I am, right now, a bonafide latter-day saint belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, bathed and positioned completely in the celestial light of the Son, joined as one with Him forever.  I have free and full access to all rights and privileges in the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints because of unmerited grace. (more…)

Front page of today’s local Post Register:

“Bathroom in Craig sting becoming a tourist attraction”

In the format of Part 4 on Isaiah 29, let’s continue to interact with the Isaiah text.  But this time, I plead yes to the question in the title. (more…)

Have you seen today’s article, “Would you vote for a Mormon President?” among the brothers and sisters in my Christian fundamentalism backyard? I encourage you to go check it out. I think Aaron offers some good thoughts in the discussion and debate around the table.

And while I am thinking about politics, can I ask my LDS friends a question, “Is Mormonism ‘America’s-fastest growing religion”? I recently picked up a Deseret Book 2007 Fall Conference Catalog.

Turn to page 5 and look at the catalog caption under the new hardcover book, Presidents and Prophets by Michael K. Winder. (Don’t forget to click on Mike’s official website.) (more…)

Please note.my interaction with Isaiah 29:  Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Rather than using the KJV, let me quote from The Dead Sea Scroll Bible (1999) so you see the variants in the Great Isaiah Scroll that Don Parry has intentionally omitted in his book, Harmonizing Isaiah (2001). (more…)

Ammon, Idaho is growing.

According to today’s local paper, “Eight years ago, the Census people said 6,187 lived there.  The number of residents has more than doubled since then:  The BMPO [The Bonneville Metropolitan Planning Organization] has pegged Ammon’s population at 13,294.”

Idaho Falls contains 56,685 people.  And to satisfy anyone’s continued curiosity, there are 102,835 in Bonneville County, almost a 25% increase from the year 2000.

So folks, Ammon is booming by Idaho standards.  I love the growth in this community.

And if anyone is curious about the origin of the name of the town, check out the recent post on Ammon by David on the Blogger of Jared.  He has listed some verses in John’s Gospel that I can’t wait to delve into here in Ammon.

But tonight we are back in Isaiah 29. 

Today, I planted the American flag in our front yard.  I explained to my little six-year old son what the colors symbolized in “old glory”.

The day, 9/11, is a big day for more reasons than one in the Mormon corridor.  First, there were flags flying in yards all over Idaho Falls.  Southeastern Idahoans are fiercely patriotic.  We love our country.  We love our men and women in the military.  And we are proud.  It is conservative America at its finest and best.

Not too many people honked in favor, today, of the lone, young man walking down the busiest street in town (17^th street) carrying a large placard broadcasting these words, “9/11 was an inside job!  See infowars.com.”

Remembering 9/11/01 motivates me to spend much time in personal prayer for the spiritual rightness of my own heart before God rather than to aggressively picket the community.

I suppose the same feelings transfer over to what I’ve studied about the Mountain Meadows Massacre in Utah that happened 150 years ago. (more…)

A year ago, in a cozy cabin outside of Thayne, Wyoming, I met with a group of Bible study leaders to train them in some of the themes related to certain New Testament books.  Upon driving back to Idaho Falls, I admired the packs of bikers on the highway and the huge crowd in Alpine, Wyoming and wondered what was the big occasion.  Stopping in Alpine, I asked what this was all about.  A lady answered, “This is LotoJa, a bike race from Logan, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.”  And then beaming at the biker, chugging bottled water beside her, she proudly exclaimed, “This guy has biked 159 miles.  That is a lot.”   After surveying all the “roadies”, I thought to myself, “Wow, this would be fun to try.” (more…)

Click here.

I didn’t have the chance to speak to these guys, but I remember when we pulled behind their vehicle, and looked at their tandem and attachment hooked on their auto.

Absolutely cool.

I will give you a full report on my LotoJa 2007, tomorrow.  The LotoJa for beginners.

Alarms go off at 5:00 am.

“Where am I?” 

Next thought . . . “Oh yeah, I have a 206 mile bike race today.”

I start eating a banana.

The weather is warm.  I am thankful.

Earlier this week, they were clearing 5 foot mudslides off the road north of Alpine Junction.

Lord Jesus, may you in your mercy and goodness keep us all safe today for LotoJa 2007.