I love the initiatory. I went to the temple and did initiatories last night and it occurred to me why I enjoy it so. There is a physicality to it that is missing from the other temple ordinances. I have to get up and move around and do things. I understand that all temple ordinances are somewhat passive (these included), but I liked the motion. It reminded me of the time I went to an endowment session in the Manti... Read more

Doesn’t it seem really important that we sin? Let me give you an example: Ether 12:27And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. Now normally we use this verse as... Read more

The discussion at Nine-Moons prompted by Annie’s post has taken an interesting turn that I would like to explore. If tomorrow all of Mormondom disappeared, which of the remaining religions would you join, if any? In other words, of all the religions out there, which do you find most appealing and why? Myself, I think that I would be most likely to go Unitarian. Something about the looking for good wherever it is to be found appeals to me. I... Read more

I would like to make a proposal. Vicarious ordinance work is one of the central ideas around which our whole church revolves. All temple work is vicarious in one way or another. Prayer is vicarious. All priesthood work is vicarious. Some of the covenants that we discuss have an air of vicariousness about them (Abrahamic, for instance). And the Atonement is really vicarious. Having now proven my point with a foundation of bedrock logic, I ask:Why? Why doesn’t anybody do... Read more

I saw the following on the church web-site and wondered if a Sugar Beet article had been indexed by mistake. Women urged to let light shine I have great respect for Elder Uchtdorf. I just found the headline a tad ridiculous. Just imagine the opposite: “Women encouraged to bury light deep within, wallow in unfulfilled dreams” Read more