It’s Friday, so a new article has been published in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: “The “Allegory” of Ruth as a Prophecy of Latter-day Gathering,” written by Jan Francisco Abstract: In the historical context of the late fifth century BC, the book of Ruth was a powerful story of hope and redemption for the eventual gathering and restoration of Israel’s covenants. Connecting their golden period of unity under King David to this idyllic tale with... Read more
This article has been newly posted on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: The Temple: Past, Present and Future: “The Messianic Sacred, Not Secret: The Son as a Hidden Name in the Gospel of Mark,” written by Jasmin Gimenez Rappleye Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in The Temple: Past, Present and Future, edited by Stephen D. Ricks and Jeffrey M. Bradshaw. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-past-present-and-future/. For video and audio recording of... Read more
First of all, Merry Christmas to all! I hope that you’ve had a joyous Christmas season and that you will enjoy this day to the full with family and friends and food and music and whatever else will make for a very satisfying and memorable time. On Monday last, Meridian Magazine republished a Christmas-themed column that my late and still sorely missed friend Bill Hamblin and I originally wrote for the 11 December 2015 edition of the Deseret News.... Read more
I think it’s time to share another of my favorite Christmas poems. Curiously, the poem is titled “Christmas.” It was written by Sir John Betjeman (b. 1906), who was British poet laureate from 1972 until his death in 1984: The bells of waiting Advent ring, The Tortoise stove is lit again And lamp-oil light across the night Has caught the streaks of winter rain In many a stained-glass window sheen From Crimson Lake to Hookers Green. The holly in... Read more
Now available at no charge on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: “Interpreter Radio Show — December 15, 2024” Bruce Webster and Kris Fredericton hosted the 15 December 2024 episode of the Interpreter Radio Show. They discussed Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson 2, Moroni’s prophecies about our days, the Church’s disaster relief efforts, and Christmas music. Their conversation was recorded. It has now been edited to remove commercial breaks, archived, and placed online for your convenience. The... Read more
Tomorrow — Monday, 23 December 2024 — will be the 219th anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. Even among faithful and committed Latter-day Saints who revere his memory, his birthday is almost never noticed — which is scarcely surprising, especially given its proximity to Christmas. (Virtually nothing can escape the powerful gravitational pull of the year’s super-holiday.) So far as I noticed, Joseph’s name wasn’t mentioned a single time during my ward’s special Christmas sacrament... Read more
I had not realized until a couple of years ago that the “Carol of the Bells” stems from Ukraine. If I did ever know it before, I had forgotten: “The Ukrainian Choir Bringing New Meaning To A Classic Holiday Song” Shchedryk (from the Ukrainian Щедрий вечiр [Shchedry Vechir], meaning “Bountiful Evening”) is a Ukrainian shchedrivka or New Year’s carol. In its original form, which has no connection to Christmas, the song is known in English as “The Little Swallow.” ... Read more
On Thursday evening, my wife and I were privileged to participate in a dinner at the Relief Society Building in Salt Lake City. It was an interesting group to be with. Elder Matthew Holland of the Seventy conducted the event. Sister Tracy Y. Browning, second counselor in the Primary General Presidency of the Church, spoke briefly, as did Sister Lesa Stevenson and her husband, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Several officials of the... Read more
The Interpreter Foundation’s annual Christmas message for 2024 appeared today in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: “Ring in the Christ that Is to Be: Fulfilling the Pattern of His Life,” written by Don Bradley Abstract: The story of Christ, and of Christmas, is the story of Christ “the Lord God Omnipotent” incarnating in “a tabernacle of clay” (Mosiah 3:5). Christ took upon himself flesh so that he might also take upon himself burdens that he... Read more
For me, one of the most important principles in writing about the religious beliefs of others is this one: Those about whose religious beliefs one is writing should be able to recognize their religious beliefs in what has been written. They may say that the author has expressed one or more elements of their belief in a somewhat unaccustomed way. That happens sometimes. But they should be able to recognize it as their own. One of the best compliments... Read more
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