tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-241683152012-02-16T03:49:21.864-05:00"Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve" ~Bryant Stringham HinckleyBrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.comBlogger591100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-51447554898178546322008-06-19T19:54:00.001-04:002008-06-19T19:55:44.206-04:00

The California Civil Code, which defines marriage laws, was amended in the 1970s to define marriage as "a civil contract between a man and a woman" and explicitly forbade "persons of the same sex from entering lawful marriage."In 2000, Californians voted to adopt Proposition 22 (aka, "the Knight Initiative"), which clarified the state's marriage code to state that only opposite-sex marriages

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-75590524958424128872007-11-24T11:24:00.000-05:002007-11-24T16:29:10.265-05:00

Here's an article describing an interesting group of scientists (hat-tip to T&S sidebar). It's about the scientists who make up the First Conference on Creation Geology. Two interesting quotes:The first---unwittingly---makes the Bible into a scientific theory.“We don’t subscribe to this idea of the ‘God of gaps,’ meaning if you can’t explain something, then blame God,” [John] Whitmore told me

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-11437655581599787842007-11-19T10:27:00.001-05:002007-11-19T10:34:11.929-05:00

Nova recently aired a program about the Intelligent Design trial in Dover, PA. One of the interviewees questioned Darwinism, stating that it robbed man of his dignity.I wondered whether the scriptures support this idea. My conclusion is that they do not. Yes, we were created in God's image, but our physical creation does not separate us from the animals. Rather, we have the same passions, drives,

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-8951196010519341752007-11-11T14:09:00.000-05:002007-11-11T14:17:09.600-05:00

Over on Feast Upon the Word Blog, there is a discussion about the use/creation of scripture-based cartoons. One of the concerns is whether it is a good idea to create "reduced narratives" of the scriptures. I think the concern is that our cartoons are actually caricatures of the scriptures.But I've been thinking: aren't the scriptures themselves mere representations of something much greater? As

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-8860085022443331232007-08-19T00:34:00.000-04:002007-08-19T00:55:05.370-04:00

There is a very good discussion going on over at Feast Upon the Word. Robert C started it with his post on grace and works in Ephesians. The discussion is quite long (up to 72 comments as of this posting) but worth reading. It's helped me clarify my thinking on many topics and think about new things as well.Among other helpful thoughts, the discussion got me thinking about works. What are they

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-36127028477935714812007-08-05T21:13:00.000-04:002007-08-05T21:17:56.678-04:00

I've been thinking about the words “bitter cup.” (A more detailed version of this post is available here.) How is the word “cup” used in the scriptures? A search of the KJV for the word yielded 57 references, which I divided into eight categories: 1) ACTUAL CUP – though additional symbolism is (at least sometimes) implied2) SACRAMENTAL CUP3) CUP OF FURY/TREMBLING/JUDGMENT4) CUP OF THE

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-4848196150412847582007-07-12T01:57:00.000-04:002007-07-12T02:04:26.412-04:00

(Yes, this is the same thing I posted at Feast Upon the Word. Why did I double-post? Because I've learned that some people who read this blog---or used to; it's been a while---don't read FUTW. So this is for you.)As I studied the reading for Sunday School Lesson 23 (Luke 22:1-38; John 13-15), I kept coming back to the thought, "How did Jesus use the Passover feast to instruct his disciples?"I'm

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-82662374281128381902007-01-10T22:38:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:04:20.296-05:00

What's wrong with this picture? I'm not asking about color choices or body proportions, I mean something wrong in how the characters/event/setting are portrayed.Come up with an answer, and preferably a scripture that supports it, then scroll down for mine---no cheating!What's wrong? See Joseph Smith-History 1:32, "The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-48870494539284338962007-01-10T22:16:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:04:20.450-05:00

What's wrong with this picture? I'm not asking about color choices or body proportions, I mean something wrong in how the characters/event/setting are portrayed.Come up with an answer, and preferably a scripture that supports it, then scroll down for mine---no cheating!What's wrong? See Leviticus 19:27, "Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-80460548324890340832007-01-04T15:35:00.000-05:002007-01-04T15:59:22.127-05:00

There is a new blog devoted to being a resource for teachers. It is called Feast Upon the Word Blog. Some may recognize the name as coming from the scripture study wiki Feast Upon the Word. Indeed, the creator of the wiki is also behind the blog, and I was lucky enough to be asked to participate (and flattered but mostly terribly intimidated by the invitation as well).There are three main

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-40287105022665537732006-12-23T14:59:00.000-05:002006-12-23T15:43:28.356-05:00

"Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments."Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." (

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-14061125534389870462006-12-03T21:40:00.000-05:002006-12-03T23:00:06.239-05:00

I've been thinking about a common theme in the Old Testament: The Israelites are constantly straying to other gods. The common application to us today is to ask, "Who/what is your god?"But how should I understand the question? How do I know whether something has become my god, replacing the true God?The Book of Hosea gives one definition: My god is whatever I trust:"For their mother hath played

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-84044310107020498452006-11-30T16:46:00.000-05:002006-11-30T16:53:55.459-05:00

I know this is a silly abuse of your time and my blog, but please help me if you can.There is a commercial running lately, which I haven't seen, that advertises a toy that my daughter (3) wants. My wife has seen the commercial but--in her own words--is sooo captivated by the little girl in it that she doesn't remember the name of the toy. She just remembers the song she is singing:"At six o'clock

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-56530356854013680652006-11-28T23:57:00.000-05:002006-11-29T00:11:17.165-05:00

I’ve been meaning to write this for a while, but I haven’t had the time to refine it; however, a recent post by Jim F urged me to publish “as is.”One of the themes I have been developing throughout the year as I study the Old Testament in preparation for teaching Sunday School is that God is not a vending machine. You can read some of my posts on the subject here:Commandments as RewardsTaking in

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-48336419877325225112006-11-26T22:06:00.000-05:002006-11-26T22:16:47.519-05:00

A reason commonly given for the importance of early music education is that it enhances a child’s test scores in other areas, most notably math. I haven’t cared to look up the data because the whole idea seems utterly misguided. I see these findings employed chiefly in three ways:1) By companies trying to sell “learning enhancement” products2) By music teachers desperately fighting for funding in

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-34421578106473161232006-11-18T15:22:00.000-05:002006-11-18T16:06:30.417-05:00

Why does Israel seem so favored by the Lord? We are all God's children, so he should love us (ie. treat us) all the same, right? Then why do we find promises like this one throughout the scriptures:"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people." (Exodus 19:5-6)The answer is also found in the scriptures:"Fear

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-63497568829947424012006-11-14T23:13:00.000-05:002006-11-15T00:20:57.403-05:00

The Book of Job offers many lessons, and one is that conventional wisdom about God is often wrong. As an example, read Eliphaz’ claim:"Call to mind now: Who, being innocent, ever perished? And where were upright people ever destroyed? Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same." (4:7-8)This may sound good, unless one reads the first and last chapter of

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-82084770283346293792006-10-26T23:23:00.000-04:002007-11-06T23:45:15.299-05:00

Those who attend Gospel Doctrine class are by now nearly through the Old Testament. To many this has been...chore, but hopefully it has also been enlightening. The Old Testament has so much to offer, not simply due to its length, but also to its complexity. Here are a few characteristics of the Old Testament, some that make for truly superb study, others that that make it indecipherable, and some

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-47240270797922864822006-10-24T12:59:00.000-04:002006-10-27T02:52:33.960-04:00

The Bible likens the Lord to many different things in order to illustrate his relationship with us. In those comparisons, the Lord is usually represented in a masculine form: bridegroom, king, husband, warrior, father, tradesman. (Each of these is used often enough that I don't feel that they need citations.)As far as I know, there are only two* scriptures that cast the Lord in a feminine form:"

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-91024872697476620842006-10-23T00:40:00.000-04:002006-10-23T00:56:57.251-04:00

