tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87636153184133425352012-01-31T01:21:15.843-08:00An anthology of published and unpublished monographs by Anthony E. Larson, written for Latter-day Saints (Mormons) who wish to better understand their scriptures, their prophets and the temple experience.Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.comBlogger981100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-12370198784655737372011-11-28T12:02:00.000-08:002011-11-28T12:53:42.425-08:00

The statements of the Lord to Nephi in the Book of Mormon present today’s Latter-day Saints with a significant conundrum. Let’s take a close look to see what it’s all about.We begin by quoting the germane passages from 2nd Nephi, chapter 29, in an order that clarifies and lends weight to the Lord’s vital message:“Know ye not that . . . I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-16721877017663935422011-11-21T08:46:00.001-08:002011-11-21T09:07:07.772-08:00

I get that question all the time."Why study all this cosmology and symbolism stuff when today's prophets and apostles emphasize gospel principles? Isn't that an indication of where we should spend our time and efforts?"I respond:Yes. The brethren focus on the basics for the benefit of potential converts and the newest church members because their mission is worldwide conversion and the building

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-39656739695880691972010-04-02T16:09:00.000-07:002010-04-06T02:16:23.011-07:00

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Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-13359641555328381002009-12-09T08:39:00.000-08:002009-12-09T09:05:57.027-08:00

(An Open Letter to all Latter-day Saints)The Book of Mormon is a prophecy for our time.This has been my thesis since the mid-1980s, when I wrote Parallel Histories: The Nephites and The Americans. It was written over 20 years ago in response to then church president Ezra Taft Benson’s call to carefully and diligently re-examine the Book of Mormon. It was my effort to comply with his earnest

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-4317028020328429712009-11-09T08:04:00.000-08:002009-11-09T18:31:38.103-08:00

Abstract: LDS temple tradition provides the strongest argument for the claim that Mormonism is the only true religion. Though we do not see it as such, our temple tradition has the virtue of providing physical evidence, empirically verifiable, that the church is a restoration of the ancient order, held sacred by all ancient cultures. Its existence in Mormon sacred tradition is long established,

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-54605246745920255392009-06-30T08:06:00.000-07:002009-06-30T08:24:56.009-07:00

When addressing Latter-day Saints, I often observe that cosmology — the study of planets and stars, suns and moons — and its attendant mythology was not just an affectation of Old Testament peoples. It was also an important, integral part of the gospel taught by Jesus Christ and embraced by the primitive church or early Christian religion. In his essay “Unrolling the Scrolls – Some Forgotten

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-53242997104677861072009-06-10T18:18:00.000-07:002009-06-10T18:32:05.380-07:00

Einstein got it wrong … and so did Newton, for that matter.Electricity was an unknown item, except as a novelty, in Newton’s day. Hence, his speculations on gravity did not take electricity and it’s considerable power into account. Einstein knew of electricity and charge, but as a mathematician, he discounted them in his calculations.Even today, given the practical application of electricity’s

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-4764396709867825582009-05-31T12:59:00.000-07:002009-08-02T23:59:47.197-07:00

“From the smallest particle to the largest galactic formation, a web of electrical circuitry connects and unifies all of nature, organizing galaxies, energizing stars, giving birth to planets and, on our own world, controlling weather and animating biological organisms. There are no isolated islands in an electric universe.” David Talbott and Wallace Thornhill, Thunderbolts of the GodsPlasma

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-42339816789411790712009-02-13T15:29:00.000-08:002009-02-14T01:30:40.044-08:00

At the risk of being ridiculed or scoffed at for being too open, let me briefly pull back the author/researcher curtain to let you see the inner mulling and musing of the mind behind all these “peculiar” notions.To put it simply, I’m at the end of my rope. And I have been for some time.Kermit the Frog sings a woeful little tune that best characterizes my predicament. “It’s not easy being green,”

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-40197244018479438452009-02-05T04:35:00.000-08:002009-02-14T02:21:35.083-08:00

There is a great body of ancient texts that scholars like Hugh Nibley classify as ascension literature. It’s called that because each of the various authors, who are implicitly prophets, ascend to heaven to see a marvelous vision. The best examples in modern revelation are the books of Moses, Abraham and Enoch in the Pearl of Great Price.The ascensions were very real, and they were marvelously

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-89796833378174099952009-02-03T21:18:00.000-08:002009-02-04T12:08:40.286-08:00

It’s this author’s contention that all the prophets saw the same vision: Ezekiel, Daniel, John, Lehi, Nephi, Moses, Abraham and even Joseph Smith. It’s the “One Vision” given to all who qualify, as near as I can determine.We mistakenly assume they each had a different revelation because each account seems unique. Not so. They saw the same things, but described them in different terms or focused

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-17433287836542877392009-01-21T20:18:00.000-08:002009-01-21T20:38:50.485-08:00

Do you remember that old song that says, “Mares eat oats and does eat oats, and little lambs eat ivy; a kid’ll eat ivy too, wouldn’t you?” For years, as a child, I sang that song as a string of nonsense syllables, seeing absolutely no meaning in the words I muttered. I would sing, “Mairsy dotes and dozy dotes, and liddil amb zee divvy; a kiddle e dyvie two, wouldn’t you?” That’s what I thought

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-87336878259976977682009-01-04T16:42:00.000-08:002009-01-04T17:23:36.063-08:00

The mythology, traditions and religions of ancient cultures the world over and across all time are based in singular astral objects and events observed by the earliest inhabitants of this planet. That’s the basis of what one comparative mythologist called “the One Story told around the world.”This is a novel concept, but one that is central to deciphering almost all the mysteries from the past.

