Even More Islands and Atolls

Pyramids-R-US @ Mormon Matters
  -  Last week I spent a supper hour (it took that long) reading an article called...

Leaving is Only Temporary; Loving Lasts Forever @ Things of My Soul
  -  I didn't write a New Year's Resolution post last night, because I had been at a...

Rules, Principles, Seeds & Shells, Part I @ Mormon Matters
  -  I sometimes wonder where the 32nd chapter of Alma would rank in a list of most iconic...

The Purpose of Nephite Temples @ Our Thoughts
  -  I’m willing to bet that if a Nephite entered a modern Mormon temple, they would be...

A History of Mormon Theology @ The Pierian Spring
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Marriage Counseling: Waste of Money or Balm of Gilead? @ Mormon Matters
  -  I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that most of you could use some good...

George P. Lee dies | Deseret News @ Our Thoughts
  -  George P. Lee, the first American Indian to serve as a general authority in The Church of...

The Dullness of Complaining that LDS Church Meetings are Dull: A Rebuttal @ Mormon Matters
  -  I recently read a piece by Jana Riess on Beliefnet.com “Why Are Mormon Church Meetings...

Translations of the Book of Mormon @ LDS Media Talk
  -  The Book of Mormon is published in 107 languages, and many of them are available in...

Spirituality is NOT Emotionalism @ Things of My Soul
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Higher Criticism, my viewpoint and the Church @ Mormon Matters
  -  I first learned about higher criticism in the context of the archeological excavation of...

Passing the Mantle @ Mormon Matters
  -  OT SS Lesson #29 The prophet Elisha is introduced for the first time in 1 Kings 19....

The Brave and Happy Life @ Things of My Soul
  -  "Happiness comes more from loving than being loved; and often when our affection seems...

How to Take your TV Shows on a Car Trip @ LDS Media Talk
  -  Want to keep the kids entertained during a long drive? Microsoft at Home provides...

I Never Told My Dad, "I Love You," Growing Up @ Things of My Soul
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The Moral Panic Causes Trouble in Zion @ Mormon Matters
  -   Trouble in Zion Poster Kenny Ballantine is in the process of producing a documentary...

Facebook and Marital Fidelity @ Mormon Matters
  -  A Salt Lake City news report in early 2009 shared some troubling statistics.  One in 5...

That Number Was Me. It Was Us. @ Things of My Soul
  -  The Ninety-Nine and the One - Rory Swensen (Times & Seasons)

New MormonTimes.com Site Launched @ LDS Media Talk
  -  Have you seen the new MormonTimes.com site? They have redesigned their site to make it...

Ask Mormon Girl: My 12 year old daughter and I have different spiritual needs; how do I help us both? @ Mormon Matters
  -  I realize that I should probably be sending this dilemma to “Ask a Methodist...

Building Practical Unity in Marriage @ Things of My Soul
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Songs That Touch Our Hearts @ Mormon Matters
  -  Since yesterday was Pioneer Day, I thought I’d share my thoughts on one of my...

We are His Hands @ Mormon Insights
  -   Suddenly, my aging parents became in need of full-time care. In such a situation, as a...

Should Mormons in the Diaspora Celebrate Pioneer Day? @ Mormon Matters
  -  It has only been in recent years that I have slowly become aware that not every convert...

Reflections on Pioneer Day - July 24 @ The Seer Stone
  -  I'll admit it, I like our modern conveniences. I like having the Internet, HD DVR...

Doubting My Doubts @ Mormon Matters
  -  I’ve occasionally heard a curious phrase…”Doubt your doubts.”...

Charity Thinketh No Evil: The Power of and Problem with Humming a Hymn @ Things of My Soul
  -  In discussing the idea that "charity thinketh no evil", I would be remiss if I didn't go...

Date Night: When your arguments are always the same… @ Mormon Matters
  -  Do you ever feel like you and your spouse fight the same way every time? Almost like,...

Ergo the White Shirt and Conformity @ Mormon Matters
  -  A lot has been written about the oppressive symbol of the white shirt in the Church. I...

A Different Way to View Right and Wrong: Considering the Priesthood Ban @ Things of My Soul
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My 37th Birthday @ Our Thoughts
  -   All of my birthdays have always been about stuff. But this year, I’m giving my...