In the past, whenever I have read Isaiah 2:4, I have read it as a time when the Lord would live on this earth and "fix all its problems," specifically that he would bring about world peace:"And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-12978189421863780612006-10-17T08:00:00.000-04:002006-10-16T21:57:44.536-04:00

Found:"...finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me..."We end how Abraham began—a phrase I have always found humorous. What could Abraham possibly mean by "greater...rest"? If we look at Abraham’s life, we see that this is both an understatement and a very strange definition.As an understatement, we have to look at the context of the verse: Abraham has chosen to leave his

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-50335556919332710132006-10-15T20:19:00.000-04:002006-10-15T23:35:05.886-04:00

Sought: "...sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same..."Abraham states what he desires, but it is not the same as what he seeks. This is not a foreign concept for those who have read Matthew 6:23:"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."In this manner, Abraham

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-9361701783678120162006-10-13T13:52:00.000-04:002006-10-13T13:26:47.302-04:00

...continued from Part IV:4) Abraham understands the purpose of commandments: Many people mistakenly think that a relationship with God should progress in the same way as a relationship with parents; ie. in childhood there are numerous rules to follow, but as one grows older and proves oneself more responsible, fewer and fewer rules are imposed as they eventually become unnecessary. Abraham,

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-7101483860633862682006-10-11T22:18:00.000-04:002006-10-12T13:27:24.763-04:00

...continued from Part III:3) Abraham is ambitious: or some may say, "audacious." Abraham—without qualification (stipulation)—wants to be "a father of many nations" and "a prince of peace." Several questions come to mind, none of which I have answers to: Was this the standard dream for men in ancient times, or was Abraham really thinking big? Was Abraham the exception, or should all of us ask for

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-2756669152468035062006-10-06T00:01:00.000-04:002006-10-06T00:06:00.452-04:00

...continued from Part II:2) Abraham seems repetitive (again): he wants to be a "follower of righteousness" and also “to keep the commandments”. This may not seem repetitive until one tries to define “righteousness”—which must include some mention of keeping the commandments. The difference between the two can be explained by Matthew 24:45-46:“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-64067781859693035202006-10-05T23:47:00.000-04:002006-10-06T00:01:13.802-04:00

...continued from Part I:Abraham tells us, in reverse order, what he desired, how he went about obtaining it, and what it brought him:Desired: "…desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-62656703123571746112006-10-04T00:23:00.000-04:002006-10-15T23:45:05.372-04:00

The Book of Abraham begins with a personal statement from the patriarch himself. In a single verse, Abraham teaches an incredible amount:“And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-57062003919194852082006-10-01T21:46:00.000-04:002006-10-01T21:56:31.385-04:00

I am upgrading my blog and as a consequence there will be some nuisances (in addition to those regularly encountered) here: 1. Visitors will notice a number of changes that may leave them momentarily disoriented---please use the buddy system during this time.2. Users of Mormon Archipelago (MA) will notice many of my old posts showing up. This happens because that site looks for newly published

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-72569553000156906332006-09-11T23:17:00.000-04:002006-09-10T23:40:22.818-04:00

Blogging makes one's mind sick. I'm sure there is ample proof of this, but I offer just one piece of evidence:As I was studying the Epistle to the Hebrews on Sunday, I noticed something strange—and very distracting—in Ch 10:23:Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)Perhaps you don't think anything is weird here. If so, consider yourself

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-26014195725936532302006-09-10T22:21:00.000-04:002006-09-10T23:14:28.419-04:00

I thought I'd share a little warning about one of the Church's videos, The Lamb of God.The BackgroundMy daughter A*, 5, loves this video. She watches it just about every Sunday and has for the last couple years. My 2-yr old often joins her.The SetupA* has a friend, S*, whose family is not religious, and as far as we know has had no exposure to Christianity. A* and S* play together often. S* came

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-51904931640657701862006-09-06T22:53:00.000-04:002006-09-03T22:57:46.711-04:00

