Author Archives: Brian Duffin

Called to Serve, or the Ballad of Uncle Bobby

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Having never witnessed a Baptist minister preach before, fear and trepidation ran through my chilled frame as I first observed Robert “Uncle Bobby” Bowden preach. Electricity seemed to fill the sanctuary as Uncle Bobby rose to his feet and delivered a sermon brimming with hellfire and damnation.

Resting gently in his hands, the opened scriptures served more as a prop to hammer the unwitting Mormon youth who eagerly rose to their feet to challenge his bold doctrinal assertions than for reading.

One by one, and without hesitation, Uncle Bobby dismissed the inexperienced youth and schooled them in the art of Bible bashing. There were none who could best him. This was one Baptist you did not want at your barbecue.

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Senator Reid’s wife and daughter injured in crash

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Photo Credit: ABC News

Please keep Senator Harry Reid and his family in your thoughts and prayers. ABC News reports Reid’s wife and daughter were injured in a car accident today.

“Mrs. Reid has a broken nose, broken back and broken neck.  Lana has a neck injury and facial lacerations.  Both Mrs. Reid and Lana are conscious, can feel their extremities, and according to doctors their injuries are non-life threatening.  Senator Reid has been to the hospital and appreciates the support he and his family are receiving from Nevadans and his colleagues in the Senate,” spokesman Jon Summers said today in a statement.

Friday Forum: Adopted into the House of Lehi

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JA Benson’s son, Tex, fills in this morning with today’s Friday Forum.

This scripture is from a revelation given to Nephi concerning his
descendants and the land Promised to Lehi.

1 Nephi 14: 1-2

And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the
Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in
word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their
stumbling blocks—

And harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be
numbered among the seed of thy father; yea, they shall be numbered
among the house of Israel; and they shall be a blessed people upon the
promised land forever; they shall be no more brought down into
captivity; and the house of Israel shall no more be confounded.

I was reading in the Book of Mormon and this particular scripture just
stood out to me. In my humble opinion, the meaning of 1 Nephi 14: 1-2
is all righteous Americans (North and South) are adopted into the
House of Lehi and numbered among his seed.  I have never heard
anything along these lines in any Sunday school or at any other place
in the scriptures. I was wondering if a greater scriptorian than me
could tell me anything more about this, or prove me wrong.

International week and my missionary moment

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The impetus for International Week at M* came out of a missionary experience I had a few weeks ago with someone who spoke Portuguese, my mission language.

After posting about my missionary experience on Facebook, the ensuing discussion evolved to posting in our mission languages. At M*, there are three of us that speak Portuguese: Geoff B., me and Ben Pratt.

While posting in our mission languages (along with a translation of the post) might be fun for those who speak the language, I wanted to also focus on the aspect of doing member missionary work.

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Helping in Haiti

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The following news release from the Church appears on newsroom.lds.org:

SALT LAKE CITY |13 January 2010| The Church released the following statement this morning regarding the earthquake in Haiti:

We express our sympathy and prayers on behalf of the citizens of Haiti following the recent devastating earthquake. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is immediately shipping humanitarian relief, including personal hygiene kits and supplies for newborns. Efforts are underway to determine further humanitarian response in coordination with government and disaster relief organizations. Donations for relief efforts can be made at http://give.lds.org/emergencyresponse.

All missionaries serving in the country are safe, and we continue efforts to account for Church members in the area.  

SEE AN UPDATED NEWS RELEASE ON HAITI HERE.

Please remember to keep the people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers.