By now word has spread across the bloggernacle of Hugh Nibley’s passing. I’d just add that Sunstone has created a page with links to different articles, both in Sunstone and recent article on Hugh’s death. But the gem is a review of Martha Beck’s recent book by Tania Rands Lyon. This review essay is a really in-depth, fair and thoughtful look at Beck’s work. Check out the pdf file here.
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Sideblog- Does this make it harder for women to work at BYU and for the church?
- Mormons: at least we are consistent in opposing both tattoos and homosexuality
- Nobody Knows: Documentary of Black LDS History DVD Release
- Jared* reviews Handley et al. Environment and Creation book
- And 1000s of RMs at BYU exclaim at once, "Fetch! Why didn't *I* think of that?!"
- What hardcore Mormon nerds do on weekends
- Surprising no one, McNaughton reveals he's a birther
- 48 Things That Will Make You Feel Old
- Connecticut temple pic.
- JSPP, J2 index now available (PDF).
Decisions We [May Have] Made When We Were Younger
February 24, 2005 — bccbobcaswellAn exchange I had with Melissa on The Passion Recut thread sparked an interesting conversation topic, which John Mansfield pointed out. I’d like to quote each of us involved (in shouldn’t be long and can be easily skipped by those familiar with the conversation) in order to set the stage before I get into the real nuts and bolts of what this thread is to be about.
Melissa: I made a commitment when I was a Beehive never to watch an R-rated movie, and I never have. While my commitment as a 12 year old may have originated from that kind of desire to be obedient, my motivation over the years to not watch R-rated movies has changed a lot.
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My life as a Mormon Freemason
February 22, 2005 — RJHActually, I’m not a Mason but I thought I’d draw you all in with that title. I’m not sure if the Bloggernacle has had the Freemason Conversation yet, but if so, let’s have it again. Also, if you know nothing about Freemasonry, or the Mormon-Mason connection please educate yourself here and here.
In a nutshell, Freemasonry is a secret, fraternal organization with roots in Enlightenment Europe. Any ideas that Freemasonry represents an unbroken ritual tradition going back to Solomon’s Temple via the Knights Templar belong (pretty much) in the bin next to the DaVinci Code. Freemasonry is a theistic organization, believing in a Grand Architect (= God) and claims to welcome people of all religions. Through rituals closely wedded to architectural symbolism and hoary legend, Freemasons are initiated into various "degrees" where they learn "secrets" intended to make them better, more enlightened individuals. Once upon a time, anyone who was anyone was a Mason (provided, of course, they were men). Famous Masons include George Washington, Winston Churchill, Roy Rogers (!), and Joseph Smith.
Citizenship and the Local Ward
February 22, 2005 — GuestGuest submission from Laurie DiPadova-Stocks
A few weeks ago in Relief Society, we had a solid lesson on President David O. McKay, which made reference to President McKay’s view that we can participate in the positive transformation of society. This prompted comments detailing how the sisters have been pleased and at times surprised to find other groups that hold values similar to ours, and by aligning ourselves with these groups, progress can be made.
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America’s Choir?
February 22, 2005 — Kris WrightLast week, I was leafing through the Deseret Book Catalogue, sifting through a slew of products all promising to strengthen me as a Latter-Day Saint. However, the item that did catch my attention was the newish book/CD/DVD commemorating the seventy-fifth anniversary of continual broadcasting for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The book’s title: America’s Choir: A Commemorative Portrait of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. America’s Choir?
Guest Post: Eschatology vs. Mormon Cultural Politics: No Holds Barred
February 21, 2005 — HL RogersEditor’s Note: HL Rogers is a bloggernacle neophyte, but since he’s a mormon lawyer, he should feel right at home. He suggested this as an idea for a guest post, and we’re more than willing to oblige.
I was sitting in my car the other night driving home from work when I heard a story about global warming on my NPR. The story described how the Bush administration has earmarked $6 billion to prepare for catastrophic events predicted by proponents of global warming. Of course my eyebrows shot up: Bush administration preparing for global warming? This story was too questionable to be believed without some fact checking. Of course, I’m far too lazy for that, so instead I began to wonder about Mormons, eschatology, and global warming.
The Passion Recut: Mormon Friendly?
February 21, 2005 — bccbobcaswellMel Gibson has removed five to six minutes from his monumental film, which is to be re-released March 11, 2005. Interestingly enough, the film’s distributor, Newmarket, has no plans to release this version on DVD or VHS. Rather, the idea is to release this version of the film each year around Easter, an intriguing marketing concept. But that’s not really the scope of this post, read on for some more details and the real discussion I have in store for you.
