How Far Would Brigham Young Have To Go…?
Posted by Eric Nielson on November 7th, 2007
How far would Brigham Young have to go to cause you to have a crisis of faith or weaken your testimony?
Food for Thought?
Posted by Yam on October 28th, 2007So, I’m reading Will Durant’s The Story of Philosophy.
Paraphrasing some of Nietzsche’s ideas, Durant writes:
Varying foods have varying mental effects: rice makes for Buddhism, and German metaphysics is the result of beer.
This led to a lively discussion: what food would you say moves people towards Mormonism?
One friend and I immediately thought “chocolate”; my wife independently replied “brownies.” Another friend thought Jello was clearly the culprit; a plain-spoken engineer I know calmly replied, “Steak and potatoes.”
What do you think?
Overall, I’m finding that most of these philosophers really weren’t the sort of people I’d have enjoyed hanging out with, with the possible exceptions of Plato and Spinoza. Still, I’ve picked up some good thoughts here and there; enough to keep seeking after things “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy,” wherever they may be found…
“Write Them Down”: Writing to Transform Life
Posted by Liz Busby on October 15th, 2007One of the funny things about being a writer is that you have to be somewhat narcissistic. You have to think your words are important enough to share. To quote Orson Scott Card:
Let’s face it. You don’t start writing fiction if you didn’t have a healthy dose of vanity and ambition. What could be more arrogant than to believe that stuff you make up out of your head will be so pleasurable to others that they ought to pay you to be able to read it?
Although the quote applies specifically to fiction, the point applies to writers of the personal essay, and even journal writing. If you’re not, say, Winston Churchill or Ghandi, why is your life important enough for me to spend any time on, not even taking money into consideration? I’ve talked to many people who’ve pushed off journal writing with just this attitude. I’ve even felt it myself–the guilt of writing something of no importance. It seems wasteful. As I’ve been working on personal essays for my honors thesis, I’ve rediscovered how plain my life is: no physical disabilities, no abusive family, no major obstacles, no major accomplishments, no strange events, no extraordinary revelations, no doubts. It’s just life, all PB&J sandwiches and afternoon TV programs, bland and continuous. Perhaps the only thing unusual about my life is how ordinary it is. I suffer, as I’m sure many do, from a form of angst envy, wishing that my life was just slightly more interesting. But not too interesting, of course–I’m not asking for major trials, just something worth talking about. Continue reading »
Live by Faith, Not by Fear
Posted by Eric Nielson on October 14th, 2007
The last few weeks prior to conference were not very good ones for me. Trials seemed to come from nearly every direction causing me great anxiety regarding my children, our house, my job, and our finances. I do not wish to express the details, because the details are not the point, and because I know that other people have greater trials than I do.
All I Want For Conference Is….
Posted by Eric Nielson on October 3rd, 2007
Conference is right around the corner. Yes, it’s been six months already.
Sometimes I get a lot out of conference. This usually happens when I am really looking for some specific things. If my expectations are realistic, they are often met. I had two specific topics that I hoped would be addressed in some way during last conference, and both were.
The Beauty of the Basics
Posted by Michelle on October 1st, 2007Have you ever heard a talk or lesson on a topic like prayer and just sort of zoned out because it’s so, well, commonplace? We sometimes joke about ‘the Sunday School answers’ — you know, “read, pray, go to church” and all that jazz. Continue reading »
How Concerned Should I be About MormonWiki?
Posted by Eric Nielson on September 24th, 2007While doing a Google search I came across an entry in MormonWiki. I didn’t know anything about MormonWiki so I decided to take a look. It appears MormonWiki is an Evangelical online Mormon Encyclopedia. It appears to be reasonably informative on some things, but is obviously not trying to be flattering about the church. For those more familiar with MormonWiki, where does it fit on the anti-Mormon scale? 1 being not anti at all, 10 being very anti?
As I looked around MormonWiki I noticed that there are a lot of LDS blogs and bloggers used as references and sources. How big of a concern should this be?
I searched around a little more, and found out that I was used twice as references in MormonWiki. This disturbs me a little bit. Should it?
I was referenced as saying that I just enjoy the content of the Book of Abraham, and don’t worry about it’s history very much. This was used as an example of apathy and an atheological attitude among Mormons. Great. I was then referenced for my belief in being a literal child of God, and my speculations on some of the implications.
So I am wondering what to do or feel about blogging, and the fact that many of us are being referenced in an online Evangelical Encyclopedia about Mormonism.
What happened to the dinosaurs?
Posted by david on September 23rd, 2007
“The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord” during the Millennium (Isaiah 11:9). Does this mean all peoples of the earth will know of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation? Or does it mean we will get to tap into the unlimited knowledge of the Lord Omniscient?
Perhaps it includes both of these concepts. Moses 1:27–41 reveals, “The omnipotent Creator, the maker of heaven and earth, had shown unto Moses everything pertaining to this planet, including the facts relating to man’s origin…” (First Presidency, “The Origin of Man,” Ensign, Feb 2002, 26).
But even if we are not be able to learn all things in the Millennium, they will certainly be revealed to those who receive celestial glory:
D&C 130:9-10
9 This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ’s.
10 Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;
In either event, whenever that time comes that all questions may be answered, what would you ask? Here are a few of the questions I look forward to asking:
- What’s the story with the dinosaurs?
- Where exactly did all the events in the Book of Mormon take place?
- What are the identities of the three Nephites, and what have they done all these years?
- How did the Liahona and the Urim and Thummim work (besides upon faith)?
- What other planets are populated and could their suns be seen from earth?
What burning questions do you have?
Valerie
Posted by Eric Nielson on September 11th, 2007
Valerie joined the church several years ago. She was pregnant, and came to church alone. Her husband had no interest in the church. She hoped that some day he would show some interest, and in the meantime was hoping to raise her first child in the gospel. Her parents and brother were also hopeful future recipients of the gospel.
I was fortunate to be able to help the missionaries in teaching Valerie, and was honored to accept an assignment to be her first home teacher. We taught her the new member discussions, and began the regular home teaching routine. Things went well, and then her daughter was born.
Ammon, A Type of Christ
Posted by david on September 9th, 2007
Types and symbols are rich methods of teaching us about the Savior and his role in the Plan of Salvation. The scriptures are full of these them. The prophet Nephi writes, “Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; … all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him” (2 Nephi 11:4).
Take, for example, the serpent on the staff. In Helaman 8:14-15, Nephi, the namesake of Nephi son of Lehi, teaches that this object represents the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ as he was lifted upon the cross:
14 Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come.
15 And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal.
Ammon, the great missionary to the Lamanites, is another powerful type of Christ. As he goes about tending the flocks of King Lamoni in Alma 17-18, he reminds us of the Lord’s role as our Shepherd. I will outline here several parallels between Ammon and his role as a shepherd of King Lamoni and Jesus Christ, our Shepherd. This list is not exhaustive; if you find other parallels, please share them. Continue reading »