A few months ago, a woman in my ward gave a talk on patience that I found enlightening. I have been meaning to post a summary ever since.Patience is demonstrated by how we act toward others, oneself, and God:Patience with others: Patience with others manifests as love or charity. We await their repentance, assist throughout trials, and walk the “extra mile.”Patience with oneself: When we

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-63096240218452413212006-09-03T22:24:00.000-04:002006-09-03T22:30:44.592-04:00

Hosea uses the analogy of a husband and his adulterous wife to illustrate the unfaithfulness of Israel to its covenants with the Lord. One of the consequences of Israel’s wayward worship was that they contaminated Judaism with elements of paganism.As I studied Hosea this week, I thought about another story of adultery, this time from the New Testament. Jesus is in the temple and some scribes and

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-74247100278712529272006-09-02T22:08:00.000-04:002006-09-03T22:24:28.357-04:00

In another post, I wrote about the neurological basis for monogamy in animals. One of the findings of this research is that by producing strong sensations, sex sends powerful messages to the brain that, in species capable of monogamy, create a strong association between the good feelings and the mating partner; thus, a pair bond is formed.We often think of sex between humans as serving at least

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-91326566737146295402006-08-29T23:13:00.000-04:002006-08-30T00:36:25.370-04:00

That's what I said to myself last night as I read this post and the comments on this post. Frankly, I wanted to cry.Anyone reading, and especially anyone posting, blogs quickly gets an opportunity to be offended. The opportunites to give offense come just as often. Worse still, the opportunity to unintentionally offend comes all the time. So you have to develop some kind of strategy on how you

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-34906103190255530772006-08-28T23:44:00.000-04:002006-08-26T15:54:34.244-04:00

Who among us hasn’t wished for a better memory? We are envious of our peers that can seemingly remember every detail of every book, paper, or article they read. “If only I could do that,” we think, “then I would be….”A recent conversation got me thinking about the drawbacks to having a perfect memory. A woman was telling me about an article she read (appropriately, she could not remember the

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-64854577331080818532006-08-25T23:33:00.000-04:002006-08-25T23:43:44.051-04:00

The closing chapters of Job contain God’s response to Job and his friends. In previous chapters, Job wishes he could sue God for justice, but doubts his ability to get the Almighty to appear in court. Chapter 38 opens with God granting Job’s wish:“Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,“Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-64881784913415955932006-08-24T13:04:00.000-04:002006-08-24T13:10:24.542-04:00

I was recently asked about the NIH and how it uses tax dollars. My response is posted, by generous* invitation, on Blogger of Jared. Please check out my post and the rest of that fine site.*Note that my post is one of the longest in that blog's history.

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-85559105711818342006-08-20T22:43:00.000-04:002006-08-20T22:52:00.898-04:00

“Hate the sin; love the sinner.” We’ve all heard the phrase, maybe have even used it. Well, I hate it. My hope for this post is that either:• Someone will convince me that I am wrong about this phraseOr• I will convince at least one person to stop using itWhat is wrong with “Love the sinner”?The second half of the phrase is acceptable. There are many scriptures that tell us or show us how to love

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1155267538912572592006-08-10T23:16:00.000-04:002006-08-11T00:05:24.770-04:00

I recently read 2 Nephi 3 and got a bit lost. It was mostly due to the three different Josephs and references to future peoples, so I decided to retranslate the chapter, inserting proper names wherever I could. The result was enlightening—and proved to be a very interesting way to study the scriptures.To make things even clearer, I color-coded the text to indicate who is speaking:LehiJoseph

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1155104323391409822006-08-09T02:01:00.000-04:002006-08-09T05:35:18.606-04:00

The name "Rebecca" in Hebrew means "enchantingly beautiful."You can judge for yourself.Vitals:Born 07 August 20067 lbs 4 oz21 inchesless than 30 min labor & delivery!

