Notes From All Over For Week Ended July 4
Kent Larsen, July 4, 2009
Comment here on the Notes From All Over for the past week. (more…)
The participatory nature of salvation for the dead
Kaimi Wenger, July 3, 2009
Last Sunday, I taught the EQ lesson on salvation for the dead. We covered all of the usual ground: Joseph Smith’s personal sadness at Alvin’s funeral where the preacher informs the family that Alvin is going to Hell; the various statements critical of the then-popular idea among New England Protestants that the unbaptized would be condemned en masse (Jack, I believe that many modern Protestant faiths give much more flexibility on this concept — is that correct?); the shoemaker story designed to highlight the artificial line between the two groups; and so on. I’ve heard all of this a dozen times in Sunday school or EQ.
But from there, I nudged the class in a different direction, an idea that I had been wondering about. Given that church members (1) reject the idea of damnation for the untaught, and (2) believe that baptism is necessary for salvation, it is clear that some form of work-around is necessary. But is there any reason why the work-around should take the form that it does? (more…)
Reflections on the Mormon Trail
Dave Banack, July 3, 2009
On a recent corner-to-corner drive across the state of Wyoming, I parallelled the Mormon Trail for about 200 miles: from where the trail intersects I-25 (about 80 miles north of Cheyenne), through Casper (site of the first Mormon Ferry), along Wyoming 220 past Independence Rock, Devil’s Gate, and Martin’s Cove, then up US 287 past Split Rock to the Sixth Crossing of the Sweetwater River. I’ve never been much for pioneer tales, but I enjoyed taking in the landscape that was the common experience of the first twenty thousand Mormons who made the overland trek to Utah. (more…)
Divide? Maybe not so much — Part 1
Bridget Jack Meyers, July 2, 2009
(See my disclaimer about the title)
There are many similarities between Mormonism and evangelical Christianity which are generally uncontested by both parties. I thought I would cover these prior to doing a post on the similarities which I suspect will be more controversial. (more…)
What death can teach us about heaven and hell
Bridget Jack Meyers, July 1, 2009
People are always making assertions about what heaven must contain in order for it to qualify as heaven for them, some of these assertions being more jokes than anything else.
“It’s not heaven without sex.”
“It wouldn’t be heaven if [insert name of favorite pet dog] isn’t there.”
“If heaven doesn’t have Egg McMuffins, I don’t want to go there.”
Explaining the Puzzle of Cross-State Differences in Bankruptcy Rates
Frank McIntyre, June 30, 2009
Bankruptcy rates vary alot across states. With a fairly simple statistical model, Lars Lefgren and I explain about 70% of these differences in a paper just published in the Journal of Law and Economics. For cross sectional work using survey data, where you are looking across states at a point in time, explaining 70% is pretty darn impressive.
Why I Married Him
Julie M. Smith, June 29, 2009
Seven-year-old son to my husband, who was recently called as his Primary teacher: (more…)
Morality Polling
Frank McIntyre, June 29, 2009
Suppose you take a “wisdom of the crowds” approach to morality (not that you should). Well then what could be more informative than a poll telling you what actions are morally wrong and what aren’t? Enter Gallup’s recent poll…
Tip: Adultery is still wrong. Polygamy also out.
Why We’re Confused
Bridget Jack Meyers, June 27, 2009
An old adage among outsiders who study Mormonism states that determining what is and is not Mormon doctrine is a lot like trying to nail jello to a wall—except that the latter feat is entirely possible while the former remains a struggle to this day. Evangelicals who interact with Mormons often express frustration to that end. It seems that as soon as we think we’ve figured out what Mormons believe and how to respond to it, the next Mormon we meet will tell us “we don’t believe that,” “that’s not doctrine,” or “that’s just his opinion.” It would probably help if evangelicals spent more time genuinely trying to understand Mormonism and less time sizing it up for the best spot to throw a punch,1 but to some of us, the desire to understand is earnest and the frustration is genuine.
Notes From All Over - through June 27
Kent Larsen, June 27, 2009
Comment here on the Notes From All Over for the past week. (more…)
How Wide the Divide . . . and can we ever Bridget?
Kaimi Wenger, June 25, 2009
We’re pleased to welcome Bridget Jack Meyers as a guest blogger. (more…)
The Accidental Environmentalist
Julie M. Smith, June 23, 2009
I never really set out to be environmentally conscious–not that I don’t like the idea, of course, just that other priorities . . . well, took priority. (more…)
Why Boys Need Men Teachers
Adam Greenwood, June 23, 2009
One of the most malign of modern trends is the disappearance of men from the ranks of public school teachers and the decline in the number of woman teachers who wield a ruler. The Church counteracts that. I got a testimony why recently. (more…)
Mormon Studies on a Budget?
