This Mormon Life

Happy Birthday King James Bible!

From The Writer's Almanac:

It was on this day in 1611 that the first edition of the King James Bible was published in England.

It was a chaotic time in England, and King James I thought that a new translation of the Bible might help hold the country together. There had been several English translations of the Bible already, and each English version of the Bible had different proponents. King James wanted a Bible that would become the definitive version, a Bible that all English people could read together. King James appointed a committee of 54 linguists for the project. For the first few years, the scholars worked privately on the translation, and starting in 1607, the collaborative work was assembled. It went to press in 1610, and the first finished King James Bibles appeared in 1611.

Many of the turns of phrase in the King James Bible came from previous translations, but it was the King James Version that set them all in stone. Several of its phrases have become enduring English expressions, such as "the land of the living," "sour grapes," "like a lamb to slaughter," "the salt of the earth," "the apple of his eye," "to give up the ghost, and "the valley of the shadow of death."

Vanity Fair Magazine Polygamy Spoof

Now this is what a Sunstone magazine cover should be like.  Full story.

Ben Stein on the Texas Polygamy Raids

Today on CBS Sunday morning Ben Stein offered his opinion on the Texas raids.

Fo Shizzle: Snoop Dogg and the Book of Mormon

I don't know where this photo was taken, but it sure gave me a chuckle.  Enjoy!

The Mormon Church on Trial: Transcripts of the Reed Smoot Hearings

I just did a short preview of this book for City Weekly.  I must say it is an excellent book that opened my eyes to the full extent of how the Reed Smoot hearings was such a pivotal moment in Mormon history.  I would highly recommend it to everyone.  This book is an abridgment of the transcripts with meticulous annotation.  In addition to this book I would recommend the historical analysis by Kathleen Flake in her book The Politics of Religious Identity: The Seating of Senator Reed Smoot, Mormon Apostle.

The William E. McLellin Papers, 1854-1880

In writing for the City Weekly, I never have the space to fully develop a real review that deals with all the issues a book will present.  This is especially true of The William E. McLellin Papers.  It's a great book, but I only had enough space to barely get started.  I would prefer to write a more comprehensive, academic review - so stay tuned for where that may occur, but until then enjoy my shorty, punchy review.

Hello!

Hey, everyone, I just wanted to say that I'm still alive.  And boy, do I have stories and adventures to tell.  Things have been wonderful and challenging over the past few months, and I hope to write a bit about things in the future.  But until then, I hope everyone has a great holiday season.  Probably beginning in the new year, I'll get back to blogging occasionally and maybe often.  Time will tell.  Thanks for everyone who continues to drop by.

The Sacrament of Doubt by Paul Toscano: A Review

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have started doing some freelance writing for a local weekly paper The City Weekly.  My first work is a book review of Paul Toscano's The Sacrament of Doubt.  Read the review.

Just Sharing . . .

I came across this on Jana Remy's blog today and I just wanted to share it with others.  She talks a bit about her spiritual journey and she ends with a quote from Terry Tempest Williams' book Leap:

Spirituality is solitary...At times, it is lonely, often informed by pain. On other occasions, it is the body submerged in a phosphorescent tide, every movement sparking a trail of illumination. Afterwards, we sit on the shore in moonlight. No candles are necessary. Spirituality exists when we are present, buoyed up by the waters of attention. We learn the courage of faith. It is peace that is earned. We can take solace in the heat of doubt knowing this is the pulse of poetry.

Some Final Thoughts: Sunstone Symp 2007

I've been meaning to write up a final summary of my Sunstone Symposium experience, and since it had been almost a month since the event, it has allowed some perspective.

I think this has been my best symposium experience since the first time I attended back in 1992 as a fresh faced returned missionary ready to take on the world.  That seems eons ago.  But this past symposium has somehow energized myself to take on my own world in new ways.  The open and honest study of Mormonism is not for everybody in the church, but I am glad there is a place like Sunstone where it is fostered and encouraged.

But more than the sessions I attended, what I enjoyed more was the people I met.  I don't really know how to describe the wonderful community that exists at Sunstone.  I was able to catch up with old friends.  And I made quite a few new friends and acquaintances.  I was able to discuss my spiritual journey with people who have also been along their own unique paths - and we were able to understand each other, knowing were we've been, able to share the challenges that we face.  I met such a wide variety of "Mormons": true believing, bloggers, inactives, feminists, jack, liberals, conservatives, polygamists, atheists, agnostics, really too many to even name, not to mention all the non-LDS who attended.

I shared moments with some people that now I see as very special and important.  I underestimated the community that Sunstone has created.  It has a unique place in Mormon culture that needs to continue to grow.

Was there any disappointments?  There are always thoughts about "what I wish they had more of."  In particular I hope for more sessions on scriptural studies and literature in the future, but I know it's not an easy thing to accomplish.  But overall, I wasn't disappointed. It was a well run conference with plenty to see, do, and discuss.

I look forward even more to the next symposium.  I think I will join in and submit a abstract myself.   I guess I better get writing.

Mormons Exposed - Men on a Mission Calendar

In the effort of promoting religious tolerance and better understanding, twelve missionaries are posing bared chested in the effort to promote better time management. This is something I never really expected to see, but I guess nothing really surprises these days.  I really don't even know what to think of it.  I just want to know where is the sisters' missionary calendar? From the their myspace page:

Would You Lie to Get a Temple Recommend?: Sunstone Symp 2007

"Do You Have a Testimony Of ...?" was by far the most enjoyable session of the symposium, and being the last session I attended, it was an entertaining conclusion to three days of Sunstone.  From the program:

People who have much in common can still look at things very differently. Case in point: James McLachlan and Tom Kimball have been enjoying an ongoing discussion about their Mormon beliefs.  Both have contemplated similar historical and philosophical dilemmas, and both are active in their home wards. One holds a current temple recommend while the other doesn’t hold much hope of ever having one again. “Sin isn’t the hold-up. For me, it is an issue of integrity as I don’t believe in the Restoration,” says Tom. “But perhaps you do believe in the Restoration. It may only be a matter of what you think the “Restoration” means,” says Jim.  Come listen in on and join their discussion!

So when you go into get a temple recommend and the bishop asks you "Do you have a testimony of the Restoration?" what exactly goes through you mind?  Is your idea and understanding of the "restoration" different from your Bishop's understanding, and if it is, then do you answer yes or no?