2017-01-30T10:52:49-07:00

    Emma Lazarus’s famous sonnet “The New Colossus” is engraved at the base of the Statue of Liberty and reads as follows:   Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities... Read more

2017-01-30T10:03:55-07:00

    “To speak evil of any one, unless there is unequivocal proofs of their deserving it, is an injury for which there is no adequate reparation.” (George Washington, letter to George Washington Parke Custis, 28 November 1796) “It often happens that those are the best people whose characters have been most injured by slanderers: as we usually find that to be the sweetest fruit which the birds have been picking at.” (Alexander Pope, “Thoughts on Various Subjects”) “Believe nothing... Read more

2017-01-29T22:01:26-07:00

    But it may finally have arrived!   “Where is the Mormon Church on Trump? History demands their leadership”   Yes, folks, it may be time once again to boo and hiss at the leaders of the LDS Church!   What better or more delicious pick-me-up can you possibly find than righteous indignation?   For a little background, read this:   “My view: Trump’s Muslim ban looks like Mormon ban”   And then there’s the statement that the Church... Read more

2017-01-29T21:42:28-07:00

    And you have to admit that they look really, really cool:   https://phys.org/news/2017-01-fossils-giant-pterosaurs-transylvania.html     Read more

2017-01-29T17:37:00-07:00

    For roughly 2.5 hours, Shabir Ally and a mean-spirited Mormon hack who goes under the name of “Daniel C. Peterson” discuss “The Concept of God in Mormonism and Islam” in this videotaped discussion:   https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=n9T7E9lZdkU   Honestly, I don’t think that I knew that this video even existed, so I’m grateful to Matthew Wheeler for calling it to my attention.  It was obviously filmed a few years ago, since I’m visibly less debonair and handsome in it than I... Read more

2017-01-29T16:07:07-07:00

    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has issued a general statement in response to the current controversy about refugees and immigrants:   http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/the-church-expresses-concern-for-those-fleeing-violence-war-and-religious-persecution   Some have faulted it for being too vague.  I myself think that it’s appropriately non-partisan.  It teaches a correct principle and allows us to govern ourselves — perhaps to examine our consciences — in the light of that principle.   Here’s another text to consider, from Matthew 25:    31 ¶When the Son of... Read more

2017-01-29T15:45:40-07:00

      I try, with considerable success, to avoid political discussions on the Sabbath, which is a day that I seek to devote to more important and more permanent things than politics.   But this joint statement, issued by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) represents important breaking news and, in my judgment, focuses on an issue that involves ethics as much as politics.  Moreover, I concur with them:   http://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/1/statement-by-senators-mccain-graham-on-executive-order-on-immigration     Read more

2017-01-29T15:24:34-07:00

    “Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.” (George Herbert, Welsh poet and Anglican priest, 1593-1633)   “The right way to pray is to stretch out our hands and ask of One who we know has the heart of a Father.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi martyr, 1906-1945)   “When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don’t, they don’t.” (William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1881-1944)   Our sacrament meeting today was... Read more

2017-01-28T22:58:16-07:00

    I’ll almost certainly like the Supreme Court nomination that Mr. Trump has promised us for next week.  I thoroughly dislike Steve Bannon.  I like Betsy DeVos for Education, since I strongly favor school choice.  I regard Rex Tillerson as extremely competent, but worry about his coziness with Putin and Russia.   So it’s a mixed bag, but I’m cautiously optimistic in some respects.   I still have strong reservations, however, about whether Mr. Trump is intellectually and psychologically fit... Read more

2017-01-28T10:32:46-07:00

    A nice article from an accounting professor at BYU-Hawaii:   https://www.quora.com/How-much-money-is-the-Mormon-church-in-control-of/answer/J-Brian-Watkins?srid=z2yq&share=46837a20     Read more

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