Mormon Bloggers

Matters of life and death have preoccupied me lately, and no, I’m not speaking about the future of America here. I am guessing the hearts and minds of many parents and brothers and sisters are weighed down with the burdens they carry for the sins of their family members. I hope I can begin to offer more light and hope to such in this post. The Great Plan of Salvation The great plan of salvation, synonymous in The Book of Mormon as “the plan of redemption,” “the plan of mercy,” “the plan of happiness,” “the great plan of our God,” (see Alma 42), involves more than merely hoping for someday “being in a better place.” In the covenant relationship there is work involved on our part too. However, when one we love was incapable of doing the work required here, let us be assured that life continues beyond the veil. I don’t know how many times we heard, “He’s in a better place now,” in the final farewells... Read the rest of this entry »

I continue to get questions from people I know well about the end of the world. It seems the political upheavals we are witnessing continue to trouble even the most grounded saints. These concerns arise as a natural consequence of the bad news we hear every day. The budget and deficit spending in America is out of control. The prophets of doom and gloom continue to spread fear and uncertainty all around. Conspiracy theories abound. Few are escaping the effects of the 2008 financial market meltdown. Widespread doubts about the future are escalating. Inflation is eroding purchasing power. Gas prices are averaging $4 per gallon in five states, and continue rising in more. The price of basic food is rising at the grocery store. It is a troubling time for most. In the aftermath of General Conference two weeks ago, I’ve had a chance to review the content, topics and themes we heard expressed by the living prophets. Patsy and I were asked to speak about the prophets in a recent sacrament... Read the rest of this entry »

President Thomas S. Monson Today, as the 181st General Conference convenes, I renew my gratitude for living prophets who live among us. They are gentle giants of love, service, testimony and example. None symbolizes the teachings, life and ministry of Jesus Christ and His example better than President Thomas S. Monson. President Spencer W. Kimball The paradox is their power derives from their humility. However, many in the world misunderstand or question their greatness as misplaced idol worship. I always remember President Spencer W. Kimball and other General Authorities long since dead at Conference time. I believe he, like so many, never knew how great he really was. The great ones never do. If you want to understand what sets them apart, look to their words as they describe themselves. I was remembering an address in the 1978 General Conference this morning when I heard President Eyring mention what a pure example President Monson is of one like the Savior who “went... Read the rest of this entry »

Last Saturday, Peggy Fletcher Stack did what she always does in the run up to General Conference. She writes a story for the Salt Lake Tribune that is provocative to get members of the Church all stirred up and buzzing among themselves over some quasi-doctrinal topic of her choosing. Her writing genius is that she manages to make it critical and embarrassing enough to satisfy her readership in the “alternative” newspaper in Salt Lake City. She seems to delight in coming up with good fodder for conversation and controversy. Let’s be honest – controversy sells well in the public marketplace these days. President Thomas S. Monson I had three people send me e-mails asking for my comments about the article. See? It works. We’re talking about it. That’s good marketing strategy, and it’s bound to sell newspapers. However, (deep breath now), I don’t remember ever consulting the Deseret Morning News or the Salt Lake Tribune as my source of truth even once... Read the rest of this entry »

A recent tragic story has dominated the headlines and newscasts here in Utah. The 5 Browns is a talented family group of gifted pianists, perhaps the first and only quintet of pianists, who have realized tremendous commercial success together. They are comprised of two brothers and three sisters from the same family, and they are magnificent performers if you haven’t seen them or heard them play together. The tragic story to which I allude is the revelation that the father of this talented family had sexually abused his three daughters when they were younger women. He appeared in court the other day and pled guilty to the charges in a deal that will result in a long prison term. I do not know the Brown family, and I do not presume to know what happened except for the scant details that have surfaced in the media reports. What I am familiar with is the dynamic we see repeated here of attempting to hide our deepest, darkest secrets from God. President Spencer... Read the rest of this entry »