Kaimi Wenger, June 23, 2009
A few years ago, Armand Mauss advised our readers that an essential texts list for Mormon studies probably included a dozen books (including Shipps, Bushman, Arrington, and Givens) as well as regular reading of four major periodicals. That remains a very good recommendation; however, for many Mormon studies newbies, that level of depth may not be an option. This post addresses the question, how should someone on a limited budget begin to explore Mormon studies? (more…)
Moogle?
Kaimi Wenger, June 22, 2009
The New York Times has a recent article about Koogle, a search engine designed for Orthodox Jews, which allows them to avoid religiously objectionable content (such as pictures of women which are deemed not sufficiently modest). (more…)
Notes From All Over - through June 20
Kent Larsen, June 21, 2009
Comment here on the Notes From All Over for the past week. (more…)
FHE Lesson #8
Julie M. Smith, June 20, 2009
Lesson #8: Talking to Heavenly Father (more…)
Things to be thankful for
Frank McIntyre, June 19, 2009
If the gravitational constant were just a little bit different than what it is, you would not be here. Nor, for that matter, would anything else. So we’ve got that going for us.
Upbeat Reflections on BYU
Dave Banack, June 17, 2009
I recently spent a day on the BYU campus as part of an informal reunion with several old dorm-floor roommates and family members. It was a nice visit, and made me recognize something that often gets forgotten in online discussions about BYU: It is a great place for LDS kids to go to college.
A Mormon Advice Columnist?
Kent Larsen, June 16, 2009
Could there ever be a Mormon advice columnist, dispensing advice to a Mormon audience? Or is that what Bishops are for?
Jer3miah, The Great Mormon Novel, and The Problem with Mormon Media
Kent Larsen, June 15, 2009
The Book of Jer3miah phenomenon has been noticed on Salon, coincidentally just as an ill-advised Mormon Times essay touched off strong reactions by suggesting that the Great Mormon Novel could never exist.
Notes from All Over - through June 14
Kent Larsen, June 14, 2009
Comment here on the Notes From All Over for the past week.
(more…)
Doubt
Adam Greenwood, June 14, 2009
Doubt is not a principle of the gospel. (more…)
Commuter trains in Utah
Frank McIntyre, June 12, 2009
I just returned from a short presentation by Mike Ransom on the Utah commuter Frontrunner rail line. It is a lesson in how to not spend money. (more…)
Where Will National Mormon Politicians Come From?
Kent Larsen, June 11, 2009
That may sound like the introduction to a bad joke, but I actually have a serious answer. (more…)
Scandalous Lyrics
Kylie Turley, June 11, 2009
The 1980s hit “You’re the Inspiration” makes me think of metallic streamers, balloon arches, and poorly permed hair, (more…)
Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson: a preview
Jonathan Green, June 9, 2009
With Brandon Sanderson’s Warbreaker, we have another Mormon writer of speculative fiction with something to say about marriage. Warbreaker manages to capture some ironies that won’t be lost on readers who have noted the discrepancy between the ideal of eternal marriage, and the reality of the dating scene at BYU. (more…)
The Revisionist Reformation
James Olsen, June 9, 2009
A favorite perennial topic of discussion is the ever-elusive distinction between church culture and doctrine (or officially sanctioned practice or attitude). (more…)
Archuleta and Exceptions to the Rule
Kent Larsen, June 8, 2009
So David Archuleta hinted last week that he might not serve an LDS mission.
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Times and Seasons is a place to gather and discuss ideas of interest to faithful Latter-day Saints.
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Notes From All Over
- UN Secretary General Tells Burma to Free Yettaw, Suu Kyi, 2000 Political Prisoners (Kent)
- Salt Lake Police Chief Calls New Immigration Law ‘Dangerous Precedent’ (Kent)
- Play Tells the Role of Historic Kirtland (Kent)
- and a final interview with a minister’s conservative approach to mormonism (Kent)
- A Mormon ‘Political Maverick’ Gives Up. (Kent)
- and a follow up interview with a more middle of the road minister. (Kaimi)
- Very cool interview with the “Peacemaker in Provo.” (Kaimi)
- Palin resigning as Alaska Guv’ (Marc)
- Guilty Plea Expected in DUI in Crash That Killed 4 LDS Young Adults (Kent)
- LDS Church Is a Global Faith Still Entangled in America (Kent)
- 1978 Missionary Kidnapping Among Top 5 British Scoops (Kent)
- Gwinnett Citizen Meets the Missionaries (Kent)
- Fallwell’s Liberty University Bans College Republicans, Like BYUI, But for Different Reasons (Kent)
- Post Prop 8 anti-Mormon Violence Not Hate Crime, Say US AG (Kent)
- Lurid Allegations, Claimed Pres. Monson Assassination Threat, in Bizarre Dispute Within “Church of the Firstborn” (Kent)
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