Scriptural Discussion #15: Abortion

ABORTION The Lord said, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it.” (D&C 59: 6) Discuss. Next Scriptural Discussion: #16 DAVID AND SOLOMON Previous Scriptural Discussion: #14 SACRAMENTAL PRAYERS—CHURCH SHOULD BE KNEELING DURING Complete List of Articles authored by LDS Anarchist

Bringing Stan Tenen and The Meru Foundation to the Attention of all LDS [alternate title: Doing what4anarchy's Job]

Some Background Information what4anarchy and I have a running joke—at least, I think it’s funny; he isn’t all that amused—where every time he mentions the name Stan Tenen, I can’t help but chuckle. The joke is that over the years he has mentioned Stan so many times in conversations—in fact, I’d say that in pretty [...]

A Knowlege of the Stars

5,127 words © Anthony E. Larson, 2007 a knowledge of the stars What Joseph Smith Taught the Early Saints I advised all to search deeper and deeper into the mysteries of Godliness. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church 6:363.) I also gave some instructions in the mysteries of the kingdom of God; such as the [...]

The Name of God

1,065 words © Anthony E. Larson, 2000 The Name of God “Sound is an evocative and thus a creative experience. Many cultures credit the gods with the power to make sounds, either through natural agencies, such as wind, water, and animals, or through musical instruments. In myth, sound can be bewitching (the voices of the [...]

The Gospel Litmus Test

746 words © Anthony E. Larson, 2005 THE GOSPEL LITMUS TEST A chemist can determine the pH of any substance by dipping a bit of colored paper into it. Called “litmus” paper, its color changes depending upon the acidity or alkalinity of the compound in question—one color if it is acidic, another if it is [...]

The Last Lecture

1870 words © Anthony E. Larson, 2007 The last lecture (A speech outline.) Years ago at BYU, a new lecture series was instigated. Called the “Last Lecture,” it was formatted to give the lecturer the opportunity to speak as though it were the last address he or she would give before dying—a sort of gospel [...]

Stars, Planets, Moons and Temples

1,383 words © Anthony E. Larson, 2002 Stars, planets, moons and temples Mormonism is unique among Christian denominations for many reasons. One of the things that make it so distinctive was its founder’s interest in bringing ancient texts to light. Another was the instigation of temple use, a practice thought to be largely pagan and [...]

Understanding John’s Apocalypse

894 words © Anthony E. Larson, 2006 Understanding John’s Apocalypse LDS scholars and church members alike fail to notice vital elements of John’s New Testament book, Revelation. They see it solely as a eschatological writing—a revelation of future tribulations to befall the world in a period of physical and political upheaval immediately preceding the second [...]

Introducing a new contributor

Effective immediately, this blog has a new contributor: Anthony E. Larson. You can read his bio on the Contributors page. I also did a write-up about him back in November of 2007. He is a bit of a specialist in what I’ve termed plasma theology, which is why I’ve invited him to contribute. I look [...]

What the Word of Wisdom says and what it doesn’t say

D&C 89, the revelation known as the Word of Wisdom, gives both very specific and very general instructions. Sometimes we have a tendency to read more into it than is there, or to take away what is actually written there. In the economy of heaven, supererogation is a sin. We are expected by the Lord [...]