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-35790959992164838192008-12-21T00:22:00.000-08:002008-12-21T00:44:04.278-08:00

“Those who can not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana, American philosopherRecent political events have focused considerable negative attention on the LDS church, designating Mormons as the primary opponents to same-sex marriage initiatives across the country. Battle lines were drawn in California’s ballot initiative, Proposition 8, restricting the definition of

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-66150237586908531252008-12-19T01:09:00.000-08:002008-12-19T01:40:04.363-08:00

Reading the essays on this blog may be detrimental to your view of the past, present and future. The ideas presented within are, in some ways, a departure from current, mainstream LDS thought. But, you should also know that there is nothing presented here that is contrary to the Restored Gospel and the words of our modern-day prophets. In fact, this author’s theories rely heavily upon the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-15132916328516990042008-12-15T09:14:00.000-08:002008-12-15T10:05:40.031-08:00

This past summer saw the release of two dramatic motion pictures — “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon” — both dealing with fictional events surrounding the impact of an asteroid or comet here on our home planet, Earth. Additionally, the Learning and Discovery channels have recently presented numerous documentaries touching upon the same subject.While all this is very entertaining and informative, the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-55390411234837514922008-12-02T23:56:00.000-08:002008-12-04T18:57:07.948-08:00

“It is the thunderbolt that steers the universe,” wrote the Greek philosopher Heraclitus. Today’s scholars and scientists dismiss such statements as simpleminded nonsense, based in ignorance.But, as we have seen, electricity probably plays a far greater role in the universe than modern science recognizes. What if Heraclitus actually knew much more than we do about the nature of the power that

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-79482596373299696562008-12-02T00:44:00.000-08:002008-12-02T23:55:03.744-08:00

Before we can begin to understand the dynamic picture of the ancient heavens that our forebears struggled to communicate to us, which is reflected in the symbolism and metaphor of the scriptures, we must understand the true nature of our universe.The standard interpretation of planetary history taught universally by modern science is of no assistance here. In fact, instead of illuminating our

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-23567351207737783182008-12-01T08:36:00.000-08:002008-12-01T09:17:58.323-08:00

An odd thing happened in both religion and science on the way from the past to the present.Historically speaking, it is well known and accepted that in the Middle Ages the Christian church was the principal sponsor of education in Western cultures. The church held a tight rein. If you wanted an education, you first became a cleric. Thus it was that most scientists and scholars, before the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-53564415898265816482008-11-26T15:26:00.000-08:002008-11-26T15:46:25.243-08:00

Few Old Testament prophets were as colorful as Elijah. His best-known deed was the calling down of fire out of heaven, which event piques the curiosity of the inquisitive Bible student.Perhaps few readers have ventured further in the Elijah story because beyond the basic concepts of a dramatic contest with the priests of Baal, the story becomes quite odd. But there is far more to his story that

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-26700558235707610532008-11-25T17:22:00.000-08:002008-11-25T18:04:24.619-08:00

Most Christians vaguely grasp the connections between Easter and Passover. What most do not understand are the deep roots both holidays have in paganism and Saturnian symbolism. However, such knowledge serves to explain much of the tradition and ritual surrounding this Christian holiday.A Christian holidayEaster celebrates the death and resurrection of the Savior in the meridian of time. Mormons,

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-76653325992789010422008-11-24T01:03:00.000-08:002009-10-10T08:00:55.234-07:00

A fear of the end of the world, a sort of ‘doomsday anxiety,’ may be the source of the resistance nearly all Latter-day Saints demonstrate when confronted with the planetary catastrophe scenario of the last days, prophetic imagery and ancient history taught in these pages.It is a syndrome that afflicts everyone to one degree or another.The answer to many gospel questionsGiven the ability of the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-64133393375549622732008-11-20T06:40:00.000-08:002008-11-20T08:31:41.860-08:00

It is important for any Mormon investigating the claims of Talbott and other scholars and scientists about the early history of Earth’s heavens to know the extent to which Joseph Smith’s views support their unorthodox views. What we find there is remarkable.While the capacity of Catastrophism, the Saturn myths and the Polar Configuration to consistently and fully explain the most enigmatic

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-29780140517267655202008-11-18T19:10:00.000-08:002008-12-03T08:03:52.483-08:00

Newton defined gravity as a constant, based in mass: the more mass, the greater the gravitational attraction between two bodies. Thus, an astronaut on the moon effortlessly bounds about like a gazelle because the mass of the moon — and, hence, its gravity — is less than on Earth. Conversely, that same astronaut would be crushed to the ground by gravity, unable to stand, if he were to set foot on

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-41340664339649724772008-11-17T00:18:00.000-08:002008-11-17T00:49:34.164-08:00

