Prelude: Still Thinking and Writing

Welcome to my new blog--Thinking at 74. I can't describe the process of getting to 74, but here I am. I still enjoy writing about where my thinking takes me. Please come with me and share you thinking too.

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Are These Really Unprecedented Times?

  Journalist and news anchors reporting on COVID-19 use phrases such as “unprecedented times” and “uncharted territory.” The implied message is that pandemics and plagues haven’t happened before and that quarantine is a modern invention to “stop the spread.” But like almost everything else, history has lessons to teach. This is only half of the story, however. COVID-19  is unprecedented and uncharted to individuals who become ill with the virus, to their caregivers, and to those who lose family or friends. A few days ago, I had an experience that highlights the inequality of who stays well, who gets sick, and who dies. I went to a small home improvement store and through my mask asked a young employee where to find a craft item. She took me to where it was and, through her mask, gave me options and ideas. Making small talk while paying for the item, all the while social distancing, I asked her if she knew anyone with the virus. Her eyes fell.   Finally she spoke: “You pro...
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Anxiety vs. Activity in the Church

I have felt anxious about  tests, job interviews, parent/teacher conferences, going to the bedside of very ill family, driving in bad weather, even going to lunch with friends. This event-related, temporary anxiety is beneficial. It has helped me focus on the task at hand, avoid dangerous situations, recognize others’ needs, prepare well for presentations, ask for help, and be motivated to act in ways that minimize unpleasant consequences.  Anxiousness turns into a medical problem  “when it extends beyond logical worry in an unreasonable, unwarranted, uncontrollable way. Situations that should elicit no negative emotions all of a sudden seem life-threatening or crushingly  embarrassing .” A nxiousness becomes a mental disorder if hangs around after the test, interview, conference, visit, weather, or lunch is over. Like winter snowstorms, anxiety can accumulate as snowflakes, piling anxiety upon anxiety until there is no place to shovel it away to clear an em...
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Did Joseph Smith Translate the Book of Mormon?

For most of my life I have been confused about how Joseph Smith translated The Book of Mormon. But thanks to scholars who assembled the Joseph Smith Papers, others like Professor Royal Skousen, my own experience typing The Book of Mormon and The Pearl of Great Price, and recently by reading  Saints, The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1815-1846 , I understand the word translate  more clearly. I will share what I have learned to help anyone else who feelsconfused about Joseph’s role in bringing forth latter-day scripture. I hope the facts will serve to  inoculate members and investigators young and old against believing and passing on misinformation. Knowing the truth that Joseph translated according to the pattern of the Lord, as prophets did in the past and as prophets will in the future, will prepare coming generations to accept additional scripture as it is revealed.  ( See Article of Faith 1:9 ). As you know, the process of...
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