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Modern Eve
February 18, 2005 — bccchristinatkThis past Sunday, during my brief interlude back home from a deposition marathon in Steve’s hometown of Calgary, we had our monthly meeting of the "Radmos" (Radical Mormon Women). The topic of discussion was a look at some versions of the Judeo-Christian creation myth, including the classical Christian, the LDS, some Gnostic views and the Lilith myth. But, as usual, our discussion soon evolved (devolved?) into an inquiry into whether and where our modern-day Eves exist in LDS culture and life. As a group we all seemed to be striving for LDS women in public discourse who provide examples of an exemplary life lived, a model to emulate, a beacon of wisdom. We don’t seem to have any.
The Prerequisites for Gospel Discussion
February 16, 2005 — Steve EvansOne of the recurring themes I see in Bloggernacle discussion is what I call the intimidation factor: people prefacing their comments with "I haven’t read X or Y, but…" or "I’m new to the idea of X, but…" or similar disclaimers. Worse, I frequently read comments or emails where people disqualify themselves from discussions with thoughts like "I don’t feel like I can contribute… I’m not very educated or well-read compared to the others."
Is this a valid concern when discussing gospel topics?
New Blogger, New Blog
February 15, 2005 — Steve EvansHi folks! A couple of announcements:
First, we’re pleased to announce that Laurie DiPadova-Stocks has agreed to blog with us for awhile; Dr. Stocks is Executive Director at the Hauptmann School of Public Affairs at Park University, and is an expert in many, many things, among them public policy. We’re looking forward to reading her views; her appearance at BCC opens up whole new fields where we can pontificate meaninglessly!
Second, there’s a new blog in town! The Bloggernacle Times is a massive effort, spanning the spectrum of the Bloggernacle to bring weekly updates on who’s who and what’s what in the mormon blogosphere. You may recognize a few faces from around here and elsewhere. It’s an interesting project because it is the closest thing to a true periodical the Bloggernacle has yet to see.
Welcome to LDS and to BT!
My Funny Valentine
February 14, 2005 — Steve EvansAs I write this, I’m finishing off the pan of rice krispie treats Sumer made this evening. One more reason why I love her. Have I ever told you that I married the most wonderful woman in the universe?
The Stages of Faith
February 10, 2005 — bccjohnhI highly recommend James Fowler’s book, The Stages of Faith. It’s an important book in faith development theory I learned about while at Sunstone. Like most people, however, when I first read it I simply didn’t have much of an appreciation for it. To understand why, you need a breakdown of the stages themselves.
Charity Seeketh Not Her Own
February 10, 2005 — Karen H.I’ve been reading the famous charity passages in both 1 Corinthians 13, and Moroni 7. I’m fascinated by these passages. They are clearly important in the world of Mormon doctrine. Like the Sermon on the Mount and some Isaiah passages, the Moroni incarnation of the charity doctrine is in part a repetition from the Bible. Also, the phrase "charity never faileth", found in both books of scripture, is the motto chosen for the Relief Society, and one of the first scriptural exhortations that most people memorize just by sheer repetition in church and visual media. The Book of Mormon clarification that "charity is the pure love of Christ" is the basis of our doctrine linking the spiritual gift of charity to the outward manifestations of good works. This is important, basic doctrine, rightly emphasized, and always inspiring.
I Have a Question: Women and “Teachings for our Times”
February 10, 2005 — Kris WrightLast week in Relief Society, our "Teachings for our Times" lesson schedule was re-distributed after being changed somewhat. Looking at it, I noted that there was not a single woman’s name on that list. When I got home from church, I got out my Conference Ensign to learn more about the program.
Dealing with Anti-Mormon Media
February 8, 2005 — Steve EvansEvery so often, mormons find themselves depicted unfavorably in the media: Krakauer writes Under the Banner of Heaven; the French version of Witness translates ‘Amish’ as ‘mormon’; or some prominent local mormon gets involved in a scandal of some sort. These are recurring themes. Rarely are the criticisms levelled at the Church new or original. However, their mere presence as a social force requires our response. What, then, is the appropriate response for Church members towards such media portrayals?
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Is There Much to Mormon Spirituality?
February 4, 2005 — bccloganOur Church is wonderful for many reasons and it does many things well. I have not found teaching spirituality to be one of them. Developing our capacity to understand things of a spiritual nature is an important aspect of our growth as human beings both on Earth and eternally, yet it is not uncommon to find examples of very intelligent and capable people in the Church expressing difficulty in learning how. Certainly there are those in the Church who have learned very well how to interpret spiritual things. But I doubt their skill has very much to do with any instruction they’ve received in the Church.
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The Valley is Still Happy
February 4, 2005 — Steve EvansAs you may know, I went on a trip to Utah this week to see family and catch up with old friends. I had a great time — I hadn’t been to Utah since I graduated from BYU in 1997, and was starting to feel pangs for the mountains. So, a cheap flight later, I found myself in Salt Lake City. Permit me to indulge in a first for BCC: the travelblog. It’ll be a long post, but fun.