Mormons partake of the Sacrament in remembrance of the Savior’s sacrifice for our sins. These are a precious few moments in which we can reflect upon and ponder what he accomplished on our behalf.All Christians, no matter how they celebrate the expiation of Christ, recognize the instigation of that ordinance by the Savior during the Passover (Pesach) in Jerusalem just prior to his crucifixion.And

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-49235384515263157072008-11-16T10:21:00.000-08:002008-11-16T10:36:09.249-08:00

Once the symbolic nature of the scriptures is understood, as well as its origins and its implementation, an entirely new perspective of the gospel emerges. Knowledge of the events and conditions that lead to the religious symbolism of all ancient cultures allows us to see that gospel symbolism and the symbolism of idolatry both have their roots in the same ancient history. That is, the symbolism

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-16862487834337815512008-11-11T08:41:00.000-08:002008-11-11T09:58:11.785-08:00

Other than the actual creation itself, the most notable catastrophe in Earth’s early history that also brought the Patriarchal Age to an end, was Noah’s Flood. This was the benchmark, the dividing line between two great epochs in Earth’s history. Before the Flood, the world was an astonishingly different place; after the Flood, it became the “lone and dreary” world we know today.We learn this

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-54615116766982698862008-11-08T16:35:00.000-08:002008-11-10T03:13:23.399-08:00

(Note: This article was written long before the issue of same-sex marriage and California’s Proposition 8. The animosity and rancor against the church that has emerged may be the issue that this article discusses. Every Latter-day Saint should know where this may lead and what its effects might be on them, personally.)Latter-day Saints are justifiably pleased with the exceptional growth of the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-62056824001243472382008-11-06T22:44:00.000-08:002008-11-06T23:38:05.499-08:00

There are a number of scriptural stories that are clearly Saturnian in nature. That is, knowing the myths and traditions spawned by the Polar Configuration of planets in antiquity allows us to recognize when the prophets used that same imagery in their accounts. Indeed, we find indications that most of the prophets, if not all, were shown the appearance of the planets in Earth’s ancient heavens.

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-73757302051547154172008-11-06T08:49:00.000-08:002008-11-06T09:05:44.555-08:00

Since all communication — including revelation — is corrupted to one degree or another by the interpretation placed upon it by the recipient, it was assumed that the visions of early Saints would necessarily have been closer to the original concepts taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith; they would not have been adulterated by modern misconceptions of prophecy that have been introduced over time. (

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-49856812668065221562008-11-05T07:37:00.000-08:002008-11-05T07:50:06.223-08:00

Before the advent of the nuclear age, scientists pondered the origins of the Sun’s tremendous expenditure of heat and light. Many ideas were advanced; none were universally accepted. Most shrugged their intellectual shoulders, saying that the source of the Sun’s fire was yet a mystery.With the advent of the atomic bomb, science felt they had their answer. Physicists and astronomers advanced the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-31169569985684142552008-11-05T06:36:00.000-08:002008-11-05T06:45:45.332-08:00

It is hard to conceive that in this age of enlightenment and scientific advancement that there could be any myths left in modern man’s paradigm. We believe ourselves to be smarter, more inventive and certainly more knowledgeable than our predecessors. After all, we ride where they walked, eat where they hungered, fly where they could only gaze and live a life of ease and comfort they could not

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-7523347044570605752008-11-04T15:50:00.000-08:002008-11-04T16:58:14.964-08:00

The acquisition of vital information from catastrophists and comparative mythologists about the traditional, cultural archetypes that dominate our scriptures and the information contained in an anecdotal story related by Patriarch Homer M. Brown of his grandparents’ encounter with Joseph Smith one evening in Nauvoo now allow us to turn our attention to one of the more symbol laden, latter-day

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-47346619420163145832008-11-04T00:00:00.000-08:002008-11-04T00:22:12.696-08:00

(Note: Many readers have inquired into the circumstances that led this author to write about history and prophecy. Rather than answer each inquiry at length, it seemed appropriate to address the topic in print, where one telling would suffice for all. The following, then, is an autobiographical sketch.)Hamilton School stood on the corner of 8th South and 3rd East in Salt Lake; the First Ward

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-68322257210966145722008-11-02T02:56:00.000-08:002010-10-31T21:25:23.779-07:00

Every Latter-day Saint has read about Kolob in Abraham from the Pearl of Great Price. Many have speculated about it; most have given it little thought. Kolob’s possible location and identity in our universe seems to be the primary focus of such speculation. A careful review of this bit of revealed knowledge in light of the Saturn traditions may prove informative.In chapter 3 of Abraham, it

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-9948265045278861862008-11-01T08:26:00.000-07:002008-11-01T08:42:37.690-07:00

In an earlier monograph, the events of the creation, as written in the Old Testament, were explained in light of the Saturn thesis of David Talbott. Latter-day Saints typically believe what most of Christendom believes about the creation: that man had not yet been placed on the Earth when the first events transpired, that the creation account was subsequently revealed to prophets long after the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-42048733089056394372008-11-01T02:10:00.000-07:002008-11-01T02:28:28.995-07:00

