Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 77

A few notes from a listener. What would YOUR notes be?

    As soon as Elder Bednar opened his remarks this morning, I turned to my wife and predicted that he would cite President J. Reuben Clark’s justly famous 1947 speech “To Them of the Last Wagon.”  And indeed he did.  (I’ll be available for the signing of autographs for the next week or so.)  […]

“Centered on Christ”

    These new articles went up today on the website of the Interpreter Foundation.  As always, they are easily accessible, at absolutely no charge: ““Behold, He Was a Man Like unto Ammon”: Mormon’s Use of ʾmn-related Terminology in Praise of Moroni in Alma 48,” written by Matthew L. Bowen Abstract: This article examines Mormon’s […]

Autumnal Thoughts

    I love autumn, but it also depresses me.  I love it for the changing colors of the leaves (the reds and the oranges and the yellows and the yet-remaining shades of green) and the peaches and the nectarines and the fresh corn on the cob and the rich red tomatoes and the brisk, […]

“What Is The Mormon Obsession With Temple Building?”

    More material has gone up — surprise! surprise! — on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: Conference Talks:The Ancient Israelite Tabernacle, Its Accoutrements, and the Priestly Vestments This presentation was originally given by Daniel Smith to the Interpreter Foundation’s 2016 Temple on Mount Zion Conference, on Saturday, 5 November 2016. Come, Follow Me […]

No evidence? None at all? Really? This isn’t serious.

    I’ve recently noticed an, umm, online “discussion” in which several former Latter-day Saints appear to be taking the position that there is simply no evidence for the existence of Joseph Smith’s Book of Mormon plates.  Saying that actual physical plates existed is, they’re saying, merely a faith position.  It’s rather like asserting the […]

“For friends at first are friends again at last”

    I found this article by Sheluyang Peng very interesting, and I think that you might, as well:  “Immigration is religion’s only hope: White progressives face a surprising alliance” From a Jewish academic:  “Attacks on Catholic Institutions Should Concern All of Us” From the Deseret News:  “12 times Joseph Smith defended religious freedom: Joseph Smith left […]

An evening hour of patriotic appreciation and inspiration

    Our stake put on a patriotic fireside tonight, complete with the stake choir, a brief vocal solo by a young woman, a violinist, a pianist, a flautist, and an organist.  A reader recited quotations from some of the Founding Fathers (e.g., Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, John Adams, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin) and […]

Why we’re doing it

    Last night, my wife and I were privileged to attend and to participate in a reception and dinner celebrating “Moroni Day” that was sponsored by Scripture Central and held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Salt Lake City.  Roughly 550 people enjoyed a program that included the unveiling of two new statues of […]

An expression of gratitude

    Two new articles appeared today on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: “Mormon’s Narrative Strategies to Provide Literary Justice for Gideon,” written by Nathan J. Arp Abstract: Although unable to write more than a hundredth part of his people’s history, Mormon seemingly found the time and plate-space to deliver literary justice on behalf […]

“Religion builds hospitals. Science builds hydrogen bombs.”

    A few days ago, I published a post here in which I replied to the silly atheist slogan “Science flies men to the moon. Religion flies planes into buildings.”  Responding to my response, an occasional participant on the Peterson Obsession Board who does not appear to be as reflexively hostile to theism as […]