Find heroes @ Mormon Matters
  -  I worked for a time on a project involving heroquests and myth structures.  I analyzed...

New LDS Scriptures Site @ LDS Media Talk
  -  If you like the Church’s Scriptures site (scriptures.lds.org), you’re going...

Convincing the Jew and the Gentile, When They are One Person @ Things of My Soul
  -  "Aviva Levine": The God of Her Fathers - Ardis Parshall (Keepapitchinin)The original post...

Uplifting Non-LDS Music @ Mormon Matters
  -  I really like music. I like just about every kind of music. I like to choose it...

Mormon Therapist on Marital Differences with living the Word of Wisdom @ Mormon Matters
  -  When one spouse does not follow the Word of Wisdom but is not being irresponsible (e.g....

These are my favorite things... @ Mormon Insights
  -  1. Jesus. 2. My wife. 3. My sons and my daughter-in-law. 4. Having a new...

Even for Prophets, "I Don't Know" Is a Reasonable Answer @ Things of My Soul
  -  Too many people simply expect too much from prophets. If we reject our modern prophets...

Tackling the Mormon Myth about Alice Cooper @ Mormon Matters
  -   Alice Cooper at the 2007 Scream Awards If you’re Mormon, you’ve probably...

New Mormon.org Behind the Scenes Look @ LDS Media Talk
  -  Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how the new Mormon.org was built written by...

Caring for Aging Parents @ Mormon Insights
  -   It is difficult for aging parents to see their adult children as anything other than...

Spiritual Guidance: A GC Talk Review @ Mormon Matters
  -  I wanted to try a new feature – going through some of the previous GC talks to...

Surely This Is the Flaw in the Great Plan @ Things of My Soul
  -  Our Children - Quimby (Feminist Mormon Housewives)

Come to….Sunstone, Come to….Sun….stone. @ Mormon Matters
  -   The wonderfully splendid Salt Lake Sunstone symposium is upon us, once again. When?...

Why Are Mormon Church Meetings So Dull? – Flunking Sainthood @ Our Thoughts
  -  A couple of years ago I read the memoir Sundays in America by Suzanne Strempek Shea, a...

The New Mormon.org @ Mormon Matters
  -  Do you ever visit the church’s website for members (at lds.org)? I must confess, I...

A Freakishly Awesome Book @ Things of My Soul
  -  I’m not sure we ever will be able to know conclusively exactly what Mormon left out of...

New Mormon.org – More Information @ LDS Media Talk
  -  Below is more information about the new version of Mormon.org: Share on...

The Quiet Sound of Sunday @ Mormon Matters
  -  For the last few weeks, I’ve nervously avoided taking the Sunday morning post here at...

Baptism of Fire and the Holy Ghost @ Mormon Matters
  -  Guest Post by Jared The objective of all who are baptized by water should be to receive...

Charity Thinketh No Evil: Harming Not One's Self @ Things of My Soul
  -  In my first New Year's Resolution post this month, I discussed the idea that evil is seen...

Date Night: What is your couple sexual style? @ Mormon Matters
  -  I was going to law school. Coming home from a mission in Japan, I was going to get a law...

Impressions of Martin’s Cove and Other Places @ Mormon Matters
  -  ***Updated with Pictures*** This week, my wife and I took a short road trip while my...

Being the Lord's Hands - Rather Than Our Own Hands That He Sometimes Directs @ Things of My Soul
  -  First, I believe the best definition of "obedience" from a Gospel perspective is:doing...

New Mormon.org Launched @ LDS Media Talk
  -  The new changes we told you about for Mormon.org launched today! One of the key features...

The Theological Implications of Popcorn @ Things of My Soul
  -  Draw your own spiritual analogy - Rebecca J (By Common Consent) Warning: Very mild use of...

A Modest Proposal: Making More Hymns “Familiar” @ Our Thoughts
  -  But I think there are simple things we can do to learn more hymns together. I suppose...

More Good Foundation Web Site Updated @ LDS Media Talk
  -  The More Good Foundation has just updated its Web site. Scroll through the features...

Home Rules for Internet Use @ LDS Media Talk
  -  As soon as your children begin to use the Internet on their own, it is a good idea to set...

