As Easter approaches every year, it seems that many people type “do mormons celebrate easter” into Google. If you do that right now, you will see that my post from 2008 is the #1 result on Google: Why Don’t Mormons Celebrate Easter? Frankly it’s shocking to me that my post is ranked so high on Google. As of today, it is my 4th most popular post I’ve ever written on my blog, and I am constantly amazed at the continued popularity of that post. It also happens to be one of my shortest posts ever—just 2 paragraphs. Even yesterday, Fern commented on this old post asking “Are these comments from Mormons for real?????”
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With Passover beginning on April 19, I thought it might be nice to look at a new theory of the Exodus. If you want to see some of the previous theories, click here for my post on Questions about the Exodus. I just reviewed a video from the History Channel called Bible Battles. The film analyzes military strategy for many battles in the Bible. They make the surprising claim that the Israelites in Egypt were not slaves, but were a military unit. In some ways, another video seems to corroborate this view. Jim Hoffmeier discussed a mistranslation of the word “elith.” (The following quote comes from Science of the Exodus, by National Geographic.)
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Armand Mauss is an LDS sociologist from Washington State University. He wrote a chapter in the book Black and Mormon, where he discusses race relations within the church. He has both positive and negative things to say about race relations. I’ll start with the positive. Mauss notes that the LDS church has been involved in the national celebration of Black History month each February. He notes several meetings in conjunction with Black History Month held in LDS churches in Salt Lake City, Oakland, Atlanta, Chicago, and Washington, DC (to name a few.) Prominent LDS speakers such as apostle Dallin Oaks and Yoshihiko Kikuchi (First Quorum of Seventy) have spoken at these events.
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Alma Allred wrote a chapter in the book titled Black and Mormon. On page 37, he states:
I don’t believe that LDS scripture allows for a restriction against blacks’ holding the priesthood. Nor do I think that LDS theology can reasonably maintain that today’s blacks are descendants of Cain or that ancient intermarriage with Canaanites perpetuated any racial curse. Too many scriptures collide with those ideas for them to be valid.
I found this perspective intriguing and had to learn more. Read more…
Wow, 2 sports posts in a row! I don’t think that’s ever happened on my blog before. First of all, I have a disclosure to make. I’m a big Utah fan. I’m excited we’re going to the Pac-12. However, since Rick Majerus left, it has been tough to watch the Utes play basketball. When they fired Jim Boylen last month, I really hoped they would hire BYU coach Dave Rose. Instead we get Larry Krystowiac (pronounced Chris-tow-vee-ack). There have already been references to calling him Coach K–let’s hope that he does half as good as Duke’s coach Mike Krzyzewski–the real Coach K.
After that disclosure, let me just say that while I’m not a fan of BYU, I would have loved to have Jimmer Fredette on my team. Read more…
It’s not often that I get to talk about sports on my blog. I came across this interesting article about Erik and Danny Ainge. Erik is a backup quarterback for the New York Jets, and former starting quarterback for the University of Tennessee. I was surprised to learn that his uncle Danny is currently serving as bishop in Wellesley, Massachusetts, while working as President of the Boston Celtics. I had no idea Danny was a bishop.
Erik admitted to using all sorts of drugs since the age of 11. He is currently in drug rehab in the Boston area, and Danny has opened his home. While it is sad that Erik has screwed up his life so bad, I am impressed that Danny has taken Erik into his home and assisted with his rehab. I don’t think I would be so open with a relative with such a serious problem. I’m greatly impressed with Danny’s service to Erik.
The Priesthood ban for black members of the church is a pet topic of mine. I have previously discussed Early Black Mormons who held the priesthood, as well as a long 10,000 word article discussing events leading to the ban. Newell Bringhurst and Darron Smith have put together a list of 9 essays highlighting different studies about black members of the church in their book titled Black and Mormon. Besides Bringhurst and Smith, contributors include Alma Allred, Ronald Coleman, Darius Gray, Jessie Embry, Armaund Mauss, Cardell Jacobsen, and Ken Driggs. Racial issues in the church have long held my interest, and I thought it might be nice to discuss the book over a few posts.
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