Very early in Nephi's record, he records the Lord telling him, "And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren" (1 Nephi 2:22). Tension from this promise grows throughout Nephi and his brothers' relationships. How is it possible the younger brother Nephi has any sustained power … Continue reading The Source of Nephi’s Leadership Force?
On Friday, August 17, 2018, I decided to try to do something about a scam artist that called me. Here's what I did: I have had a number of calls from a scam artist to my cell phone about needing to call them so the arrest warrant is not issued for me by the IRS. … Continue reading Serving Scam Artists
In my professional life I have observed that real data looks very different than generated data. In my personal life, I have noticed real history looks very different from fictional stories. When I look deeply at the Book of Mormon, I see real data, real history, not something generated by someone's imagination. I think it … Continue reading Generated vs. Real Data and the Study of History
Think about the broader implications of the Savior's message to those who will ultimately make it to heaven, as recorded in Matthew 25:34-50 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:35 For I … Continue reading “I was an hungred”
I work in IT. Over the years, I have noticed how expensive it can be to find the smallest of errors in code. At times variables that have 1 character different in their names are interchanged inappropriately. Finding such an error can at times be very expensive. It perhaps costs pennies for the second it … Continue reading Caffeine and Error Rates
Five years ago I posted on my professional blog, Conversations with Kip, a tribute to Patrick J Quigley IV, who died aboard United Flight 175 from Boston to LA. Five years more, let's remember anew. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001 05:50 PM, I recorded the following: World Trade Center is Destroyed Today, the worst terrorist … Continue reading 20 Years on: 9-11 Tribute
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?
Chris Styles recently passed away. I was reminded of a letter I wrote to her husband over 10 years ago about what I had learned from her. I have felt a desire to post some of these letters publicly here on my blog. Chris's passing perhaps spurs the needed action. She will be missed, but … Continue reading Chris Styles and Wisdom: A Virtue Letter
This month I have studied more deeply Ann Taves's academic paper on "First Vision Controversies: Implications for Accounts of Mormon Origins" from a special edition of BYU Studies on the First Vision commemorating the 200 year anniversary of it. In it she summarizes research that raises the question of when Joseph Smith's First Vision occurred … Continue reading First Vision Timing and Prophetic Confidence
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
Kip on Character 