Don't Let the "Stuff" Get in the Way of the Big Picture @ Things of My Soul
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Approaching Ancestorhood @ Things of My Soul
  -  Being at the top of the tree - Heather O. (Mormon Mommy Wars)

Web Sites for Students and Parents @ LDS Media Talk
  -  Microsoft publishes a list of top 14 Web sites for students and parents. The list...

Sometimes We Think Too Much @ Things of My Soul
  -  Sometimes we overlook the simple in our search for the profound.

Charity Thinketh No Evil: Pornography vs. Nudity @ Things of My Soul
  -  In my New Year's Resolution post from last weekend (Charity Thinketh No Evil: A Totally...

"The Prophet Will Never Lead Us Astray." @ Things of My Soul
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Preaching to the choir @ Our Thoughts
  -  I served as a full time missionary for the LDS church in the Nevada Las Vegas Mission...

May We Recognize How Blessed We Are @ Things of My Soul
  -  No Wahala Too Great - Carolee (By Common Consent)

It's All About Respect @ Things of My Soul
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Shaking the Dust from your Feet @ The Seer Stone
  -  On my mission, I fortunately picked up the Spanish language fairly quickly. In fact,...

Not Every Young Man Should Serve at 19 @ Things of My Soul
  -  Today is my oldest son's 22nd birthday, and he has been a full-time missionary for just...

Birth by Phone Call @ Mormon Insights
  -   My wife and I just had another child – well, not directly. We are new grandparents. ...

Honor Their Wishes. Don't Visit Them. @ Things of My Soul
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America the Beautiful @ Our Thoughts
  -  We sang “America the Beautiful” for our closing hymn in Sacrament today. I always...

New Testament in Smaller Book @ Our Thoughts
  -  In advance of next year’s study of the New Testament in Sunday School Gospel Doctrine...

Charity Thinketh No Evil: A Totally New Thought for Me @ Things of My Soul
  -  I have to admit that it was difficult at first to wrap my mind around a New Year's...

Review: the movie Creation @ Mormon Insights
  -   The movie Creation did not receive a wide distribution in the USA last year. Thus, we...

Arnold Friberg passed away today @ Our Thoughts
  -  Brother Friberg was born to Scandinavian parents settled in Arizona. In 1921, his family...

Temple Video Series: Part 2a – Three Degrees of Glory (Bronze Laver) @ Temple Study
  -   Another great video from David Tayman and David Larsen from their series of videos on...

I’m 20. And I’m worried I’ll never get married. Help? at Mormon Matters @ Our Thoughts
  -  Dear Ask Mormon Girl: I am sure I will never find a Mormon guy who will make me happy, to...

Promoting Religion with Science & Pseudo-science @ Mormon Insights
  -   In Hebrew it is easy to confuse seneh with Sinai. Similarly, it is sometimes hard to...

God's Concern: The Fatherless, Widows, & Strangers @ Mormon Insights
  -   Latter-day Saints have an responsibility to "care for the poor and the needy," now an...

Review: The Overton Window by Glenn Beck @ Mormon Insights
  -   The new thriller novel by Glenn Beck, The Overton Window, is full of political extremes...

This Was Totally a Foul on the US, Right? @ The Seer Stone
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Tools for the Mormon Geologist @ Mormon Insights
  -   The Faux family fossil hunting tool kit, consisting of a hammer, cold chisels, a pry...

Lehi's Argument about God & Morals @ Mormon Insights
  -   Dave C. at the blog Mormons and Science has an interesting post entitled: Lehi: The...

Science & Religion in Darwin's Early Marital Life @ Mormon Insights
  -  Charles Darwin and a History of Evolution Charles Darwin (1809-1882) in his last years...

Salvation by Works, Worxs, and Wife @ Mormon Insights
  -  Large Life Lessons from the Large Yard As one gets older, why does one's sense of time...

Understanding the Fall in Mormonism @ The Pierian Spring
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God as Prime Mover of Evolution: @ Mormon Insights
  -  Explaining Levels of Causation The entanglement of science & religion Latter-day Saints...

Bold World Cup Predictions @ The Seer Stone
  -  I admit it, I like soccer. A lot. Actually that is nothing to hide because I always have...

