Posted in Books Christianity Doctrine Education Family freedom gender government LGBTQ Media mental health Movies Social Issues Society Surviving

No, WHO Is Not a “Secret Combination” for Corrupting Children, in Spite of Their Sex Ed Guidelines for Ages Four and Younger (But Being Public Doesn’t Make WHO Safe)

For people losing faith in local or national government over abuses regarding free speech, excessive spending, corruption, or other misdeeds, it’s easy to be even more skeptical of global agencies…

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Posted in Antiquity Asia Book of Mormon COVID language Scholarship Translation

Exciting News on an Apparent Breakthrough in Deciphering the Indus Valley Script: A Great Way to Turn the Hearts of the Children to Their Ancestors

The closing words of the Old Testament are a prophecy about the Lord sending Elijah, who “shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of…

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The Last Supper
Posted in Bible Book of Mormon Christianity covenants Doctrine Faith Greek Restoration

“That Thy Faith Fail Not”

  In studying the final days of Christ’s life, I was struck by the implications of Christ’s kind teachings to Peter to prepare him for what was to come. He…

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Worlds galore
Posted in Ancient Near East Atonement Creation Gospel of Jesus Christ Hebrew Scholarship Science Scripture

“Whole Worlds Are Full of His Glory”: Thoughts on a Passage from the Words of Gad the Seer

In a post on “The Words of Gad the Seer” and in a related book review for Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, I’ve shared the dramatic…

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Jacob preaching in Jacob 2
Posted in Book of Mormon Doctrine history language marriage Polygamy The Church

What Does Jacob 2:30 Say About Polygamy? Is the Church’s Traditional Interpretation Wrong?

One of the many conundrums related to the controversial past practice of polygamy is the Book of Mormon’s stance on the issue. In Jacob 2, the prophet Jacob condemns the…

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Posted in Ancient Near East Atonement Baptism Book of Mormon covenants Doctrine Faith Gospel of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ Restoration Salvation

Cherishing the Book of Mormon’s Teachings on the Fairness of God

One of the most spiritually and intellectually satisfying elements of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ the is fairness of God. Contrary to centuries of tragically misguided theology about the…

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Mary
Posted in Bible Book of Mormon Charity children Christianity Family Jesus Christ wordplays

Mary, Mother of the Lord: Thoughts for Mother’s Day

In the final week of Christ’s life, we see more of an ongoing theme in which Christ reveals to us the importance of, and His love for, the people we…

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Posted in Ancient Near East Antiquity Bible Book of Mormon Books Charity Christianity covenants Critics Doctrine Evidence Faith Gospel of Jesus Christ Greek history Repentance Restoration

Relational Faith: An Essential Book for Understanding “Faith” as Used in New Testament Times and for Appreciating the Restoration

There’s a new book, Brent Schmidt’s Relational Faith, that may be one of the best resources around to help Latter-day Saints and perhaps many other Christians understand and explain what…

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Posted in Book of Mormon Book of Moses language Scripture Witnesses

To Bear Testimony: Insights on a Popular Latter-day Saint Phrase and Its Connections to Modern Scripture and Early Modern English

Latter-day Saints often use the verb “bear” with “testimony” when expressing their religious conviction, as in “I’d like to bear my testimony that I know that Jesus Christ lives and…

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Posted in Ancient Near East Book of Mormon Evidence Scholarship

Kevin Christensen’s Twenty-year Retrospective on Margaret Barker’s Influence on the Church

Twenty years ago Kevin Christensen introduced Latter-day Saints to the revolutionary work of a unique biblical scholar in the United Kingdom, Margaret Barker. Her message resonated with numerous Latter-day Saint…

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