Oy veh. This is not a story that I was happy to see: “Duncan Event at BYU Law School ‘Canceled’” And here, for your convenience, is the article to which reference is made: “BYU Cancels Debate Event on Abortion: Beams before Motes” Which leads me into a more general topic. We have, I think, entered into a period of flat-out insanity. Regarding which, I share now a bunch of links, in simple chronological order, that I’ve been accumulating... Read more
I’ve had a number of people ask whether I could share a link to a video of my remarks on Easter Sunday. Not feeling entirely comfortable (or authorized) to treat a sacrament meeting talk that way, though, I sat down today with my friend Tom Pittman and recorded it. The talk is now available on YouTube as “Truly He has risen!” My delivery seems a bit lifeless to me, as I watch it now — sometimes a live... Read more
I’m very pleased to have just received in the mail a hard copy of BYU Studies Quarterly 61/4 (2022). This latest — special — issue of BYU Studies was created by Stephen O. Smoot, John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, and John S. Thompson, and is entitled A Guide to the Book of Abraham. I had already, some weeks ago, received an electronic pre-print copy of the volume, but I am delighted now to have both a hard copy of... Read more
I was the speaker in my ward’s sacrament meeting this Easter morning. Below is a fairly accurate text of what I said. (I wasn’t always reading it so, at some points, the wording is only approximate. I share it as an expression of my testimony, wishing everybody within my reach a blessed and happy Easter Sunday: I’m grateful to the choir and for the beautiful harp solo. I’m grateful, too, for the assignment to speak to you... Read more
Last night, Mike Parker (aka Peter Pan) and Robert Boylan (aka Roibeárd Ó Baíoláin, the proprietor of the impressive Scriptural Mormonism blog) recorded a genial ninety-minute conversation about the Heartland movement (regarding Book of Mormon geography), the origins and approach of Mr. Pan’s Neville-Neville Land blog, and l’affaire Richard Nygren (aka le scandale du siècle). I commend the archived video to the attention of any folks out there who might be interested in those subjects or in the... Read more
“The Goodness of the Cross and Good Friday: Lessons from Bavaria,” written by John W. Welch Abstract: It is natural to wonder how the day on which Jesus was crucified could come to be known as Good Friday. In this exploration of the topic, John Welch examines the many events which occurred on that fateful day and the meaning they have for us today. [Editor’s Note: This article is based on a talk delivered on Good Friday, April 2, 2021, to... Read more
Just in from a bit of shoveling snow at my father-in-law’s place across the street from the parking lot of the Bountiful Utah Temple. It is a beautiful, clean, clear, sunny day. Spring may actually, finally, be on its way. A lecture went up fairly late yesterday on the website of the Interpreter Foundation website that I think some of you will find of interest: Conference Talks: “‘I Have Done According to My Will’: Reading Jacob 5... Read more
There has been huge indignation in some circles — including, sadly, among some active and professing Latter-day Saints — over the revelation that, under the aegis of a group called Ensign Peak Advisors, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has built up a reserve investment fund (or a “rainy-day fund”) of one hundred billion dollars. And the indignation flared up again when it was announced that Ensign Peak and the Church had settled with the Securities... Read more
Since their arrival on Saturday night from the eastern United States, one of my granddaughters and her Dad have been staying with us for the week. At six years of age, she is something of a hurricane; we’ve already gone through all of the craft projects that we had lined up for her and our house has been significantly redecorated with variations on Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny. We’re came back not too long ago from Thanksgiving... Read more
It was, in my judgment, a wonderful General Conference; I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I’m thrilled at the announcement of fifteen new temples — some of them in places where I have friends with whom I’ve already communicated about the news. (And in Jakarta, Indonesia!) Now, too, we have an Easter video from the Prophet: “Forgiving Others: An Easter Message from President Russell M. Nelson” I was struck, during the Sunday afternoon session, by the remarks of President... Read more
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