What on earth am I doing in Turkey right now?   Some may have noticed that President Barack Obama is here in Turkey for the 2015 G-20 Summit.  Well, I’m here for the G20 Interfaith Summit, which is devoted to the theme of “Religion, Harmony and Sustainable Development.”  If anybody’s in town, please drop by:  My particular panel will be held on Wednesday afternoon.   Yesterday, some of the Latter-day Saints involved in the conference — joined by a... Read more

    In this, the 147th scripture roundtable posted by the Interpreter Foundation, Jeff Bradshaw, Craig Foster, Ben McGuire, and Dan Peterson discuss 1 Nephi 8-12, 15, in connection with 2016 Gospel Doctrine lesson 3   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/scripture-roundtable-147-book-of-mormon-gospel-doctrine-lesson-3-the-vision-of-the-tree-of-life/   Posted from Istanbul, Turkey     Read more

    Some years ago I made a long study of just what objections had been raised against Mormonism in the past. From the beginning it was always the same. Nobody was really worried about polygamy, which was in fact a welcome stick to beat the Mormons with; the ferocious denunciations from press and pulpit, the incitement of mobs, and the stampeding of legislatures always rested on one thing alone—the incredible fact that in an age of modern enlightenment, universal... Read more

    Since I’m in Turkey at the moment, and since, in the Church’s adult Sunday school curriculum, we’re coming to the point where we’ll be discussing the Revelation of John, I’ve been thinking about this Deseret News article that I published back in July.  Some, I think, might find it interesting, and perhaps even of use:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865632206/The-failing-churches-of-ancient-Roman-Asia.html?pg=all   Posted from Istanbul, Turkey     Read more

    For the 146th scripture roundtable published by the Interpreter Foundation, Cassandra Hedelius, Craig Foster, Martin Tanner, and Bruce Webster focus on 2016 Gospel Doctrine lesson 2, which is based upon 1 Nephi 1-5 and 1 Nephi 7:   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/scripture-roundtable-146-book-of-mormon-gospel-doctrine-lesson-2-all-things-according-to-his-will/   Posted from Istanbul, Turkey     Read more

    A young man once long ago claimed he had found a large diamond in his field as he was ploughing. He put the stone on display to the public free of charge, and everyone took sides. A psychologist showed, by citing some famous case studies, that the young man was suffering from a well-known form of delusion. An historian showed that other men have also claimed to have found diamonds in fields and been deceived. A geologist proved... Read more

    I’m not endorsing this article — I actually disagree with it at several pivotal points — but I do think that it raises interesting issues for serious (informed) discussion.  Especially right now, in the wake of the Paris attacks:   http://blogs.ancientfaith.com/joeljmiller/islam-is-a-religion-of-violence/   Maybe I’ll write something on the topic myself at some future time.  It’s a discussion in which I’m willing to participate.   Posted from Istanbul, Turkey     Read more

    The latest bi-weekly Hamblin-Peterson column for the Deseret News:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641496/Nomadic-tent-shrines-and-stone-temples.html   Posted from Istanbul, Turkey Read more

    Everybody says Joseph Smith was lazy because of the things he didn’t do, but what about the things he did do? What good does it do to say that you, with your tiny routine of daily busywork, think another man is lazy if that man happens to accomplish more than ten ordinary men in a short lifetime? Joseph Smith’s activities are a matter of record and they are phenomenal. You might as well claim that Horowitz doesn’t know... Read more

    Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture actually published two review articles on Friday, not just one:   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/a-modern-view-of-ancient-temple-worship/   Posted from Amsterdam, The Netherlands     Read more