Sunday, October 30, 2022

5 Empathic Love Languages


5 Empathic Love Languages:
1. Interest in her affairs, ideas, goals
(what did you do today? what do you want to do? how would you do this? what do you think about this?)

2. Give her moral support:
(how was your day? how can i help you feel better?)

3. Share with her personal information:
(open about weakness, being vulnerable, apologize)

4. Interdependence:
(feel that you are better together than alone, rely on one another, teamwork and cooperation. synergy)

5. Accept demands and flaws for the relationship.
(patience, we are all a work in progress)


Spreading awareness about the importance of empathy in relationships can lead to more understanding and compassionate interactions. 

1. Interest: Show care by being genuinely curious about others’ thoughts and feelings.

2. Togetherness: Value collaboration and recognize that we achieve more when we work together.

3. Support: Provide emotional backing and encouragement, especially during tough times.

4. Openness: Share your own experiences and be open to vulnerability, creating deeper bonds.

5. Acceptance: Embrace each other’s needs and imperfections, fostering a non-judgmental space.




Sunday, October 09, 2022

Talmage, Widtsoe, Merrill and Roberts

https://josephsmithfoundation.org/faqs/science/15-talmage-widtsoe-roberts-were-james-e-talmage-john-a-widtsoe-and-b-h-roberts-followers-of-the-theories-of-darwin/



“Personally, I am convinced that religion is as reasonable as science; that religious truths and scientific truths nowhere are in conflict; that there is one great unifying purpose extending throughout all creation; that we are living in a wonderful, though at the present time deeply mysterious, world; and that there is an all-wise, all-powerful creator at the back of it all,” Merrill wrote. “Can this same faith be developed in the minds of all collegiate and university students? Our collegiate institutes are established as means to this end.” -- Joseph F Merrill

Friday, September 16, 2022

Levels of Faith



Some criticize the LDS Church for supporting mormon scholars and apologetists for making certain claims in their books, papers, and scholarship that they themselves would never say.  LDS leadership support apologetics to make to paciify certain doubting members in the Church and retaining them.  Critics suggest this practice is somehow deceltive or disingenuous. 

I think this comes down to understanding James Fowler's levels of faith (0-6).  The Church has a duty to define and stick to its level 3 orthodoxy.  Individual members who have reached level 5 faith can help other members progress from 3 and 4 to Conjunctive faith.  Individual members bearing testimony to individual members really is the only way to do this work.  Church hierarchy can support this but cant do this themselves.

Friday, August 05, 2022

600-Year Prophecy

Why wasn't King Benjamin aware of Nephi's 600-year prophecy of the coming of Christ?  The 600-year prophecy of Christ's coming was recorded in the small plates of Nephi and passed down via Jacob's line and not the kingly line which kept the more historical large plates of Nephi.  The small plates were eventually given to King Benjamin but if they had been written in Egyptian script, it is uncertain if Benjamin could have read them. It wasnt until Mosiah 28, that King Mosiah uses the seer stones to translate the Small Plates of Nephi and the Jaredites Plates.

Wednesday, August 03, 2022

Mark in the Book of Mormon?

Some scholars believe that the last part of Mark was added at a later date because the earliest manuscripts dont have this small portion. A particular saying in this possible added portion is found in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants talking about "signs following those who believe".  

Despite personal experience that this divine promise is absolutely true,  we shouldn't forget the likely explanation that the added text in question very likely came from the early unavailable source known as "Q" or the "Sayings of Jesus".   Q is the likelt source for the added material in Mark and as an authentic source of the words of Jesus, we shouldn't find it a surprise to find Jesus sharing His same words in other scripture. 

Also, the main reason why scholars claim multiple authorship of Isaiah is because many don't believe a prophet can speak to things beyond their own time period (eg Cyrus).  The literary analysis is divided but the best studies overwhelmingly demonstrate unity.