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1154893844748953492006-08-06T14:51:00.000-04:002006-08-11T22:13:53.953-04:00

In 2 Kings 5, we read a story about Naaman (that I can't seem to get off my mind—see here and here). One question that is often raised about this story is if Naaman was exhibiting "blind obedience."I think this story could be broken down into four parts. In only one of these is Naaman actually—albeit figuratively—"blind":1. When Naaman first hears about Elisha and then goes to Israel to see him (

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1154889190045091012006-08-06T14:16:00.000-04:002006-08-06T14:48:29.950-04:00

In his lesson notes posted at Times & Seasons, Jim F asks a question that strikes at the heart of the Naaman Story: "Why is it important that Naaman 'know that there is a prophet in Israel'?"This story teaches one thing so clearly—namely, that we should obey prophets—that we often forget the larger point that Elisha tried (successfully) to make. In verse 8, Elisha predicts, 8 Let him come now to

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1154663267345147052006-08-03T23:07:00.000-04:002006-08-03T23:48:56.063-04:00

Studies over about a decade have shown that oxytocin and vasopressin, peptides secreted in the brain, are involved in the formation and regulation of various social behaviors. For example, oxytocin is released in females during nipple stimulation when a child is suckling, which in many species is important in strengthening the mother-infant bond. Interestingly, vasopressin and oxytocin are also

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1154571174203601622006-08-02T21:47:00.000-04:002006-08-02T22:43:46.376-04:00

There have been a lot of blogs, polls, and news reports about Mitt Romney's chances for being elected president of the United States. Most arguments go something like, "Romney has NO CHANCE because NO ONE will vote for a Mormon."Well, I have a little advice for Mitt: pick Benji Schwimmer as your running mate. America LOVES him! (Of course, most of his fans are too young to vote...)Also: It's a

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1154201681963093642006-07-29T15:20:00.000-04:002006-07-29T15:38:28.076-04:00

Some callings in the Church are coveted; others are feared. Whether one accepts a calling or not is ultimately a private matter between one and the Lord. But to suggest that it is a matter of personal preference ignores two important facts:1. The Lord rarely issues the calling himself. Instead, he goes through one of his servants on earth—be they a prophet, bishop, or Relief Society president.2.

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1154053645331540492006-07-27T22:13:00.000-04:002006-07-27T22:27:25.343-04:00

The Hill Cumorah Pageant attempts to tell the story of the Nephites in the Book of Mormon—a 70-minute narrative spanning about 1,000 years of history. Due to the obvious time constraints, the screenwriter had to choose which stories he would relate and which would be left untold. Many, if not all, of those selected are stunning. Here are a few scenes:• Nephi shocks his brothers, then builds a

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1153969179894501942006-07-26T22:53:00.000-04:002006-07-26T22:59:39.906-04:00

I recently attended the Hill Cumorah Pageant (known simply as, “Pageant”—no article—by locals). I want to share as a series of posts a few thoughts I had while there.In one of the first scenes of the Pageant, Lehi is shown calling the people of Jerusalem to repentance. Lehi is depicted standing above a crowd of people yelling, “Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem, for I have seen thine abominations!” He goes

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1153369402359949922006-07-19T23:31:00.000-04:002006-07-20T00:23:22.433-04:00

Pres Bush recently vetoed a bill from the Senate that would have allowed federal funding for stem cell research. He marked the occasion with a publicity photo, featuring himself surrounded by several couples with their children that they had "adopted" as unwanted embryos.There are some facts that do not support Pres Bush's veto:1) He has delayed medical discoveries that would have positively

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1153283609265820982006-07-19T00:22:00.000-04:002006-07-19T01:04:22.970-04:00

In another blog about volunteering for things at church, Mark Butler quotes a scripture in Abraham 3:And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first. And the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that day, many followed after him. (Abr

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1149451137056733532006-06-04T15:26:00.000-04:002006-06-04T16:19:07.193-04:00

I have written elsewhere how I feel about the Marriage Protection Amendment. I would like to write here about a disagreement that I have with many of the people who support it.Of all the scriptures that relate (or loosely relate) to homosexuality and same-sex marriage, here is one that I think is the most neglected:Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1149448903961330912006-06-04T14:48:00.000-04:002006-06-04T16:05:32.030-04:00

