Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 1057

Elder Richard G. Scott: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”

      I don’t believe that many who knew of him were surprised, and I suspect that he himself was delighted — he had yearned for his beloved Jeanene for more than twenty years, he’s been quite ill for some time, and he was (so I’ve heard) entirely willing, even eager, to go  – [Read More...]

Rising up and calling them blessed

    “The building up of Zion is a cause that has interested the people of God in every age; it is a theme upon which prophets, priests and kings have dwelt with peculiar delight; they have looked forward with joyful anticipation to the day in which we live; and fired with heavenly and joyful [Read More...]

North America’s biggest ancient earthwork structure

    This trip represents at least the fourth time that I’ve driven by Cahokia, not far from St. Louis, without having the time to stop at the site.  I’ve always been in a hurry to reach somewhere else.  It’s becoming a real frustration.   I thought I had it worked out for this trip, [Read More...]

A devious manipulator?

    Heber C. Kimball told a story of Joseph’s being reduced to tears at a little girl’s simple faith.  “He was gentle to children,” remembered George Q. Cannon, “and universally won their love.” When Martin Harris lost 116 manuscript pages of the translation. Joseph’s mother recalls his reaction: “‘Oh, my God!’ said Joseph, clinching [Read More...]

“‘Reality is setting in:’ why some ISIS fighters are packing up and going home”

    This is a potentially very important phenomenon, and our policy makers and strategists should be studying it:   http://www.vox.com/2015/9/21/9365953/...   I couldn’t help but think, at one point in the article, of the purported pirate announcement “The beatings will continue until morale improves.”   Thanks to Jabra Ghneim for calling this to my [Read More...]

“The loveliest place and the best people”

    “This is the loveliest place and the best people under the heavens; little do they know the trials that await them.”   So spoke the Prophet Joseph Smith as he surveyed the residential area of the Nauvoo Flats, as well as the Nauvoo Temple (still under construction), from the bluff on Mulholland Street.  It [Read More...]

At his father’s baptism

    Joseph Smith’s sincerity appears in the incidental glimpses of him that we obtain from many of his contemporaries.  Here, for example, is the account given by Joseph’s mother, Lucy Mack Smith, of the baptism of her husband: On the morning of the sixth day of [April], my husband and Martin Harris were baptized. [Read More...]

A massive survey on what Americans really look for in a mate

    It’s science!   https://blogs.chapman.edu/press-room/...   Posted from Liberty, Missouri    

Ben Carson: “Muslim shouldn’t be elected president”

    Ben Carson is a very good man, by all accounts.  This, however, was not his finest hour:   http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/m...   I understand his concerns.   But I absolutely don’t believe that there should be a religious litmus test for the American presidency.   (It would be rather difficult for me to do that, [Read More...]

“The center place”

    Renee Contreras De Loach kindly called the item above to my notice.  (I haven’t located the ultimate source.)  Very interesting, particularly in view of where I’m sitting right now.   She appended this comment:   Population center of the U.S. Wouldn’t it be interesting if Independence MO literally becomes the center place?For 4 decades [Read More...]