Theology
Mormon Doctrine: Cremation
I took a break from my series on the book Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie, but I think it’s time to revisit the book. Under the heading Cremation (it is the same in the 1958 and 1979 editions), Elder McConkie writes:
Mormons are “Marginal Christians”
Just prior to General Conference, Utah Valley University hosted a Mormon Studies Conference titled “The Expanding Canon”. I wish I could have attended more of the sessions, but enjoyed the sessions I attended. I was surprised that the LDS Instituted of Religion hosted one of the sessions. I attended Institute when I was in college, […]
Easter Mourning
A 73 year old man with arthritis, failing kidneys, and other health problems died last Tuesday. I didn’t know him very well (I’ll call him Gene), but I knew his daughter. During the funeral yesterday, his daughter recounted his life and said she was glad that he had left his bodily prison, but at the […]
Mormon Doctrine: Catholicism
I wanted to continue my series on the book Mormon Doctrine, by Bruce R. McConkie. With the election of Pope Francis this week, I thought that would be an interesting place to go. Elder McConkie didn’t have much good to say about Catholicism. Let’s compare the 2 revisions for Catholicism 1958 version – Catholicism Additions […]
The Worth of $ouls
“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God†(D&C 18:10).  But how much is a soul worth?  Freakonomics tries to answer the question. For those of you unfamiliar with Freaknomics, it was originally a book written by two Steves: Dubner and Levitt. Levitt is an economist for the University of Chicago […]
Re-Evaluating Gay Scriptures
Reverend Dr. Laurence C. Keene, Disciples of Christ, “When people ask questions about homosexuality, almost always they follow with, ‘and what does the Bible really say about it?’ The preceeding quote comes from an interesting documentary on Netflix called For the Bible Tells Me So.  The documentary discusses traditional and liberal Christian beliefs about homosexuality in […]
Holiday Violence
It’s been a rough few weeks. 1. Â Dec 1, 2012. Â (Left photo) Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Javon Belcher killed his girlfriend, drove to the Chiefs’ Stadium, talked to his coaches and then killed himself in front of them. 2. Â Dec 11, 2012. Â (Middle photo)Â Jacob Tyler Roberts, 22, entered a crowded Portland, Oregon mall and killed […]
Magi from China
A few years ago, Revelation of the Magi was first translated into English. I’ve wanted to blog about it for a time, but now seems appropriate. According to ABC News, An ancient text called the “Revelation of the Magi,” has been rediscovered and tells a very different version of the Three Wise Men’s journey to […]
Reassessing the Birth of Jesus
In a 2010 article in BYU Studies, Professor Jeffrey R. Chadwick of BYU made the case that Jesus was born in December of 5 BC. In the most recent issue of BYU studies, professors Lincoln Blumel and Thomas Wayment review Chadwick’s article and make the case that “his handling of certain ancient sources, including the […]
The Sacred/Secret Temple
I had the pleasure of attending the closed-circuit dedication of the Brigham City Temple this afternoon. Â My family was able to walk through the temple a few weeks ago. Â While the architecture seems somewhat reminiscent of the Salt Lake Temple, it is one of the newer, much smaller temples that the church now builds. Â Boyd […]
