tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68793586394712208982009-12-08T07:47:00.118-06:00A personal view of Mormon theology from a life-long member of the LDS Church...S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.comBlogger359125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-32879709990469261222009-12-08T03:46:00.002-06:002009-12-08T03:46:30.315-06:00

At the wonderful First Presidency Christmas Devotional held this past December 6th, President Thomas S. Monson gave a wonderful reminder of the spirit of giving and of thanking. He told the story of a crowded Atlanta airport on the eve of Christmas in 1970. The terminals were jammed with passengers trying to get to their destinations before the holidays. There was hardly a plane seat to be had

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-9946227036247552372009-12-03T04:07:00.009-06:002009-12-08T02:34:59.193-06:00

Rounds of Truth Preface: Latter-day Saints traditionally hold "testimony meetings" on the first Sunday of each month. In such meetings members of the Church are free to approach the pulpit and speak whatever is in their hearts. Testimonies are expressions of faith, not data points for scientific understanding. I appreciate the broad latitude that is given to speakers in LDS meetings. Clearly,

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-29963320230268135502009-12-01T03:12:00.002-06:002009-12-01T03:12:47.897-06:00

One of the greatest gospel talks ever given by Elder David A. Bednar (who has given many great speeches) was delivered while he was President of BYU-Idaho in 2001. This talk at Brigham Young University (Provo) had a scripturally based title: "'In the Strength of the Lord'
(Words of Mormon 1:14; Mosiah 9:17;
Mosiah 10:10; Alma 20:4)". If one wishes to learn about the "enabling power" of the

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-24690543425265779322009-11-30T05:15:00.008-06:002009-11-30T05:58:56.325-06:00

by S.Faux Preface: Imagine being trapped in the wilderness, having fallen in a deep mire, a pit, and needing to be rescued. A beautiful pelican flies overhead and inspires a prayer. Was the pelican flying in vain? *****Afflicted with Fear & Anger***** What are ye bird for heavens to aspire? With awkward frame and bill of fire, Ye fly in vain above this mire. With NO moral care to guide thee

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-17531546131671854472009-11-28T10:59:00.006-06:002009-11-29T02:25:56.411-06:00

The Manuscript Revelation Books of the Joseph Smith Papers series. Human beings stereotype categories, and I suspect that we Latter-day Saints stereotype the category of "revelation" as well. As we read about prophetic revelations from God in scripture, our vivid imaginations run wild. Thus, sometimes prophets are viewed as mere receptionists or even human tape recorders whose work is done upon

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-9361882467315161852009-11-25T08:02:00.005-06:002009-11-27T19:25:14.720-06:00

Photo of U.S. soldiers in Kandahar, Afghanistan taken November 12, 2009 by Army Staff Sgt. Craig Rader. In this time of Thanksgiving, the U.S. military must be thanked for their extreme sacrifices, especially over the last few years. We Latter-day Saints are a peaceful people. We seek peace and we work for peace, but we also are NOT pacifists (at least not as a whole). Some things are worth

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-53527628413756562892009-11-24T02:01:00.009-06:002009-11-24T08:23:07.447-06:00

November 24, 2009 To: "Mormon Insights" readers -- It was 150 years ago that Darwin published The Origin of Species. The first printing was only 1,250 copies. They quickly sold. No book of science has done more to transform the perception of humans about themselves. The book has NEVER been out of print. It is hard to imagine that it ever could be. Here are some words that Darwin wrote

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-1202697789506790152009-11-18T19:16:00.008-06:002009-11-19T05:06:27.213-06:00

My Zig Millennium pen and Triple Combination. One of the most popular essays on "Mormon Insights" is entitled: "The True Way to Mark Scriptures." In that essay I argue that the best pen for marking scriptures is the Zig Millennium pen. The problem lately has been that many stores have stopped carrying the pen. Why? My fear was that this superior pen was being discontinued. Well, I have the

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-87470161952158422762009-11-15T08:42:00.006-06:002009-11-16T02:53:53.236-06:00

Below is a chronology of the early history of the LDS Church in Missouri. This chronology draws heavily from Alexander L. Baugh, “From High Hopes to Despair: The Missouri Period, 1831-39,” Ensign, July 2001, 44, and Stephen C. Lesueur (1990), The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri, University of Missouri Press. (All mistakes, however, are mine – S.Faux). The period of time covered is 1831 to 1839,

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-39725690643573271702009-11-13T19:38:00.001-06:002009-11-29T17:55:12.305-06:00

The story of the movie consisted of the following: If it was big, if it was important, it got crushed and destroyed. Earthquakes. Eruptions. Engulfed excesses of water. The movie was too long and needed to be edited down. It needed to be cut by 2 hours and 38 minutes. ***** Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-1171921052558024512009-11-11T03:36:00.022-06:002009-11-11T12:19:47.987-06:00

The flag flies bright in the light of freedom On this Veterans day let us heighten our attention, and let us remember: 2 Corinthians 3:17 “… where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” When everyone else is talking "public options," health care, and the economy, let us remember the soldiers and their families who have sacrificed. We have members of the military now in foreign lands

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-37384295497680840322009-11-07T09:59:00.003-06:002009-11-07T10:07:47.999-06:00

An Oregon sunset inspires components of my faith. One of my favorite phrases of advice often given to my sons has been: "See clearly!" Clear sightedness involves gathering the proper data, critical analysis, prayer, and careful decision-making. To me, it is a comprehensive term that says, "Look to God (prayer, scripture, science, & nature) and live" (cf. Alma 37:47). Soldiers in a combat

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-48315162791494390202009-11-04T05:29:00.001-06:002009-11-04T05:32:27.695-06:00

