John 13:1-20 Compare Matthew 10:24, 40; 23:6-12; Mark 10:41-45; 12:39; Luke 6:40; 10:16; 12:37; 22:3, 24-28   One of the official titles of the Pope — it goes all the way back to Pope St. Gregory I (r. AD 590-604) — is servus servorum Dei (“servant of the servants of God”).   I’m not a Catholic, but I like the title.  I think it beautifully expresses the ideal of John 13:1-20.   On the modern temple ordinance of... Read more

    In the Interpreter Foundation’s 145th scripture roundtable, Jeff Bradshaw, Cassandra Hedelius, Dan Peterson, and Stephen Smoot turn their attention to the Book of Mormon, to the first lesson for the 2016 Gospel Doctrine curriculum:   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/scripture-roundtable-145-book-of-mormon-gospel-doctrine-lesson-1-the-keystone-of-our-religion/     Read more

    Elder Neal A. Maxwell was quite fond of this statement from the heroically honest eighteenth-century British clergyman William Law — quoting it, among other times, in his very first speech as a General Authority — and I am, too.  If I were ever to choose a personal motto, as an ideal toward which to strive, this might well be the one I chose:   “If you have not chosen the kingdom of God first, it will in the end make... Read more

    Anti-matter protons seem to behave the same way regular protons do:   http://www.livescience.com/52720-antimatter-matter-protons-behave-the-same.html   The universe is rather interesting.     Read more

    In Interpreter Foundation scripture roundtable 144, Jeff Bradshaw, Shon Hopkin, Martin Tanner, and Bruce Webster focus on Revelation 5-6, 19-22 — which is to say, on 2015 Gospel Doctrine lesson 46:   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/scripture-roundtable-144-new-testament-gospel-doctrine-lesson-46-he-will-dwell-with-them-and-they-shall-be-his-people/     Read more

    A thought-provoking and insightful piece from Ryan Larsen:   http://mormonpuzzlepieces.blogspot.com/2015/11/brain-games-and-gay-blame.html     Read more

    Matthew 26:17-20 Mark 14:12-17 Luke 22:7-14 Compare John 13:1   Matthew’s account suggests that Jesus had simply made prior arrangements for a venue in which to celebrate Passover.  The Markan and Lukan narratives, by contrast, seem to feature just a hint of something perhaps supernatural.   But maybe not.  Perhaps this was just a rather odd pre-arranged sign, and even something a bit secretive.  That would have been a reasonable precaution in view of the murderous designs of... Read more

    http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/ebola-free-liberia-mormon-missionaries-elder-bednar     Read more

    Matthew 26:14-16 Mark 14:10-11 Luke 22:3-6 Compare John 6:70-71; 13:2, 27   Judas was called to the apostleship.  In the end, though, he betrayed Jesus, and his name has become virtually synonymous, in many languages, with traitor.   Some suggest that he was motivated by simple greed.  And there are surely passages in the gospels to support greed as at least a contributing factor.   Others believe that he was a Zealot, a revolutionary interested in expelling the Roman... Read more

    In the Interpreter Foundation’s 143rd scripture roundtable, which is devoted to 2015 Gospel Doctrine Lesson 45, Jeff Bradshaw, Kris Frederickson, Ben McGuire, and Martin Tanner discussion Revelation 1-3 and Revelation 12:   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/scripture-roundtable-143-new-testament-gospel-doctrine-lesson-45-he-that-overcometh-shall-inherit-all-things/     Read more