Mormon Bloggers

The world, left to its own wisdom, falls into repeating patterns. One is the deterioration cycle of prosperity to poverty. Another is the loud, self-destructing minority and the direction of public policies and laws. Having just been on a comment thread (now 500+ comments) at Seattle Times for an article entitled “Being Mormon: Does it matter in public eye?” – I can tell you that scorn, ridicule and ignorance are alive and well. So when I read from Matthew 10 this morning, these words resonated: 16 ¶Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the... 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 »

Let us not focus on the Book of Mormon, modern day Prophets and Apostles, or even the necessary ordinances of the gospel. The foundation we must build upon is that of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith stated this: The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that [...]  Read More →

“They Straightway Left Their Nets” – Historical Context Gospel Doctrine Class – New Testament, Lesson #6 Luke 4:14-32; 5; 6:12-16; Matthew 10 The purpose of this week’s study is to help individuals understand that the Apostles were called to be special witnesses of Jesus Christ. Because Apostles are divinely called of Christ, we are blessed [...]  Read More →

    God Is Your Loving Heavenly Father God is your Father in Heaven. He knows you personally and loves you more than you can comprehend. He wants you to be happy in this life and in eternity. To accomplish this purpose, Heavenly Father provided a plan called the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ [...]  Read More →

In various work environments have established safety policies and procedures. In my former place of employment, an employee had to be cognizant of his/her surrounding areas. If something went wrong, there are specific Lock Out Tag and Try procedures that must be performed in order to safely work on the machine, remove any fiberboard that [...]  Read More →

The father looks up wistfully from his reading; another argument and another angry outburst of frustration. It had been only a couple of years yesterday when his youngest son announced that he and his young family had left The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And when his son came to visit with his [...]  Read More →

The Story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Goldilocks. She went for a walk in the forest. Pretty soon, she came upon a house. She knocked and, when no one answered, she walked right in. At the table in the kitchen, there were three bowls of porridge. Goldilocks was hungry. She tasted the porridge from the first bowl. “This porridge is too hot!” she exclaimed. So, she tasted the porridge from the second bowl. “This porridge is too cold,” she said So, she tasted the last bowl of porridge. “Ahhh, this porridge is just right,” she said happily and she ate it all up. After she’d eaten the three bears’ breakfasts she decided she was feeling a little tired. So, she walked into the living room where she saw three chairs. Goldilocks sat in the first chair to rest her feet. “This chair is too big!” she exclaimed. So she sat in the second chair. “This chair is too big, too!”... 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 »

This is a pansy Look to your right.  This is a pansy.   It gets it’s name from the French word pensée, meaning “thought.”  It has been used by some as a symbol for free-thought and the throwing-off of what some call the “tyranny or religion” and tradition.  The axiom of this line of thought is, “It is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence,”1   and its titles are many.Faith has been slighted by the pansy.  Faith is sadly misunderstood.  Therefore, faith has been left out in the cold.  Atheists say, “I don’t believe that God exists.”  Agnostic say, “I don’t know whether or not God exists.”  Ignostics say, “I don’t know what you mean when you say, ‘God exists.’”  Or, if invited in, has not been treated as the honored guest it should be.  Every day I meet people... Read the rest of this entry »

Early in the history of this blog, I showed some disdain for some of my reductionist biologist brethren who in their frenzy to tie religion to brain impulses ascribed the visions of Mohammed and Joseph Smith to epilepsy.  The desire to reduce the entire unseen world into mechanisms, impulses, and a pile of biological functions drives some science worshippers to distraction.  In the comments, I commented on how rare these seizures really are, and I stand by that comment.  As a child neurologist, I don’t run into spiritual seizures.  However, In fairness, any child who feels a profound oneness with God during his seizures, likely does not have the vocabulary to express the wonder of their experience.  I may just have patients who have this experience who cannot express it.       While the experience is rare, it is not unique.  There are many who have described these spiritual seizures.  Perhaps the most verbal and most eloquent description comes from the great Russian author... Read the rest of this entry »

Timothy Plumlee, an Associate Content Contributor, had written an article that makes a very weak attempt at discrediting the LDS Church. While you can still read my response to him at my AC page, the conversations are a bit entertaining, especially coming from him. I have pulled my comments and his comments together to share [...]  Read More →