*** This parable, from the Philosophical Fragments of Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), has long been a favorite of mine: Imagine there was a King who loved a humble maiden. She had no royal pedigree, no education, no standing in the royal court. She dressed in rags. She lived in a hovel; she lived the ragged life of a peasant. But for reasons no one could quite figure out, the King fell in love with this girl in... Read more
*** In case anybody out there might be interested, this new article of mine was published yesterday in Meridian Magazine: “Observing Hugh Nibley” *** The latest of Kyler Rasmussen’s Bayesian essays appeared yesterday on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: “Estimating the Evidence Episode 8: On Very Long Boat Rides” And so did a a substantially updated essay from Royal Skousen: “Update of the Pre-Print of A Discussion of the Book... Read more
*** Some new items were published earlier today (Tuesday) on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: “Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Lesson Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 36 (D&C 94-97)” Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 36 “For the Salvation of Zion”: D&C 94-97 The Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 36, “For the Salvation of Zion” on D&C 94-97, featured Mark Johnson, Matthew Bowen, and Martin Tanner. And now... Read more
*** I was very pleased to read the remarks delivered by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland at BYU’s annual University Conference yesterday. (Although now retired from BYU, I was invited to attend. Instead, though, I was with the world’s cutest 4.5-year-old at the Butterfly Biosphere and the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point, in Lehi, Utah. Wonderful places.). You can watch a video of Elder Holland’s speech and read its complete text at “Elder Jeffrey R.... Read more
Written separately, so with some overlap: (1) My wife and I lived for roughly four years in Egypt, in a southern suburb of Cairo called Ma‘adi that lies on the east bank of the Nile River. We didn’t plan to be there so long; it simply worked out that way. We were doing reasonably well financially, partly because of the remarkable generosity of my brother in connection with the family business and partly because my wife,... Read more
This article of mine was published yesterday, I believe, in Meridian Magazine. It was actually inspired by certain responses to a blog post here. “Could a Loving God Allow Such Suffering?” And this little essay, not by me, went up on the website of the Interpreter Foundation earlier today: Book of Moses Essays #69: Moses Witnesses the Fall: (Moses 4) “Stand Ye in Holy Places, and Be Not Moved” (Moses 4:29–31) *** And... Read more
*** The New Colossus Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your... Read more
*** A new article, written by an author whose name is a hiss and a byword among decent people everywhere, has appeared in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: “Better Kingdom-Building through Triage” Abstract: We are called to take the Gospel to the entire world, but our numbers are few and our time and resources are limited. This is where cold calculation can help. A field-surgical technique pioneered during the Napoleonic Wars of the... Read more
*** A friend called this afternoon from Orlando, Florida, to make me aware of this: https://deseretbook.com/p/witnesses?variant_id=194869-dvd I’m delighted to see the ad campaign beginning so soon. I still hope, of course, that you’ll be able to see the film on a big screen — whether again or for the very first time. But opportunities to do that are rapidly disappearing. So order your copy soon! *** This was a real shocker to me... Read more
*** Kyler Rasmussen continues his personal investigation of Joseph Smith’s claims and the probability of their being true with a new blog entry on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: Estimating the Evidence Episode 7: On Three Consonants and a Turn *** The theatrical run of the Interpreter Foundation’s Witnesses movie continues to wind down, but it will actually pick up a new movie house this coming weekend — the Worm Creek Opera House... Read more
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