Things For Mormons to Remember in Our Post-Election World
I recently reshared this article from Feminist Mormon Housewives on Google+. Trying to help add a little humor and encourage people to chill out, seemed to backfire generally. In addition to the over...
View ArticleClik here to view.
‘And whisper religion in their ears’– Teaching Primary Children Deeper Gospel...
I wrote most of this post a couple years ago when we were teaching the 9-year-old primary class in our ward in Saratoga Springs, UT. Now we live in the St. George area and after we both taught Sunbeams...
View ArticleWomen and the Priesthood: Some Points
The following is a guest post from Hyrum Grissom. Recently the concept of women and the priesthood has seemed to get much attention and spur much conversation and frankly contention. Most recently I...
View ArticleDoes “List” in Mosiah Mean “Listen”? Or Something Else?
I’ve started a daily study routine that I’ll post about on Mormon Life Hacker soon. Part of my system is to share 1 or 2 of the things I’ve learned or pondered, every Fri or Sat. So here’s from this...
View Article“The Hand of God” by the Numbers, & the Democracy of Starting Wars
Mosiah 9:13: Therefore it came to pass that king Laman began to stir up his people that they should contend with my people; therefore there began to be wars and contentions in the land. There’s always...
View ArticleGospel Hobbies, Fanaticism, and Zeniff’s Over-Zealousness
This one jumps backward chronologically. I had it mostly ready to post, then got so excited about the previous post, that I posted it first. I’ve seen a lot of fanaticism in the church. A lot of gospel...
View ArticleWhere Was Alma’s Hiding Place?
Mosiah 18: 4 And it came to pass that as many as did believe him did go forth to a place which was called Mormon, having received its name from the king, being in the borders of the land having been...
View ArticleThe Things the Book of Mormon Leaves Out
Mosiah 19 13 And it came to pass that those who tarried with their wives and their children caused that their fair daughters should stand forth and plead with the Lamanites that they would not slay...
View Article“They Hushed Their Fears”
In Mosiah 23, Alma (the elder) and his people have settled in the land of Helam. They’d previously escaped Noah’s soldiers. Now they’ve built a city and are farming the land around it 25. For behold,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Greater Punishments for the Righteous?
Mosiah 24 8. And now it came to pass that Amulon began to exercise authority over Alma and his brethren, and began to persecute him, and cause that his children should persecute their children.9. For...
View ArticleAlma the Younger Understands Your Doubts
This is a long one, but if you have or have had doubts about the Church or the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or knows someone who struggles with it, I think you’ll find this worth it. Mosiah 27 1. And now it...
View ArticleMosiah: the Consummate Leader
I wrote another post in my series from my studies of the Book of Mosiah. For whatever reason, I decided to add more of an introduction than I normally do. I was ready to post, when I thought “maybe...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Alma’s “Better Than Hollywood” Sword Fight & the Battle to Preserve Freedom
In Alma 2 we learn about a threat to Mosiah’s fairly new representative-democracy. A man named Amlici wants to be the king, and he’s got a large following. King Mosiah is not long dead, and laid out...
View ArticleStop Misinterpreting Alma: we don’t believe in “moderation in all things”
In Alma 7, he’s visiting the people in the land and city of Gideon. He goes hoping they won’t have the same problems as the people at Zarahemla did. He’s happily rewarded, to find them a righteous and...
View ArticleScripture Study Saved My Life
I wrote a series of 3 posts over the last 6 months that talk about how scripture study has changed my life on multiple, critical occasions throughout my life. I published them over at...
View ArticleThe Burden of Knowledge and Visions
I was re-reading Mosiah 18 where Alma (Sr) is teaching the people at the waters of Mormon. Verse 4 reads: 4 And it came to pass that as many as did believe him did go forth to a place which was called...
View ArticleDid the Zeniff-Branch of Nephites Develop a Different Language?
Reading today in Alma 7, it struck me that Alma seems to be suggesting that he needs to speak to this group of people in a different language (emphasis added): 1. Behold my beloved brethren, seeing...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Book of Mormon Connections in “The Lost City of the Monkey God”
I recently finished the book The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston. It wasn’t incredible. But it was definitely interesting and enjoyable, especially if you’re at all interested in...
View ArticleBeing Over-Zealous vs Becoming Temperate, Humble, Disciplined Disciples of...
I gave this talk in the Caldwell, ID 15th Ward, 16 Dec 2018. It was my first, maybe ever, where I wrote the whole thing out in advance. I’ve long believed the best talks are prepared on a loose...
View ArticleDealing with the Aftermath of Suicide – Grief vs Guilt
My birthday is July 4th. On July 5th, 2018, my cousin Alex took his own life after struggling for many years with deep depression. I was a number of years older, but we’d grown up in the same area and...
View Article