From The Federalist:   http://thefederalist.com/2016/11/04/isnt-media-pouncing-mormon-hatred-like-jew-hatred/     Read more

    Yesterday’s temples conference at BYU, co-sponsored by the Interpreter Foundation, offered an extraordinarily rich banquet of very interesting presentations.  Thanks to all those who participated in it and, of course, to my colleague, longtime friend, and former missionary companion, Stephen D. Ricks, for organizing it.   Although I don’t yet know the timeframe, videos of the presentations will eventually appear on the Interpreter Foundation website, where they will be freely accessible to all.  Thanks to Sid Unrau and... Read more

    The reason for the honor is the humanitarian service given by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:   http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/president-nelson-catholic-community-services   The Church and the Saints give a great deal of such service.  However, a certain class of critics (who may or may not do any such service themselves) typically have harsh words on the subject.  Here’s how it goes:   a.  If nothing is said about the Church giving humanitarian service b.  That shows the Church... Read more

    Bill Maher is a leftist and an atheist and, much worse, an abject slime ball.  In this clip, his language is vulgar at several points, and, even as he praises the Mormons, he smugly insults us.  Still, he has a point:   “Maher Thanks Trump for Exposing Evangelicals as ‘Shameless Hypocrites’”   And that point is backed up by this article from the superb Evangelical magazine Christianity Today:   “Evangelicals: This Is What It Looks Like When You Sell... Read more

    http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/441828/your-kurdish-superhero-week   In some ways, this impressive story is reminiscent of the (true) story of Desmond Doss, recently recounted in Mel Gibson’s film Hacksaw Ridge, which (as I’ve indicated), I very much like.  Here’s a review of the film:   http://www.nationalreview.com/article/441785/hacksaw-ridge-and-loving-offer-two-visions-hell-earth     Read more

    Ask yourself: if that is what Jesus is all about — that is, getting us to love one another — then why did everyone reject him? Stanley Hauerwas         Read more

    Israel’s oldest daily newspaper, Haaretz, offers a perspective on the independent presidential ticket of Evan McMullin and Mindy Finn:   http://www.haaretz.com/world-news/u-s-election-2016/1.751044   And, while we’re at it, some observers have noted that Mr. Donald J. Trump has received remarkably few newspaper endorsements.  Still, he’s gotten a few.  Here’s a noteworthy one:   “KKK’s official newspaper supports Donald Trump for president”       Read more

    Notwithstanding its rather sensational and even inflammatory title, this nearly 50-minute documentary offers a sober and serious historical account — plainly from a mainstream conservative point of view that isn’t on board with Donald Trump  —  of the emergence of the Trump movement out of the Tea Party and the elections of 2008 and 2012:     I found it quite interesting, a useful summary.     Read more

    This would have been unimaginable not too many years ago:   http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/04/us/cover-girl-muslim-afia-trnd/index.html   It’s progress.   And I’m pleased.     Read more

    Friends:   Today, for the 224th consecutive week of its 225.5 weeks of existence, the Interpreter Foundation published a new article in its flagship online publication, Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture:   “‘Arise from the Dust’: Insights from Dust-Related Themes in the Book of Mormon (Part 1: Tracks from the Book of Moses)”   Tomorrow, Saturday, the Interpreter Foundation will sponsor the 2016 Temple on Mount Zion Conference.  It will be recorded and will eventually be made accessible... Read more