Ronan JH, Amri Brown, and Brad Kramer, but would occasionally feature guests. The BCC Zeitcast returned in December 2009, with largely new permabloggers contributing to the new season.{{cite web |url=https://bycommonconsent.com/2009/12/09/zeitcast-41/ |title=BCC Zeitcast 41: The Worst Christmas Present Ever |last=B. |first=Scott |date=December 9, 2009 |website=By Common Consent |accessdate=November 15, 2017}}

• Blogs about Mormons and Mormonism
• DezNat (Deseret Nation) (frequent critics of By Common Consent)
• List of blogs
• [https://www.mormonstories.org/ Mormon Stories]

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{itunes|1=podcast?id=354155656|2=BCC Zeitcast}}

;Multi-media

• {{Cite news|url = http://kuer.org/post/believers-all-things-shall-be-done-common-consent#stream/0|publisher = BBC World Service|title = Believers: 'All Things Shall Be Done By Common Consent': Steve Evans started By Common Consent, a Mormon blog for believers and doubters alike, 17 years ago|author = Lee Hale|date = April 15, 2018|type = print and audio from radio news broadcast segment}}
• [https://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/podcast/bycommonconsent-discusses-new-press-on-what-say-ye-podcast/article_0ff99c0c-5bcd-5e1f-aa31-18eea797cac5.html Interview: Steve Evans and Steven Peck of BCC Press] on the Provo Herald's April 11, 2017 'What Say Ye?' podcast

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Category:Blogs about Mormons and Mormonism

Category:Internet properties established in 2004

Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers