Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 1048

This week: The Society for Mormon Theology and Philosophy

      I would like to call everybody’s attention to this year’s meeting of the Society for Mormon Theology and Philosophy, which will be held at the end of this week on the campus of Brigham Young University:   http://www.smpt.org/conferences_2015....   There will be a considerable variety of approaches and topics, and I intend [Read More...]

What did those who worked with and employed the young Joseph Smith think of him?

    I’m continuing on with my little series about the character of Joseph Smith and his family.  These posts are drawn from a yet-unpublished book manuscript with which I tinker from time to time:   Newell Knight described Joseph in particular as “kind,” and others who knew him recalled his compassionate actions and attitude.[1] [Read More...]

“Touching Moment from Conference Goes Viral, Inspires Thousands”

    Something very sweet from the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference:   http://ldsliving.com/Touching-Moment-...    

How to account for the Book of Mormon?

    The only alternative to Joseph Smith’s explanation [of the origin of the Book of Mormon] is to assume the existence of a forger who at one moment is so clever and adroit as to imitate the archaic poetry of the desert to perfection and supply us with genuine Egyptian names, and yet so [Read More...]

Mocking the Lord’s anointed

    Sadly though predictably, the calls to the apostleship extended to Elders Ronald Rasband, Gary Stevenson, and Dale Renlund have been met in certain circles with indignation and snorts of derision.   Boring.  White bread.  All from Utah.  No diversity.  No fishermen.  No carpenters.  All middle-class to upper middle-class.  All educated.  No poor and [Read More...]

Christian martyrdom in Oregon

    Normally a news junkie, I haven’t been watching and listening as obsessively as I normally do while I’ve been traveling over the past two weeks or so.  But my impression is that this aspect of the recent mass shooting in Oregon hasn’t been getting as much attention as it perhaps should have received: [Read More...]

Stories such as these are very gratifying

    Two interesting items on Catholic-Mormon relations, which, I’m very pleased to say, are probably better now than they have ever been:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...   http://patersontimes.com/2015/09/27/c...   Posted from New York City    

Meet the three new apostles

    If you haven’t already watched it, you might enjoy this very open and candid thirty-minute press conference.  I thought it quite a treat:   http://www.ksl.com/?sid=36655741&...   You’ll get to know the three in a remarkable way from their unscripted comments.  They’re impressive.   And you’ll hear about the way in which they were [Read More...]

Archaeological evidence for Egyptian influence or even presence in Palestine ca. 1300 BC

    http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/IsraelExperienc...   Posted from New York City    

The character of the Smith family in early accounts

    Yesterday, I cited the testimony of a “Mrs. Palmer,” who knew Joseph Smith in Palmyra.   Others agreed with Mrs. Palmer in their judgments about Joseph’s character. “I knew all of the Smith family well,” said the non-Mormon Orlando Saunders. “They have all worked for me many a day. They were very good [Read More...]