Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. Proverbs 3:13 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! Proverbs 16:16 Wisdom, … Read more
You have probably heard that “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” but, while the phrase flows nicely across the tongue, it is not precisely true. If you think about it, this idea takes the responsibility for evil choices away from the corrupt person and assigns it to that person’s position. How convenient it must … Read more
I was in a social situation the other day with a group of people I mostly knew. One of the guests, whom I didn’t know, was wearing a T-shirt that had a picture of an American flag. Above the flag it said, “Welcome to America.” Below the flag it said,”NOW SPEAK ENGLISH.” This shirt offended … Read more
Nephi provides us with some good advice on how to read the scriptures. He recommends that we liken the people and events in the scriptures to our own lives and the events around us. … I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto … Read more
“Selling out” is a common idiomatic pejorative expression for the compromising of a person’s integrity, morality, authenticity, or principles in exchange for personal gain, such as money. Wikipedia An artist or musician who compromises his or her original artistic vision in order to produce more “commercial” work may be accused of “selling out.” A politician … Read more
Recently in my Elder’s Quorum meeting, the Instructor asked us to look through 4 Nephi, Chapter 1. The chapter describes a society that, following Christ’s visit to the Americas, had 200 years of peace and prosperity. The Instructor asked us to point out the defining characteristics of that society. I immediately noticed verse three. And … Read more
How sure are you about your beliefs? Did you know there is an inverse correlation between certainty and accuracy? People who hold false or mistaken ideas are often absolutely certain they are right. This is called the Dunning-Kruger effect. In the field of psychology, the Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people mistakenly … Read more
Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” Isaac Asimov The strain of anti-intellectualism among American Latter-day Saints has largely been captured and magnified by Trumpism. Distrust of experts and … Read more