These new articles went up today on the website of the Interpreter Foundation. As always, they are easily accessible, at absolutely no charge: ““Behold, He Was a Man Like unto Ammon”: Mormon’s Use of ʾmn-related Terminology in Praise of Moroni in Alma 48,” written by Matthew L. Bowen Abstract: This article examines Mormon’s comparison of Moroni, the Nephite military leader, to Ammon, the son of Mosiah, in Alma 48:18 and how Mormon’s use and repetition of ʾmn-related terminology... Read more
I love autumn, but it also depresses me. I love it for the changing colors of the leaves (the reds and the oranges and the yellows and the yet-remaining shades of green) and the peaches and the nectarines and the fresh corn on the cob and the rich red tomatoes and the brisk, clear days and the blue skies. But it saddens me because I know that winter is coming, that the glories of fall are transient. I’m... Read more
More material has gone up — surprise! surprise! — on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: Conference Talks:The Ancient Israelite Tabernacle, Its Accoutrements, and the Priestly Vestments This presentation was originally given by Daniel Smith to the Interpreter Foundation’s 2016 Temple on Mount Zion Conference, on Saturday, 5 November 2016. Come, Follow Me — New Testament Study and Teaching Helps: Lesson 41, October 2 — October 8: Ephesians — “For the Perfecting of the Saints” Once again, Jonn Claybaugh... Read more
I’ve recently noticed an, umm, online “discussion” in which several former Latter-day Saints appear to be taking the position that there is simply no evidence for the existence of Joseph Smith’s Book of Mormon plates. Saying that actual physical plates existed is, they’re saying, merely a faith position. It’s rather like asserting the existence of Bigfoot. It’s no better than circular reasoning. I find such declarations deeply disheartening. I caught just a few minutes this past Sunday night... Read more
I found this article by Sheluyang Peng very interesting, and I think that you might, as well: “Immigration is religion’s only hope: White progressives face a surprising alliance” From a Jewish academic: “Attacks on Catholic Institutions Should Concern All of Us” From the Deseret News: “12 times Joseph Smith defended religious freedom: Joseph Smith left behind a legacy of defending religious freedom. Smith’s quotes on religious freedom can be found in the Joseph Smith Papers, which released its final volume... Read more
Our stake put on a patriotic fireside tonight, complete with the stake choir, a brief vocal solo by a young woman, a violinist, a pianist, a flautist, and an organist. A reader recited quotations from some of the Founding Fathers (e.g., Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, John Adams, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin) and our founding documents (the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble to the Constitution). There was also a second reader toward the end. I was the... Read more
Last night, my wife and I were privileged to attend and to participate in a reception and dinner celebrating “Moroni Day” that was sponsored by Scripture Central and held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Salt Lake City. Roughly 550 people enjoyed a program that included the unveiling of two new statues of Moroni (late in his life and as a resurrected being) by the sculptor and plastic surgeon Steven Neil; musical performances by Dallyn Vail Bayles, Ross... Read more
Two new articles appeared today on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: “Mormon’s Narrative Strategies to Provide Literary Justice for Gideon,” written by Nathan J. Arp Abstract: Although unable to write more than a hundredth part of his people’s history, Mormon seemingly found the time and plate-space to deliver literary justice on behalf of Gideon, who suffered a martyr’s death at the hand of the wicked Nehor. This article applies a literary approach buttressed by evidence from the... Read more
A few days ago, I published a post here in which I replied to the silly atheist slogan “Science flies men to the moon. Religion flies planes into buildings.” Responding to my response, an occasional participant on the Peterson Obsession Board who does not appear to be as reflexively hostile to theism as many of the others there — an (American?) physicist teaching in Germany who has never been a Latter-day Saint — offered an alternative slogan: “Religion... Read more
Newly posted on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: Conference Talks: Group Ascension to Heaven in Early Judaism and Christianity. This presentation was originally given by David Larsen on Saturday, 5 November 2016, at the Interpreter Foundation’s 2016 Temple on Mount Zion Conference. This is good to hear, although, since there are still matters before the courts, it may not quite be the last word: “Breaking News: City of Cody Issues Building Permit for LDS Temple... Read more
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