Posted in freedom Industry Prophets Social Issues Society War

“The False Gods We Worship”: Why Is This First Presidency Message So Hard to Find When Searching?

UPDATE, DAY 0: With the help of my untrustworthy but still very smart friend, ChatGPT 4, I was able to determine that the reason a controversial 1976 First Presidency message…

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Posted in children Family gender Gospel of Jesus Christ LGTBQ Policies politics Prophets Social Issues

The Church Announces Support for a Bill Supporting Same-Sex Marriage

The Church has spoken in favor of a federal bill supporting same-sex marriage, while still maintaining the position that homesexual activity is inconsistent with the teachings of the Gospel. Here…

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Posted in Book of Abraham Books Doctrine Evidence history Prophets Scholarship Scripture Translation

Is the Book of Abraham Translation Dependent on the Kirtland Egyptian Papers? Revisiting The Pearl of Greatest Price

A potentially troublesome flaw in the discussion of the Book of Abraham in the generally good book by Terryl Givens (with Brian Hauglid), The Pearl of Greatest Price, is its…

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Posted in Book of Abraham Books history Prophets Revelation Scholarship Scripture Translation

Review of Terryl Givens and Brian Hauglid, The Pearl of Greatest Price: Mormonism’s Most Controversial Scripture

A new book related to the Pearl of Great Price has just been published by two well-known LDS scholars, Dr. Terryl Givens and Dr. Brian Hauglid, both currently associated with…

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Posted in Book of Abraham language Prophets Scholarship Scripture Translation

LDS.org Offers “Gospel Topics” Section on the Historicity and Translation of the Book of Abraham

Among the growing body of helpful and carefully researched topics discussed in the “Gospel Topics” section of the LDS.org website, the Church has recently provided a statement that addresses some…

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Posted in history Leadership Policies Priesthood Prophets Race Revelation The Church

Race and the Priesthood: Significant New Statement on the LDS History of Blacks and the Priesthood at LDS.org

I’m delighted with the release of a thoughtful statement at ChurchofJesusChrist.org clarifying the history of the Church’s former policy that prior to 1978 prohibited those with African ancestry from holding…

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Posted in Faith Leadership Miracles Prophets Travel

Confirming a Small but Meaningful Miracle from President Monson’s Life

In his October 2011 General Conference address, “Stand in Holy Places,” President Thomas S. Monson shared an experience as a small part of his talk that I find instructive in…

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Bibe
Posted in Bible history Prophets Scripture Translation

Inept Deceipt in the Inspired Version? The Problem with Errant Assumptions

Here’s a friendly inquiry abut differences in the Book of Mormon and the “Inspired Version” of the Bible from someone who I don’t think was really looking for an answer:…

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Posted in Book of Mormon Communism freedom Gospel of Jesus Christ politics Prophets Social Issues

A Cure for Deadly Optimism and a Key for Preserving Freedom: The Book of Mormon

Admiral Jim Stockdale is a man who understood the pain and trauma of physical torture. Admiral Stockdale was the highest ranking United States military officer in the “Hanoi Hilton” prisoner-of-war…

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Posted in Gospel of Jesus Christ history Leadership Policies Priesthood Prophets Race The Church

Marcus H. Martins on Race in the Church

“A Black Man in Zion: Reflections on Race in the Restored Gospel” is a good read from the first black man to serve a mission after the 1978 revelation that…

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