“Easter’s answer to the ‘terrible question’”

My latest column for the Deseret News:

“Easter’s answer to the ‘terrible question’: One of the most obvious facts facing human beings is the inevitability of death”

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New, on the website of the Interpreter Foundation:

Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 15 “Filled with Love towards God and All Men” Mosiah 1-3

The discussants in the Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 15, “Filled with Love towards God and All Men,” on Mosiah 1-3, were Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Mike Parker.  This roundtable, shorn of commercial and other breaks, was extracted from the 15 March 2020 broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show and is now available at no charge and at your convenience for your listening pleasure. The complete show may be heard at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-march-15-2020/.

Interpreter Radio Show — April 5, 2020

The hosts for the 5 April 2020 edition of the Interpreter Radio Show were Neal Rappleye, Jasmine Rappleye, Stephen Smoot, Spencer Marsh, and Hales Swift. In this episode, they discussed General Conference. Also featured was a roundtable on the upcoming Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson #18 on Mosiah 11-17.  Stripped of commercial and other interruptions, the complete show is now archived for your convenience.

“What Does King Benjamin Teach about Leadership? (Mosiah 2)”

A Video Supplement for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 15: “Filled with Love towards God and All Men” (Mosiah 1-3)

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“President Nelson Asks Latter-day Saints to “Unite Our Faith Once Again” in Fast on Good Friday”

“Video: President Nelson calls for worldwide fast on Good Friday”

“Combating COVID-19 with fasting, faith and reason: From their knees, the people of the world should look up, petition heaven for help and then rise up.”

If you have non-LDS friends whom you would feel comfortable inviting to join in this fast, please do so:

“Why those of other faiths are accepting President Nelson’s invitation to fast on Good Friday”

“‘I will fast and pray with you. God help us’: Worldwide Good Friday fast gaining momentum”

“Why fasting and prayer are especially meaningful at Easter and during a pandemic: Christians of different faiths will fast on Good Friday. The actual fast may look different. But most have similar beliefs about the spiritual significance of skipping meals”

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I was so stunned by the temple announcements at the close of General Conference this past weekend — especially by the two new temples for Africa and most especially by the temple in Shanghai and very most especially by the temple in the United Arab Emirates — that, although I tried, I scarcely registered the remarkable and moving performance of “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet” that followed them.  I’m grateful that it’s now available online, so that I can watch it again:

“Worldwide Choir Joins Tabernacle Choir in Virtual General Conference Performance”

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“Renderings Released for Three Temples in the Western United States: Previously announced temples to be built in Utah and Washington state”

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“New Easter Initiative Encourages People to #HearHim: Tabernacle Choir to stream Handel’s ‘Messiah’”

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Even in a time of worldwide pandemic, it’s important for some people to keep adding to their Christopher Hitchens Memorial “How Religion Poisons Everything” Files and to be reminded, yet again, why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not at all the type of organization with which they or, indeed, decent people anywhere should associate.  Here are a couple of useful items in that regard:

“Navajo Reservation Receives Food and Supplies From Bishops’ Central Storehouse: Donations assist the elderly during COVID-19 outbreak”

“BYU-Pathway Worldwide Expands Access to Higher Education: Thousands of students are enrolled in the global program”