The trick to gospel mastery is to learn to engage the spiritual realm without getting “weird” about it. The fruits of the spirit will inform us if we are on the right track. A “Gospel Master” is always humble, clear sighted, non-fanatical, and well reasoned. Engaging the true "spirit" does NOT cause one to lose their sense of reality. Instead, the spirit, properly used, yields a heightened

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-42419295760819370602009-10-31T12:24:00.004-05:002009-10-31T16:19:11.621-05:00

The concern of this essay is the possible relationship between the ancient Feast of Tabernacles and the public validation of the king. Did Jesus claim to be King at the Feast of Tabernacles mentioned in John chapter 7? The evidence is slim and therefore somewhat speculative, but the implications are fascinating. The Feast of Tabernacles The Feast of Tabernacles was a seven-day festival in

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-19764605832860955122009-10-24T09:56:00.004-05:002009-10-29T14:00:28.520-05:00

Some Advice to the Returned Missionary Our R.M., literally after the EXIT interview. Preface: These are words for my sons, but they could easily apply with minor alteration to almost any missionary, Elder or Sister. ***** Church service does NOT come to an end upon being released as a missionary. It just begins. Therefore, retain the spiritual intensity that you learned to acquire while as

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-60191710251349788692009-10-22T01:37:00.001-05:002009-10-22T01:45:29.869-05:00

If the LDS world cried out, then it did not cry loud enough for me to hear. Why didn't I hear? I just found out. I read the Church News. I read all kinds of LDS blogs. I go to Church each week. The Bishop never made an announcement. It wasn't in the Ward bulletin. Where did I go wrong? Obviously, my ivory tower is too high. I am typing this message in shock, anger, disappointment, and

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-7769160670438438312009-10-20T14:45:00.008-05:002009-10-20T16:38:22.638-05:00

Christ Handing the Keys to St. Peter by Pietro Perugino (1481-82) It has taken us two years, but we Latter-day Saints are finally (and unfortunately) finishing the Priesthood/Relief Society manual: Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith. One of the last lessons, Chapter 44, is one of the most important. It teaches any number of important doctrines, but four that stood out for

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-4509614505677254412009-10-17T08:58:00.005-05:002009-10-17T10:28:10.600-05:00

The faint traces of DNA in fossilized Neanderthal. It is utterly amazing that DNA can be extracted from 37,000 to 70,000 year-old fossil bones. But, that is what Dr. Svante Pääbo of the Max Planck Institute has done. The fossil bones are from Neanderthal (also spelled: Neandertal), the ancient human relative often given the formal label Homo neanderthalensis. (Side note: for an interesting

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-19433030026382074652009-10-16T04:33:00.003-05:002009-10-16T04:43:38.084-05:00

Tragedy is an unavoidable part of life for any individual who lives more than a few years. Pain is an indelible part of our existence. The issue is not whether we can avoid suffering, but how we should suffer when the inevitable falls upon us. How should we comport ourselves as we suffer? What is the proper attitude? Whatever the answer, it must consist of humility, meekness, faith,

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-62300149189405352622009-10-14T05:12:00.005-05:002009-10-15T14:48:54.767-05:00

A new picture from the recently repaired Hubble telescope. One cannot study science and derive the fundamental principles of salvation. I LOVE science. But, science has significant limits. Its messages CANNOT carry its followers past the veil. Passage beyond the veil into the presence of God requires something else. Messages of true salvation are contained in the Bible, the Book of Mormon,

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-53548943390761559502009-10-10T04:53:00.011-05:002009-10-20T05:52:27.849-05:00

Anthropocentrism is the view that humans are superior to all other forms of life. The prevalence of this view suggests that maybe we humans have a maladaptive superiority complex -- an overly high opinion of ourselves. Sure, the Old Testament says humans should have dominion over all other animals (Genesis 1:26), but maybe this ancient text is really informing us that we should take

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-87386937930886808382009-10-08T05:03:00.004-05:002009-10-08T05:11:13.978-05:00

A California orange crate label from the 1930s depicting a heavenly scene. I am in celebration. The reason is simple. A Mexican restaurant opened down the street from where I live, and it serves REAL Mexican food. The proprietors are from California, and they know what they are doing. Don't Mexican restaurants always serve Mexican food? NO!!!! Especially, here in Iowa. I hate to make

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-77878525308907637232009-10-02T18:16:00.003-05:002009-10-02T20:13:14.867-05:00

Meaning & Samples of Usage NOTE: This essay is NOT meant to serve any purpose other than to assist individuals wishing to begin their research on the important term "keys of presidency." This post represents my personal understanding of the issue, and is NOT a substitute for official sources. ***** What is meant by “keys of presidency?” This is a term that is used with care in the LDS

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-49426033697134078442009-09-29T19:57:00.002-05:002009-09-29T20:09:45.856-05:00

When I first started this blog site I tried to keep the topics to theology. I was successful for the most part. But, my second favorite topic, evolution, just creeps in now and again. I am fully confident that those uninterested in evolution are capable of skipping posts. A fascinating and controversial scientific area is ape evolution. Let the arguments fly. The Dawn Monkey by Chris

S.Fauxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879358639471220898.post-67563988642699698782009-09-26T05:59:00.005-05:002009-09-26T06:27:33.528-05:00

Figure from commons.wikimedia.org. Perhaps one should not generate moral lessons from genetics, but I cannot help myself. I like thinking about DNA sequences of nucleotides and how they are divided into protein coding segments called exons which are separated by non-coding segments called introns. Messenger RNA (mRNA) splices together the information from the exons to produce (potentially) a

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