Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 1231

“None of these words can be traced to any ancient roots.”

    I’ve just noticed a funny entry on a mostly atheist apostate-Mormon message board:   Here is just a short list of some of the goofy made-up words and names that Joseph came up with when producing his various man made revelations…despite being compeltely made up whole cloth. But other than being a tool [Read More...]

Perspective, and points of view

    “What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing: it also depends on what sort of person you are.” C. S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew, chapter 10    

Two specimens of ancient stand-up comedy

    A couple of items from what may be the oldest surviving joke book, the Philogelos (“Laughter Lover”), which probably derives from the fourth or fifth century AD but which likely draws on older materials.  I paraphrase them from the somewhat updated forms supplied by Steve Mirsky in, believe it or not, the current (October [Read More...]

1 Nephi 21

    It’s been a long and busy day, and it’s not over yet.  But I’m determined not to miss a day.  Not yet, anyway.  (There may eventually be some travel days where it just won’t be possible to post.)  So I’m going to content myself with a very brief note on today’s reading, 1 [Read More...]

“No more excuses: Mormon dad designs home teaching app”

    http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...    

“Find your passion”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ml9U...    

A new center (or centre) for Islamic art in North America

    I don’t know when (or even if) I’ll get to Toronto again, but I’m excited about this:   http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesi...   Thanks to Jabra Ghneim for bringing this article to my notice.   See also here.    

“You Never Know”

    This relatively longish “Mormon Messages” video (lasting nearly nine minutes) will speak especially to mothers and to women generally, I think — though men very much need to hear it, to get it, and to appreciate it:   http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mo...   Late last night, or, more accurately, early this morning, I began to read [Read More...]

Something for your calendar

    I’m not sure that I’ve called attention yet to the 2014 annual meeting of the Book of Mormon Archaeological Forum, which will be held in Salt Lake City on 18 October:   http://bmaf.org    

What is the most valuable thing in the world?

      “The least, the most inferior spirit now upon the earth . . . is worth worlds.” Brigham Young (17 February 1861), Journal of Discourses 9:124   Bonnie Oscarson, general president of the Young Women organization in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — who previously served with her husband as he presided [Read More...]