Posted in Africa Apologetics Book of Mormon Friends Prayer Revelation Scholarship Service Stories

I’ve Stepped Down from My Executive Editor Role with Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, but Remain a Fan

I hope to write more frequently here, now that I’ve made a big change in my life. Over four years ago, shortly after returning to the United States from my…

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Posted in Antiquity Apologetics Arabian Peninsula Book of Mormon Book of Moses chiasmus Critics Evidence Hebrew language literature MIssionary work Origins poetry Problems Scholarship Witnesses wordplays

Speaking at the Independence, Missouri Stake Center on Thursday Afternoon, the Fourth of July

On Thursday, the Fourth of July, I’ll be attending a luncheon at the Independence, Missouri Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offered by the Hill…

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Posted in Africa Baptism Doctrine and Covenants Faith Family Friends Gospel of Jesus Christ International Miracles MIssionary work Sacrifice The Church

The Blessing of Blackberries: Side Effects of a Joyous Baptism

In May I had one of the most joyous days of my life as two friends of ours, a courageous and very talented mother from Africa and her intelligent, faithful…

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Posted in Apologetics Book of Mormon chiasmus Critics Evidence language Prayer Problems Scholarship Scripture

Thoughts from a Sunday School Lesson on Enos and the Words of Mormon

  During our recent Sunday school lesson on Enos and the Words of Mormon, I had the chance to point out a couple of apparent problems in the text that…

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Posted in Education Faith Family Family history work freedom Gospel of Jesus Christ Gratitude marriage Media Miracles poetry Prayer Priesthood Restoration Service

Help for My Mother’s Funeral From the Best Priesthood Lesson Ever, Courtesy of Latter-day Saint Poet Elaine W. Christensen

My mother, Mary Lyon Miles Lindsay, passed away a few days ago at the age of 91 years. Many blessings, even small miracles, made it possible for my wife and…

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Posted in Ancient Near East Antiquity Arabia Arabian Peninsula Book of Mormon Evidence Faith Problems Scholarship

Further Thoughts on Nephi’s Three-Day Journey: Going the Distance with Google Earth

My recent post on Nephi’s three-day journey, the leg of Lehi’s Trail that reaches the River Laman in the Valley of Lemuel, discussed the significance of Exodus themes in Nephi’s…

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Posted in Atonement Book of Mormon Doctrine Grace Missionaries Repentance Stories War

The Glue of Forgiveness and the Anti-Nephi-Lehies (the People of Ammon)

As I ponder the many messages of Christmas, one in particular comes from a dramatic story in the Book of Mormon about a large group of Lamanites, the “Anti-Nephi-Lehies” or…

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Book of Mormon
Posted in Atonement Book of Mormon Doctrine Gospel of Jesus Christ Grace Jesus Christ language Problems Salvation

Saved by Grace “After All We Can Do”? Nephi’s Context of Reconciliation

2 Nephi 25:23 has the statement, “for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” Does this mean that salvation is a chore in which we do much of the work, or a transaction in which we pay as much of the price as we can, and Christ only steps in after all we have done or paid to make up the difference? Or does this actually mean that salvation is completely “apart from” if not unrelated to all that we can do? Or something else? I think a plausible answer comes through considering the context. 

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Posted in Africa Christianity Events Friends Gospel of Jesus Christ International Provident Living Society The Church

I Saw Zion, and It Was in Africa (a Dream)

It’s 4:15 AM, but I had to get up and write. I just saw Zion, and it was in Africa. But not just Africa. Parts were from Asia, maybe Mexico,…

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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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