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# A Well Examined Life

A Mormon’s Musings on Some of the Things in Life that Matter Most

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## Posts

- [David and Saul: The Origin of Politics](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/david-and-saul-the-origin-of-politics/) - In the final chapter of Jane Eyre, our heroine is reunited, after a year’s separation, with the only man she ever loved, Mr. Rochester. The feeling is mutual. Indeed, Mr. Rochester’s joy at return is palpable: “You make me feel,” he says to Jane, “as I have not felt these twelve months. If Saul could have
- [The Woman Who Transcends Time and Place](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-woman-who-transcends-time-and-place/) - The Come Follow Manual devotes no more than a couple sentences to the Book of Ruth, neither of which attempts to offer a meaningful interpretation of the written text. Which is a shame, since Ruth’s story greatly augments our understanding of the evolution of Israelite culture and theology while simultaneously providing a bridge between her
- [Fiery Serpents, Our Jealous God, and Charismatic Leaders](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/fiery-serpents-our-jealous-god-and-charismatic-leaders/) - Before we take up Deuteronomy, there is a story in Numbers which warrants close scrutiny: “The Tale of the Fiery Serpents.” What’s Up With These Snakes? The Israelites, as was their wont, grew impatient during their search for The Promised Land and began to complain. “Why did you [Moses] bring us up from Egypt to
- [Our Abiding Fear of Freedom](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/our-abiding-fear-of-freedom/) - The Book of Numbers (arithmoi gk), so named because of the census in Chapter 1, contains a complex mix of materials—different “genres,” you might say—such as, laws, poetic folk traditions, ritual texts and narratives. The dominant storyline, however, is the comings and goings of the Israelites on the Siani Peninsula, along with Yahweh’s provision for his
- [Interpreting the Old Testament](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/interpreting-the-old-testament/) - Author’s Note: The course of study this year for our weekly[1] Sunday school is the Hebrew Bible, (aka, the Old Testament). In a fit of bad judgment, the local leaders of my church asked me to share a few thoughts each week on the chapters and verses scheduled for study and discussion on the Sabbath. I will
- [Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/wonder-of-wonders-miracle-of-miracles/) - Around 1:30 a.m. on June 28, 1973, I received a phone call from a young woman—Sister Crawford was her name—who I had met for the first time just a few months ago. She was calling me from a small city in southern Chile: Talca (population circa 100,000). But this did not strike me as odd since that is
- [An Adult Christ at Christmas](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/an-adult-christ-at-christmas/) - The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there — “The Go Between,” by L. P. Hartley The crux of Christ’s mission and the core tenant of his gospel—his “good news” for mankind—was revealed on the day he was born. So, too, was an “alternative theology,” i.e., a different recipe for achieving peace on
- [A Samaritan and an Innkeeper](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/a-samaritan-and-an-innkeeper/) - [Author’s Note: This is the continuation of an essay I authored on December 25, 2025, called “An Adult Christ at Christmas,” a title I borrowed from a short treatise authored by the Catholic biblical scholar, Raymond Brown. I recommend you read that essay first (if you have not already done so) before reading this one.]
- [More Precious Than Gold](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/more-precious-than-gold/) - Larissa Phillips is a remarkable woman. Among other things, she is founder of the Volunteer Literacy Project, a nonprofit organization devoted to teaching adults how to read. The “Rex Runs Off!” books for children were authored by her, along with “Decodable Bile Stories,” selected tales adapted from Genesis using structured phonics to help beginning adult
- [Women in The Old Testament](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/women-in-the-old-testament/) - Set forth below is the text of a talk I gave on Mother’s Day, May 8, 2022, in the Sacrament Meeting of the Arlington First Ward, Arlington, Virginia. When Margaret was expecting our first child, a colleague of mine asked whether we were planning on a natural, drug-free birth. That was our original intent, I
- [The Color of God](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-color-of-god/) - One of our favorite family traditions when I was young—one we shared with millions of other Americans—was gathering around the television every Sunday evening to watch Bonanza, an American Western set in Nevada near Carson City. The show chronicles the adventures of the Cartwright family, owners of one of the largest ranches in the state: the
- [The Things We Covet](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-things-we-covet/) - Chris Anderson A 28-year-old black man by the name of Coleman Hughes popped up on Chris Anderson’s radar screen towards the end of 2022. In his capacity as head of TED Conferences, LLC (Technology, Entertainment and Design), Anderson was always on the lookout for individuals with a fresh perspective on scientific, cultural, and political topics
- [Where Words Fail](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/where-words-fail/) - One day in the mid-1960s, I wandered into a music store in downtown Champaign, Illinois. By “music store” I mean a store where you can purchase musical instruments, sheet music, and the like. While perusing the rock-and-roll section, I spied a piano arrangement of the Beatles’ hit song, “Yesterday.” This is what I had been
