questions

Are Church Leaders Accountable to the Membership?

Accountability

Accountability

I received an email today which highlights a serious error which I believe runs rampant among some members of the Church, especially those I encounter online. Here are some excerpts from the email which demonstrate the issue:

… You should allow this point to be made.  You can always oppose that point, but to suppress it altogether points to a lack of honesty, and integrity in the debate…

Being a fan of Nibley, you should recognize that all is not well in Zion, and it’s up to the inhabitants of Zion to make corrections.  … We have a duty to put pressure on our leaders …   [Read more…]

Two Egyptian Questions at the Gate of Heaven

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I saw the movie The Bucket List last night, and it was very inspirational.  I thought the following scene was particularly poignant and familiar.


http://www.tubechop.com/watch/22170
Carter: You know, the ancient Egyptians had a beautiful belief about death. When their souls got to the entrance to heaven the gods asked them two questions. Their answers determined whether they were admitted or not.
Edward: Ok, I’ll bite. What were they?
Carter: Have you found joy in your life?
Edward: Uh-huh.
Carter: Answer the question.
Edward: Me?
Carter: Yeah, you.
Edward: Answer the question, “Have I found joy in my life?”
Carter: Yes.
Edward: Yes.
Carter: Has your life brought joy to others?
Edward: Uh, that’s a tough question. I, uh, I don’t know. Uh, think about how other people gauge, uh… Ask them.
Carter: I’m asking you.

“The Temple as a Place of Ascent to God” – Notes from Dr. Peterson’s Fireside

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View of Salt Lake Valley from the Draper Temple on July 10, 2009. The Jordan River and Oquirrh Mountain temples are in the distance.

View of Salt Lake Valley from the Draper Temple on July 10, 2009. The Jordan River and Oquirrh Mountain temples are in the distance.

On Sunday I had the opportunity of going to the Daybreak Stake Center in South Jordan and listening to a wonderful fireside given by Dr. Daniel C. Peterson about the temple.  I audio recorded the fireside, and have a digital copy.  Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get a hold of Dr. Peterson to ask permission to post it on TempleStudy.com.  But as I said previously, I also took notes as well as I could, and I hope that they might reproduce some of the excellent thoughts Dr. Peterson conveyed. [Note: Not all of the images below are the exact same as Dr. Peterson used, but I have tried to use similar ones.]

One of the first things he said was that the dedication of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple (which stands only a few blocks from the stake center) would be, in a way, a fulfillment of prophecy.

[Read more…]

Answering Questions about Mormonism

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A few months ago we showed a TV news story of an interview with a missionary who, how should we say, didn’t quite know how to answer questions about the Church or the temple, and which just left more suspicion and misunderstanding than it dispelled.  We concluded that we must have a good grasp of our own religion in order to answer questions intelligently and articulately, and to teach others about our beliefs.

Yesterday I received an email with a link to a videoclip of a Harvard student, Rachel Esplin, who answered questions about the Church and Mormonism in a very clear and forthright manner.  It looks like the event was an “Engaging Religious Differences” panel discussion, in which many different religious views were shared. Greg has more details at Believe All Things, who referenced aquinas at Summa Theologica on the same topic.

Take a look below.


Day of Faith: Personal Quests for a Purpose – 3. Rachel Esplin from Harvard Hillel on Vimeo.

ABC News Reports on Mormons & Temples

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A few days ago ABC News did about a 9 minute TV report on Mormons, interviewing Elders M. Russell Ballard and Quentin L. Cook, and discussing issues such as polygamy, Prop 8, and also paying particular interest in the temple.  See the video below.  With the Draper Temple open house running from January 15 through March 14, ABC News reporter Dan Harris and other reporters were invited to tour the new temple with the apostles and ask questions.

How do you think ABC did in accurately portraying the Church and our beliefs?  In explaining the temple?  Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Click here to watch the ABC News report