“The Queer Philosophies of Men Mingled with Scripture,” and Other Matters

Last updated on: June 3, 2022 at 3:01 pm By Dan Peterson

*** Three new articles appeared this afternoon (Utah time) in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: “Interpreting Interpreter: Believing All the Words,” by Kyler Rasmussen This post is a summary of the article ““Believe All the Words”: A Key to Spiritual Outpouring” by Mark Campbell in Volume 51 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. The Takeaway: Campbell identifies nine examples of a... Read more

In the footsteps of Roland and Charlemagne

Last updated on: June 3, 2022 at 3:38 pm By Dan Peterson

*** Here are two new items from the webpage of the Interpreter Foundation: Interpreter Radio Show — May 8, 2022 In this episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, Terry Hutchinson and John Gee first discuss processes vs. results and how that distinction relates to our spiritual journey. Later, they talk about Emmeline B. Wells, a prominent figure in the Church of Jesus Christ’s latest volume, Saints, Volume 3: Boldly, Nobly, and Independent, 1893-1955. The second portion... Read more

Thoughts Occasioned by the Story of Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga

Last updated on: June 3, 2022 at 3:47 pm By Dan Peterson

*** I recently recorded an episode with “Richie T” of The Cultural Hall Podcast regarding, among some other things, the new Undaunted film, but I think that I failed to mention when it went up online. (I’ve been occupied of late, and out of sync, time-wise, with things originating in North America.) However, some folks — there’s always somebody out there, right? — might find it enjoyable or at least palatable: “Undaunted: Witnesses of the Book... Read more

Which of my avatars was in La Coruña today?

Last updated on: June 3, 2022 at 4:09 pm By Dan Peterson

*** An online non-fan of mine who goes by the name of Dumb-Dud, or something like that, seems to be trying to outbid my Malevolent Stalker on the matter of how angered I am by the FX/Hulu miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven. They’re both convinced — or, anyway, they’re both pretending to be convinced — that I’m absolutely incandescent with rage at the enormous success of this Lafferty Brothers production that stars Andrew Garfield. The spoofs of... Read more

“A purely defensive war only ever ends one way”

Last updated on: June 3, 2022 at 4:30 pm By Dan Peterson

*** I recently read The Shortest History of Germany: From Julius Caesar to Angela Merkel―A Retelling for Our Times, by James Hawes, who is a lecturer at the University of Oxford (though not, I think on history but rather on creative writing, even though he earned a doctorate in German literature [with a focus on Friedrich Nietzsche] from University College, London). I thoroughly enjoyed it, and not only because it is very well and brightly written. In... Read more

Better, in fact, than he had ever felt before

Last updated on: May 29, 2022 at 3:52 pm By Dan Peterson

*** Episode Six in the Interpreter Foundation’s series of short video “reels” that are connected with its larger Witnesses film project has gone up. It is entitled “Sidney Rigdon and the Witnesses.” We invite you to watch it, to share it, and to subscribe to the Interpreter Foundation’s YouTube channel. *** I’m a very enthusiastic admirer of the writing and thinking of David French, and this article has done absolutely nothing to dampen my enthusiasm:... Read more

A brief stop in Andalusia

Last updated on: May 29, 2022 at 3:56 pm By Dan Peterson

*** We docked this morning in the ancient Spanish city of Cádiz, which was founded by the Phoenicians more than three thousand years ago. Alas, though, a choice was forced upon us, and we chose to join a tour to Seville, about two hours away. I regret not seeing more of Cádiz, but I don’t regret visiting Seville. It was our second time there, and it was really good to refresh our memories of the... Read more

Where did Nephi build his ship?

Last updated on: May 29, 2022 at 3:58 pm By Dan Peterson

*** It’s Friday, so, naturally, a new article has just appeared in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: “Khor Rori: A Maritime Resources-Based Candidate for Nephi’s Harbor,” by George D. Potter Abstract: Khor Rori, which forms the mouth of Wadi (Valley) Darbat, is the largest inlet along the Dhofar coast of southern Arabia. The khor was excavated into a harbor by the erosive action of the river that flows through Wadi Darbat. In ancient... Read more

“Why this article is so important”

Last updated on: May 29, 2022 at 4:02 pm By Dan Peterson

*** We’re hoping that this new two-part documentary will be viewed by large numbers of people and that it will receive the widest possible distribution: The Interpreter Foundation: “DVD Now Available of Undaunted: Witnesses of the Book of Mormon” Called to Share: “New Docudrama, Undaunted, Shares Story of Witnesses of the Book of Mormon” LDS Daily: “The Story of the Witnesses of the Book of Mormon Told in Unprecedented New Docudrama”... Read more

Evanescence and Permanence

Last updated on: June 5, 2022 at 8:03 am By Dan Peterson

*** It may have been Brigitte Bardot who made Saint-Tropez, a commune in the southern French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, famous in the United States. Certainly both the place and the famous “sex kitten” associated with it were already somewhat iconic by the time I became aware of the world around me. Although she was born and raised in Paris, Miss Bardot has long lived in Saint–Tropez. She first became an international sensation in the wake of... Read more