- [Duty, Honor, Country](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/duty-honor-country/) - I have an office on the fourth floor of our town home in Arlington, Virginia. Weather permitting, such as yesterday, I like to open the sliding glass door next to my desk. The ambient sounds below—the wind passing through the trees, children playing in the small park below, and birds chattering in the majestic
- [The Election Scandal that Rocked BYU and the Young Man Who Saved the University](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-election-scandal-that-rocked-byu-and-the-young-man-who-saved-the-university/) - Author’s Note: The events described below are all true, with the exception of one unconfirmed report. They are documented by both contemporaneous news stories and eye witness accounts. A Warning: The scandal described below occurred about 50 years ago in what today would be considered a primitive culture, one totally foreign to our learned and refined
- [Jewish Decide](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/jewish-decide/) - “Let me here say a word to the Jews. We do not want you to believe our doctrine. If any professing to be Jews do so, it would prove they were not Jews. A Jew cannot now believe in Jesus Christ. The decree has gone forth from the Almighty that they cannot have the benefit
- [Tolerance](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tolerance/) - One of the most commonly misconstrued passages of scripture is Revelation 3:15-16 (NSRV): 15 “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Our manuals and the messages we
- [Robert Edward Lee](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/robert-edward-lee/) - Never in the history of the United States has public opinion changed so swiftly regarding an historical figure—absent the discovery of new information about the individual’s character or actions—than is the case with Robert E. Lee. Almost instantly after his surrender, he became “universally admired even by those who had no sympathy toward the cause
- [On Marriage](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/on-marriage/) - The sum which two married people owe to one another defies calculation. It is an infinite debt, which can only be discharged through all eternity. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe In February 1973, an article called “Strengthening the Patriarchal Order in the Home,” appeared in the Ensign, the flagship publication of the Mormon Church.[1] The author, Brent Barlow,
- [“Hypocrisy is the Tribute Vice Pays to Virtue” —Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/hypocrisy-is-the-tribute-vice-pays-to-virtue-francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) - N.B. The person who is the subject of this essay never saw or read its contents prior to its publication, had no foreknowledge of this essay, or my plans to write it. He is at liberty to repudiate it in its entirety. The views expressed below are mine and mine alone. Several years ago, Aaron Sherinian
- [Pain and Suffering](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/pain-and-suffering/) - I suffer from chronic pain. I have a degenerative joint and bone disease, which necessitated three major surgeries over the past 48 months. Each operation entailed the installation of metallic support structures in different parts of my body. A fourth procedure is scheduled for this summer. I also have severe arthritis and a hereditary neurological
- [Vulcan](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/vulcan/) - This is a story about a planet called Vulcan. No, not the place where S’chn T’gai Spock—better known as “Mr. Spock”—was raised by his Vulcan father and human mother. This is about a planet in our Solar System by that very same name. It differs, however, from all the rest in one important respect: no
- [Pork Belly-up](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/pork-belly-up/) - Set forth below is a short piece I wrote several years ago about my father for an essay competition sponsored by Jana Riess, a prominent Mormon blogger for the Religion News Service. Even though it was selected for publication on Jana’s website, I am republishing it this Father’s Day weekend as a tribute to my father,
- [The Color of God (2nd Edition)](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-color-of-god-2nd-edition/) - Note to reader: I am republishing this essay—with substantial revisions and additions—to mark the 45th anniversary of the day on which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lifted its “Priesthood Ban,” becoming the last major Christian religion to accord equal treatment to individuals of African descent. The whole concept of...the image of God is
- [How Much Oil Do We Need?](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/how-much-oil-do-we-need/) - There are few religious texts of greater interest to modern Christians than the apocalyptic writings of Matthew. And there are few passages more challenging than the eschatological parables in the 25th chapter of that gospel, the most familiar of which is the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (Matt. 25:1-13 NRSV): 1Then the kingdom of heaven will
- [The Fifth Commandment 2.0](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-fifth-commandment-2-0/) - Author’s Note: This essay was first published in October, 2020. I have since revised it, adding some additional observations about the Abrahamic Covenant and what it means to “honor our father and mother.” I have, of course, retained the touching story at the end about one man’s (and one nation’s) eternal debt to his mother.
