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<\/a>This essay went up today for the first time online, on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: Joseph Smith and Our Preparation for the Lord\u2019s Final Judgment: Essays by George L. Mitton: <\/em>Joseph Smith at the Veil: Significant Ritual, Symbolism, and Temple Influence at Latter-day Saint Beginnings,\u201d<\/a> written by George L. Mitton<\/a>:<\/p>\n Abstract:<\/strong> The prophet Joseph Smith was paced through a life steeped in ritual and symbolism. Notable things Joseph did or experienced under angelic guidance may be seen as ritual procedures that may require careful consideration to discern their meaning, what they symbolize, their purpose, and their importance to the Restoration of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Failure to recognize the function of ritual has resulted in much misunderstanding and criticism of Joseph. Many of his early actions and procedures were closely related to the ancient temple. They amount to an anticipation and witness of the temple and its coming restoration through him. This will be illustrated in several ways, including the way Joseph received and translated the plates of the Book of Mormon, a witness of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Joseph Smith and Our Preparation for the Lord\u2019s Final Judgment: Essays by George L. Mitton<\/em>. For more information, go to https:\/\/interpreterfoundation.org\/books\/joseph-smith-and-our-preparation-for-the-lords-final-judgment\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n I feel pretty strongly about what I had to say in this interview: \u00a0Episode 30: No Matter the Consequence<\/a><\/p>\n Witnesses of the Book of Mormon\u2014Insights Episode 30: If the Book of Mormon was a fraud, why would supposed insiders to such a fraud allow themselves to suffer incredible hardship and pain, why would they face down mobs and actually risk their lives to continue insisting it was true? This is Episode 30 of a series compiled from the many interviews conducted during the course of the Witnesses film project. . . . These additional resources are hosted by Camrey Bagley Fox, who played Emma Smith in Witnesses<\/em>, as she introduces and visits with a variety of experts. These individuals answer questions or address accusations against the witnesses, also helping viewers understand the context of the times in which the witnesses lived. This week we feature Daniel C. Peterson, President of the Interpreter Foundation and Executive Producer of Witnesses<\/em>. For more information, go to <\/span>https:\/\/witnessesofthebookofmormon.org\/<\/a><\/span>. Learn about the documentary movie Undaunted\u2014Witnesses of the Book of Mormon<\/em> at <\/span>https:\/\/witnessesundaunted.com\/<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n And, by the way, you\u2019re just about out of time to watch Witnesses<\/em> at no charge. \u00a0Free streaming of Undaunted<\/em> will be available for the foreseeable future but, alas, the same can\u2019t be said about Witnesses<\/em>. \u00a0Go to The Witnesses Initiative<\/a> for the links. \u00a0Soon. \u00a0Or don\u2019t. \u00a0Your choice.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, this eighteen-minute video is exceedingly weird. \u00a0Really. \u00a0Very, very weird. \u00a0It\u2019s not hostile, or anything of that sort, but it\u2019s oddly repetitive, not exactly dense with information, and curiously organized. \u00a0Is that the result of having, perhaps, been generated by artificial intelligence? \u00a0Did no human editor go over it? \u00a0Strangest of all, however, are the illustrations, which often have nothing at all to do with what they\u2019re supposedly illustrating. \u00a0Seriously. \u00a0Please take a look and tell me what you think: \u00a0\u201cHow the Mormons<\/a> Took Over Utah | The Untold Story\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n There is<\/em> seething hostility in some<\/em> circles, though. \u00a0On 18 February 2025, an article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal<\/em> announced \u201cCourt complaint challenging LDS temple near Lone Mountain dismissed.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n This was, of course, very good news for Church members, and \u2014 I\u2019ve been out twice to take a careful look at the site of the future temple \u2014 I seriously doubt that the area around the temple will suffer very much from its presence there. \u00a0(Quite the contrary, in fact. \u00a0But then, I\u2019m a believer.) \u00a0Earlier today, a reader of this blog posted a comment that includes the following:<\/p>\n There are people in Vegas STEAMING that the Lone Mountain temple will now be built. They are already online planning protests during the open house and even during the dedication such as blaring loud music with large speakers toward the temple or projecting risqu\u00e9 images onto lone mountain itself. Most amusing of all were many posters claiming the Mormons should \u201cgo back to Utah\u201d which only shows their ignorance of the history of Vegas.<\/p>\n One seething commentator claimed the Church bussed in people from Salt Lake to fill the town hall despite the fact Vegas is home to 30 stakes.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I try to watch such phenomena as this, and I would love to know where I can go to see this, umm, discussion. \u00a0Of course, I don\u2019t for a moment doubt that such things have been said. \u00a0I\u2019ve seen such things online far too often to be surprised anymore.<\/p>\n With the Lone Mountain Nevada Temple in mind, by the way, it\u2019s worthwhile to read this article by C. D. Cunningham, which first appeared back on 19 July 2024: \u00a0\u201cHow Anti-Mormons Help Build Temples Around the Country: How do anti-Mormon activists impact temple projects? Their opposition often inadvertently aids government approval.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n And, given the onslaught over the past several years of shows from Netflix and Hulu and others that portray Latter-day Saints in a very negative light, I found the following article quite interesting. \u201cWhy a Christian college is suing Netflix:\u00a0Pepperdine University filed a federal lawsuit against Netflix and Warner Bros. Entertainment on Thursday alleging trademark infringement\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>