Receiving Revelation without Realizing It @ The Seer Stone
  -  When I was in the MTC, one of our language instructors said something that changed my...

Moral Argument & the Light of Christ @ Mormon Insights
  -   A tentative equation for God. A growing criticism of theism is that science cannot...

Scale Model Exhibit of the Salt Lake Temple Opened on Temple Square @ Temple Study
  -   Video of the Scale Model of the Salt Lake Temple. (Press play to view) Today, the Church...

Grandma's Advice on Memorial Day @ Mormon Insights
  -   Alta J. Faux in her fifties (b. June 28, 1899 – d. July 28, 1990), widowed wife of...

“The Only True and Living Church” @ The Seer Stone
  -  When I was a missionary we were still using the 6 discussion program, where the apostasy...

Scriptural Advice to the Missionary @ Mormon Insights
  -   Preface: Missionaries should seek advice from the scriptures. Below is a list of...

Henry’s Transition to Afterlife @ Mormon Insights
  -   A Short Story by S.Faux Preface: This is a fictional story written to fulfill a...

Three Rational Arguments for God's Existence @ Mormon Insights
  -   Philosophers for centuries have sought logical arguments for the existence of God. The...

Hyrum Strikes Back! Thank You For Helping Me Break My Writing Cramp, Namelka! @ The Seer Stone
  -  I haven’t posted anything for a long time. I guess I chalk this up to changing jobs and...

Harmonizing Science & Religion @ Mormon Insights
  -   To Readers: I have posted an extended essay on the relationship between science &...

Repentance “Nigh Unto Death” @ The Seer Stone
  -  It has been my experience from teaching in various organizations of the Church, and from...

Promptings for the College Graduate @ Mormon Insights
  -   Son#2 begins his graduation with a necessary tool: the cell phone. How did his father...

Mary Anning: Faithful Scientist @ Mormon Insights
  -   A portrait of Mary Anning and her dog Tray. This painting hangs in the Natural History...

Is the Mind Immaterial? @ Mormon Insights
  -  The circle of knowledge, containing that which is currently documented and that which is...

Believing the Whole Thing @ Mormon Insights
  -  Our wonderful Church teaches the fulness of the gospel (D&C 42: 12), but Mormons are...

Are All Wards the Same? @ Mormon Insights
  -  Latter-day Saints divide their congregations by geographic locations called Branches or...

Temple Video Series: Part 1 – Sacred Space @ Temple Study
  -   David Tayman from the blog Visions of the Kingdom, and David Larsen from Heavenly...

The Gila Valley Arizona Temple Completed in Record Time? @ Temple Study
  -   Celestial Room in the Gila Valley Arizona Temple The open house has been announced for...

On Being a Back Row Mormon! @ Mormon Insights
  -  There is ALWAYS something special about the back row (interior of St. Stephen's Anglican...

Updates about Hugh Nibley’s Centennial Commemoration @ Temple Study
  -   Dr. Hugh Nibley lecturing As I posted a few months ago, the Laura F. Willes Center for...

TempleStudy.com is now on Twitter and Facebook @ Temple Study
  -   I have posted links to TempleStudy.com articles on my personal Twitter and Facebook...

“[A] seer is greater than a prophet”? @ The Seer Stone
  -  After learning of the Jaredite 24 gold plates found by King Limhi’s people, Ammon...

Vancouver British Columbia Temple Open House Announced @ Temple Study
  -   Celestial Room in Vancouver British Columbia Temple Today the Church announced the...

Buy the Complete Set of The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley @ Temple Study
  -   The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley A reader asks, “Do you know if it is possible...

What is Guile? @ Temple Study
  -   The word guile may date back as early as the 12th century, but is not very common in our...

The Universal Creation Song @ Temple Study
  -   Music is a fundamental part of worship, and was even more so anciently than it is...

Who Had a Urim and Thummim? @ The Seer Stone
  -  The Hebrew words urim and thummim (both plural) are typically translated by LDS scholars...

Of Priesthood(s) and Casting out Devils @ The Seer Stone
  -  A recent article gave an interesting look into exorcism as practiced within the Roman...

