Tag: war
The Word of Wisdom and the Science of Secret Combinations, Part 1: The “Evils and Designs of Conspiring Men” in Light of Book of Mormon Teachings
The Restoration provides impressive scope in the revelations we have received. They involve much more than the theological and spiritual realms, but dare to give us practical knowledge for living…
A Book for Refugees: The Book of Mormon
Recently I was invited to speak about Hmong culture to a group of missionaries working with the Hmong people in Wisconsin. My family used to be part of a Hmong…
Secret Combinations in the Book of Mormon, Part 4: Modern Scholarship and First-hand Sources on the Workings of Secret Combinations
“And it [the Book of Mormon] shall come in a day when the blood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the works of…
Secret Combinations in the Book of Mormon, Part 3: Circumstantial Evidence of Further Secret Combinations
In Part 1, we considered the question of why secret combinations, one of the most prolific themes in the Book of Mormon, are so rarely discussed. In Part 2,…
Secret Combinations in the Book of Mormon, Part 2: Identified Secret Combinations
In Part 1 of this series (available at Meridian Magazine and in my recent post here), we considered why secret combinations, one of the most pervasive themes in the Book…
A Practical Guide to Secret Combinations in the Book of Mormon, Part 1: Conspiracy Theories vs. Corruption Reality and Our Unjustified Reluctance to Apply the Book of Mormon
This post provides Part 1 of a four-part series for Meridian Magazine (https://latterdaysaintmag.com/) on secret combinations in the Book of Mormon. The series is based on a recent post here at…
David French of the New York Times Speaking at BYU on Sept. 24: Some Thoughts and Questions for Students and Faculty
Update, Sept. 25 & 26, 2026: David French’s speech at the the BYU Forum on Sept. 24 was refreshingly non-political. It was rather short and light but very upbeat, with…
“The False Gods We Worship”: Why Is This First Presidency Message So Hard to Find When Searching?
UPDATE, DAY 0: With the help of my untrustworthy but still very smart friend, ChatGPT 4, I was able to determine that the reason a controversial 1976 First Presidency message…
Preparing for War: The Folly of Trust
Some of my more painful experiences in life have come from trusting people in authority, ranging from the promises of a business to the assurances of a medical authority or other persons I respected. While I continue to be an optimistic and trusting person, I increasingly recognize the reality that people often cannot be trusted, especially when there is an opportunity for personal gain at the expense of their personal integrity. I’ve also learned that there are red flags I should have heeded more in my life, such as the words “you’ll just have to trust me” when claiming that an agreement could not yet be put in writing…. Can we trust what we are being told about Ukraine?
Religious Liberty: Have We Forgotten the Pain of the Hutterites?
College students these days learn what a wise leader President Woodrow Wilson was, a good progressive. An example of the positive summary of his work is the historical summary of…
