Sic et Non

    "If God had so willed it, he would have made you a single community.  But [he has chosen] to test you in what he has given you.  So compete with one another in virtues.  God is the goal of you all, and he will inform you regarding that wherein you used to differ."  (Qur’an 5:48, my inadequate translation.)   It's difficult not to think, in this context, of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's famous German Enlightenment play Nathan der Weise ("Nathan the … [Read more...]

    I'm thrilled to announce an exciting new concept in extreme vacations:   http://www.somalicruises.com/index.php   Fun for the whole family!   (Don't forget to read the testimonials and to examine our low, low rates.)     … [Read more...]

    I'm scheduled to lead a tour to Israel in the spring of 2013.  It's probably the last tour that I'll lead to the Holy Land for a while.  So, if you're at all interested in going to Israel with me, give it some thought:   http://www.cruiselady.com/tour-details.cfm?t=193     … [Read more...]

    President Barack Obama has received the endorsement of an important fellow head of state, whom he has called "mi amigo":   "In the point of view of his politics" said Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, "if I were voting, I would vote for Obama and I believe that if Obama was from Caracas, he would vote for Chavez, I am positive."                   … [Read more...]

      I can't recall when I've taken such immediate and visceral dislike to a television ad as I have to this one.   Except, perhaps, with regard to this one.   The characters in the ad strike me as giant, vacant-eyed, self-centered and self-indulgent "gods" and "goddesses," idly but complacently and cooly contemplating the little people (i.e., the ordinary mortals who scamper about at their feet).   The sweet giant thing using the window of a … [Read more...]

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    Many years ago, while I was between two meetings in a building on the BYU campus some distance from my own office, a friend of mine (from another department and BYU college) offered me the use of hers for an hour while she was in class.   It was a few days after general conference, and, though I really didn't intend to nose through what was on and around her desk, I couldn't help noticing something that both impressed me deeply and reminded me of my own … [Read more...]

    This is one of the two Mormon Message videos that I saw this morning in high priests group meeting, and to which I referred earlier:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-ih_ZkaKC0&list=PLAF19F9A40E87ED75&index=75&feature=plpp_video     … [Read more...]

    "Mormon Messages," a series of short videos produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and readily available online, are inspirational gems, a small but rich collection of treasures.   They're excellent for use in lessons, both at church and in the home, and I would hope that faithful Latter-day Saints who are active online would consider using them, and posting links to them, for others to see.  In most cases, they're perfectly pitched to … [Read more...]

    I'm deeply interested in finding (and, to the very limited extent that I'm able, in encouraging) fresh artistic expressions of Mormonism.  To choose one example of many, I love David Johansen's rendition of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" at the end of New York Doll, which I also thoroughly enjoyed.   So I want to share a Mormon-related musical phenomenon of which I'm very fond:  Mark Abernathy and the Sabre Rattlers.   Listen to the hymns on the … [Read more...]