Although we often fail to notice and often forget, this world is a wondrous place.  Have a look at these:   http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/10/2015-nikon-microscopy-contest-winners-science-is-art/     Read more

    “A god who let us prove his existence would be an idol.”   “The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children. Dietrich Bonhoeffer     Read more

    Ashby Boyle addresses a topic that is absolutely perfect for Sabbath reflections:   http://ldsmag.com/article-1-13493/     Read more

    John 12:9-11   Increased visibility brings increased hostility.   Latter-day Saints should know that, understand it, expect it, and be prepared to cope with it.   It won’t always come in the form of murder plots and violent persecution, either.  In fact, it rarely will.  Almost never.  Usually, it will come in more gentle ways. Verbal slights or attacks, social insults or exclusions, mockery, derision, media misrepresentation.  Public and private criticisms, some of them based on legitimate questions... Read more

    Unfortunately, the sound quality on the accompanying video is extremely poor.  It’s still (barely) comprehensible, though, and — it’s fairly brief — is probably still worth watching:   http://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/suspect-harrassing-mormon-church-elder-allegedly-had-goal-of-blood-sacrifice   I’ve been seeing ads featuring this ex-Mormon, Lee Baker (he identifies himself as a former bishop, which may be true, for all I know), for many months now.  They invite people to go to his site, where he’ll answer questions about the Church.   Somebody is obviously shelling... Read more

    John 12:1-8 Compare Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; Luke 7:36-50   This story raises an issue that has occupied me for years, and for which I have no neat and clear answer.   The world is full of poor people, and many are malnourished and even starving.   I think that starvation and malnutrition can and urgently should be ended.   In this context, I think of one of my favorite charities, the Liahona Children’s Foundation.  One of the... Read more

    An interesting article from the Independent of London:   http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/sodom-and-gomorrah-the-quest-to-find-the-biblical-cities-a6697876.html     Read more

    A really interesting little article on one of the biggest of all Big Questions:   http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2015/10/15/448839381/could-all-really-come-from-nothing   And the video with Tim Maudlin is quite good, too, and very clear.  It’s nearly six minutes long.     Read more

    Luke 19:11-27 Compare Matthew 25:14-30; Mark 13:14   This is a tough parable.  But one of its applications seems absolutely clear:  We’re to make use of the gifts that we’ve been given (whether financial, artistic, managerial, intellectual, musical, or whatever) to do good.  We’re not supposed to simply sit on them.   We should be asking every day, “Am I doing the things that I should be doing?  Are there things that I ought to be doing that... Read more

    Somehow, I missed this well-written little essay on the PBS website when it appeared back in late September.  (I think I was traveling.)   If you haven’t read it, take a look:   http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/found-mormon-faith/     Read more