The most recent installment of my weekly Deseret News column is now up, for better or for worse:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865673501/Biblical-minimalists-and-the-historical-record.html     Read more

    I believe that it was Kevin Taylor who called my attention to this interesting item a couple of days ago:   http://mentalfloss.com/article/84506/first-americans-didnt-arrive-bering-land-bridge-study-says     Read more

    The first half-hour of this BYU-Radio interview features Dr. Safi Kaskas, with whom my wife and I were privileged to spend a fair amount of time last Saturday, Sunday, and Monday:   https://www.byuradio.org/episode/2b699820-2250-4897-9a5a-96328ece373a/top-of-mind-with-julie-rose-fear-of-islam-in-america-keeping-peace-sanctuary-cities   I’m grateful to my friend Jussi Kemppainen (of Helsinki and Jeddah) for arranging the visit.   You can see some of Dr. Kaskas’s comments about his recent visit to Utah (including some time at LDS Church headquarters) here on his Facebook page:   https://www.facebook.com/safikaskas2   I was... Read more

    Alden Weight called my attention to this item:   https://www.lds.org/church/news/a-win-win-situation-church-partners-with-law-school-to-serve-those-in-need?lang=eng   It should be paired with this:   “LDS Church Collaborates with ASU Law School to Provide Legal Counsel to Immigrants”   I’m proud of the Church for this, and proud of those who’re volunteering.  May the Lord bless them and those with whom they’re counseling.     Read more

    An acquaintanceship with the literature of the world may be won by any person who will devote half an hour a day to the careful reading of the best books. The habit of reading good books is one that gives great comfort in all the stages and among all the vicissitudes of life.  The man who has learned to love good reading is never alone.  His friends are the great ones of human history, and to them he... Read more

    http://www.nationalreview.com/article/444864/antiquities-act-outdated-progressive-law-bears-ears-national-monument   There are some treasures there.  See also:   “What is Bears Ears? Take a look inside Utah’s new national monument”     Read more

    Damon Linker, a non-LDS political scientist who taught at BYU for two years in the late 1990s, is no fan of Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn and isn’t unhappy to see him out as Mr. Trump’s national security advisor.   Nor am I.   But Dr. Linker is concerned about the way Mr. Flynn’s exit was engineered.   As am I.   http://theweek.com/articles/680068/americas-spies-anonymously-took-down-michael-flynn-that-deeply-worrying     Read more

    I’m delighted to hear about this:   http://arizonabeehive.com/lds-church-collaborates-with-asu-law-school-to-provide-legal-counsel-to-immigrants/   Thanks to Doug Ealy for calling it to my notice.     Read more

    An interesting piece out of England:   http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2017/02/15/on_science_the_left_has_its_own_alternative_facts.html     Read more

    From CNN.  Published, appropriately, on St. Valentine’s Day:   http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/14/world/heart-of-the-matter-love-defies-borders/index.html?sr=fbCNN021417heart-of-the-matter-love-defies-borders0601PMVODtopLink&linkId=34492440   There’s a strong Mormon connection.     Read more