There is one important question that should be addressed: What, if anything, should any Latter-day Saint make of all this new information?Years ago, Chauncey Riddle, a religion instructor at Brigham Young University, dismissed this author’s view of prophecy based in ancient catastrophes, as set forth The Prophecy Trilogy, describing the endeavor as “an intellectual exercise, having little to do

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-24137042529561358482008-10-28T09:36:00.000-07:002008-11-01T02:33:23.435-07:00

Thanks to the Restoration, Latter-day Saints have the best gospel awareness of any Christian denomination. Revelation given to Joseph Smith and subsequent prophets of this dispensation has provided a solid foundation upon which any Mormon can build a thoroughgoing understanding of Christ’s teachings.But there is one exception to that rule: prophecy.It seems that the imagery of prophecy is still,

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-50186897579104844132008-10-28T00:14:00.001-07:002008-10-28T01:14:39.398-07:00

The most well known symbols on the walls of the Salt Lake Temple are the Earth, Moon, Sun and Star stones. That is so, likely, because they are easily understood in terms of our present cosmology. Yet, they also have an iconographic role in the cosmology of antiquity, as do all temple icons.The EarthstonesThe Earthstones are located at the bottom of the temple buttresses. Most Saints take them to

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-69511553633508363272008-10-27T23:26:00.000-07:002009-08-16T15:12:23.440-07:00

The purpose of the numerous icons and images incorporated in the architecture of the Salt Lake Temple is largely a mystery to modern Mormon scholars — a mystery that they unanimously acknowledge.Every published effort to explain the meaning and purpose of such symbolism, typical in early temple architecture, is limited to unbridled speculation on the authors’ part as to the possible meaning of

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-19869552671201788402008-10-27T10:13:00.000-07:002008-10-27T10:41:05.638-07:00

At the heart of the exposition offered by this author in this and other publications is an effort to more fully connect modern Saints with the teachings of their founding prophet, Joseph Smith, and thus to those of the ancient prophets. Joseph faithfully and correctly reproduced those ancient teachings, passing them along to a world that was, and still is, largely ignorant of the truths of the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-25577221296451056832008-10-25T06:08:00.000-07:002008-10-25T07:46:53.225-07:00

At some point in the evolution of the Polar Configuration, direct sunlight fell on the group of planets poised in one spot in Earth’s ancient skies. It was then that Saturn acquired its bright crescent. Not only that, but the Earth’s rotation about its own axis — the same rotation that produces our familiar day/night cycle — created the daily cycle known to the ancients.The beginning of timeIt

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-56496717437516655342008-10-22T08:57:00.000-07:002008-10-22T09:47:41.035-07:00

The beginning of the Saturn epic, as we have already seen, gave rise to some remarkable imagery. That imagery can be seen in our own religion, as well as other Christian denominations. But it goes far beyond that limited scope. For those schooled in world religions, it should be apparent that the imagery is universal. This will become even more evident as we continue to probe the evolution of the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-67440107579012297122008-10-20T19:59:00.000-07:002008-10-20T23:04:19.194-07:00

Every theory must be tested. The Saturn myth theory is no exception. David Talbott’s theory of the Saturn myths has one very specific test: Does it explain the origin and meaning of heretofore incomprehensible traditions, metaphors, rituals and symbols — things that, until now, seemed to have had no real origin other than the vivid imaginations of the ancients? If so, does it give those metaphors

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-49262600976487335062008-10-20T07:32:00.000-07:002008-10-20T08:14:00.419-07:00

In order to begin unraveling the intricate, tightly woven cloth of metaphor and symbolism bequeathed us by our ancestors, we must initially understand what David Talbott first called the Saturn myths. It is based upon the fundamental fact best articulated by the Apostle Peter when he wrote: ". . . by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-72721777037721773052008-10-19T18:28:00.000-07:002008-10-19T18:59:54.119-07:00

The creation accounts explain that light was created to dissipate the darkness on the first ‘day’ or event of creation. “Let there be light; and there was light.”This introduces yet another puzzle. We learn later in the accounts that the sun, moon and stars were not present until the fourth ‘day’ of creation. How can that be? If the sun is our primary source of light, with the moon and the stars

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-63948994478871046392008-10-19T18:12:00.000-07:002008-10-19T18:59:30.987-07:00

Thus, when we read in Moses’ version of the creation in the Pearl of Great Price, the imagery makes perfect sense.“And again, I, God, said: Let there be a firmament in the midst of the water, and it was so, even as I spake; and I said: Let it divide the waters from the waters; and it was done; And I, God, made the firmament and divided the waters, yea, the great waters under the firmament from

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-74605223977369651722008-10-19T18:04:00.000-07:002008-10-19T18:58:47.137-07:00

Now that we’ve ascertained that the astral waters of creation were called “the deep,” we have a key to understanding several other such puzzling and mysterious references in scripture. For example, in Revelation, Chapter 13, we learn of a beast that rises out of the “sea.” Could this be the same reference to heavenly waters of creation as we have found in Genesis? Again, in Daniel, Chapter 7, we

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-24249298176451418282008-10-19T17:44:00.000-07:002008-10-19T17:55:07.500-07:00

So, if all these creation stories, including those in the scriptures, are but various “tellings” of the One Story, then a valid approach to learning what happened in that first epoch would be to make a comparative analysis of the information or beliefs they provide. This is the basis of our approach here in order to give a fuller, more comprehensive understanding of the scriptural creation

