John S. Reid was a respected farmer in early nineteenth century rural New York who was well versed in the law and who — such things were considerably less formal and institutionalized in those days — often appeared as an attorney in local courtrooms. And, although he was not a Latter-day Saint, he was called upon to defend Joseph Smith against lawsuits and legal persecution. (See, for example, “The Knights and the Trial of Joseph Smith.”)
Here is part of his assessment of Joseph Smith:
The first acquaintance I had with General Smith was about 1823. He came into my neighborhood, being then about eighteen years of age, and resided there two years; during which time I became intimately acquainted with him. I do know that his character was irreproachable; that he was well known for truth and uprightness; that he moved in the first circles of the community, and he was often spoken of as a young man of intelligence and good morals, and possessing a mind susceptible of the highest intellectual attainments.
I early discovered that his mind was constantly in search of truth, expressing an anxious desire to know the will of God concerning His children here below, often speaking of those things which professed Christians believe in.
(Remarks of John S. Reid, Esq., before the State Presidential Convention, May 27, 1844, Nauvoo, Illinois; Times and Seasons, V [June 1, 1844), 549-552; History of the Church 5:392-397)
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The Interpreter Radio Show on Sunday evening, 18 March 2018, was a bit chaotic — and not merely because, quite unexpectedly, I ended up being the moderator or host for it. No, a major technological failure also measurably contributed to the rollicking fun.
And now the program is up online:
“Interpreter Radio Show — March 18, 2018”
And there’s a new Old Testament “KnoWhy” up as well, perfectly suited to teachers and students in the Gospel Doctrine classes of the Church:
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Some of you might enjoy this item:
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My wife and I have been in something of an unintended Alan Menken loop over the past couple of weeks. It started with a thoroughly enjoyable one-man show at BYU by Menken himself, on Wednesday, 7 March. The following Monday, we enjoyed a performance of Aladdin Jr., a simplified version of the Alan Menken/Howard Ashman/Tim Rice musical Aladdin, involving children of a family that we home teach. Then, on Saturday night, with friends, we saw a spectacular performance of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz) at the magnificent new Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy. And, on Monday night, also with friends, we attended a very well done performance of The Little Mermaid (Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Glenn Slater) at Orem’s much cozier Hale Center Theater.
Tonight, though, with my wife’s brother and his wife, we were back at BYU for a concert by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Chick Corea.
If you like the performing arts, the Wasatch Front is a remarkably good place to be. I wish that we could take it all in.
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