Sic Et Non

  “A conservative is someone who stands athwart history, yelling Stop, at a time when no one is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it.”  (William F. Buckley, Jr.) I was powerfully reminded of that famous early quotation from the late William F. Buckley while reading the […]

  On several occasions over the past few years, in various venues — see here, for example — I’ve published a list of four books that I recommend as a kind of “basic  packet” or “starter kit” for people struggling with their testimonies, and I’ve explained that I think it important to preemptively strengthen faith […]

  This entry was newly posted today on the blog of the Interpreter Foundation:  “Hearing the Voice of the Lord in the Mind: Additional Testimonies” (Part Seven of a Series Compiled by Dennis B. Horne): See the Introductory blog (#1) for explanation about this series on hearing the voice of the Lord in the mind. […]

  Two new articles went up today on the moribund and perpetually static website of the Interpreter Foundation: ““Our Great God Has in Goodness Sent These”: Notes on the Goodness of God, the Didactic Good of Nephi’s Small Plates, and Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s Renaming,” written by Matthew L. Bowen and Pedro Olavarria Abstract: Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s speech (Alma 24:7–16) […]

  This just went up on the website of the Interpreter Foundation:  “Hugh Nibley Observed: Nibley and the Environment,” written and presented by Terry Ball: “I am honored to participate in this lecture series remembering the studies, life, and legacy of Professor Hugh Nibley. I did not have the privilege of personally knowing Professor Nibley. […]

  I want to share a few more passages that I marked during my recent reading of Amy Tanner Thiriot, Slavery in Zion: A Documentary and Genealogical History of Black Lives and Black Servitude in Utah Territory, 1847-1862 (Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 2022). It seems that the Saints in Utah were, by […]

  Some while ago, I read William J. Peters, At Heaven’s Door: What Shared Journeys to the Afterlife Teach About Dying Well and Living Better (New York and London: Simon and Schuster, 2022), written with Michael Kinsella. A practicing grief and bereavement therapist, William Peters holds degrees from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and the […]

  For one of the monthly reading groups to which we belong, we read Amy Tanner Thiriot, Slavery in Zion: A Documentary and Genealogical History of Black Lives and Black Servitude in Utah Territory, 1847-1862 (Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 2022).  Her biography on the back cover of the book identifies Sister Thiriot […]

  Like many of you, I expect, I was powerfully struck by the remarks of President Jeffrey R. Holland in the Saturday morning session of the just completed General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  And, given my own peculiar personal interests, I found this passage from it of particular note: […]

  I expect that I am not the only person today who was impressed by the powerful and remarkable testimony of President Jeffrey R. Holland.  I’m so very grateful that he is still with us. There was also a passage in President Henry B. Eyring’s remarks in the morning session that really hit me.  I’ll […]

  An article written by . . . well, written by me has just appeared in Meridian Magazine:  “An Important Lesson in Getting the Most Out of Conference.”  So far, the general consensus — based on a survey of me and my very kind and longsuffering wife — is that it may not be altogether […]

  Newly posted on the perpetually somnolent website of the Interpreter Foundation:  “Hugh Nibley Observed: Nibley as an Apologist,” written by Daniel C. Peterson “Listening to that very generous introduction, I’m reminded of a time when I was asked to chair or moderate a session in which Professor Nibley was speaking. I was sitting next […]

  Here is a trio of new items on the website of the Interpreter Foundation.  I hope that you’ll enjoy them: “Not by Bread Alone Episode 2: An Impossible Meeting with Mobutu” This episode tells the story of how an unlikely series of events that began with a Congolese man named BULA led to a […]

  The Prophet Joseph Smith is well known to have declared that The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only […]

  In the 24 March 2024 episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, regular hosts Steve Densley, John Thompson, and Don Bradley enjoyed a conversation with their special guest, Andrew Miller. They discussed Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 16 and Andrew’s recent article on “King Benjamin’s Sermon as a Type of Temple Endowment” in […]

  We had our special Easter service today, and it was an excellent one.  We enjoyed various musical numbers on piano and violin, as well as a children’s choir and the ward choir and a very good talk by one of our sisters.  For me, the male quartet singing Keith and Kristyn Getty’s “In Christ […]

  I hope that people out there are not so confused as to be unable to decide which holiday they should celebrate tomorrow:  “Biden Proclaims Easter Sunday ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’” Both of my grandfathers died well before I was born.  Both of my grandmothers died when I was five years old.  I’ve always envied […]

  As has been our tradition at the Interpreter Foundation for most of our existence, today — Good Friday — we have published a devotional essay for Easter.  Unfortunately, I’m the author (and the audio narrator) of today’s essay, which is entitled “Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!” The person who was slated to […]

  A new article of mine has appeared in Meridian Magazine:  “What Archeology Has Taught Us About Lehi’s Jerusalem.” Try not to let it ruin your day, let alone your Easter weekend.   Another article has been newly posted on the website of the Interpreter Foundation:  Hugh Nibley Observed: “Hugh Nibley and the Church,” written […]

  Before the Interpreter Foundation altogether disappears (as has been reliably predicted), I would like to call your attention to a few more of its most recent last gasps: Conference Talks: The Priestly Interests of Moses the Levite: 2020 Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference, presented by John W. Welch and Jackson […]