By David G.January 27, 2008
As many, if not most, have heard by now, President Hinckley died today. I have vague memories of Presidents Kimball, Benson, and Hunter, but the prophet of my youth will be President Hinckley. I remember vividly him coming to Houston in 1998, just prior to my mission. I distinctly recall watching as he left the Summit on his cart, as we sang We Thank Thee of God for a Prophet, and he turned to wave to the audience. I felt tremendous love for that man at that moment and an incredibly poignant feeling of gratitude for such a warm leader. I recall desiring him to stay with us, as did the Nephites with Christ in 3 Nephi 17:4-6, but alas it was his time to go. That memory comes powerfully to me now, as I internalize this death, and I desire President Hinckley to tarry with us a little longer, but alas it is his time to go. The prophet is dead. Long live the prophet. May our prayers be with the Hinckley family.
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By GuestJanuary 27, 2008
Admin: This post is authored by occasional guest blogger and friend to JI, Bored in Vernal.
While doing genealogy work some years ago, I came across an epitaph in a New England cemetery where several of my ancestors are buried. I remember I was somewhat shocked to read:
As you are now, so once was I
As I am now so you will be
Prepare for Death to follow me. [1]
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By David G.January 25, 2008
Although it is customary to have someone be a guestblogger first and then issue the invitation to be a permablogger, in this case we’re pleased to announce that SC Taysom will be bypassing that formality and be joining us directly. SC actually did his guest-blogger training at BCC over the summer, but has held out for a better offer ;).
Here’s some background on SC:
SC Taysom earned a BA degree in History from BYU and an MA and Ph.D. in the History of Religion with a specialty in American Religious History and Ritual Studies from Indiana University, Bloomington. A manuscript based on his dissertation, a compa
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By GuestJanuary 25, 2008
Admin: This post is authored by occasional guest blogger and friend to JI, Bored in Vernal.
What woman would not want to have earned the title “Elect Lady?” This evocative term was used to describe Emma Hale Smith in a revelation given by the Lord in July 1830. “Thy sins are forgiven thee,” Emma was told, “and thou art an elect lady whom I have called.” The appellation is an interesting one, and may possess shades of meaning beyond simply that Emma was an extraordinary and revered woman. How do the words “elect lady” fit in with her being “called?” Does this phrase have any connection with the ordination promised to her in verse 7? Following are several interpretations which can be made of the words “elect lady:”
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By David G.January 24, 2008
For readers that are “old hands” to the ‘nacle, the name Bored in Vernal is not new. BiV has her own blog and contributes to a few other sites around the ‘nacle. We’ve recently discovered that she has a bit of a taste for historical posts, and we’ve therefore invited her to do a guest stint here. Here’s what she has to say about herself (in third person, of course):
BiV is a woman of a certain age with years of church experience under her belt. She has been fascinated with issues of church history since her days at BYU in the Leonard Arrington years. Many years as an early-morning Seminary teacher have given her a familiarity with the scriptures–but she especially loves the unusual and obscure. BiV has done her time as a barefoot SAHM [for those uninitiated in feminist speech, like me, that means “stay at home mom,” I think] eagerly populating the earth. A move to Vernal, Utah coincided with her discovery of blogging and the birth of “Bored in Vernal.” BiV now teaches at an all-female university in Saudi Arabia.
Let’s welcome BiV as our latest guestblogger!
By Ben PJanuary 23, 2008
In his 1993 Tanner Lecture delivered to the Mormon History Association, historian Richard Hughes suggested that “romanticism quickly emerged as the defining intellectual influence [of the Mormon Church] … and this was the difference that made all the difference.”[1] In a similar vein, Jacksonian scholar and Joseph Smith biographer Robert Remini concluded that “Joseph was a romantic to his innermost fiber.”[2] The connection between romanticism and early Mormonism is a fascinating one that deserves further attention.
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By ChristopherJanuary 23, 2008
In 1834-35, Oliver Cowdery wrote eight letters to W.W. Phelps describing the events of the restoration. These letters were published in the Latter Day Saints Messenger and Advocate and constitute the first published history of the Mormon Church. These letters were reprinted throughout the nineteenth century by various Latter Day Saint groups. In 1854, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) published them in pamphlet form, complete with a preface by James J. Strang. Strang also authored an appendix, elaborating on his views of the Book of Mormon. A selection from that appendix is posted below.
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By David G.January 22, 2008
One of the seminal texts in Western American history is Patricia Nelson Limerick’s Legacy of Conquest: The Unbroken Past of the American West. Limerick’s genius can be found in her defining the West’s importance in terms of convergence of peoples, rather than simply the westward movement of white American males. Unlike many
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By David G.January 19, 2008
I unfortunately dropped the ball and missed the debut of “Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons” today at the Utah Film Festival (I thought it was yesterday). However, I did email Margaret Young to ask how it was received, and she responded that “We got a prolonged standing ovation. It was extremely gratifying.” Now I wish that I had been there even more. The documentary next heads to the San Diego Black Film Festival. I agree with Margaret that “It’ll be interesting to see how an African American, non-LDS crowd responds.”
Margaret also indicated that they do plan to show the film one or two more times in Utah, but no dates are set. I’ll be sure not to miss the next one. I believe that this is an important project, and I therefore encourage all JI readers to donate something to support the film. I’m a poor graduate student, and if I can donate, anyone can.
By David G.January 17, 2008
In the fall and winter of 1843, Parley P. Pratt wrote a small pamphlet entitled “The Angel of the Prairies,” a work that was similar to his “One Hundred Years Hence. 1945.”“The Angel of the Prairies” purports to be based on a dream in which Pratt is transported one hundred years into the future, where an angel shows him that the U.S. government was destroyed from corruption within (shades of Book of Mormon stories of Gadianton Robbers), and the “sons of noble sires” had erected an empire of liberty in the American West. The angel also showed Pratt a thin volume entitled “A true and perfect system of Civil
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Steve Fleming on BH Roberts on Plato: “Interesting, Jack. But just to reiterate, I think JS saw the SUPPRESSION of Platonic ideas as creating the loss of truth and not the addition.…”
Jack on BH Roberts on Plato: “Thanks for your insights--you've really got me thinking. I can't get away from the notion that the formation of the Great and Abominable church was an…”
Steve Fleming on BH Roberts on Plato: “In the intro to DC 76 in JS's 1838 history, JS said, "From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important…”
Jack on BH Roberts on Plato: “"I’ve argued that God’s corporality isn’t that clear in the NT, so it seems to me that asserting that claims of God’s immateriality happened AFTER…”
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