What is the role of religion in society today? And what is the role of belief? I've pondered upon these questions the last few years. Here are some thoughts I've had. 1st Amendment Researchers have consistently shown that the percentage of active participants in religion in the US is in decline; that's not surprising to … Continue reading Freedom of Religion vs. Freedom of Belief?
I have taken a bit of a break the last two nights to watch all of Alone: Season 1. Wikipedia describes it as: "Alone is an American reality television series on History...filmed on northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia... It follows the self-documented daily struggles of 10 individuals ... as they survive in the wilderness for as long as possible using a limited … Continue reading What We Might Learn About Success from Alone: Season 1
On Thursday, March 14, 2019 I recorded an insight I had about a recent pronouncement by the President of my church. He had asked that we use the official name of the church, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" rather than a nickname used for years or an acronym often used. (See "The … Continue reading What’s in a Name? A Clear Line
When Christ comes again, it will be the conclusion of terrible destruction throughout the world. Some, often the oppressed, believe the destruction will have been his retribution for all the pains he suffered. And surely that is true, for the scriptures say so. But as I survey his life, as an obscure child in a … Continue reading Blameless
The recent church announcements about temples have included it seems a disproportional number building temples on some very small islands, including Guam, Canary Islands, Okinawa Japan, Pago Pago America Samoa, Neiafu Tonga, and San Juan Puerto Rico. These places would never have the church membership necessary to justify a temple on the islands, simply because … Continue reading Isles of the Sea
Why did the Savior refer to himself as the Son of Man? I think one reason is because the clarity of what it meant was not obvious; and yet it could be understood he was referring to the Divine Man, his Father in Heaven. Being too clear about his relationship would have put himself in … Continue reading Son of Man
In Matthew 16 we read: 1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.2 He answered and said unto them,...4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it,Matthew 15:1-2, 4 I have always … Continue reading What does Adultery have to do with Signs
Below is an extract, a fairly lengthy one, from "Reclaiming Reality: Doctoring and Discipleship in a Hyperconnected Age" by Tyler Johnson in BYU Studies, 57:3. I would not typically post such a long extract, both out of respect for the author's copyright, but also because the Internet is not the place for such "long-form" content as … Continue reading Immersive Learning and Empathy
This talk, "Take Especial Care of Your Family” from April 1994 by Neal A. Maxwell on the importance of the family is worth reviewing every few years. Its predictions are proving true. Significant quotes include: Priorities The eminent historian Will Durant wrote of the human need “to seize the value and perspective of passing things. … Continue reading Maxwell on the Family and Moral Relativism
William J. Bernstein, The Birth of Plenty: How the Prosperity of the Modern World Was Created (2004), 3-4. When we look at the [facts], it becomes crystal clear that something happened ... in the early nineteenth century. ... [Up] until approximately 1820, per capita world economic growth [the single best way of measuring human material progress] registered near … Continue reading 1820: Something Happened
Kip on Character 