When you think of God, do you envision? a proper English gentleman a modernized Biblical patriarch an erudite English professor at a Ivy league university …

My general experience with illegal aliens is similar to the one called to mind by George Bush:  people who at great risk and significant hardship …

Firetag has brought up some things that are dual** — that is they are contradictory things at the same time.  The classic example is that …

Her death was sudden and unexpected.  For more about her: http://www.blacklds.org/renee-olson-full-testimony Her Facebook memorial page here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Renee-Olson-memorial/158092054201230 She will be missed.

I still remember a meeting where the speaker said “I was never part of your organization and knew nothing about it until I was called …

D&C Section 77 and its companion section 113 have an interesting history.  An “older” high priest was publicly debating with local ministers about doctrine and …

Elder Oaks General Conference talk on healing has ended up as one of the talks widely used for an alternate week priesthood and relief society …

There are lots of ways to start this off. I could start with the more than forty sexes of slime molds (why stop at 4 …

A viewpoint can change things.  Consider Sir Thomas More, famous as a model of honesty, integrity and virtue.  A man for all seasons and a …

Let me start with a true story, I recently observed and that resulted in this post: It is obviously a vacation weekend. The only member …

It is delightful, some times, to see how the LDS Church is seen from the outside.  For example, you might be surprised that one thing …

Ok, I actually have my entire presentation written down, and I could have posted it, so you could read it at Mormon Matters if you …

I first learned about higher criticism in the context of the archeological excavation of Jericho.  The German higher criticism read was that Jericho never existed …

I worked for a time on a project involving heroquests and myth structures.  I analyzed historic, legendary and fictional stories and texts, rituals, narratives and …

We tend to remember Solomon as either magically wise or the one who fell from grace with too many wives.  Of his acts of wisdom, …

Deuteronomy 6:10-12 seems incredibly harsh.  As the Lord’s people enter into Canaan, they are given cities that they haven’t built, produce they haven’t grown, and …

The Dallas District Attorney’s office preserved DNA evidence.  When advances in science occurred, they were able to retest many samples in cases where people claimed …

.. war” a friend of mine said. ” Once your theology develops, it should be interesting to see what kind of nuanced debates you have.” …

To answer the question “what is a Mormon?” I found myself asking the question “what is a Feminist?” I was at a lunch.  I was …

I came home one day from Sacrament meeting and my wife had a sheet of paper, on official church stationary, titled “First Presidency Statement on …

We all know some groups are not redeemable.  Democrats, heretics who think Christ can be your friend, those who abuse children.  If they aren’t redeemable, …

Experimental ethics is an area that teaches lessons we may not expect.  Some of the lessons make sense.  Panhandlers working in front of a bakery …

I often meet two kinds of people.  The first has a voice that others hear.  The other has a desire to be heard, but they …

I once knew a woman who complained of her new therapist (she had been in therapy for years) that after thirty minutes he had interrupted …

We know we live in a fallen and imperfect world, that God has light and knowledge for us, both individually and as a church that …

In our group someone asked about evolution, the fossil record and Adam and Eve. Of course we began to speculate.

We are conflicted about wealth in the Church.  A goodly portion of members are neo-Calvinists, certain that fore-ordination and inherent grace are both manifested by …

I have been thinking of a friend’s sister recently.  She methodically broke every chair, save one, in her parent’s house.  She was very large, felt …

Joseph Smith found language terribly important, and was clear that no translation into English could be perfect because of the limits of the language.  Brigham …

A large problem some people have is unanswered prayer.  I got to thinking about it again when Jen was writing about someone she knew and …

In the classic Old Testament, Eve has her first child, then her second and one (Cain) kills the other (Able).  Cain is cursed to wander. …

According to the recent lesson manuals, the founding fathers, including Benjamin Franklin, were inspired.  All things denote (not connote) that there is a God, and, …

Oh the vanity and frailty and foolishness of men, for when they are learned they think they are wise …

I’ve been reading translator’s notes and development comments on the NET Bible.  The section on gender accurate vs. gender inclusive has been interesting, since they …

I was looking at a news item. Canadian School of Peacebuilding Research studies verify what experience tells us: the majority of Christian congregations endure internal …

My word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is …

I was reading and I came across the following, years ago, and then again recently. We need complete freedom to express our honest feelings [to …

In sacrament the speaker told a story about a young man who stood up, eventually, against his friends for a disabled schoolmate. That made me …

Some people know that my wife spoke one year at the conference.  What they usually don’t know is that they found my wife because  the …

History seems like a collection of facts, but in reality, most history is a collection of stories that we use to give context to the …

One of my grandfather’s hobbies was the study of ancient mystery religions, especially Eleusis and Eleusinian Mysteries.  One thing that was striking in reading his …

I’ve a friend in the simulations industry, and it almost drives him crazy when he hears about the “force of history” or about how history …

My apologies to anyone who thinks I’m discussing aleph numbers or SSM. I’m on to something else.

