My wife and I were in Jerusalem for a week in March. Below are some thoughts on the city, its religious heritage, and the current conflict.
Tempted to Violate the Word of Wisdom
When we think of temptations related to the Word of Wisdom, we usually think of, you know, being tempted to violate the WoW. But I can think of a few different WoW-related temptations.
Joseph Smith chopped down the Sacred Grove
Twelve years ago my family piled in a rented RV and drove cross-country to attend a wedding reception for my older brother and his wife in Minnesota. On the way we stopped at the church history sites in Missouri, including Independence, Liberty Jail, and Far West.
Sunday School Lesson #25
Lesson 25: Psalms
Forgiveness
Of you it is required to forgive all men, reads the scripture. That’s not an easy one.
Jesus’ Female Ancestors
The first chapter of Matthew includes five women in Jesus’ genealogy. Why?
Sunday School Lesson #24
Lesson 24: 2 Samuel 11-12; Psalm 51
Structural apostasy
Off the top of my head, I think that in the Church we generally mean one of three things when we use the word “apostasy”:
An introductory note
Ben tells me that a few words of personal introduction are in order, both to introduce myself (since up to this point I’ve been a stranger to the blogosphere) and hopefully to contextualize some of what I’ll write over the next couple of weeks.
Welcome, Patrick Mason!
I am happy to introduce Patrick Mason as our next guest blogger. Patrick just finished his PhD in History at Notre Dame and will be working here this year as a program coordinator in Peace Studies
The mother of our ward
My children are getting ready for Father’s Day, and this involves practicing that primary song about fathers of the home, the ward, and us all. So tonight we had an interesting dinner-table conversation, about whether the same structure applies to mothers. We have a mother of our home, and we have a mother of us all. Is there a such thing as the mother of the ward?
“Well, yes, actually, there is.”
That’s not the answer you expect when you toss out the standard home/visiting teaching line asking if there is anything you can do to help your teachee.
Why I Read History
I mainly read history because it is fun. I do, however, occasionally have other reasons.
Lots of Questions for Greg Whiteley
“Probably the only people who are more lonely in an LDS ward than musicians who used to be almost-famous are filmmakers who never were”–Greg Whiteley, director of New York Doll.
You are the exception…
I love Elder Oaks’ talks.
Where are all the Mormon lesbians?
There are a small but growing number of gay Mormon men who comment regularly on T&S and other bloggernacle blogs.
Evolving Palates
When I was a child, I tasted sour cream, and I immediately wondered, “why on earth would anyone willingly put that stuff into his mouth?”
Testifying of historicity
As I was re-reading conference, I came across this closing statement by President Hinckley:
Nightline: “Gay Mormons Face Excommunication”
Nightline‘s first segment tonight focused on gay Mormons.
“Should we live by Leviticus?”
Don’t miss this discussion (over at another blog) about just what the Bible has to say on homosexuality.
Mormonism, a la carte
There are two ways to eat out, broadly speaking: You can order a pre-set meal from the menu, or you can order a la carte. Do we have the same options with religion?
The Number of the Beast
Yes, today is 6/6/06. And apparently, some folks are celebrating it in Hell, too. We won’t go quite that far, here. However, in honor of the day, let me post this, from an e-mail that’s been circulating for a while: Number of the Beast: 666 Next door neighbor of the Beast: 668 Social Security Number of the Beast: 666-66-6666
Sunday School Lesson #23
Lesson 23: 1 Samuel 18-20, 23-24
Sunday School Lesson #22
Lesson 22: 1 Samuel 9-11, 13, 15-17