Author Archives: Brian Duffin

Friday Forum: Gospel Throwdown!

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On a recent visit to the temple, you happen to encounter a professional anti-Mormon (aka, card carrying member of the Fluffy Bunny Nice Nice Club) standing outside the temple gates. As you walk to your car, he calls out to you and asks you to go to Denny’s with him for a Bobby-Flay-style gospel throwdown.

He pulls out a triple combination and proceeds to read D&C 71:7-9 to you:

7 Wherefore, aconfound your benemies; call upon them to cmeet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their dshame shall be made manifest.

8 Wherefore, let them bring forth their astrong reasons against the Lord.

9 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you—there is no aweapon that is formed against you shall prosper;

How do you respond to this request?

I love blogging, I hate blogging

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I have a love-hate relationship with blogging.

On one hand, I love the interaction and the sharing of ideas that comes from the posts on M* and other LDS blogs. Most of the time, the interactions are pleasant, enjoyable and dare I say, downright fun!

Alternately, blogging is sometimes filled with cantankerous comments and boorish behavior that drives me to hit the delete button, or just walk away from the computer.

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Random Mormon Poll #6: Which religion would you choose?

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Feel free to explain your vote and why you chose the religion you did.

Please refrain from making comments that would be considered offensive or demeaning to our brothers and sisters of these faiths, or making any other comments not in harmony with M*’s comment policies. Any such comments will be deleted without hesitation or delay.

Update: New poll added. This one should work!

Friday Forum: The parables of Luke 15

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Image credit: Liz Lemon Swindle

Image credit: Liz Lemon Swindle

 In a recent stake priesthood leadership training session I attended, one topic of discussion was the parables in Luke 15.

I love all of the parables from this chapter, but my favorite of the three is the story of the prodigal son.

For today’s discussion, I am curious to know your thoughts on the following:

  • Who was the intended audience for the parables? Was it just the Pharisees and scribes? Or did He intend for the publicans and sinners to learn something from the parables as well?
  • How do the parables relate to the overall mission of the church?
  • Do you find any special significance to the church in any of the parables?
  • How do the parables tie together? Is there any significance to the order in which they are told?
  • And anything else you want to discuss about these parables.