Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 906

BOM Mosiah 18

    In today’s reading, Mosiah 18, the focus shifts from Abinadi, who’s been put to death by King Noah and his priests, to Alma.   The chapter is set at a place called “the waters of Mormon,” a place to which the editor, Mormon, attaches a particular sanctity:   And now it came to pass [Read More...]

“No war. No order.”

    “Well, that’s the problem, isn’t it? They haven’t had a war here for such a long time. Without a good war, where do you get your moral standards from? Everything goes to pot in peacetime. People eat what they like. You see them wandering about with cheese on their bread and then a [Read More...]

(Syrian) Palmyra recaptured

    One really cheery bit of news over the past few days — right up there with the fact that Donald Trump may be losing in Wisconsin — is the recapture of the ancient city of Palmyra by Syrian military forces.   For images of the magnificent ruins there, see this photo essay:   http://www.nationalreview.com/slidesh... [Read More...]

Perhaps Mr. Trump’s most illuminating debate

    I don’t know how many people saw this debate, which was held just prior to the caucuses in Iowa, between Donald Trump and Donald Trump:   https://www.facebook.com/DigitalAfro2...   I think it’s very instructive to see both of the candidate express his views side-by-side, so that voters can see the contrast between him.   [Read More...]

“Awakenings: Living as a Believer in the Nation We Have Now”

    On Tuesday, 22 March 2016, slightly more than a week ago, Rev. Charles J. Chaput, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Philadelphia, delivered these remarks on the campus of Brigham Young University:   http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclus...     Archbishop Chaput is a remarkable man, very courageous and dedicated to principle.  This was at least his second visit [Read More...]

BOM Mosiah 17

    Three notes about today’s reading, Mosiah 17:   1.   Royal Skousen suggests a “conjectural emendation” — in other words, an adjustment to a text based on other considerations but lacking direct manuscript support — for Mosiah 17:13:   He suspects that, when it’s said of Abinadi that his royal executioners “scourged his skin with [Read More...]

“The terrifying tsunami that devastated Britain”

    You don’t — anyway, I don’t — think of such things as happening in tranquil, green Britain.  But this one evidently did, about eight thousand years ago:   http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/201603...    

“A Seer Becometh a Great Benefit to His Fellow Beings”

    For a limited time only, you can listen to Steve Densley, Craig Foster, Kristine Frederickson, Benjamin McGuire, Daniel Peterson, and Martin Tanner discuss Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine lesson 17, which focuses on Mosiah 7-11, in the Interpreter Foundation’s one hundred and sixty-first (161st) scripture roundtable.  (Offer expires at the end of the [Read More...]

So you want to feel comfortable, contented, and happy?

    “I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.” C. S. Lewis    

“Gender Ideology Harms Children”

    David Wills calls my attention, from Australia, to this brief exposition of what once would have been regarded as pretty much unexceptional common sense:   Gender Ideology Harms Children   Common sense, however, is under heavy ideological fire.  In the public restrooms of North Carolina, for example:   http://www.nationalreview.com/article...