Atheists, prayer, doubts, sad news, and some more encouraging things

Here’s an item that I’ll need to ponder for a while:

“Atheists tend to be seen as immoral – even by other atheists: study”

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Meanwhile, the results of some other research:

“Recent study confirms LDS leaders’ teachings that prayers strengthen marriage”

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I myself wrote a column about this book some time ago, and I’m pleased to see it receiving some additional publicity:

“Book review: ‘Answers Will Come’ shares author’s perspective for those with questions, doubts about their faith”

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I get the distinct impression that we disagree politically, and I was amused by her quotation from a character in Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale:  She doesn’t seem to realize that Atwood was quoting from 1 Timothy 2:11, 15.  (I suppose, in an age when biblical literacy isn’t a high priority for most people and certainly not a subject taught in the schools, that her apparent ignorance on this point isn’t surprising.)

Still, I think Karen Rinaldi’s short essay is worth reading and thinking about:

“Motherhood Isn’t Sacrifice, It’s Selfishness”

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As he very commonly does, Hal Boyd has an excellent and very thoughtful article in Deseret News:

“In defense of denominations and disciples from Mormonism to Lutheranism”

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Obviously, there’s work to be done:

“Mayor Ben McAdams posed as a homeless person for 3 days and 2 nights. Here’s what he saw.”

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On a more hopeful note:

I spoke, quite a few months ago now, to a group at The Other Side Academy in Salt Lake City, requested to do so by our good friends Joseph and Celia Grenny, and my wife and I were deeply, deeply impressed.

You can read about The Other Side Academy here:

http://www.theothersideacademy.com

Joseph Grenny drew upon his experiences with The Other Side Academy, where he is chairman of the board, in a 2016 Easter message in Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture:

“Why Did You Choose Me?”

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And now, alas, an unfortunate story from Church headquarters:

I’m saddened by this both generally, because all excommunications are depressing (and, in a sense, especially so when it’s a General Authority or other leader, who is expected to be an exemplar), and specifically, because I’ve had some dealings with Brother Hamula and like him very much:

“LDS Church leaders release, excommunicate Elder James J. Hamula”

I wish him and his family all the best in a horribly difficult time, and I’ll be praying on their behalf.

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I’m pleased to see a short message from the late President James E. Faust reproduced in the August 2017 issue of the Ensign:

“Please Come Back!”

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“We should be rigorous in judging ourselves and gracious in judging others.”  (John Wesley, 1703-1791)

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And, finally, to end things on a more inspiring note,

“Unusual Promptings About My Sister’s Death That Helped My Parents Feel God’s Love”