Last updated on January 12th, 2025 at 10:46 pm
January 5, 2025
Here is the best thing I heard (What?), saw (Eye.), and read (Read.) this week, as well as the best idea (💡) I developed.
What?
Y Religion Podcast Episode 119 | Hear Him! The Restored Voice of the Lord (Anthony Sweat):
- “‘How do we know the Lord—his characteristics, priorities, doctrines, and commands?’ In answering this question, [Dr. Anthony Sweat] introduces a four-part study approach from Doctrine and Covenants 19:23 to guide us through our efforts to truly know and understand the Savior. This approach includes the following precepts: Learn of Me (studying the character and nature of Christ), Listen to My Words (analyzing the doctrines, principles, and truths imparted by Jesus), Walk in the Meekness of My Spirit (applying the Savior’s teachings in our lives such as following his commands, directives, and warnings), and Peace in Me (recognizing the peace, comfort, and blessings that come from following Him). By using this model in our personal scripture study, we can gain a holistic view of the Savior’s character, teachings, commands, and promises, leading us to a deeper and more accurate understanding of Him.”
Eye.
Survivor Season 19:
- I watch two television shows – Survivor, and The Chosen. I started watching Survivor about halfway through season 38 (season 47 just concluded last month). My wife, Morgan, and I decided to go back and watch an earlier season of Survivor, and we picked (upon recommendation from a neighbor) season 19. The star in season 19, thus far, is Russell Hantz. The two episodes we watched this week were epic!
Read.
BYU Studies Quarterly – 1/1/2021 | Remnant or Replacement? Outlining a Possible Apostasy
Narrative:
- “If it is true—and we believe it is—that some kind of story about apostasy must motivate the need for the Restoration, how might Latter-day Saints narrate their faith’s departure from other religious traditions in a fashion that is both intellectually defensible and pastorally productive? …
“In a word, in this essay we will attempt to show how Nephi calls for an understanding of apostasy focused primarily on how Christians understand their relationship to the covenants given anciently to Israel. Our treatment of this issue falls into two parts. In the first, we consider Nephi’s vision directly, spelling out the way it (schematically) narrates the beginnings of Christian apostasy. In the second part, we then look more broadly at how Book of Mormon prophets—with Jesus Christ among them—spell out a proper understanding of Christianity’s relationship to Israel’s covenants. A brief conclusion draws out some general reflections. We might note that this essay is, for us, just the beginning of a larger project. Here we outline the scriptural warrant for and basic shape of a responsible apostasy narrative for early Christianity. In future publications, we aim to turn from the Book of Mormon to a direct considering of the texts of earliest Christianity to show how Nephi’s vision might be corroborated by history.” - I have only read the first few pages of this article, but the premise is enlightening and intriguing, and I will read the rest of the article in the near future for additional insights.
💡
The last of my four grandparents passed away in 2023. Since that time, I have had very little interaction with my extended family. My idea is to organize separate annual family reunions, probably at a park, with both my dad’s side of the family and my mom’s side of the family.
- This idea was in part inspired by two “interactions” I’ve had with my maternal grandfather over the past couple of months. First, on Saturday, November 16, 2024, while walking out of the Jordan River Temple, I paused (as I always do) to gaze at the large mural of the Garden of Eden that is in the waiting room just beyond the recommend desk. My maternal grandfather, Grant Romney Clawson, painted that mural. I look over the mural and think about my grandpa. As I did this, I had a distinct impression, as though my grandpa was communicating with me, that I needed to become more involved in the lives of my extended family members.
Fast forward to the morning of Saturday, January 4, 2025, and I had a dream. In my dream, I was in my maternal grandparents’ kitchen, and my grandpa was there – he looked young, as I remembered him in my childhood, so probably in his late 60s. In my dream, my grandpa looked around the room (there was a family party, and many of my extended family members were there) and he wanted to speak with my 6-year-old son Romney. Note that my grandpa passed away in mid-2016, 18 months before Romney was born, so he never met Romney in mortality. Also note, as you may have guessed, that Romney was named after my maternal grandfather. When my grandpa said Romney’s name, it was like I was struck with a bolt of lightning. It made me realize, more than ever before, that our loved ones who have passed on to the Spirit World are still involved in our lives (see my October 20, 2024, What? Eye. Read. 💡 newsletter), and that our extended family members are part of our eternal family too.