Some suggested readings on near-death experiences

Last updated on: December 1, 2024 at 9:18 pm By Dan Peterson

The following note went out to several Interpreter Foundation mailing lists yesterday: This coming Tuesday is Giving Tuesday, when the hearts of many (in the United States, at least) turn to charity or, anyway, to tax deductions. We know that there are thousands of worthy causes out there, and we hope that none of them is neglected. Still, among all of their competing claims and amidst the wonders and the pressures of Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Festivus, Christmas, Boxing... Read more

“Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

Last updated on: November 30, 2024 at 11:56 pm By Dan Peterson

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We’re just back from a showing of Home Alone with our granddaughter. It was hilarious. But I’m thinking much more of the audience that were there with us in the tiny theater. There were several little kids who were about our granddaughter’s age, and they had already met this morning during an activity in which at least two of them had created stuffed baby elk — which, of course, they brought along to watch the movie with them. They... Read more

“A Book of Mormon Mystery”?

Last updated on: November 29, 2024 at 10:56 pm By Dan Peterson

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A new article appeared this afternoon in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: “What Happened to Nephi at the Camp of the Broken Bow? A Book of Mormon Mystery,” written by Godfrey J. Ellis Abstract: Nephi started as the youngest son of Lehi and Sariah and ended up as the king or king-like leader of the Nephite nation. While he, in some sense, obviously grew into the role over time, there was likely some key time... Read more

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last updated on: November 28, 2024 at 10:57 am By Dan Peterson

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I wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all of my fellow Americanos out there. And — why not? — I hope that all of you non-Americans have a good day, too! I published this article, entitled “The miracle of Thanksgiving pies,” in the 23 November 2017 issue of the Deseret News: “If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch,” the late American astronomer and science popularizer Carl Sagan once quipped, “you must first invent the universe.” As Americans... Read more

Thinking and Thanking

Last updated on: November 27, 2024 at 11:02 am By Dan Peterson

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I published the Thanksgiving column immediately below in the 24 November 2011 issue of the Deseret News. Perhaps you might find something in it of value: Autumn harvest festivals were and are common across Europe, and, as every American schoolchild once learned, our modern Thanksgiving celebrations descend from a meal shared between Massachusetts Pilgrims and Native Americans in 1621. It was not until Oct. 3, 1863, however, that a uniform national holiday was established by presidential proclamation. Writing well... Read more

Gratitude for Air and Dirt

Last updated on: November 26, 2024 at 11:12 am By Dan Peterson

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I published the following column in the 14 November issue of the Deseret News: As we in the United States approach the national Thanksgiving holiday for 2019, it’s appropriate to consider things for which we should express our gratitude. Obviously, of course, there’s the good food that many of us will be eating. There are the family members with whom many of us will be gathering to share it. However, there is much, much more. Indeed, our reasons for gratitude are virtually... Read more

For Thanksgiving Week

Last updated on: November 25, 2024 at 3:31 pm By Dan Peterson

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I’ve long felt that American Thanksgiving tends to be a somewhat forlorn and relatively neglected holiday. Falling between the fun of the costumes and candies and houses of horror associated with the entirely desacralized holiday of Halloween and the weeks of carols and festivities (and unrelenting commercialism) of the partially desacralized Christmas, it tends to be reduced to something of a poor relation — a day, merely, of family get-togethers and good traditional foods. Both of which, I hasten... Read more

Tragedy and Triumph and Hope

Last updated on: November 24, 2024 at 2:37 pm By Dan Peterson

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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

Things that really matter

Last updated on: November 23, 2024 at 3:41 pm By Dan Peterson

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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

On the Translation Process for the Book of Mormon

Last updated on: November 23, 2024 at 9:30 am By Dan Peterson

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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