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Elder Oaks says religious freedom is under fire & other news

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Tevya

Many of you may have heard about Elder Oak’s recent BYU-Idaho devotional address. I just wanted to collect some of the information here for you to read/listen to/watch. Its an important message at an important time.
First, read the full text of the talk at LDS.org, or download the MP3 at BYU-I’s devotionals archive.
Second, here’s an article the Church posted about it, along with the following Q&A video with Elder Oaks, about the talk:

“Things as They Really Are” – Elder David A. Bednar

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Tevya

Elder David A Bednar of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles

I think it’s a shame that sometimes the CES firesides, which are addressed to young single adults, often go unnoticed by the rest of the Church. When given by an Apostle, they are frequently among the most direct and instructional talks that our modern Prophets give to a large audience. Luckily, they’re available on the Church website, for the rest of us.
Last Sunday Elder David A. Bednar was at BYU-Idaho and gave the CES YSA fireside. I’ve sat there in the Hart building and listened to him speak many times when he was the President of BYU-I. As awesome and powerful as those devotionals were, ever since he became an Apostle, there is definitely something different, more powerful in his teachings of the gospel and witness of Christ.
Elder Bednar spoke on the importance of our physical bodies in God’s great plan of salvation. In my opinion, he taught these doctrines with great clarity. After doing

Practical Guide: How to deflect firey darts & HBO

Posted on March 15, 2009 by Tevya

I usually don’t post about popular media, or even current events or other things that might be related. I feel strongly that the purpose of this blog is to focus on learning doctrines, not keeping abreast of all the scholarship, events, attacks, etc that goes on in the world around us (partly because I don’t have time to post that often or keep on top of all of it). I model it on the pattern the temple teaches: it’s only when we get away from all the noise that we can internalize simple principles and doctrines that will make the real difference in our lives and then allow us to make a real difference in the lives of others.
This post goes contrary to that and addresses the recent news that the HBO show “Big Love” will show parts of the endowment ceremony on an upcoming episode. I think it’s an important thing to address, because