Blogs, Magazines, and Journals
February 3, 2005 — DaveThe Bloggernacle is composed of a few dozen people who run weblogs that talk about “Mormon Studies” topics, plus a few hundred people who read the weblog content and sometimes leave comments. The two best-known publications that cater to that sector of the LDS audience that is interested in “Mormon Studies” topics, Dialogue and Sunstone, are likewise staffed and run by a few dozen people plus a few dozen authors, and read by a few thousand subscribers. You would think there would be a lot of overlap between these two communities, bloggers and subscribers, wouldn’t you? In fact, there is no one from the publisher/author side of the subscriber community (with the exception of BCC’s own John Hatch) who has taken an active role in the LDS weblog community, and precious few Bloggernacle regulars who appear to be subscribers or regular readers of Sunstone or Dialogue, much less authors (with the exception of BCC’s own Kristine Haglund Harris). Why is this so?
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A Rose by any Name…
February 2, 2005 — KristineMostly, this post is an excuse for a gratuitous link to the Utah Baby Namer, which still can make me howl with laughter, even after a dozen visits.
A few weeks ago, I was in the waiting room of the pediatrician’s office with my three children, sitting across from a woman who was dressed the way I always think I’d dress if I were a little braver (and thinner and prettier)–kinda funky, bright-colored shirt, jeans that weren’t from the Gap, excellent hot pink shoes. After we had been there a few minutes, she said “Excuse me, I think I just overheard you calling your children Peter and Louisa–are those their names?”
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“Get Big or Get Out”: Some Thoughts on Sustainable Blogging
February 1, 2005 — Kris WrightI am not a big fan of the global economy. In fact, I am a strong advocate of supporting local business. I buy a share in a CSA to support a neighbouring biodynamic farm, I purchase Ontario apples instead of Chilean grapes and try hard to shop for clothes made in Canada. Imagine my chagrin last week when I realized that perhaps I had sold my birthright for a mess of pottage by allowing myself to become a pawn in Steve Evans’ Microsoft-style machinations :)
Interview: Dr. Brian Birch
February 1, 2005 — Steve EvansWe’ve had the good pleasure of conducting a brief interview with Dr. Brian Birch, Director of the Religious Studies Program at UVSC. As you may know, UVSC has a vibrant Mormon Studies program, involving top-notch academics from a variety of fields. This week, on Feb. 3rd, the program presents its annual Eugene England Lecture, delivered this year by D. Michael Quinn on the topic: "’To Whom Shall We Go’: Historical Patterns of Restoration Believers with Serious Doubts." March 3-5 this year, the program will host a Mormon Studies Conference, touching on themes of mormonism and social justice. Like the Eugene England lectures, the conference promises to be of great interest.
We asked Dr. Birch about the program, its goals and aims, as well as challenges facing Mormon Studies. Rumor has it that he may reply to some commenters, time permitting.
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Rumblings in the Star Chamber — UPDATED
February 1, 2005 — Steve EvansI haven’t slept well lately. I’ve got the nagging feeling that something truly great and terrible is about to come upon us.
Anyone else have the same feeling?
In other news, I guess having Doubleday print a version of the Book of Mormon doesn’t sound so prestigious anymore. Something about the company you keep, I guess.
UPDATE: looks like my feelings weren’t entirely unfounded. Behold!
- LDS Headlines
- 'Book of Mormon'--Broadway's Biggest Hit--Losing Key Cast Members - Forbes
- Odds and Ends: Mormon teen trains for the Paralympics - Deseret News
- Polls 2012: Mormon V/S African-American - U.S. Election News
- Dramatic Mormon Growth Partly Due to Change in Membership Counting - Christian Post
- Mormon group still using discredited 'gay cure' therapy - StandardNet
- Obama-Romney: African-American vs. Mormon - USA TODAY
- Romney's Mormon mission partner recalls time in Paris - The Spokesman Review (blog)
- One in Four Say Having a Mormon President Would Cause Concerns - Wall Street Journal
- Muslim student first non-LDS BYU-Hawaii president - Daily Herald
- Mormon Temple, Massachusetts Neighbors Live In Peace - Hartford Courant
- Authors Elsewhere
- Liveblogging The Move Part I Tracy M
- The Gift of Tongues: The Propagation of Sermon Texts in Mormonism WVS
- Watch a real scientific controversy SteveP
- The Gift of Tongues: The Propagation of Sermon Texts in Mormonism WVS
- I want to breathe without coughing madhousewife
- Ill Fares the Land of Kansas Russell Arben Fox
- New Volume of Jonathan Edwards Sermons WVS
- Glimpses into my children’s sex education madhousewife
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