In the 192nd scripture roundtable posted by the Interpreter Foundation, Stephen Smoot, Kristine Frederickson, Bruce Webster, and Martin Tanner discuss 2016 Gospel Doctrine lesson 48, which is focused on Moroni 7-10:   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/scripture-roundtable-192-book-of-mormon-gospel-doctrine-lesson-48-come-unto-christ/   Posted from Orlando, Florida     Read more

    “You can’t live on amusement. It is the froth on water — an inch deep and then the mud.”  (George MacDonald)   Posted from Richmond, Virginia     Read more

    What seems to be a sober, grown-up look at the question of the tax-exempt status of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from someone who doesn’t appear to be reflexively apologetic (on this or any other topic):   Fred Karger is either cynical, conspiratorial or misinformed about LDS Church taxes.   Posted from Richmond, Virginia     Read more

    If you’re a Latter-day Saint and you haven’t seen this little 46-second classic, you owe it to yourself to watch it.     Posted from Richmond, Virginia     Read more

    About a year ago, my friend and colleague Bill Hamblin and I published a column addressed that the question “Is Islam a religion of peace?”   That question has recently come up yet again, with a vengeance, in certain comments on my Facebook page.  And it’s virtually always a topic of discussion these days anyhow.   So it seems appropriate to call attention once more to our brief column:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865644380/Is-Islam-a-religion-of-peace.html   Posted from Richmond, Virginia     Read more

    Perhaps you’re out of gift-giving ideas?  Here’s one that never fails:     Posted from Richmond, Virginia     Read more

    Here’s an interesting article suggesting that it’s only via exobiology — that is, through finding comparative biological specimens (or their remains or artifacts) beyond Earth — that we’re likely to fully understand terrestrial biology:   http://cosmos.nautil.us/short/77/why-darwin-needs-et   Posted from Richmond, Virginia     Read more

    The Interpreter Foundation has posted its 191st scripture roundtable, which features Shon Hopkin, Martin Tanner, and Bruce Webster in a discussion of Moroni 1-6, the scriptural chapters that form the basis for 2016 Gospel Doctrine lesson 47:   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/scripture-roundtable-191-book-of-mormon-gospel-doctrine-lesson-47-to-keep-them-in-the-right-way/   We have, I grant, fallen a bit behind.  Sorry.  But we’re a volunteer organization, in which very busy people try to get together to produce helpful materials for others.  And, at the holiday season — perhaps you’ve noticed? —... Read more

    For normal people, though, here’s a rare bit of private home video with President-Elect Donald J. Trump and some of his inner circle:   https://www.yahoo.com/tv/snl-recap-casey-affleck-alec-baldwin-123211060.html   Posted from Richmond, Virginia     Read more

    I’ve posted before — here and here — about the exciting, innovative, and potentially explosive work of Brian Stubbs, in which he argues for the presence of ancient Semitic and Egyptian influences in the languages of the Uto-Aztecan family.   Since I’m not an expert historical/comparative Semitic linguist and know nothing whatever about Uto-Aztecan languages, I’ve been eager to know what people with relevant training and background might have to say about his research.  I’m delighted, accordingly, to... Read more