![\"A](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2018\/08\/800px-Fatxes11.jpg\")
<\/a>I\u2019m pleased to announce the imminent arrival of Stephen O. Smoot, ed., The Pearl of Great Price: A Study Edition for Latter-day Saints<\/em>, published by Scripture Central and the Interpreter Foundation<\/a>. \u00a0Rarely, every once in a while and to the shocked surprise of those who have long declared it either dead or near death, the Interpreter Foundation unexpectedly emerges from its lethargic coma, opens its eyes, raises itself briefly up on its elbows, and emits yet one more last-gasp publication, podcast, or video. \u00a0Here\u2019s another of those: \u00a0The Interpreter Foundation Podcast \u2014 September 14, 2025: The Salt Lake Temple<\/em>, with Reid Neilson and Scott Marianno<\/a><\/p>\n For the 14 September 2025 episode of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, Terry Hutchinson, Kevin Christensen, and Mark Johnson interviewed Scott Marianno and Reid Neilson about their new book, The Salt Lake Temple<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n As president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Dallin H. Oaks is the current leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and, if precedent is followed, he will soon be officially installed as the president of the Church in a reorganized First Presidency. \u00a0There will be considerable media focus on him, and much of it will be negative or, at best, skeptical of him. \u00a0I\u2019m quite confident that a prominent part of that focus will feature his alleged hostility to homosexuals, and that distorted accounts of aversion therapy for homosexuality at Brigham Young University during his 1971-1980 \u00a0tenure as the University\u2019s president will feature heavily in media coverage. \u00a0Here are three useful resources for developing (and encouraging) an accurate understanding of that matter:<\/p>\n Worthwhile and even inspiring information continues to pour forth from that deadly attack on a Latter-day Saint stake center in Grand Blanc, Michigan. \u00a0I call two items to your attention:<\/p>\n A number of groups have stepped forward to condemn the Michigan attack and to support those who were victimized by it. \u00a0I\u2019ve seen accounts of vigils being held in churches of other denominations near the now-destroyed stake center, and I was also pleased to see this, from the Muslim Public Affairs Council, an organization with which I have an ongoing relationship: \u00a0\u201cMPAC Condemns Deadly Michigan Church Shooting, Highlights Growing Threats to Religious Institutions.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0 And I liked this little piece from the Babylon Bee<\/em>, which, I think it safe to say, leans politically conservative and Evangelical: \u00a0\u201cMormons Respond To Attack By Continuing To Be Amazingly Kind To Everyone\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Unfortunately, though, the actions of the Michigan attacker didn\u2019t emerge from a vacuum, and his apparent description of Latter-day Saints and\/or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as \u201cthe anti-Christ\u201d seems a rather significant clue to at least part of the mix that went into Sunday morning\u2019s assault. \u00a0The Michigan city council candidate who spoke to Mr. Sanford said that what Mr. Sanford said to him was pretty much standard-issue anti-Mormonism of the kind that\u2019s readily available online and elsewhere.<\/p>\n Here, though, is something remarkable that I want to bring to your attention. \u00a0It\u2019s an opportunity to respond to hatred with love.<\/p>\n There are many worthy causes in the world. \u00a0(And yes, the Interpreter Foundation<\/a> is one of those worthy causes, and it needs support.) \u00a0In particular, multiple victims of the Grand Blanc massacre \u2014 and their families \u2014 will require help. \u00a0But Thomas Jacob Sanford leaves behind other victims of his vicious act, as well, and they should not be wholly forgotten. \u00a0I\u2019m very pleased that a Latter-day Saint has stepped forward to organize this. \u00a0I\u2019ve been assured by someone whom I trust that this is entirely legitimate. \u00a0I myself have made a small donation, and I encourage you to consider doing so, as well: \u00a0\u201cHelp the Sanford Family\u201d<\/a>:<\/p>\n My name is Dave. Like all of you, I was shocked by the murders at the LDS chapel in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on September 28. Multiple families were left grievously wounded and in need of help.<\/p>\n One of the families that suffered a terrible loss on that day was the family of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the shooter. Sanford leaves behind a wife and children who must be grieving. They will face financial hardship and psychological trauma as a result of this week\u2019s horrifying events. On top of that, one of the Sanford sons deals with serious medical challenges that require ongoing care, treatment, and specialized support. In the past, the family attempted to raise funds for him, but with limited success.<\/p>\n I have no connection to the Sanfords or to Grand Blanc. I am an ordinary member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I\u2019m a fantasy and science fiction writer, and if you know me at all, it\u2019s probably because you\u2019ve seen me on an LDS YouTube channel such as the Stick of Joseph or Ward Radio.<\/p>\n But James teaches us that \u201cPure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.\u201d The purpose of this GiveSendGo is to do that. Every donation will go to help provide for the Sanford family daily needs, provide for ongoing medical treatment, and create some stability in a time of heartbreak and upheaval.<\/p>\n Thank you for your kindness, your compassion, and your willingness to lift up those who are suffering.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cIf thou meet thine enemy\u2019s ox or his ass going astray,\u201d decrees Exodus 23:4, \u201cthou shalt surely bring it back to him again.\u201d \u00a0But the newly widowed Mrs. Sanford and her special-needs son are not<\/em> our enemies, so this principle seems to me to be \u00a0even easier<\/em> to practice and to apply. \u00a0\u201cBe not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good\u201d (Romans 12:21).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 I\u2019m pleased to announce the imminent arrival of Stephen O. Smoot, ed., The Pearl of Great Price: A Study Edition for Latter-day Saints, published by Scripture Central and the Interpreter Foundation. \u00a0Rarely, every once in a while and to the shocked surprise of those who have long declared it either dead or near death, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":32021,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2752,39200,2905,1715,788,2028],"class_list":["post-113036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-gay","tag-grand-blanc","tag-latter-day-saint","tag-michigan","tag-mormon","tag-pearl-of-great-price"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>\n
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