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-54232061890955791512008-10-19T10:55:00.000-07:002008-10-19T11:14:22.888-07:00

Now, that we have a better perspective of the Earth’s ancient heavens, let’s take a good look at the many creation accounts themselves. But, before we do, let me give you the lay of the land at this point in our quest so you will not enter this phase without your spiritual and temporal bearings.After a lifetime of struggling to interpret the creation accounts in terms of our present views of

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-51752238969088615182008-10-19T10:36:00.000-07:002008-10-19T10:54:54.341-07:00

Turning now to Joseph Smith, we can see that what he described and explained in the Pearl of Great Price matches the Egyptian traditions and the Saturn myths.Joseph’s explanation of Kolob as “First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time,” fits Saturn’s ancient role perfectly. It was perceived as the primary governing power in the heavens. Everything else appeared to move or

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-50984782631973628212008-10-19T08:56:00.000-07:002008-10-19T09:10:18.613-07:00

In order to understand gospel symbolism, one must understand its ancient origins. No one has done more in modern times to make this understanding possible than Dave Talbott, comparative mythologist and researcher extraordinaire. Rather than rehearse his findings here, I refer the reader to his writings, beginning with his Saturn Myth. Others of his writings can be found in the online newsletter,

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-84036218014472263982008-10-19T08:37:00.000-07:002008-10-19T08:55:22.676-07:00

To understand the creation story, we must first understand the vision of the creation given to Abraham.Every Latter-day Saint has read about Kolob in Abraham from the Pearl of Great Price. Many have speculated about it; most have given it little thought. Kolob’s possible location and identity in our universe seems to be the primary focus of such speculation. A careful review of this bit of

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-84051721396792688542008-10-18T21:11:00.000-07:002008-10-18T21:57:49.648-07:00

Since we are taking a new look at the creation from the perspective of the restored gospel, let’s begin the next phase of our discussion with statements attributed to the First Elder of this dispensation, Joseph Smith, in which he makes a stunning declaration. We begin here because it is a core concept upon which depends the entire interpretation of the scriptural creation accounts we are about

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-82194052251796844862008-10-18T20:56:00.000-07:002008-10-18T21:10:48.536-07:00

There is one more bit of overlooked housecleaning that must be done before we can move forward to a discussion of Kolob, and that has to do with the source of our Bible’s creation account itself.Most Latter-day Saints who read Genesis come away with the idea that God revealed something to Adam, Enoch, Abraham or Moses that mankind would have no other way of knowing. That is, God alone was present

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-83746530935824094802008-10-18T19:34:00.000-07:002008-10-18T20:53:37.352-07:00

Perhaps the first thing that the symbolic images in Joseph’s explanations of the facsimiles in the book of Abraham tell us is that he is not revealing some deep mysteries known only to the Egyptians. This is the common perception of the Saints who read these, but it is flawed. What he is telling us is what the Egyptians believed about these symbols.This is a vital concept that must be mastered in

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-58661273138723585322008-10-18T19:22:00.000-07:002008-10-18T19:33:50.920-07:00

In my view, when we fully grasp the story the ancients recorded for us, we begin to see clearly for the first time what in scripture is symbolic and what is literal. Most often, we find out that our perception had to be flipped nearly 180 degrees. What we saw as symbolic turns out to be largely literal, and what we thought to be literal turns out to be mostly symbolic. From that perspective, we

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-16096526619154151802008-10-18T19:09:00.000-07:002008-10-18T19:21:56.301-07:00

Modern terrorists have an analogue in Nephite history: the Gadianton robbers. The part of that sacred story that most nearly pertains to our time is found in the opening chapters of Third Nephi.Every Latter-day Saint knows that the Book of Mormon was brought forth, in part, so that we might learn from the successes and avoid the errors of the Nephites. In fact, the resemblances between events and

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-48371261690115390262008-10-18T06:27:00.000-07:002008-10-18T06:37:33.917-07:00

To see a world in a grain of sand,And a heaven in a wild flower,Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,And eternity in an hour.Auguries of Innocence, William BlakeTrue insight comes of pursuing a question or an idea beyond the first impression or answer. It requires earnest searching on one’s part, looking deeper than the surface, where most stop, and probing further to discover more than most

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-5940617282857346202008-10-18T06:05:00.000-07:002008-10-18T06:25:05.375-07:00

Many surprises await the serious student of scripture and ancient history — revelations about our past and the true nature of the world we live in. Most surprising, however, is the revelation that all is not as it seems in our culture and its most fundamental institutions.For example, in the Book of Mormon we read about “a great and abominable church” seen by Nephi in his great revelation to

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-20197959003961718892008-10-16T19:18:00.000-07:002008-10-17T10:23:25.412-07:00

Years ago at BYU, a new lecture series was instigated. Called the “Last Lecture,” it was formatted to give the lecturer the opportunity to speak as though it were the last address he or she would give before dying — a sort of gospel last will and testament, if you will.That’s what I would like to do today. If I knew I was going to be called home tomorrow, this is what I would want to say to you

