Tag: christianity
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Just today, someone posted a clip of President Dallin H. Oaks speaking in what appears to be a recent sacrament meeting. In the clip, Oaks bears his testimony: “We know that we are children of heavenly parents. So we know that we have a Heavenly Mother—or mothers.” Unsurprisingly, the line is getting attention—especially for its…
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A Tale of Two Testimonies: From “I Know the Church Is True” to “Jesus Saved Me” How LDS and Evangelical Christians Use the Word “Testimony” Very Differently This evening we went to a baptismal service at a local church. Before each person was baptized, they were asked to share their “testimony.” Each one, without exception,…
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Coal in the Stocking: A Harmless Bluff? Every December, parents everywhere tell their kids that if they misbehave, Santa will leave coal in their stockings instead of presents. It’s an empty threat, of course. The coal never comes. Eventually, the kids realize it was just a bluff—a tool to encourage good behavior during the holidays.…
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As a Latter-day Saint I used to love to speak about the United States Constitution as “divinely inspired.” Although I didn’t see it on par with the scripures, I still saw God’s hand in the document in a very direct manner. Today, I still view the Constitution very highly. But I’ve grown uncomfortable with that…
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“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”—Romans 11:33 (ESV) The Trinity is a doctrine that is simultaneously relatable and yet beyond our comprehension. It is beautiful and yet mysterious. It reveals a God that is infinitely worthy of our worship.…
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One additional scriptural metaphor that reflects and echoes the trinity is that of the Church as the Body of Christ. This metaphor not only teaches us about Christian community, but it also quietly echoes the eternal relationship of Father, Son, and Spirit—three persons united in perfect love and purpose. Paul expands on this metaphor in…
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In a recent post, I pleaded with my Latter-day Saint friends to defend the Bible—not just parts of it, but the whole of it as God’s Word. Sadly, some current trends in LDS scholarship threaten to do the opposite. Recently I have seen an explosion of popularity among Latter-day Saint apologists of the theory that…
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Grace is one of the most difficult topics for Latter-day Saints and Evangelicals to talk about. Even though Evangelicals Latter-day Saints use the same terminology, there are some pretty significant differences that are difficult to fully unpack. But often, it’s not our definitions that say the most—it’s our metaphors. Metaphors paint with vivid colors. They…
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For the introduction to this series go here. A Revealed Relationship: Father and Son One of the best places to begin contemplating the divine mystery of the Trinity is with the most concrete and tangible imagery God gives us: the titles Father and Son, which describe the relationship between the members of the Godhead. This…
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Posts in this Series Introduction (this post) Echo 1: The Father and Son Echo 2: Marriage Echo 3: The Body of Christ Echo 4: The Angelic Hosts Echo 5: Echoes in Nature Conclusion The Trinity has been at the center of Christian doctrine and Christian worship for centuries. At its heart, the Trinity is a…