I wonder if you noticed this item from a little while back: Haaretz: “Archaeologists Reveal Oldest Inscription in Jerusalem: A Canaanite Curse: Brought to you by the letter representing the discovery of the earliest word, ‘the’: Somebody among the Jebusites really wanted the governor of Jerusalem to die” It doesn’t, alas, speak especially well of human nature that the oldest inscription recovered from Jerusalem thus far is a (pre-Israelite) curse. And it’s not only in Jerusalem... Read more
You’ve probably already seen the news regarding the discovery of what may be an authentic daguerreotype image of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Here’s a basic article about the find that includes an official response on the matter from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “Does an image of Joseph Smith exist? What one descendant found in a forgotten family heirloom” And here’s a short piece about the finding that contains a few details that... Read more
I’m pleased to report that, just a few minutes ago, the Interpreter Foundation’s theatrical film Witnesses was announced by the Association for Mormon Letters as the winner of its 2021 Film Award. (More information on this to follow.) I’m so very grateful to our filmmaking team of Mark Goodman, James Jordan, and Russell Richins, and to Mitch Davis, who wrote the initial script for the dramatic film, and to all of the donors and volunteers and other... Read more
I’ve had only intermittent internet access over the past few days — thus far, today, the WiFi where we’re staying has been down for at least the past nine hours (and I’ve had to walk to another, fairly distant, location to post this) — so I’m a little bit behind in announcing here the appearance of two new items on the website of the Interpreter Foundation. (We’ve been here for four days, and the WiFi has failed for... Read more
The John Whitmer Historical Association — an independent organization that is more or less aligned with the former Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now the Community of Christ) — has issued a very interesting statement: “Smith family members and historians have long believed that a daguerreotype, or photograph, of Joseph Smith, Jr., was made before his June 27, 1844, assassination. That daguerreotype has now been found. Learn more in the JWHA Journal Spring/Summer... Read more
Three new items went up on the website of the Interpreter Foundation yesterday, and I’ve been tardy in calling your attention to them: “Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Traditions” Between 7 March 1954 and 17 October 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of thirty weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series, called Time Vindicates the Prophets, was given in answer to those who were challenging the right... Read more
Here’s a link to an article of mine that went up in Meridian Magazine yesterday. Because I’ve been on the road and in the air for much of the past thirty-six hours or more, I’m a bit late in calling attention to it: “Does Merneptah Stele Contain the First Extra-biblical Mention of Israel?” During our flight this morning from Vancouver, British Columbia, down to Portland, Oregon, I had a window seat on the left hand... Read more
For some reason, I found myself thinking today about alphabetic writing, which is, arguably, one of the greatest inventions or discoveries or gifts in the history of humanity. Think about it: With just a few simple symbols — twenty-six in English — a virtual infinity of thoughts can be expressed, and not only expressed but conveyed across time and space. (I’m not thinking specifically here of the Roman letters used by English and many other languages. The... Read more
One of the many highlights of our time here in southern Alberta has been our opportunity to participate in a session at the Cardston Alberta Temple on Saturday. Another temple patron whom I did not know approached me and requested that I take one of his family names through, so I represented one Mills Robinson, who passed away on 2 April 1900. This is the second time that my wife and I have attended the temple in... Read more
I spoke tonight in Cardston, in fireside that was sponsored by the two Cardston stakes. Apparently, it had been publicized as being on the subject of navigating crises of faith. I didn’t know that — I never saw any publicity about the fireside, either before or after — so I spoke on the three sets of witnesses to the Book of Mormon (the Three, the Eight, and what I call the informal or unofficial witnesses). Of course,... Read more
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