“The Past and Future of the Temple Lot in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri,” and Etc.

Last updated on: April 5, 2021 at 3:11 pm By Dan Peterson

*** Newly published in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: R. Jean Addams, “The Past and Future of the Temple Lot in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri” Abstract: Fifteen months after the Church of Christ’s inception in April 1830, Joseph Smith received a revelation indicating that Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, was to be the “center-place” of Zion and a “spot for a temple is lying westward, upon a lot that is not far from the court-house.”... Read more

Χριστός Ανέστη! Aληθώς ανέστη!

Last updated on: April 5, 2021 at 12:35 pm By Dan Peterson

*** Χριστός Ανέστη! To put it in Roman letters, Christos Anesti! is the traditional greeting given by Greek Christians, and by other Christians in the Greek or Orthodox tradition, on Easter morning. “Christ is risen!” Aληθώς ανέστη! Alithos Anesti! (“Truly, he is risen!”) is the traditional response. I offer the same greeting to anybody and everybody who reads this blog entry. Christ is risen. That is the most wonderful news imaginable. *** ... Read more

“But I tell you, I saw it!”

Last updated on: April 4, 2021 at 12:23 am By Dan Peterson

*** New today on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: Book of Moses Essays #49: Let Us Make Man in Our Image, After Our Likeness (Moses 2-26) *** If you love music and you haven’t seen Lamb of God, please try to attend a screening of it: “How the movie ‘Lamb of God’ went from an idea to theaters in 3 months: Such hastiness could’ve led to poor quality, but the film has a... Read more

“Resurrection Month”

Last updated on: April 3, 2021 at 6:06 pm By Dan Peterson

*** The new article that went up today in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship is our annual Easter article — though, for reasons that I fully understand and with which I can sympathize, its author, Claudia Bushman, is not overly fond of that word, Easter: “Resurrection Month” Abstract: We tend to have big events and a full month celebrating Christmas, but here we are in a very Christian church that has come to almost ignore... Read more

Serving the Cause by Getting the Shot, and Observing Hugh Nibley

Last updated on: April 3, 2021 at 11:28 am By Dan Peterson

The ever-dying Interpreter Foundation has somehow managed to gasp out yet another book. You can learn a little something about it and about its subject in this short entry on the Foundation’s blog, which is the first in a projected series of related blog posts: “Who Was Hugh Nibley?: Announcing a New, Landmark Book, Hugh Nibley Observed“ *** I want, again, to use this space to encourage all three of my readers to accept vaccination... Read more

Looking toward Easter

Last updated on: April 5, 2021 at 12:36 pm By Dan Peterson

*** You may not yet have seen these two new items on the webpage of the Interpreter Foundation. But that doesn’t mean that they’re not there: Come, Follow Me — D&C Study and Teaching Helps Lesson 15, April 5–11: D&C 30–36 — “You Are Called to Preach My Gospel” Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 15 “You Are Called to Preach My Gospel” D&C 30-36 The Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 15, “You Are Called... Read more

An Update on the “Witnesses” Project

Last updated on: April 8, 2021 at 10:16 pm By Dan Peterson

*** As we approach the theatrical debut of the Interpreter Foundation’s dramatic film, Witnesses, some aspects of that debut are coming more clearly into focus. I’ve said earlier that Witnesses will begin screening in theaters on 4 June 2021, and I’ve encouraged you to mark your calendars for that date. But permit me now to refine that announcement just a little bit: Current practice for movie debuts, I’m informed, has them actually commence on the Thursday... Read more

“Temple Symbolism in the Story of Noah”

Last updated on: March 29, 2021 at 10:36 pm By Dan Peterson

Yet another article went online today — accessible at no charge to all interested readers — in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. It was written by Jeffrey Mark Bradshaw: “The Ark and the Tent: Temple Symbolism in the Story of Noah” Abstract: Jeffrey M. Bradshaw compares Moses’ tabernacle and Noah’s ark, and then identifies the story of Noah as a temple related drama, drawing of temple mysticism and symbols. After examining structural similarities between... Read more

“A free fall death spiral”

Last updated on: March 29, 2021 at 10:36 am By Dan Peterson

In yesterday’s video message for Palm Sunday, President Russell M. Nelson alluded to a dramatic experience that he had approximately forty-five years ago. I recently read Sheri Dew, Insights from a Prophet’s Life: Russell M. Nelson (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019). and thoroughly enjoyed it. (I’ve recommended it here before, I believe.) Anyway, here is a slightly more detailed version, from that book, of the incident that President Nelson related in yesterday’s message: On November 12,... Read more

Palm Sunday and Holy Week, 2021

Last updated on: March 29, 2021 at 10:25 am By Dan Peterson

*** We’re entering into the week of Easter or, as it’s often known, “Holy Week.” Here are some materials relevant to the season: First, these two items from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “A Palm Sunday Invitation from the Prophet: This Easter season, President Nelson invites the world to remember the Christ, follow His teachings and watch the Church’s April 2021 general conference” “The First Presidency’s 2021 Easter Message” ***... Read more