To my LDS friends and readers:  with you in my mind and heart, here are two of my ambitions for the new year. 

1.  I will read through the Book of Mormon alongside with you in the year long schedule.  I will utilize an authentic leather-bound reproduction of original 1830 edition of The Book of Mormon. (more…)

I have soberly learned by real life experience several things in 2007.

There are three biblical doctrines that make any earnest LDS friend shudder (especially when it is delivered from a Baptist preacher):

1. The Triune God

2. Creation ex nihilo

3. Divine sovereignty in man’s salvation

Moving beyond the general teachings of Christ which almost everyone universally would accept, some narrow and exclusive teachings by Jesus are scandalous to some of his professing disciples.  The stumbling can be so great that many disciples leave the Christ of the Bible, abandoning forever these sound, biblical truths which define God’s nature and work.  Having just finished as a church family, a line upon line study of this thick theological chapter, I related this past Sunday how the unforeseen response by the disciples at the end of John 6 is awful.  It is just plain awful.

But Jesus explains to Jews and disciples one of the reasons for the scandal.  Interwoven with the Bread of Life discourse, Jesus says some jolting truths to them about the Father’s necessary work of drawing people to the Son (John 6: 44, 65).  If God isn’t at work in hearts, people are not going to respond.  Period.

Joseph Smith saw these rough sayings by Jesus and clearly rejected them both.  I assume he concluded that they must have been corruptions to the text.

In the Joseph Smith Translation, he puts in print for all: his disbelief. (more…)

I just read this and this from the LDS newsroom.  Both are interesting articles.

And before I get too much further on this Rexburg temple series,  I want to know about the picketers.  Who are the groups and their sponsors?

I have been hearing some stories on yesterday Lord’s Day that some have not been nice.

Last week, I didn’t see any.  But if I get to Rexburg this week, I want to visit with some of them.

Let’s go live, today, with Pastor Joe, my brother-in-law.  He pastors Grace Baptist Church in Rexburg, Idaho.  In light of the Rexburg Temple open house, Joe is seizing the opportunity to speak on the temple.

Todd:  Joe, what text did you center on this morning? (more…)

Here are some snippets from the headline news in Southeastern Idaho. (more…)

With much more national and worldwide religious influence than any LDS apostle, young and vibrant Joel says it more clearly, loudly, and passionately for the new-year 2008: (more…)

Just a little before 10:00 a.m. this morning, I saw the LDS apostle.  He was exiting with folks in the covered sidewalk tents from the Rexburg temple while I was entering.

I had about a hundred questions to ask.  But I decided to wait. (more…)

Tomorrow.

I will let you know all about it. 

God gave us snow in Idaho Falls.

It is so great.

Merry Christmas to all