We’re just back from the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, where we attended a performance of the musical Dear Evan Hansen by a touring company with a heavy contingent of Canadian actors. It deals with important themes of youth depression and suicide. I was somewhat surprised, given recent news, that the theater was actually open tonight. And I thought that there might be a large number of empty seats. But there weren’t. The place was packed. I... Read more
“Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Joseph Fielding McConkie Discusses the First Vision and Tolerance”: Part 14 of a Series Compiled by Dennis B. Horne *** My wife and I continue to read a passage every night from A Year with C. S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works. Here is a recent reading, from his famous book Mere Christianity: One of the things that surprised me when I first read the New Testament seriously was that... Read more
We still have a little bit more to do as I work my way through Bart J. Kowallis, “In the Thirty and Fourth Year: A Geologist’s View of the Great Destruction in 3 Nephi,” BYU Studies 37/3 (1997-1998): Professor Kowallis describes the famous 1883 eruption of Krakatoa as “moderately large” and, in terms of “the distribution of rock fragments,” as “probably typical.” He cites the case of the ship Sir Robert Sale, which was about forty miles from the... Read more
Just a few minutes ago, I read the confident claim, made online by someone whom (as far as I can tell) I don’t know and have never met, that I consider science a sham. This was stunning news to me, as I’ve had, or thought I had, a lifelong interest in scientific subjects — particularly in astronomy, cosmology, and geology. But I’m always humbly eager to learn, and surely no anonymous and total stranger would publicly make such... Read more
A poignant passage about Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher from the late Reverend Dr. Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, O.P. (1935-2013), a Roman Catholic and a Dominican priest who was, for decades, a professor of New Testament at the illustrious École Biblique there in that city: One expects the central shrine of Christendom to stand out in majestic isolation, but anonymous buildings cling to it like barnacles. One looks for numinous light, but it is dark and cramped. One hopes for peace, but the ear is assailed by a cacophony of warring... Read more
You may perhaps have heard that a disease called coronavirus is going around. Here are some comments on different aspects of the illness and the responses to it, from various sources: “On Coronavirus, Where Are All the Grownups?” “President Trump Needs to Step Up on the Coronavirus” “Rick Scott’s Moment” “Helpless in Seattle: How journalists are/are not covering coronavirus, churches and conferences” “6 key coronavirus numbers you should know: COVID-19 cases and deaths are... Read more
Quite unrelated to the image above: Fairly commonly, I’m told by critics of Islam that Muslims believe it legitimate to lie to non-Muslims (presumably on just about anything). Thus, supposedly, there’s no value in entering into any contract with Muslims or into any treaty with an Islamic state. Moreover, according to some, you can never trust Muslims anywhere, ever. They may seem to be friendly with you, but they’re just biding their time. Very commonly, in... Read more
And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were found in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the face of the land. (3 Nephi 8:18) We’re nearing the end, but I’m still working my way through Bart J. Kowallis, “In the Thirty and Fourth Year: A Geologist’s View of the Great Destruction in 3 Nephi,” BYU Studies 37/3 (1997-1998): Nephi’s description... Read more
Newly posted on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: In God’s Image and Likeness 2: Enoch, Noah, and the Tower of Babel: Moses 6:13-25: Enoch, the Seer Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in In God’s Image and Likeness 2: Enoch, Noah, and the Tower of Babel (2014) by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw and David J. Larsen. Abstract: In this chapter, the authors review what some have called the “most remarkable religious document published in the nineteenth century,”... Read more
Thanks to the generous efforts of many volunteers and the kind support of generous donors, the fountain that is the Interpreter Foundation continues to produce, week in and week out. Here are three very recent items that we hope will be of interest and benefit to our audience: Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 11 Be Reconciled unto God through the Atonement of Christ Jacob 1-4 The Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 11, Be Reconciled... Read more
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