Luke 11:37-54 Compare Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:1-9; Luke 20:46; John 8:6   These are powerful verses against cultivating an outward appearance of righteousness without the inward attitudes that accompany the real thing.   I’ve always liked a German word that is the rough equivalent of English hypocrite:  Scheinheiliger.  A not very elegant but fairly literal translation is “appearance saint.”   The important thing is the inner reality, not the outward show.   Posted from San Diego, California  ... Read more

    Many years before, when I was still an undergraduate student at BYU, I had served on a committee with Bruce Hafen.  At that time, I think he was some sort of assistant to the University’s president — not yet the president of Ricks College, the dean of the BYU law school, the prominent Mormon writer, the General Authority, or the president of the St. George Temple that he would eventually become.   But I didn’t think that he... Read more

    To every American out there.  Even to those who apparently loathe and despise what it commemorates:   https://www.commentarymagazine.com/2015/07/03/independence-day-lefts-vanity/   And, for that matter, to everyone else.   And, for those who believe in what this republic represents, here are a few minutes of stirring beauty:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpZ3jPMM5Ac   Posted from San Diego, California     Read more

    This could be very helpful.  And it may offer some reassurance, too:   http://sese.asu.edu/news/creating-stopwatch-volcanic-eruptions   Posted from San Diego, California     Read more

    The first time I met Boyd K. Packer was sometime in the first part of 1974, when he came to Zürich for a stake conference.  He had been an apostle for about four years by that point.   Upon arrival, he took a tour of the mission home at Pilatusstrasse 11.   I had a fairly large basement office.  On one wall, it had a bulletin board.   I was standing in the room across a large table... Read more

    In nature there’s no blemish but the mind.None can be called deformed but the unkind. William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night   My wife and I attended an excellent outdoor performance of Twelfth Night tonight in the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre at the Old Globe in Balboa Park.   Lots of fun.   Posted from San Diego, California         Read more

    Luke 11:34-36 Compare Matthew 6:22-23   I’m sure that the Savior’s comment here presupposes and reflects an ancient theory of vision that we no longer hold, scientifically speaking.   Nevertheless, I think his essential point remains:   If our way of perceiving people and the world around us is fundamentally wrong, skewed, warped, deformed by gross error, poisoned by cynicism, distorted by hatred, and so forth, that will affect virtually everything about us.   “And if your eye... Read more

    Unfortunately, this is the world in which we now live:   http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/03/politics/andrew-cuomo-july-4-security-threats/index.html   Be careful, be wary, but have a great Fourth of July weekend!   Posted from San Diego, California Read more

    Not altogether surprising, but, still, sad:   http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/president-boyd-k-packer-dies-at-age-90   This may also be of interest.   I’ll be posting some of my own memories and impressions of President Packer a bit later.  I had enormous respect for him, and I liked him very much.   His unique voice will be missed.   There are now two vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve.   Posted from San Diego, California     Read more

    It being Friday, Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture has published yet another essay for your edification and enjoyment:   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/a-response-to-denver-snuffers-essay-on-plural-marriage-adoption-and-the-supposed-falling-away-of-the-church-part-2-facade-or-reality/   And, as always, we provide it at no charge.   Posted from San Diego, California   Read more