“For whom the Lord loveth, he chaseneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”  (Hebrews 12:6; 6-8, 11)”

Resentment and gratitude both have a role in our faith in Christ.  Together they teach us a great deal. Not only is “resentment like taking …

I saw a recent thought experiment.  The author asked:  what if you had to chose between a doctrine you disliked and results you liked (lets …

There are some speculations I learned about by all the sermons to the contrary.  When I was much, much younger, I read a lot of …

Ever since reading Believing History, I’ve been looking at the Book of Mormon and relating what it says to what it is closest to.  Which …

Recently heard, and not necessarily in order: Logic tells us that Jesus Christ really lived.  Think about it.  The calendar.  B.C.  Before Christ.  How could …

It seems like everyone likes to speculate about the priesthood.  Who can resist?

Thought I’d start with one by Hyrum Smith

“Say nothing but repentance unto this generation”  D&C 11:9.  How much fun is that?

There were several complaints about the false doctrine thread — about how I was slighting folk doctrines.  I’ll be back to the false doctrine series …

God will not give you anything you can not handle.

We were having someone dear to us taught in our home, when the elder looked at them and said … “You do know that you …

Ok, some false doctrines are just pathetic, some are disgusting, some are bizarre and some are merely annoying. I was going to post about Anomoly …

The first talk of the Priesthood session reminded me of a man I met on my mission.  His wife had died and he told us …

Something I have noticed on the Gay Marriage debates is what causes people to change their minds, and it is generally social proof.  More, what …

The LDS Bible Dictionary has its roots in a “freebie” from the publisher.  Many of the entries are almost as old as the LDS Church.  …

When Paul writes of “through a glass, darkly” he is writing about seeing the world in a mirror, rather than seeing it through a dirty …

Following Running on Empty, I am going to write about how even with the Spirit and everything else, we still see “through a glass, darkly.”  …

Relying on, seeking, finding and responding to the Spirit is much like weightlifting.  Not only is it a process that takes a great deal of …

Greece is a wonderful country.  Athens is a great city.  In many ways it is the archetype of a polis.  At the center is a …

Obviously, the scriptures are: The inviolate unchanging word of God, replacing him for us at this time. Any inspired writing or sermon that is useful …

Everyone does it.  This essay is on how to do it with style and panache.  For my proof text I will use “let women keep …

The view of God’s godliness ranges from God as a Bonewits Parasite to God as the ex nilho creator who controls everything down to the …

Well, an FLDS update, that includes a link to an Ikea spoof. What other things that everyone seems to be taking seriously can you think …

When you think of God, do you envision? a proper English gentleman a modernized Biblical patriarch an erudite English professor at a Ivy league university …

I’ve been reading a lot this week as people complain that either God is hateful and evil or they are victims of gross unfairness at …

Currently there are four active humor blogs in the Bloggernacle. The Snark! Latte Day Saints Trash Calls The 9th Ward Amazingly, all of them delete …

It seems, sometimes, that the lessons I learned on my mission are the ones I see again and again. One of the things I learned …

I end up talking with people on this theme several times a year. There are people who feel terribly betrayed. Especially when a spouse leaves …

The last part of the picture that frames affliction ties into the purpose of life.  The only true affliction would be something that denied us …

Christ said: Ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth …

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An older friend of mine remarked that time seems to fly by now. She quipped that it felt like she was changing the sheets every …

By the 1980s the Church had clear and convincing statistical evidence that Scouting had no net positive effect on the long term success of LDS …

It is easy to realize that you are right and everyone else is wrong.  A number of people have asked just what they should do …

I’ve a friend who is a linguist who often addresses things by asking people to find metaphors for them. It is interesting to ask people …