Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 968

The Ongoing Work of Dr. Ugo Perego

    For those of you who might still be unaware of the research and writing of Ugo Perego, or who might have let it somehow slip their minds, here are two worthwhile links:   http://www.josephsmithdna.com   https://www.gofundme.com/JosephSmithD...    

“Is the work of Brian Hales taken seriously by Mormon historians?”

    It’s common, in some anti-Mormon circles, to snicker at the name of Brian Hales and to deride him as an amateur (he’s an M.D.) whom real scholars ignore.  Is such dismissal justified?   http://www.plonialmonimormon.com/2016...          

“Cruz, Rubio, and National Security”

    If he becomes the Republican nominee, I’ll support Ted Cruz.   And not just while holding my nose.  There’s much to like about him.   But I do worry about his views on national security, for reasons partially set forth here.   I always describe myself as having libertarian tendencies, especially in economics, [Read More...]

On spreading happiness

    If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. The Dalai Lama      

“What Should I Do If I Think I’ve Received Revelation Different from Apostles and Prophets?”

    A potentially helpful piece from the invaluable Gregory Smith:   http://blog.fairmormon.org/2016/01/11...    

“U.S. bombs ‘millions’ in ISIS currency holdings”

    This is the kind of airstrike that I really, really like.  It’s far more important than using a high-tech fighter-bomber to take out the occasional run-down ISIS jeep:   http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/11/politic...    

“Storm Clouds Form: Bob Woodward Compares Hillary Scandal to Watergate”

    http://www.nationalreview.com/article...    

“Why Cosmology Is in Crisis”

    Some militant atheists like to contrast the fruitful and self-corrective nature of science with what they see as the whimsical, completely arbitrary, and fact-free character of religion.  (“Why not believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster,” they jeer, “or in Russell’s teapot, or in leprechauns?”)  And, of course, such things as the genetics of fruit [Read More...]

A More Balanced Account of President Nelson’s Remarks

    A passage from President Russell M. Nelson’s talk at BYU-Hawaii has been generating considerable controversy (and even anger) in certain circles:   http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeter...   Here’s a more full and more balanced report on the speech:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...   Here’s a passage from the fuller, more balanced report:   “Filled with compassion for all, [Read More...]

BOM 1 Nephi 16

    Today’s reading is 1 Nephi 16.   It’s in this chapter that Ishmael — who, with his family, had joined Lehi’s group on their journey away from Jerusalem — dies.  And he’s buried in a place called Nahom.   For a number of reasons, I believe the mention of Nahom to be one of the [Read More...]