LDS apostle blogs — along with other Mormons — about faith’s future

As in the past, the LDS Church does not plan to join in ecumenical dialogue but will continue to work with like-minded faiths on humanitarian projects and in defense of religious liberty, Mormon apostle Quentin L. Cook wrote recently in a one-of-a-kind online essay.

Cook did not get the final word, nor the only word, on the future of the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The apostle was joined by bloggers, academics, writers and scholars who discussed everything from race relations and women’s issues to publishing, public affairs and technology — from scripture studies to sociology and marketing to missionary work.

The 20 individual essays were gathered by and published on the website, patheos.com, a 2-year-old project to provide fair and balanced information about all faiths, with special emphasis on Buddhists, Catholics, evangelicals, Hindus, mainline Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Pagans — and Mormons.

“We want it to be the WebMD of religion and spirituality,” said Leo Brunnick, who launched the site with his wife, Cathie, the same week they were married.