Yesterday evening, we met friends for dinner at Maria’s Mexican Grill in South Jordan — this was our first time there, by the way, and, for whatever it may be worth, I thought my food was unusually good — and then we headed up together to Symphony Hall in Salt Lake City. We arrived early, for a discussion of that night’s program with the Symphony’s Assistant Conductor, Jessica Rivero Altarriba. As a special treat, though, she introduced the Utah... Read more
FAIR is a largely volunteer organization, and sometimes real life gets in the way of getting certain things done. I’m pleased, however, to see that this important presentation has finally gone up online: “Church Finances in Context: An Overview of History, Law, and Recent Controversies,” given by Aaron Miller at the 2024 FAIR Conference This session reviews the recent details and controversies regarding the finances of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and discuss the legal, strategic, ethical,... Read more
For whatever it may be worth, today is the sixty-first anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. And of the death of Aldous Huxley. And of the passing of C. S. Lewis. My life has been affected by all three of these men. The Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft wrote a book inspired by the coincidence of their deaths within hours of each other: Between Heaven and Hell: A Dialog Somewhere Beyond Death with John F. Kennedy, C. S.... Read more
I liked this article in the Deseret News that was written by the invaluable Jacob Hess — and not merely because it cites, well, me: “‘I’m genuinely interested in your answers’: When pretended curiosity becomes a weapon to undermine faith: The image of an earnest truth seeker invokes feelings of reverence in modern society. Little wonder some have found ways to manipulate this trust to undermine and attack things they don’t like” I’m now something of a bona fide movie... Read more
By the way, Six Days in August is still playing in four or five theaters through this Thursday, and will survive in two more — in Pocatello and, I believe, in Kaysville — over at least this coming weekend. We’re also arranging some private showings. (My wife and I will be involved with one of those on Sunday next.) Final approval for DVDs and Blu-ray should come today, and we’re moving forward with plans for streaming the film. A... Read more
My wife and I took Royal Skousen out to dinner last night; we had a pleasant visit before, during, and after the meal. A major topic of conversation, of course, was his wife, Sirkku Unelma Skousen, to whom he was and is deeply devoted. Sirkku died on 9 November 2024, following a lengthy and increasingly difficult illness. (Her funeral will be held on Saturday, 23 November 2024, in Spanish Fork, Utah.) While visiting with him at his home before... Read more
Some here may be interested in this 44-minute discussion between an Evangelical Protestant and a Latter-day Saint: “Heretic Review: Why Everyone Should Oppose Religious Misrepresentations.” I myself have listened, thus far, to only about twenty-five percent of the recording, but I’ve enjoyed it thus far. In this conversation, Jacob Hansen and Jeff McCullough discuss the recent film ‘Heretic’ and its portrayal of Latter-day Saints and Christianity. They explore the broader themes of media representation, the exploitation of religious beliefs,... Read more
The so-called “secret combinations” of the Book of Mormon have long been of particular interest to me. Here are three articles about them from Jeff Lindsay, a valued member of the Interpreter Foundation’s board of directors and until recently one of the editors of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, that were recently published in Meridian Magazine: “A Practical Guide to the Book of Mormon’s Most Neglected Theme: Secret Combinations” “Secret Combinations: A Practical Guide to... Read more
World news? Insignificant. And who cares about the outcome of tonight’s BYU football game? It seems of no importance at all compared to this exciting dispatch from TMZ Sports: “Mormon Missionary Pounds Pupusas in El Salvador . . . Dominates Eating Contest!!!” In the wake of the recent American presidential election, there has been a considerable amount of discussion about the intersection of religion and politics. It seems to me that the passage immediately below offers a very clear... Read more
In view of the Interpreter Foundation’s ever-declining productivity, its long-prophesied, eagerly anticipated, and rapidly accelerating downward spiral, the items below — posted earlier today — may perhaps represent your very last chance ever to see any trace of its existence. Unless, of course, you look in again next week. Or next month. Or next year. “Interviews with Ben Spackman and Samuel T. Wilkinson” On 18 October 2024, Daniel Peterson interviewed Ben Spackman, a Latter-day Saint historian of religion, science,... Read more
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