Much has been made over the years of the Church’s stance of withholding priesthood blessings from the Blacks. I have been asked by many people why Harold B. Lee was so “obstinate” in his opposition about extending those blessings. That’s a perception that is wholly inaccurate. What is accurate is that we are led by living prophets imbued with the spirit of revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and directs the decisions made in the Church. I have written about this topic before, but it seems there are never enough words to fully describe the times. Many who would revise the history of the sixties if they could will not now admit that racism was an ugly and unrelenting chapter in American history, and the Church was routinely singled out and thrown into the political witches’ brew as a stereotypical example of it. For me, however, it was always a matter of pending revelation rather than policy, anchored in my belief in living prophets. President... Read the rest of this entry »

Moral (or free) agency is the gift we have been given by a loving Heavenly Father.  We have the right to choose good or evil. The earliest record we have of its evidence is a suggestion from scripture that we were faced with a choice in the premortal realms before we came to inhabit this earth as mortals.  In the Church over the years we have heard “two plans” were presented for our consideration.  Here’s an example from 1943: President Harold B. Lee I read in the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants that the Lord speaks of a time when the hour shall soon come, but is not yet, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and when the devil would have power over his own dominion (see D&C 1:35). I have wondered what that meant, for the devil to have power over his own dominion. I read in the writings of Moses that there came a time in the Council in Heaven when “two plans” were proposed, and the children... Read the rest of this entry »

I stumbled over a quote from President Boyd K. Packer the other day that set off a series of thoughts about absolutism and Mormons. C.S. Lewis There was also another statement Packer’s brought to mind.  I will quote first from C.S. Lewis:  “We have not yet had the slightest notion of the tremendous thing He means to make of us.”  (Mere Christianity, 205).  Because He can only do His thing in us on His terms, we will invariably encounter just how absolute the sanctification process really is. Anyone with even a cursory testimony of the truthfulness of The Book of Mormon and the other standard works as divinely inspired scripture must come to an inescapable conclusion without much effort that the book is filled with absolutisms.  (The emphasis in italics below is mine). Here’s an example:  “Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot... Read the rest of this entry »

Socrates taught, “Know Thyself.”   (469-399 BC) “You are a child of God.  He is the Father of your Spirit.  Spiritually you are of noble birth, the offspring of the King of Heaven.   Fix that truth in your mind and hold to it.  However many generations in your mortal ancestry, no matter what race or people you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be written on a single line.  You are a child of God!”                                              -Boyd K. Packer                                             ... Read the rest of this entry »

“They that are wise. . . have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide” (D&C 45:57). We live in a glorious day in the earth’s history.  But we also live in perilous times when wickedness abounds.  In the preface to the Book of Commandments (now the Doctrine and Covenants) the revelation reads:  “For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men” (D&C 1:2).  Imagine that!  God speaks to all men!  He is speaking and will continue to speak.  The question is how many are listening? Learning to discern, to recognize and to receive personal revelation is a challenging quest, but it is possible. The revelation introducing the Doctrine and Covenants continues:  “And the voice of warning shall be unto all people” (verse 4). What’s the warning about?  A few verses later we read:  “Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear... Read the rest of this entry »

I couldn’t help noticing the results of yet another poll the other day.  The polling, one would think, would end with the end of campaigning for this election cycle, but not so. . . the sampling of human opinion seems perpetual and neverending.  President Boyd K. Packer In the ongoing ”great debate of 2010,” this poll asked Utahns how many believed gay and lesbian people could change their sexual orientation.  President Boyd K. Packer, consistent with “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” issued in 1995 by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, asserts: “Fifteen years ago, with the world in turmoil, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued ‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World,’ the fifth proclamation in the history of the Church. It is a guide that members of the Church would do well to read and to follow. “It states in part: ‘We, the First... Read the rest of this entry »

President Boyd K. Packer After the last General Conference, a whisper campaign against President Boyd K. Packer has been circulating through the Church.  It’s reached our little hamlet.  Have you heard the buzz yet?  “Why doesn’t he just keep his mouth shut about criticizing the gays and lesbians and let them get married if they want to.  It’s none of his business.  They have their free agency.  This is just embarrassing.”  And of course, there are many permutations and combinations spinning out from there.  If you haven’t yet heard some version of it, you my friend, are living under a rock. Not a month later yet, and this is some of the media coverage:  A crowd estimated at between 2,000-3,000 demonstrated outside the Church Office Building following Conference and demanded gay rights.  A father writes a letter to the editor:  “Most knowledgeable... Read the rest of this entry »