Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 1112

On California today

    Things are a bit out of joint here in California.   A few days ago, for example, when we dropped by Ruby’s Diner along the Pacific Coast Highway just below Newport Beach in order for me to get a date milkshake — I’ve been getting date milkshakes there for as long as I can [Read More...]

New Testament 194

    Luke 11:37-54 Compare Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:1-9; Luke 20:46; John 8:6   These are powerful verses against cultivating an outward appearance of righteousness without the inward attitudes that accompany the real thing.   I’ve always liked a German word that is the rough equivalent of English hypocrite:  Scheinheiliger.  A not very elegant but [Read More...]

Personal Encounters with Elder Packer (Part 2)

    Many years before, when I was still an undergraduate student at BYU, I had served on a committee with Bruce Hafen.  At that time, I think he was some sort of assistant to the University’s president — not yet the president of Ricks College, the dean of the BYU law school, the prominent [Read More...]

Happy Independence Day!

    To every American out there.  Even to those who apparently loathe and despise what it commemorates:   https://www.commentarymagazine.com/20...   And, for that matter, to everyone else.   And, for those who believe in what this republic represents, here are a few minutes of stirring beauty:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpZ3j...   Posted from San Diego, California [Read More...]

When will the super volcano under Yellowstone erupt again?

    This could be very helpful.  And it may offer some reassurance, too:   http://sese.asu.edu/news/creating-sto...   Posted from San Diego, California    

Personal encounters with Elder Packer (Part 1)

    The first time I met Boyd K. Packer was sometime in the first part of 1974, when he came to Zürich for a stake conference.  He had been an apostle for about four years by that point.   Upon arrival, he took a tour of the mission home at Pilatusstrasse 11.   I [Read More...]

Of blemishes and deformity

    In nature there’s no blemish but the mind.None can be called deformed but the unkind. William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night   My wife and I attended an excellent outdoor performance of Twelfth Night tonight in the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre at the Old Globe in Balboa Park.   Lots of fun.   Posted from [Read More...]

New Testament 193

    Luke 11:34-36 Compare Matthew 6:22-23   I’m sure that the Savior’s comment here presupposes and reflects an ancient theory of vision that we no longer hold, scientifically speaking.   Nevertheless, I think his essential point remains:   If our way of perceiving people and the world around us is fundamentally wrong, skewed, warped, [Read More...]

“State Department, governors guard for threat on July 4″

    Unfortunately, this is the world in which we now live:   http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/03/politic...   Be careful, be wary, but have a great Fourth of July weekend!   Posted from San Diego, California

President Boyd K. Packer dead at ninety

    Not altogether surprising, but, still, sad:   http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article...   This may also be of interest.   I’ll be posting some of my own memories and impressions of President Packer a bit later.  I had enormous respect for him, and I liked him very much.   His unique voice will be missed.   There are [Read More...]