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-62371460915906812492008-10-16T18:56:00.000-07:002008-10-16T19:16:06.339-07:00

Jesus was often called a “Galilean” in his day, according to the gospels. That is likely so because he was raised in Nazareth, a city proximate to the Sea of Galilee in an area in Northern Palestine that was known as Galilee or Samaria. Anyone from that area could rightly be referred to as a Galilean.The practice of calling people from that area “Galileans” was widespread, apparently — certainly

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-5787685400846891772008-10-16T18:42:00.000-07:002008-10-16T18:54:01.967-07:00

“Sound is an evocative and thus a creative experience. Manycultures credit the gods with the power to make sounds, eitherthrough natural agencies, such as wind, water, and animals, orthrough musical instruments. In myth, sound can be bewitching(the voices of the sirens), or destructive (the shout with whichJoshua and the Israelites felled the walls of Jericho). Manycreation myths talk of sound

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-3514789955065085772008-10-07T09:28:00.000-07:002008-10-07T09:39:14.839-07:00

A chemist can determine the pH of any substance by dipping a bit of colored paper into it. Called "litmus" paper, its color changes depending upon the acidity or alkalinity of the compound in question — one color if it is acidic, another if it is basic. It’s a fundamental and uncomplicated test.There is a similar such test to determine the extent of our gospel comprehension, to determine how well

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-91648075049982799752008-10-07T09:12:00.000-07:002008-10-07T09:27:49.275-07:00

This series has identified several keys to prophecy in the restored gospel. When we let our scriptures speak for themselves, without imposing our own 'modern,' 'scientific' preconceptions upon them, an entirely different picture of the past emerges than the one we’ve been taught.It was in Earth’s ancient heavens — the Creator’s most spectacular canvas — that all ancient imagery originated. It is

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-76805327315301805272008-10-07T08:53:00.000-07:002008-10-07T09:11:45.854-07:00

Certainly, some will say that discussions of ancient myths, gods, goddesses and pagan beliefs have little to do with the restored gospel. To others, perhaps all this analysis of prophetic symbols, planets, stars, beasts and dragons seems a bit tedious and removed from core gospel principles.Most Saints pay little heed to such things in their gospel study, seeing it as irrelevant and therefore

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-5098996011240917422008-10-07T08:22:00.000-07:002008-10-07T08:52:38.342-07:00

Like the histories of all ancient cultures, that of the Hebrews — the Old Testament — tells the very same story of sky-spanning marvels and manifestations that profoundly and directly impacted their culture and beliefs. Comparing the names of the pagan gods they worshipped supports this conclusion, as we have seen.Having made that connection, we can now turn to the scriptural record to see how

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-74302072841720779432008-10-07T08:11:00.000-07:002008-10-07T08:21:49.109-07:00

Major changes in the planetary order, some involving earth-threatening catastrophes, have occurred within human memory, and they were recorded by the survivors on the billboards of antiquity — temples and monuments — as well as in sacred texts of all religions.This is a crucial key to understanding scriptural symbolism — not only in prophecy, but also throughout sacred texts.For our culture,

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-56128247608478376652008-10-07T07:57:00.000-07:002008-10-07T08:10:40.189-07:00

Our culture knows nothing of the incredible changes wrought in the heavens anciently. This is so because of our 'scientific' view that there have been no significant changes in the solar system's arrangement during recorded history.But the scriptures and the prophets are insistent, in spite of our beliefs: The heavens have repeatedly changed throughout ancient history. This is a primary message

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-11831436949940876872008-10-04T20:02:00.000-07:002008-10-04T20:57:42.637-07:00

If we look closely at the images venerated by the ancients from the point of view that they may have been inspired by planets standing in close proximity to the Earth, we see them with new eyes. And because we adopt this view, we can read the explanations of symbols on Egyptian papyri by the prophet Joseph Smith with a fresh perspective that also gives an entirely new dynamic to the imagery of

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-47159140043785717042008-10-02T15:47:00.000-07:002008-10-02T16:27:34.908-07:00

Up to this point in our examination of the many clues to the extravagant images of prophecy, we have learned that we need not look to mystical texts or veiled mysteries for our answers. Nor have we found that the answers lie in interpreting prophetic imagery with modern eyes.Instead, we have found the answers in a more mundane source, in the scriptures and in ancient history — evidence that has

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-38147491800485592032008-10-02T02:18:00.000-07:002008-10-02T02:45:26.720-07:00

Ancient monuments, temples, tombs and sacred texts are replete with strange, mysterious symbols and creatures. By comparing those symbols to the verbal imagery of prophecy, we learn that they gave rise to even more bizarre language.In order to understand the symbolism of the scriptures, we must allow ancient images to illuminate the texts, beliefs and traditions of the past, while permitting the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-68229479330322801562008-09-27T09:27:00.000-07:002008-10-02T02:47:20.629-07:00

The bizarre and mystifying images employed by the prophets — by all ancient cultures, in fact — are derived from one common source: the heavens of antiquity. We have only to look at Hebrew history to determine this, though it is universally true of ancient cultures.Israel strayed into the same practices as their neighbors, though their prophets strove mightily to curb that idolatry."And they left

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-80995173976858677462008-09-25T16:50:00.000-07:002008-09-27T10:00:37.968-07:00

