Even though they break my heart every year, I am a BYU football fan. In the first game of this season they played Nebraska, at Nebraska. BYU was losing when Tanner Mangum took the last snap of the game. Time expired as he rolled right, reached back, and hurled a long pass to Nebraska’s goal line. A 6’ 5” tall BYU receiver caught the pass and BYU won the game. Nebraska had not lost a home opener in three decades.... Read more
In June, 1978, I just didn’t see it coming. I will never forget where I was the moment I heard that every worthy male on earth could receive the priesthood. I was a young deacon that certainly did not understand how the announcement would transform the world of Mormonism. Even so, I was absolutely thrilled. Circa January, 1985, I just didn’t see it coming. I will never forget where I was the moment I learned that I could extend my... Read more
The word “apologetic” comes from the Greek “apologia”, and means “defense.” Apologetics, defending faith, is a fascinating enterprise in Christianity that has been practiced for centuries upon centuries. Comparatively speaking, Mormon apologetics is a new to the scene but very engaging. Questions naturally arise from the possibilities and practices of Mormon apologetics. For example, how should one defend Mormonism? When someone attacks Mormonism from the outside how should one respond to that attack? When some person or group on the... Read more
It is Wednesday morning and election results are being announced. It appears that Jackie Biskupski, an openly gay candidate, has won the race for mayor of Salt Lake City. I’ve already heard the claims: “Salt Lake City is a Mormon city. How can a gay woman lead here?” also, “Gays are immoral, the people that voted for her are also immoral.” In other words, the sky is falling! Well I disagree. Strongly. Is the consternation over her election strictly a... Read more
One of the most troubling stumbling blocks of interreligious engagement (and interpersonal interaction) is the postured stance that we possess omniscience. Well, we do not. We can’t read someone else’s mind or know their feelings or intentions. We can barely figure out what’s going through our own minds and nail down our own feelings and intentions. So why do we claim, usually unknowingly (ironic), that we possess the capacity to read the mind of Jews and determine their Jewishness? We... Read more
Last week Elder Quentin L. Cook spoke at the annual Stanford University Convocation. He is an alum of Stanford Law. What he relates as cause for concern and optimism will likely interest you. Here is a report on his speech. The full text is available in the link as well. http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/elder-cook-faith-values-quest-knowledge Read more
On October 29, I posted a story about Christians that protested at a 2012 Arab-American festival in Dearborn, Michigan. They paraded about with signs that declared anti-Islam messages and a pigs head mounted atop a pole. It was repugnant. Shortly after the Christian protest, two prominent Evangelicals wrote a response expressing how totally inappropriate it was for followers of Christ to treat Muslims, or anyone for that matter, in flagrantly disrespectful ways. It is a must read. John Morehead is... Read more
Who knew that Walmart maintains a “Trust and Safety Compliance Team” dedicated to policing and frequently removing products that are obviously offensive? Well, they just yanked a Caitlyn Jenner halloween costume from store shelves! Bruce Jenner was a childhood hero of mine. The Olympic drama, gold medals, his image on the Wheaties box, and so forth. I would not script her recent transformation from male to female, but I don’t want to see her dragged through the mud and mocked... Read more
On October 27, 2015, LDS Newsroom posted the following introduction to First Presidency encouragement to assist refugees: “Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are being encouraged to provide assistance to refugees around the world.” The letter, which will be read over the pulpits of Mormon wards and stakes this Sunday, is signed by the First Presidency of the Church. I’ve written a handful of posts about Islam and the need for Mormons to become acquainted with... Read more
Dearborn, Michigan is approximately one-third Arab Muslim. Tens of thousands of Iraqi refugees and other Arabs live in this city. The Washington Post identified Dearborn as “The Arab Capitol of America.” The legal ruling linked below emerges from events in 2012. As described by the Detroit Free Press, Christian Evangelicals marched through the crowds at an Arab-American festival chanting anti-Islamic slogans while carrying the head of a pig mounted on a pole. Pigs, as you know, represent the height of... Read more
Civil Nations
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