The First Presidency (FP) of the LDS Church recently issued a letter in which they "urge our members to express themselves" on the Marriage Protection Amendment "to their elected representatives in the Senate." My feeling about this issue, for quite some time, is that it is not important to me. That is not to say anything about how others view it, just that I have never cast my vote based on

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1149308956363882802006-06-03T00:18:00.000-04:002006-06-04T16:26:47.106-04:00

Quick!—name three prophets who were “like unto Moses.”Answer:1) Moses (by definition)2) Jesus (see here, here, here, here, and here)3) Joseph Smith (see here, here, here, here, and here)What are the characteristics of Moses?A) Lead a nationB) Delivered the Laws of God to the people How do the others fit this pattern?JesusA) Redeems us as “his sons and daughters” (see here and here)B)

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1148520970416448962006-05-24T21:12:00.000-04:002006-05-25T00:29:04.023-04:00

Vegetarians have put an unbelievable amount of time, resources, and expertise into developing soy-based products to replace animal-based foods. If a person wants to switch to a vegetarian diet, now they can do so without giving up many--or any--of their favorite dishes.Consider this partial list of soy-based stand-ins:Milk . . . SilkHot Dog . . . SmartdogHamburger . . . Garden BurgerTurkey . . .

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1147316075808796682006-05-10T22:51:00.000-04:002006-05-11T00:03:14.363-04:00

The following post is a transcript of a talk I gave at Stake Conference....I will be reading several scriptures tonight and I will not be allowing you time to look them up, but you will have time to write the references. The first comes from the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 7:6 “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1147030810531557552006-05-07T15:18:00.000-04:002006-05-07T16:34:58.823-04:00

“You shouldn’t just do what the prophet says without studying it out in your mind and searching for a confirmation that it is right. To do otherwise is blind obedience.”What is wrong with this statement?Consider two examples:Example 1In 2 Kings 5, Naaman comes to the prophet to be cured of leprosy. He is given unimpressive instructions which, after some hesitation, he nevertheless follows. Upon

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1146287693380540422006-04-29T01:12:00.000-04:002006-05-03T02:00:54.130-04:00

CREATIONISM'S MOST WANTEDIt’s not news that many religious people oppose the theory of evolution; it seems that no other scientific theory meets with even a fraction of the resistance. So I want to know, according to religious persons, what are the worst scientific theories? Here are some I came up with (I’m calling this list “Creationism’s Most Wanted” or “The Axis of Evilution”):1. Evolution2.

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1144984911687716122006-04-13T23:12:00.000-04:002006-04-13T23:23:07.250-04:00

How do you discipline your child?Almost every time I have been part of a group debating this question, whether at church or casually amongst friends, the discussion has dwelt on a few topics: • Whether to spank or not• The efficacy of time-outs• Curfews• “Be firm, but not overbearing”• “Reproving betimes with sharpness….”• Parents today are too lenientAnd I think these are all terrible–albeit

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1144724461452640032006-04-10T22:55:00.000-04:002006-04-10T23:01:01.470-04:00

An anonymous lawyer said, “For every PhD there is an equal and opposite PhD.”When a theory is debated among expert scientists, how are you to know what to believe? Both sides talk over your head and you have no way, short of becoming an expert yourself, of making a truly informed decision.Could you just put it to a vote among the experts? See how many believe one way and how many believe the

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24168315.post-1142486812103736862006-03-16T00:24:00.000-05:002006-03-17T23:20:55.016-05:00

Several scriptures point to a relationship between mercy and justice. When explaining this relationship, we nearly always invoke the power of the atonement. 2 Nephi 9:26 is perhaps the most quoted verse on this subject: “For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice….” In my experience, this verse is used as a clear, concise explanation of how the atonement “works.” But upon reflection,

BrianJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11141688398007490973noreply@blogger.com1