The first and perhaps most crucial key to prophecy was revealed in this dispensation by Joseph Smith when he spoke on the subject of scriptural imagery."The prophets do not declare that they saw a beast or beasts, but that they saw the image or figure of a beast. Daniel did not see an actual bear or a lion, but the images or figures of those beasts. The translation should have been rendered '

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-58280260975023862642008-09-24T16:39:00.000-07:002008-09-27T10:01:04.235-07:00

Thanks to modern revelation, Mormons understand quite well what the prophets taught. The gospel has been made very plain due to the restoration and the ministering of modern prophets.But there is one exception to that rule: prophecy.It seems that the imagery of prophecy is still, to a great extent, an enigma to us. Visions such as those of John in Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel and Isaiah — just to

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-23984739940851374052008-09-21T08:53:00.000-07:002008-09-21T09:12:51.158-07:00

The thesis presented in this 4-part series has stood the test of time. It affirms that Nephite history is predictive, to one degree or another, of events yet to come in our time. Events and conditions that were once speculation on this author’s part nearly two decades ago in 1989, when Parallel Histories: The Nephites and the Americans was first published, have now become historic fact: The two

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-48817577462659839792008-09-21T08:33:00.000-07:002008-09-21T08:53:24.284-07:00

The true predictive power of the Nephite record becomes apparent as we focus on the period of time recorded near the end of Helaman and move forward into 3 Nephi. As we do so, we find that their history reads like our recent newspaper headlines.The many stunning similarities between Nephite and American history now include the advent of institutionalized terrorism. Their war with the Gadianton

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-90725253425169632162008-09-20T04:27:00.000-07:002008-09-20T11:46:08.223-07:00

Mormon, as the author of the Book of Mormon, was in a truly unique position. He had an intimate knowledge of two cultures that were widely separated in time yet shared the same general geographic location: the Americans and the Nephites. He was a historian and a prophet — a historian because he had custody of the plates that recorded all Nephite history, a prophet because he had been shown the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-16438107177338030452008-09-19T01:53:00.000-07:002008-09-19T02:17:09.875-07:00

Nephi used a handy teaching device to instruct his people. He found it useful to compare events and conditions in his time to those found in his scriptures, "the books of Moses" and the "writings of Isaiah." He wrote, "…for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning." (1 Nephi 19:23.) He later amplified on that concept by adding, "Now these are the words, and

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-3488996345965635752008-09-17T14:58:00.000-07:002008-09-17T15:20:50.182-07:00

This article was written shortly after terrorists attacked the United States on 9/11/2001.The tumultuous and tragic events of recent days have left Americans everywhere stunned and shocked. "How could this happen to us?" seems to be the question on most lips.This author, like most of his fellow citizens, sat riveted to the television set on September 11th by the surreal events as they unfolded in

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-78573161363170974902008-09-16T07:01:00.000-07:002008-09-16T07:38:07.175-07:00

Mormonism is unique among Christian denominations for many reasons. One of the things that makes it so distinctive was its founder’s interest in bringing ancient texts to light. Another was the instigation of temple use, a practice thought to be largely pagan and thus suspiciously sacrilegious by normative Christianity.While it may not be readily apparent at first, upon closer inspection we will

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-89049691705542343142008-09-14T21:04:00.001-07:002008-09-14T21:51:57.841-07:00

Part I – The CommandmentSection 84 of the Doctrine & Covenants is a pivotal revelation for Latter-day Saints, or should be.The preamble to this section says, "The Prophet designates it a revelation on priesthood." In it, the Lord explains some of the roles of priesthood bearers, including a thorough explanation of missionary work and how it might be carried out. "And this revelation unto you, and

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-75221605354858570072008-09-12T10:18:00.000-07:002008-09-12T11:06:02.198-07:00

Try to name all of the changes that the atom bomb and technology brought to our world in the middle of the last century. It certainly changed warfare; even populations far from any battle could be held hostage to utter annihilation. It changed politics and diplomacy; nuclear capable countries became overnight superpowers. It changed science; nothing since Newton’s laws of gravity or Copernicus’

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-47211596507476520202008-09-10T14:35:00.000-07:002008-09-10T15:01:53.613-07:00

The heavens and the earth are repeatedly referenced in the scriptures by the prophets as the objects of remarkable, sweeping changes in the past and in the future."For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." (Isaiah 65:17.)"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-769456992901046142008-09-07T20:46:00.000-07:002008-09-07T21:06:47.463-07:00

Joseph Smith's most profound and enlightening sermon on the signs of the last days, given on the temple grounds at Nauvoo in April, 1843, demonstrates his views of the origin and nature of those signs, as well as our ability to recognize them for what they are."There will be wars and rumors of wars, signs in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, the sun turned into darkness and the moon to

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-30944988295966140332008-09-04T16:05:00.000-07:002008-09-04T16:18:00.994-07:00

The colorful symbolism of the "Tree of Life" vision given to Lehi and his son, Nephi, is well known and rather easily interpreted by today’s Latter-day Saints.At first blush, the rich imagery these two Book of Mormon prophets employed combines to create a completely original metaphor for humanity’s behavior where the gospel of Jesus Christ is concerned. That is, it is a wonderful allegory, which

