Here’s a sentence I wouldn’t have expected to find in a Deseret Book: If Emerson was right that a stubborn insistence on consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, then Paul’s place among the larger intellects of Western thought must be reckoned as secure.
Iago and Godly Creativity
Early last year, I discussed an idea that I called “the Iago problem.” I argued that one answer to the question “why are there no Mormon Shakespeares” was that church members may lack the skill to breathe life into a truly evil character like Iago. Recently, I rethought the question. And now, I’m not sure that the Iago problem is really much of a problem.
A Beautiful Place
This week I spent a few days in Nauvoo, the last place the Latter-day Saints tried to build a temple before being forced to leave the United States.
Round Here We Stay Up
very very very very late. I do, at least. It’s 11:41 presently, and I’m still planning to finish this post, fire off some comments, do my sit-ups and read the new Adam Gopnik in this week’s New Yorker before I turn in.
The next Supreme Court justice
Danithew is wondering when we’re going to begin idle speculation about who might replace Justice O’Connor. We’re happy to oblige him.
The Theology of Jeffersonian Hypocrisy
I recently spent a week or so immersed in constitutional law, looking at — among other things — the place of the Declaration of Independence in constitutional interpretation. It has gotten me thinking about the virtues of hypocrisy.
Metaphysics and Mormonism: Transcendence
Very roughly and tentatively, but good enough perhaps for the purposes of a blog discussion or an introduction to philosophy, one could say that there are two basic metaphysical positions, with a third that is a variation of one of those two.
To be read June 27, about five o’clock p.m.
To seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum Smith the Patriarch. They were shot in Carthage jail, on the 27th of June, 1844, about five o’clock p.m., by an armed mob — painted black — of from 150 to 200 persons.
Two mites.
Due to an unmentionable poop incident (click on the link if you’re very brave), FMH Lisa may be needing a new washer. At the very least, she could use a few new cleaning supplies. So if you’ve got a spare dime, consider sending Lisa a Paypal.
Sunday School Lesson 27
Lesson 27: Doctrine and Covenants 101, 103, and 105 For more understanding of these sections, read about Zion’s Camp in a church history.
Sunday School Lesson 26
This is an odd post, to be sure, but so that no one wonders: since there are no scriptures associated with this lesson, I’ve not prepared any study questions for it.
The happiest place on Earth
is Ireland.* Really.
Who Are You?
Or maybe what I really want to know is: Who am I ? Am I a feminist?
Very Important News
A frequent morning ritual for me involves taking a bag of compost to our garden, which is several blocks from our house, on my drive to work. I enjoy this little task.
Would I Have Been the One?
Two weeks ago today I fell off the high step during my aerobics class. Distracted by other thoughts, I miscalculated the height of the step and came down hard on an inverted ankle. It wasn’t pretty. Within seconds my ankle ballooned to three times its normal size and I was immobilized.
Thoughts on the Nature of Christ
We are encouraged to study and ponder the nature of God. Spencer W. Kimball wrote that “to know God, one must be aware of the person and attributes, power and glory of God the Father and God the Christ.” (Faith Precedes the Miracle at 86). Along those lines, this post proposes a theory on the nature of Christ.
Guaranteed Salvation?
A friend just forwarded me this one, a little discussion (rhyming, no less) about the intersection of law practice and exaltation. Some of the theology may be a bit speculative, but the last line is quite accurate.
Dubitante
In the common law world, judges are required to write opinions that justify their decisions. The holdings and reasoning in these opinions then become the law. Generally speaking, there are two sorts of opinions. First, there are opinions offered by the court that state its decision and the reasons for it. Second, there are dissents, which explain why the dissenting judge cannot join the majority’s opinion. There is also, however, an almost completely forgotten, third kind of opinion that is worth thinking about: a dubitante or dubitans.
Book Review: Qualities That Count: Heber J. Grant as Businessman, Missionary, and Apostle
Heber J. Grant’s insomnia may have been the best thing to happen to the study of early twentieth century Church history.
The MTC Diaries
Today is Sister Rachel Frandsen’s twenty-fourth day in the MTC, her fourth Friday and, right about now, probably something like her sixty-eighth meal in the cafeteria.
And a Little Child shall lead them
Yesterday, I had the kids at work.
Mormon Makeover Shows
It seems that for every conceivable social malady, there is an equal and opposite makeover show.
An Experiment in Blog Discussion
One thing usually missing from discussion on this blog and, from what I have seen, all others, is extended, thoughtful discussion.
Game Theory and Mormon History
So let’s think about Zion as a prisoner’s dilemma (PD).