Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 1131

Two contrasting ways of reacting to mockery of one’s faith

    More than a few commentators, writing about the recent attack by two radical Islamists on the “Draw Muhammad” event in Texas, have noted the contrasting (that is, peaceful and relatively good-humored) manner in which the Latter-day Saints have responded to Broadway’s extremely vulgar  and extraordinarily popular mockery of Mormons and Mormonism:   Here, [Read More...]

The deepest craving of human nature

    “The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.”  (William James)   (Something to keep in mind as we approach Mother’s Day . . . )    

“8 famous people who became Mormons”

    For your trivia file:   http://ldsliving.com/story/78511-8-fa...    

“Apostle speaks at historic religious freedom event in Brazil”

    And at a mosque, no less:   http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article...   Do you think that the Twelve might really be concerned about religious liberty?   Posted from Victor, New York    

Inside the new temple in Córdoba, Argentina

    Have you seen this video?  It includes some very nice interior views of the soon-to-be-dedicated temple in Córdoba:   http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/cordo...   Yesterday, my wife and I visited the Peter Whitmer farm, near Fayette, New York, where six men organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a small log cabin on [Read More...]

Joseph Smith, and one who betrayed him

    Being here in upstate New York, in the area where the Restoration began, where Joseph Smith commenced his prophetic ministry, and where such very early converts as the journalist and editor W. W. Phelps joined the Restored Church, I found myself thinking earlier today of an exchange between the Prophet and Brother Phelps. [Read More...]

Gay “marriage,” the end of the First Amendment, and the centralization of State power?

    http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/201...   It can’t happen here.   It can’t happen here.   IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE!   It simply cannot happen here.   It can’t happen here.   Can it?   (Thanks to Doug Ealy for bringing this to my notice.)   Posted from Victor, New York    

An important voice, even where I quibble or outright disagree

      Younger people are increasingly disaffected from organized religion.  Why?  What, if anything, can bring them back?   Here are some thoughts to consider:   http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinion...   (Thanks to Nicol Sorenson-Legakis and Ross Clark for bringing this to my notice.)   Posted from Victory, New York    

Joseph Smith, trying to teach

    It is my meditation all the day, and more than my meat and drink, to know how I shall make the Saints of God comprehend the visions that roll like an overflowing surge before my mind. Joseph Smith Posted from Victor, New York

The shiftless laziness of Joseph Smith and his family

    Earlier today, I posted a quotation from William Smith about his brother Joseph’s alleged laziness.  Various critics, in the nineteenth century and still today, have claimed that he founded his church as a way of making money without work — which would seem to suggest that he wasn’t merely lazy but unspeakably stupid. [Read More...]