- RLD on My Meeting with the Pope: “That is a great picture–tell your coauthor he’s the one who really looks like a missionary. And you got the perfect missionaries-with-a-convert pose. I’m sure Pope Leo appreciates you keeping the discussion private, even though I imagine he was still circumspect just in case. I think it would be fascinating to have an unguarded conversation about law and politics with President Oaks, but I presume that never happens for the same reason.” Mar 14, 17:12
- on B. H. Roberts Beginner’s Guide Update: “Because of the initial free release, I didn’t think that publishers would be interested in it.” Mar 14, 15:20
- on My Meeting with the Pope: “I have great hope for the new Pope. He seems to want to carry on the mission of Pope Francis. To help the poor, widows etc. He has spent much of his life in northern Peru. He speaks an indigenous language: Quechua. And has dual citizenship in Peru. He understands the plight of the poor and the needs of Native Americans. I glad you got to meet him.” Mar 14, 09:04
- on B. H. Roberts Beginner’s Guide Update: “Thanks for doing this, Chad. I look forward to reading it.” Mar 14, 06:49
- on A Review: Chosen Land: How Christianity Made America and Americans Remade Christianity: “Thanks for pointing that one out, Jonathan!” Mar 13, 22:24
- on The Cost of Glory: How Eliza R. Snow Found Her Voice in the Refiner’s Fire: “Amen, Kent. While I agree with jks that it is good that Snow’s poetry is celebrated, there is so much more to celebrate out there alongside it! Also, like I hinted at in the OP, there is also so much more about Snow to celebrate as well. She was a powerful woman and I have really enjoyed perusing her discourse over the last year or so in connection with a couple projects and the event book review. By the way, have you read any of the recent poetry books that Greg Kofford Books published or the epic poem that UI Press published?” Mar 13, 22:23
- on The Cost of Glory: How Eliza R. Snow Found Her Voice in the Refiner’s Fire: “I have read most, if not all of ERS’ poetry—along with the poetry of many other LDS women of the 19th century, and I think our focus on Snow is a little out-of-balance. Other women LDS poets are comparable, and made important contributions. Snow failed in several areas—most notably in epic poetry—she tried 3 times to write an epic, but it was Hannah Tapfield King who finished the first LDS epic poem. Also, I think I would suggest that Sarah Carmichael’s poetry is more sophisticated, and she might be as well known as Snow if she hadn’t ended up in the asylum in Provo. I also like the poetry of Emily Hill Woodmansee, whose life is every bit as fascinating as Snow’s. We have a rich poetic tradition. We need to expand our attention beyond Snow.” Mar 13, 19:34
- on My Meeting with the Pope: “Rec911: A couple months John Mansfield: I actually thought about that. “What if I get these really neat pictures and everybody just assumes they’re AI?” More and more photos themselves aren’t going to cut it, and people are going to need to look at a third party source for confirmation (in this case the Vatican publishes the papal audiences, so anybody trying to bluff that they had an audience when they didn’t could get called out pretty quick, but not everything is like that). Imaginator: I mean, it was social science, not theology (the pope has his own theologians). And yes, at the COB they often have academics present to the Q12/FP/Presiding Bishop. Typically BYU profs I imagine, but I’m familiar with some cases where they had non-member social scientists present.” Mar 13, 18:47
- on My Meeting with the Pope: “Fantastic that the highest level of leadership in the Catholic Church is willing to engage on doctrinal research topics about their religion with a non-member. I wonder if our leadership would ever do the same?” Mar 13, 17:58
