- Critchlow on Saints, Volume 4: A Review: “I agree with Jack, I would have to see some hard evidence indicating that the President of the Church (instead of the President of the Twelve who makes the assignments) deliberately sent out Elder Petersen, like a letter, journal entry, first hand account of this. With the availability of the Harris book now it shouldn’t be that hard for someone to put out the evidence that Harris has, should it? His book is hardly the first book or article about this so why hasn’t this evidence been brought up before? did it just somehow mysteriously turn up? when? how? Besides of which it seems odd to me that in 1964 when the aborigines in Australia received the Priesthood, the so called “hardliners” supported that move plus in 1969 Pres. Brown asking for a sustaining vote from the 12 to overturn the ban and the then Elder Lee being the only hold out. Why would both Elders Stapley and Petersen support the partial overturning of the ban in 1964 and then the wholesale removal of it in 1969 but yet less then 10 years later are back to supporting it, that doesn’t add up.” Oct 30, 21:56
- on Saints, Volume 4: A Review: “Chad, So far as we know, Elder Petersen approved of the revelation wholeheartedly–once he knew about it, that is. And even though it could be argued that, had he been present, he might’ve gotten in the way of actually receiving the revelation–we don’t see the other so called “hardliners” getting in the way. Elders Benson and McConkie, for example, were thrilled by the revelation. So with that in mind, I’d need to see some good evidence that he would have responded differently than Benson and McConkie before I buy into the idea that he was purposefully sent away. That said, I suppose its possible that Elder Petersen’s being in South America–and Elder Stapley being in the hospital–at the time might ‘ve been fortuitous in some way or another. We may yet learn that the heavenly machinations involved in bringing about the revelation included specific “chess moves” having to do with the location of the apostles–and a thousand other things.” Oct 30, 20:10
- on Saints, Volume 4: A Review: “To those who doubt the story about President Kimball zending Elder Petersen to South America (specifically Ecuador), it was repeated on this very blog in Chad’s post about the 1978 revelation on the priesthood which quoted from an interview with Matthew Harris who wrote Second Class Saints: https://www.timesandseasons.org/index.php/2024/07/the-1978-priesthood-revelation-process/ You might have still have doubts about whether a Church president would send an apostle out of the country to prevent that apostle from blocking a decision, but I trust Harris’s research.” Oct 30, 17:32
- on Saints, Volume 4: A Review: “REC911: Kimball died in 1985. The Indian Placement program was limited in scope in 1990. So I guess he was “away” when the Indian Placement program was discontinued.” Oct 30, 15:30
- on Cutting-Edge Latter-day Saint Research, October 2024: “I very much agree. The Mormon Esperanto Society in particular peaked my interest, but there’s only so much you can derive from a title.” Oct 30, 14:19
- on Cutting-Edge Latter-day Saint Research, October 2024: “JMH is committing editorial malpractice by keeping the abstracts behind a firewall. It’s an issue they should raise with their publisher.” Oct 30, 12:49
- on Cutting-Edge Latter-day Saint Research, October 2024: “You’re welcome! Yes, the effect sizes on that particular issue kind of jump around a little bit; the details of what you’re measuring, how the sample was recruited, and such seem to matter. A few years ago Lefevor schlogged through 73 studies and performed an excellent meta-analysis (I have more appreciation for how much work that was now that I’m doing my first meta-analysis) that provides a 30,000 foot view on that issue. Lefevor, G. Tyler, Edward B. Davis, Jaqueline Y. Paiz, and Abigail CP Smack. “The relationship between religiousness and health among sexual minorities: A meta-analysis.” Psychological Bulletin 147, no. 7 (2021): 647.” Oct 30, 12:18
- on Cutting-Edge Latter-day Saint Research, October 2024: “What an interesting mix. Thanks again, Stephen. I thought the following statement from the Lefevor/Skidmore article was intriguing: “No relationships were observed between religious deidentification and mental health or well-being. “” Oct 30, 10:15
- on Saints, Volume 4: A Review: “I wonder in a Zoom age if being sent away on assignment would still do the trick.” Oct 30, 10:14
- on Saints, Volume 4: A Review: “I believe I read that Kimball was “away” when the Indian Placement Program was discontinued. If that is true, its not a stretch that being “sent away” is a thing. Anyone here know about this?” Oct 30, 09:45