Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 821

“Who is leaving the LDS Church?”

    I’m very interested in seeing the eventual results of this study:   Who is leaving the LDS Church?   More information is almost always better than less.   Posted from Newport Beach, California    

A principle with wide application

    Fanaticism consists of redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim.  (George Santayana, 1863-1952)   Posted from Newport Beach, California    

“Right back where I started from”

    It’s good to be back in California, which will always seem like home to me.  I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley, eastward of Los Angeles, and San Gabriel and the cities round about (e.g., Alhambra, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Arcadia, South El Monte, Altadena, Whittier, and so forth) were the focus of [Read More...]

BOM Alma 53

    Four quick observations on today’s reading in Alma 53:   1.   The people of Ammon had already shown how seriously they took their oath not to fight, and probably how seriously oaths were taken in their culture (compare 1 Nephi 4:37), by their willingness to die rather than to break it.  In this [Read More...]

“Science Meets Religion”

    If you’re interested in the interface between religion and science — both generally and from a Latter-day Saint point of view — you’ll find a treasure trove of material on this website, which is run by Dr. David H. Bailey:   http://www.sciencemeetsreligion.org   Posted from Newport Beach, California    

“Being Muslim in America”

    A short but interesting article:   http://theweek.com/articles/637390/be...   I’m guessing that at least some of what it says will be new to you.  It was new to me.   Posted from Newport Beach, California    

“Answering one of the silliest arguments against the Book of Mormon Ever”

    In my experience, theistic anti-Mormonism is largely (though not entirely) a conservative Protestant or evangelical enterprise.  (Secularist anti-Mormonism is increasingly visible and influential, but it’s another story completely.)   Although there is some Catholic anti-Mormon activity — heck, I’ve even seen a Muslim anti-Mormon pamphlet — Protestants are, by and large, the folks [Read More...]

Ideologues and the Open Mind

    An ideologue — one who thinks ideologically — can’t lose.  He can’t lose because his answer, his interpretation and his attitude have been determined in advance of the particular experience or observation.  They are derived from the ideology, and not subject to the facts. James Burnham   Posted from Newport Beach, California   [Read More...]

“Why are doctors plagued by depression and suicide? A crisis comes into focus”

    Rates of suicide are unusually high among physicians and medical students:   https://www.statnews.com/2016/07/21/d...   Very sad.  And an especially tragic waste of human potential.  So much talent lost.  So much service left unperformed.   Why is this so?  What can be done?   (And how can Mormonism be blamed for it?)   Posted [Read More...]

“President Uchtdorf Presents Donation to UN Food Program”

    It’s wonderful to belong to an organization that does so much good internationally.   http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article...   Posted from Newport Beach, California