Searching for Truth
On Saturday morning while sitting in the synagogue, I was considering the many optimistic prayers (siddurs) and songs being sung about the triumphant joy, celebration, singing and dancing in the streets that would accompany the restoration of Jerusalem. It came to my mind that prior to this exultant time, there would be a period when > > Read More …
After nearly a month of contemplation, there are a number of things that come to mind that I feel a need to clarify and to explore. Whereas I can’t see doing all that in one post, this is the first of several. The others will follow as Part 4.1 of 4, etc. 1. All of > > Read More …
Preface Seven weeks ago, Joy and I began writing the following “document.” It was subsequently forwarded to a significant number of associates for review and comment. With one notable exception (thank you LL), we received virtually no feedback. It may be that people are simply too busy. Perhaps it is too long. It may be > > Read More …
I’ve been thinking a great deal lately about what it means to be “willing to take upon [us] the name of Thy Son….” I just don’t get it. Help, please. As I look at the scriptures, “name” is used in a wide variety of contexts. Before diving deeper, it seems reasonable to note the the > > Read More …
During High Priest’s Quorum today we reviewed ordinances. Naturally, we pulled out the Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, Section 20 (see here): Calls the person by his or her full name. States that he is sealing the anointing by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Gives words of blessing as the Spirit directs. Closes in > > Read More …
Okay, this one is really interesting. Here I will be providing some extracts, with questions. This is in order of the record, with some of the most interesting concepts nearer the end. (see here) Recording the Quorum of the Twelve Meetings This may be the first such record, as the record begins with an admonition > > Read More …
Tomorrow the Gospel Doctrine lesson is on “Priesthood.” While reading through search results in the Joseph Smith Papers on “priesthood,” this blessing given by Oliver Cowdery to Joseph Smith came up. I’ve never heard this before. It is pretty amazing and worth a read.
One of my favorite words is shalom, the meaning of which is very different than the word peace. Even if shalom is substituted for peace in The Testimony of St. John, the surrounding text very much changes the depth and the beauty of a number of Christ’s teachings by narrowing the meaning to a more > > Read More …
I’ve been struggling with the next post in the series related to the Testimony of St. John. So, I thought I’d just pop this out…. In John 13:34 we read, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another What is > > Read More …
One really can’t be a Mormon who deeply and seriously studies the gospel of Christ without stumbling over Denver. Personally, this has meant (note imperfect verb form) that I could take an impartial look (yeah, like anyone could actually do that) at some portion of his teachings, opinions, and testimonies without having to make an > > Read More …