Darwinism’s Influence on the Mormon View of Spirits – Part II @ The Pierian Spring
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Trading Your Book of Mormon for Porn? @ The Seer Stone
  -  A group of atheists at the University of Texas in San Antonio is trying to tempt college...

Joseph Smith’s Revelations on Preexistence and Spirits @ The Pierian Spring
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At What Point Can We Shamelessly Plagiarize Scripture? @ The Seer Stone
  -  It should be an ongoing goal of each follower of Christ to continuously search the...

The Dead Sea Scrolls @ Woodapple Blog
  -  This past month Andrew Lawler published an essay on the Dead Sea Scrolls in the...

Darwinism’s Influence on the Mormon View of Spirits @ The Pierian Spring
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Church Performs Survey On Gospel Principles Ch 1-2 @ The Pierian Spring
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UVU Drops Prophet's Name from Events Center @ The Seer Stone
  -  It was recently announced that Utah Valley University will remove "David O. McKay" from...

He’s Rich, He Must Be Very Righteous @ The Seer Stone
  -  It’s interesting to me that Latter-day Saints often equate financial success with...

Remnants of Pre-Official Declaration 2 Theology in Gospel Principles @ The Pierian Spring
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A Veil of Forgetfulness: Its Origins Forgotten @ The Pierian Spring
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LDS Family Services: Isn't It About Time...To Get It On? @ The Seer Stone
  -  My previous post on Marijuana and the Word of Wisdom (WoW) was inspired by what I viewed...

Reevaluating Alma 13: Premortal Performance or Foreknowledge of God? @ The Pierian Spring
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Gospel Principles Lesson 01: Our Heavenly Father @ The Pierian Spring
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How Are We to be Perfect in Mortality? @ The Seer Stone
  -  Latter-day Saints believe that our Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation aims to...

Back to the Basics? Our New/Old Gospel Principles Manual @ The Seer Stone
  -  As most of us know by now the Church has decided to use the "Gospel Principles" manual...

Is There a Right/Wrong Way to Perform a Baby Blessing? @ The Seer Stone
  -  Technically, the naming and blessing of an infant is nothing more than a father’s...

Marijuana and the Word of Wisdom @ The Seer Stone
  -  Here's a hypothetical that I was thinking about when driving to work last work. Right...

Hanukkah and Christmas @ Woodapple Blog
  -  Guest blog by Jeffrey R. Chadwick, Jerusalem Center Professor of Archaeology and Near...

The Advent Season @ Woodapple Blog
  -  Guest blog by Eric D. Huntsman, associate professor of ancient scripture at BYU. The term...

How Wicked Were the Jews that Demanded Christ’s Crucifixion? @ The Seer Stone
  -  I’m certain I am not the only one who has contemplated the depth of hatred and...

I Don’t Remember Reading That Before… @ The Seer Stone
  -  I recently began a new study of the Book of Mormon. It always amazes how many new and...

A Shield and a Protection @ The Seer Stone
  -  Soon after I had received my endowment in preparation for my mission I recall seeing a 60...

Commandments and Revelations @ Woodapple Blog
  -  Those who are interested in the Doctrine and Covenants need to roll up their sleeves and...

Larry David and Religious Double Standard @ The Seer Stone
  -  Larry David, probably best known for creating and producing "Seinfeld," also is the...

Priest + Marriage = Catholic Priest? @ The Seer Stone
  -  In light of the recent news that the Vatican has reached its hand out to the Anglican...

My Recollections of General Conference @ Woodapple Blog
  -  Guest blog by Clyde Williams, professor of ancient scripture at BYU. My recollections of...

Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement @ Woodapple Blog
  -  Guest blog by David Rolph Seely, professor of ancient scripture at BYU. The Day of...

Rosh Hashannah @ Woodapple Blog
  -  Guest blog by Jeffrey R. Chadwick, Jerusalem Center professor of Archaeology and Near...

Before New York @ Woodapple Blog
  -  This month’s National Geographic magazine features a fascinating article by Peter...

Finding Herod’s Tomb @ Woodapple Blog
  -  The Smithsonian magazine featured an interesting article by Barbara Kreiger on King Herod...

BYU Education Week @ Woodapple Blog
  -  Guest blog by Brent L. Top, professor of Church history and doctrine at BYU. A miracle...