Various recent insights

by and by; or, How long does it take? I got to talking to a friend yesterday and shared with him the following: Alma 32:42 uses the term “by and by.” and because of your diligence | and your faith | and your patience | with the word | in nourishing it | that it [...]

Intimacy as the Opposite of Sin

The married Life: Marriage proceeds from the mind first – and as a consequence results in a bodily, sexual event.  Satisfying sexual relationships are ones grounded on the trust, love, communication, and intimacy of two, real-life human beings who have covenanted to receive each other as husband and wife.  These intangible qualities exist first – [...]

Group worship in the church of Christ

Group worship prior to the resurrection of Jesus Christ: The pattern for communal/group worship of God before the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was outlined in the law of Moses.  It was the system of offering sacrifices and burnt offering [Mosiah 2:3], called the “observances of the law”. It was expedient that these outward observances [...]

…and I’m a Mormon

Maggie asked me: “I believe in a similar fashion and lately I have been unable to call myself a Mormon because of it.  Is one a “true” Mormon if they do not take everything in the rigid literal?  I started to feel I couldn’t be much like I can’t call myself a vegetarian if I [...]

Taking our Myths Literally

Myths are our Stories: “Myth” is usually contrasted to “true” or “fact”, as in – “Oh, that’s just a myth.”  However, the “mythos” were ancient man’s stories about gods – they were their experiences with the governing powers of human nature, the earth, and the universe.  The myths were only declared “false” when the Christian [...]

Going from Concrete to Flowers

Nothing is as delicate and brittle as thing-oriented group of people – so easily shattered by envy, covetousness, and strife once the pressure is put on. ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; […] [do] lift yourselves up in the pride of your hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, [...]

Falling to the Earth as a Sign of Conversion

And now the astonishment of Alma was so great that he became dumb, that he could not open his mouth; yea, and he became weak, even that he could not move his hands; therefore he was taken by those that were with him, and carried helpless, even until he was laid before his father. And [...]

Going From “You Owe Me” to “Money”

The history of money: Standard economic theory is that once upon a time all transactions were exclusively barter:  e.g., 20 chickens for your cow, a basket of corn for your basket of wheat, 3 animal furs for your spear.  Then inconveniences arose when your neighbor didn’t need that many chickens right now but you still [...]

The Adultery of Mary

Mary was an adulterous woman: By definition of the law, that is. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child… The meaning of the Hebrew naaph was “a woman who breaks wedlock”.  For Mary to [...]

The Doctrine of Identity

So — even though this blog apparently has the reputation of being a “good ‘ole boys club” that writes constantly about “justifications for polygamy” — I’ve nevertheless noticed that mostly because of the conversations I’ve had with Joana and Elder and Sister Chantdown over the last couple of months, three out of my last four [...]