The concept of eternal progression is well established in Mormonism. While the nitty gritty details are still among the “mysteries”, the basic idea of man having the potential to progress to be like God is a fundamental doctrine of the Restoration. But what about moving backwards? If in this life we can progress to attain more light and intelligence and thus be more like God, can we regress by losing light and intelligence and thus become less like God than we started? Logic and the scriptures seem to say yes. (more…)

That last post was a bit on the heavy side. I don’t know how Mormons and puns mix, but my aunt sent me a list that made me laugh:

1. A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The
stewardess looks at him and says, “I’m sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed
per passenger.” (more…)

I was following links and Clark’s blog and came across this post where he made mention of his dislike for the tone of some of the writers over at FARMS. He cited this article on this subject from Sunstone. Indeed, it does seem that some FARMS reviewers have taken aggressive – even verbally violent approaches to this war of ideologies. I have mixed feelings on the subject of appropriate approaches to combating attacks on the Church or its doctrines. Since I like to use the scriptures as my primary knowledge base, I decided to dig into them to see if they support or condemn vitriolic approaches to fighting for the gospel. (more…)

Blogging has opened my eyes to the contentious world of Mormon political right-wingers vs. Mormon political left-wingers. I can understand when non-LDS people get obsessively involved in the left vs. right struggle in American and world politics. I’m sure it seems vitally important to them. But I have trouble understanding why Latter Day Saints would get so passionately involved in the fray. (more…)

I was thrilled yesterday when Clark’s only real remaining critique of my post on God’s non-foreknowledge was “if you can reconcile that to your understanding of the gospel that’s fine. I suspect many people can not.” WhooHoo! I’m not mainstream! I can call on Heisenberg again to explain why that is such a good thing. (more…)

It turns out I missed the point in my last post… While the idea the God might be bound by our time is objectionable to many, the idea that God does not have an exact foreknowledge is the real hot button. So here is how I think God does it! (more…)

Spurred by discussion threads like this these here, here, and here, I have spent plenty of time contemplating the subjects of God’s foreknowledge and his relationship to time. The big question I have now is what is so awful about a God who resides in our time? (more…)

My Friend and neighbor, Bruce, is a tremendous gospel teacher and student. I seek his counsel on all sorts of gospel topics and he generally has just the answers I am looking for. But on some things we just don’t see eye to eye. One of those things is on what Satan can or can’t do in this world. (more…)

The devil is extremely interested in your GPA… No not your grade point average, your quotient of the Babylonian or Devil’s GPA – (more…)

After hearing my assertion that God isn’t much concerned with mortal life and death, a blogger called danithew brought Jacob’s discourse in 2 Nep. 9 to my attention. The discourse by Jacob is very relevant to an examination of the proper view of human life and death. (more…)

The recent Tsunami in Asia has been cause for great mourning the world over. Many have turned to blogs to try to determine how they can help. Many have questioned God in blogs as well. It is on God’s role in the disaster I will opine.

I suppose there has never been a disaster that hasn’t caused some to cry out: “Where is God? Why did he let this happen?” Some at Times and Seasons questioned why God didn’t send President Hinckley to the rescue before the disaster. Many called this disaster a great “evil.” (more…)