I just did an hour-long live radio interview with Mills Crenshaw on KLO Radio (AM 1430), regarding Islam.   I hope that at least a few people went away from the hour understanding a little bit more about the religion and its history, about Muslims, and about current events.   Now for the scary part:  When the phone rang, I had completely forgotten that I was doing the interview today (or any other day).  And there I was, on... Read more

  No, not the infamous Jack Chick.  And not what you thought it meant, either.   Instead, a pretty obvious architectural blunder:       Read more

    http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/3313087-155/mormons-are-all-for-female-ordination   The results of this survey are being hailed by advocates of women’s ordination and lamented by opponents.   I can’t see what the big deal is.   I too would support the ordination of women if the Lord commanded it through his prophets.  I can think of no reason whatever why women shouldn’t be ordained, except for the fact that, as I and other orthodox Latter-day Saints view the matter, God hasn’t authorized such an action.   But that... Read more

    I think that I’ve been remiss in reminding people that the Interpreter Foundation has a blog.  For example, I don’t think that I called attention to this item, by my long-time friend John Tvedtnes, when it was posted.  It concerns ancient parallels to the description of Laban’s sword in 1 Nephi:   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/the-hilt-thereof-was-of-pure-gold/#more-7701     Read more

    I’ve been aware of this curious situation, I think, since I first lived in Jerusalem in 1978.  But people need to know about it, and I’m grateful to Jabra Ghneim for alerting me to this article, which was originally published shortly before Easter 2013:   http://www.ibtimes.com/who-guards-most-sacred-site-christendom-two-muslims-1161517     Read more

    Here are some book recommendations from the Interpreter Foundation’s man in Ireland, Robert Boylan:   http://scripturalmormonism.blogspot.com/2015/12/book-for-christmas.html   I’ve read several of them myself — I’ve written columns about at least two — and am interested in several of the others.   Have a look here, under “AmazonSmile,” to read about a painless way in which, at absolutely no extra expense to yourself, a small part of the money you pay for books can go to the Interpreter Foundation... Read more

  Luke 23:13-16 Compare Luke 23:4, 22; John 18:38   As the Roman procurator of Judea, Pilate had no interest — and no legal responsibility to be interested — in questions of Jesus theology and law.  He was there, simply, to maintain to maintain order and to protect the interests of Rome.   Accordingly, once he had discovered that Jesus wasn’t seditious and posed no threat to Roman sovereignty, he saw nothing in him that was worthy of capital punishment... Read more

    The Seven Social Sins are:Wealth without work.Pleasure without conscience.Knowledge without character.Commerce without morality.Science without humanity.Worship without sacrifice.Politics without principle.From a sermon given by Frederick Lewis Donaldson in Westminster Abbey, London, on 20 March 1925     Read more

    Read it and weep, puny mortals!   http://www.nationalreview.com/article/428554/donald-trump-medical-history-parody-letter     Read more

    It’s a nice round figure:   http://ldschurchgrowth.blogspot.com/2015/12/30000-congregation-milestone-reached.html   May the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come.     Read more