I hope that I don’t offend or violate any confidences with the little story that I’m about to tell. I wasn’t asked to keep it confidential, and I won’t share the crucial personal name — not least because, having never known it, I’m unable to share it. Moreover, I hope that I’m accurately recalling what happened as it was told to me. I think that it’s worthy of reflection in the light of the transfer of ownership of the... Read more
Amidst the general rejoicing among Latter-day Saints at our church’s recovery of the Kirtland Temple (and other properties in Kirtland and in Nauvoo) — joy in which I enthusiastically share — we should probably not forget that the transaction has caused deep sadness among not a few members of the Community of Christ, including at least some (and maybe all) in its leadership. For example, please listen to the honest and touching statement on the matter from Lachlan Mackay,... Read more
For anybody who cares about the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, today’s news is absolutely thrilling. I have been hoping for these developments for a many decades: “Responsibility and Ownership of Sacred Sites and Historic Documents Transfer to Church of Jesus Christ: Acquisitions include Kirtland Temple, historic buildings in Nauvoo and manuscripts of Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible” “Frequently Asked Questions Clarify the Transfer of Sacred Sites and Historic Documents: Appendix lists items... Read more
Interpreter Radio Show — February 25, 2024 For the 25 February 2024 episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, Steve Densley and John Thompson spoke with their special guest, Kerry Muhlestein. They discussed Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 12 and Kerry’s new book The Easter Connection. Their conversation, shorn of commercial breaks and archived for your listening pleasure, is now freely available online. The “Book of Mormon in Context” portion of this show, for the Come, Follow Me... Read more
My wife and I have belonged for many years to a monthly reading group — its formal name is The Gadianton Polysophical Marching and Chowder Society — that I’ve mentioned here at least once or twice before. Tonight, we were the leaders of a discussion that was centered on a book that we had chosen for the group: Boris Johnson, The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History (2014). I enjoyed the book very much, and I thought that our... Read more
While going through and trying to organize some materials on my computer, I came across the following file, which was titled “Christ’s Resurrection (UCLA).” Evidently, it is a set of notes for some sort of undated presentation at or near UCLA that I can no longer recall. Their reliance upon an article by the Evangelical philosopher Gary Habermas is unmistakable. Anyway, I intend soon to clean them up and turn them into connected prose. In the meanwhile, I share... Read more
“Proper Names and Political Claims: Semitic Echoes as Foundations for Claims to the Nephite Throne,” written by Lyle H. Hamblin Abstract: The Book of Mormon contains examples of phonemes in character names that resemble Semitic root words. The possible meanings of the names and their timing in the Book of Mormon narrative provide a deeper level of context to the Nephite political challenges in the books of Mosiah through 3 Nephi. Specifically, the English phonemes for the Hebrew and Arabic... Read more
I would like to call your attention to a few articles by Latter-day Saint social scientists whom I find consistently interesting and worth reading. One of them is Stephen Cranney: “How many churches still favor traditional marriage? Have most American churches accommodated by now the sea change in public attitudes about marriage? Not really” Recently, Dr. Cranney has written three fascinating articles with Josh Coates, who heads up the B. H. Roberts Foundation: “We sent out 80,000 postcards to... Read more
According to accounts preserved in Hawaiian mythology, the great gods Kāne (pronounced KAH-nay), Lono, Kū, and (possibly) Kanaloa existed before the creation of the world. In the beginning, according to one tradition, nothing existed except a chaotic blackness called the “Po” (“night”). But Kāne awoke and, realizing that he was distinct from the Po, managed to break free from it. Thereafter, when Lono and then Kū perceived that Kāne had separated himself from the Po, they too freed themselves.... Read more
Some of the polymathic scientists and littérateurs over at the Peterson Obsession Board like to picture me as a gourmand and a foodie who waddles incessantly between high-end multiple-course meals. That isn’t actually me at all — last night, we had grated cheese on tortilla chips for dinner, whereas the previous two nights had been peanut butter and jam on fresh French bread — but they enjoy it so much that don’t want to disappoint them. In fact, I... Read more
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