Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 1141

“In submission is our salvation”

    This week’s Deseret News column, inspired by the approach of both Easter and General Conference:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...    

“The platypus is so weird that scientists thought the first specimen was a hoax.”

    It seems obvious to me that an open mind, a willingness to reconsider past beliefs, and a readiness to be surprised are essential qualities for good science and good scholarship.  Dogmatism is a significant liability.   This story offers an illustration of that, in which the evidence persuaded scientists to accept as real [Read More...]

“BREAKING: LDS Church to Create Wards for Liberals”

    This is very dramatic news:   http://utahpoliticohub.com/breaking-l...   I’d put it on the same level as the 1978 revelation on priesthood, the announcement of the rebuilding of the Nauvoo Temple, the unveiling of the Perpetual Education Fund, and similar events.   Thanks to Kevin Taylor for alerting me to this important story.   [Read More...]

“I was blind, now I see.”

    The 114th scripture roundtable posted by the Interpreter Foundation features Robert White, Daniel Peterson, Cassandra Hedelius, Craig Foster, and Jeff Bradshaw in a conversation about John 9-10 (which is the focus of 2015 Gospel Doctrine lesson #16):   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/scri...    

Massive underground city found in Cappadocia region of Turkey

    Some out there are probably aware of my passion for the history, archaeology, and scenery of Turkey.   As a matter of fact, my last official act on behalf of BYU’s Maxwell Institute was, with my wife, to design and lead a tour of Constantinople/Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, and several other areas associated with the [Read More...]

“I am the light of the world”

    In the Interpreter Foundation’s 113th scripture roundtable, the focus is on Lesson 15 in the 2015 Gospel Doctrine manual (John 7-8):   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/scri...   Bruce Webster, Martin Tanner, Cassandra Hedelius, and John Gee are the discussants for this installment of our roundtable series.    

On expressing thanks

    “‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” Alice Walker    

“Mormon Feminist Wants Womens’ Session to Be Just That — Only Women”

      What do you think?   http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith...   Of course, I can easily imagine a feminist author criticizing the Church if nobody from the First Presidency showed up, on the grounds that the chauvinistic patriarchs of Mormonism value women so little that they can’t be bothered to put in an appearance, whereas they [Read More...]

“However” versus “therefore”: What are your fundamental commitments?

    If you want a way to reflect about who and what and where you are — or, with appropriate caution, humility, and charity, about who, what, and where certain other individuals and organizations are — you could do far worse than to start with the issue outlined here:   https://seesangelsinthearchitecture.w...   Posted from [Read More...]

New Testament 116

    Mark 3:19-21   The notion, common among some adherents of the “New Atheism,” that religion is a mental illness or a product of emotional dysfunction, is commonly traced back to the late Dr. Sigmund Freud.  (It rests on roughly the same rigorous analysis of empirical data that’s used to support much of Freudianism.) [Read More...]