Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 1199

Alma 2

    In today’s reading, Alma 2, we meet Amlici, a follower of Nehor, whom we met in the previous chapter.  Like Nehor’s his tale is deservedly brief.     Some salient facts about Amlici:  He’s cunning, wise (in a worldly way), and, plainly, ambitious.  And, when he doesn’t get what he wants, he turns [Read More...]

“A Major Non-LDS Press That Took Book of Mormon Geography Seriously”

    A surprising and little-known anecdote:   http://www.studioetquoquefide.com/201...   Posted from Orlando, Florida    

Remember Pearl Harbor!

    It’s easy to give the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor little thought these days.  It comes during the rush of Christmas season.  It was seventy-three years ago.  Relatively few people who were alive then, and even fewer who were aware of what was going on, are still around.  Survivors of the attack are [Read More...]

Christmas Cheer 11

    A marvelous story out of the Dominican Republic:   http://blog.westjet.com/christmas-mir...   Here’s the background:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOUxD...   If this makes you angry — and there are some on Facebook who hate it — you need help.   Posted from Orlando, Florida            

Muslims and Christians in Egypt, Christmas 2011

    Here’s an item from Christmas 2011, in Cairo, Egypt:   http://www.opednews.com/articles/A-Ca...   I pray that Muslims and Christians will live together in peace again this Christmas season, and throughout 2015.   Posted from Orlando, Florida    

Music of Christmas 11

    A wonderful Catalonian carol, performed by The King’s Singers in Salt Lake City’s Conference Center:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QESJ...   ¿Qué le daremos al Niño chiquitoCon que se pueda reír y alegrar?Un lindo ramo de hermosas naranjasCon verdes hojas y flor de ahazarTan ta, ran tánQue los higos son verdesTan ta, ran tánQue ya maduraran¿Qué [Read More...]

“This Month in Mormon Literature”

    For those of you who care about — or hope for — Mormon literature, here’s an interesting site:   http://blog.mormonletters.org/?p=8070   Posted from Orlando, Florida    

Being and Becoming

    “What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.” Hans Urs von Balthazar, Prayer   Posted from Orlando, Florida    

Islam and peace

    I’ve just come across the image above, and it occurs to me that I should say something about it.   Strictly speaking, it’s accurate.  The Arabic word islam (al-islaam, الإسلام‎) does indeed mean “submission,” not “peace.”   But, like islam, the Arabic equivalent of English peace, which is salam (salaam, سلام), derives from the [Read More...]

Does the universe have a purpose?

    “I would say the universe has a purpose. It’s not there just somehow by chance.”  (Roger Penrose, Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics Emeritus, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford; mathematical physicist and philosopher of science; co-winner, with Stephen Hawking, of the 1988 Wolf Prize in physics)   Posted from Orlando, Florida