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-66678613266549269972008-09-02T08:26:00.000-07:002008-09-02T09:04:02.998-07:00

"Search the scriptures," said the Savior. So, most Latter-day Saints do just that. We search for spiritual truths and counsel that might strengthen our testimonies and help us live better, more righteous lives.But while those spiritual truths are vital, there is much more to the scriptures that we often overlook — things that we were meant to learn as well as the spiritual truths, things that,

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-57050175933275521532008-08-30T11:33:00.000-07:002008-08-31T18:03:29.405-07:00

There is very little about Christ in Christmas. It’s more about Santa Claus, gift giving, decorated Christmas trees and colorful lights than remembrance of the Savior’s birth.Perhaps that’s because Christmas is a holiday largely based on what most would call pagan festivals. In fact, it’s likely that Christians appropriated an ancient, cross-cultural tradition for our Christmas celebration that

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-27627414980123766522008-08-28T17:51:00.000-07:002008-08-28T20:06:22.163-07:00

Try to name all of the changes that the atom bomb and technology brought to our world in the middle of the last century. It certainly changed warfare; even populations far from any battle could be held hostage to annihilation. It changed politics and diplomacy; nuclear capable countries became overnight “superpowers.” It changed science; nothing since Newton’s laws of gravity or Copernicus’

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-25920171485501022052008-08-26T16:37:00.000-07:002008-08-26T17:01:23.533-07:00

The Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt under Moses’ inspired leadership is perhaps one of the more spectacular events recorded in the Old Testament. In the process, the list of plagues visited upon Egypt is impressive: water turned to blood, vermin, pestilence, destructive hail, fire from heaven, thick darkness and the death of the firstborn. There were also some miraculous manifestations: the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-91891685685242065902008-08-15T09:05:00.000-07:002008-08-15T09:40:13.243-07:00

Joseph Smith lived his life with one foot in the present, the other in the past. That is, in order to effect a ‘restoration,’ he had to know what from the past had been lost in order to restore it.It’s evident from the abundance of information he bequeath the church that he had a profound understanding of the past. In fact, his entire journey as a modern prophet began because he sought in vain

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-71168707649401617712008-08-13T15:05:00.001-07:002008-08-13T15:54:00.443-07:00

Search as much as you like, you will find little archeological or historical evidence to confirm much of the Old Testament. If you are a student of the scriptures, then you have undoubtedly been frustrated by this fact.Early hopes of religionists, Latter-day Saints included, that biblical archeology and scholarly research would vindicate the Old Testament as accurate history have been repeatedly

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-22034479556265779512008-08-11T19:34:00.000-07:002008-08-13T15:10:19.330-07:00

What Joseph Smith Taught the Early SaintsI advised all to search deeper and deeper into the mysteries ofGodliness. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church 6:363.)I also gave some instructions in the mysteries of the kingdom of God; such as the history of the planets, Abraham’s writings upon the planetary systems, etc. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 118.)The heavens and the earth that we

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-89923118647822939332008-08-09T17:22:00.000-07:002008-10-07T00:20:07.025-07:00

Prophecy, the unique province of prophets, is filled with bizarre, obscure and confusing images. Attempt to read any of the great prophecies in scripture, and your head will soon be spinning, overflowing with figures and metaphors strange and bizarre. A few of the most prominent examples are found in Revelation in the New Testament, Ezekiel and Daniel in the Old Testament and in Section 88 in

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-84933202548331680702008-08-05T02:21:00.000-07:002008-08-10T15:51:09.044-07:00

Hoping to confound the Savior by asking him to perform an impossible miracle for a mere man, the Pharisees and the Sadducees of his day asked that “he would shew them a sign from heaven.” His answer was profound—for them and for us—especially when we consider that we live at a time in history that is equally pivotal to the days of Christ’s ministry. Hence, modern Christians, and especially

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-77252004577730593472008-08-03T21:12:00.000-07:002008-08-05T02:05:08.476-07:00

LDS scholars and church members alike fail to notice vital elements of John’s New Testament book, Revelation. They see it solely as a eschatological writing—a revelation of future tribulations to befall the world in a period of physical and political upheaval immediately preceding the second coming of Christ.While it is certainly all that, there is much more to discover. With the aid of a new

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-71439457230181339732008-07-31T21:11:00.000-07:002008-08-05T02:07:22.971-07:00

Latter-day Saints' opinion on the subject of potential planetary near impacts, past and present, differs little from that of the general public. Sadly, most Mormons seem as indifferent to this concept as their secular and sectarian contemporaries. Yet, it probably should not be so.Joseph Smith clearly held a catastrophist view of history and prophecy that included disasters originating in the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8763615318413342535.post-86115592244230264952008-07-30T23:02:00.000-07:002010-06-14T22:24:00.495-07:00

Joseph Smith lived his life with one foot in the present, the other in the past. That is, in order to effect a ‘restoration,’ he had to know what from the past had been lost in order to restore it.It’s evident from the abundance of information he bequeath the church that he had a profound understanding of the past. In fact, his entire journey as a modern prophet began because he sought for the

Anthony E. Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892013499410269737noreply@blogger.com0