- [It's Not All About Us](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/its-not-all-about-us/) - Several years ago Martin Marty, a prominent scholar of American Religion, in response to a question posed by the church’s Public Affairs department, said “The most important issue facing Mormons in the next ten years is maintaining the posture that you are the only true church, to the exclusion of all others, and then trying
- [Jesus Christ: Capitalist or Socialist?](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/jesus-christ-capitalist-or-socialist/) - A story’s title can prompt the reader to focus on certain aspects of the tale at the expense others, potentially masking its actual meaning. And when the author of the story is not the person who names it—as is the case with Jesus’ parables—the risk of misinterpretation increases. A careful reading of The Parable of
- [“Jesus Loves Me the Most.” “No, Jesus Loves ME the Most!”](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/jesus-loves-me-the-most-no-jesus-loves-me-the-most/) - It is December 1847, and Brigham Young is throwing a temper tantrum in the company of the other members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. It has been three years since the murder of Joseph Smith, the first President of the Mormon Church, and Young believes it is high time the Quorum reconstitute the First
- [Taken in Adultery](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/taken-in-adultery/) - The full meaning of an event chronicled in the scriptures will sometimes elude us if we are not acquainted with the historical, political, chronological, and geographical setting in which it unfolds. Such is the case with the story of “The Woman Taken in Adultery” found in the eighth chapter of John. While in Jerusalem near
- [Tell Them the Story](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tell-them-the-story/) - In March 2013, Margaret and I toured Israel with the assistance of our able guide, Daniel Rona. He is, among many other things, a Jew who lost several family members in the Holocaust and who converted to Mormonism when he was young. Daniel is also knowledgeable, energetic, and entertaining. And quite opinionated (unlike moi). We often
- [What Can We Learn From A Mustard Seed?](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/what-can-we-learn-from-a-mustard-seed/) - The Parable of the Mustard Seed, one of Savior’s shortest allegories, typically receives scant attention in our scripture study. The “New Testament Come Follow Me” manual predictably “Mormonizes” the scripture, claiming it is simply about the growth of Christ’s church in the latter days. But the parable makes no reference to a “church” and the
- [<strong>Leadership in Difficult Times:  Critical Thinking and Wisdom (Part II)</strong>](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/leadership-in-difficult-times-critical-thinking-and-wisdom-part-ii/) - Dear Reader: When I began this series of essays on leadership, I never anticipated the final installment would chronicle recent events that have triggered the biggest spiritual struggle of my life. So, this is personal. Quem Iuppiter vult perdere, dementat prius “Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first deprive of reason.” Clueless When
- [The Quick and the Dead: June 6, 1944](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-quick-and-the-dead-june-6-1944/) - Seventy-six years ago this morning, the United States and its allies launched the largest amphibious invasion in history when they attacked German forces occupying Normandy along the northern coast of France. The invasion—which came to be known as “D-Day”—consisted of approximately 7,000 vessels, 1,200 of which were warships. But most were transport vessels tasked with
- [<strong>Leadership in Difficult Times: Critical Thinking and Wisdom (Part I)</strong>](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/leadership-in-difficult-times-critical-thinking-and-wisdom-part-i/) - The year is 1906 and B.H. Roberts, a senior official in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints,[1] is not a happy camper. To be precise, he is appalled at the lack of critical thinking on the part of the members of the church and some of his colleagues. And he has just said so
- [God at the Comedy Club](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/god-at-the-comedy-club/) - In the beginning there was poop. God then molded the excrement into human form, which he then tickled. This caused his creation to laugh and come alive. This is not my lame attempt at humor but rather the creation myth of aborigines of South Australia.[1] And the importance they ascribe to humor in the act of
- [Mary and the Sword](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/mary-and-the-sword/) - Winston Churchill was a passionate student of history and wrote extensively on the subject, including celebrated multi-volume accounts of the two world wars. An important lesson he derived from his studies is captured in one of his most famous quotes: “The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward.” This mindset is
- [A Massacre That Likely Never Happened](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/a-massacre-that-likely-never-happened/) - The majority of biblical scholars believe the infancy narratives found in Matthew and Luke are ahistorical (i.e., not factual).[1] Rather, they are an example of a creative genre of Jewish theological writing known as Haggadah, meaning “narrative.” The author starts from a scriptural text—the Old Testament, in the case of Matthew and Luke’s birth stories—and then improvises
- [The Lineage of Christ Jesus](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-origins-of-christ-jesus/) - Since Advent begins today, it seems appropriate to turn our attention to the infancy narratives found in the first two chapters of Matthew and Luke. When we study these scriptures, we typically skip over the verses at the beginning, which deal with the Savior’s ancestry. I imagine we do this because we assume they do
- [Leadership in Difficult Times: Humility, Ingenuity, and Foresight](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/leadership-in-difficult-times-humility-ingenuity-and-foresight/) - The outcome of virtually all human interaction hinges on the leverage possessed by each party. When a person, organization or country has little or no leverage, sometimes persuasion, ingenuity, good fortune, or the generosity of others, will allow them to achieve their objectives. The Two Rules of Life, by Eric F. Facer God made a
- [Leadership in Difficult Times: Courage, Faith, Knowledge and Vision](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/leadership-in-difficult-times-courage-faith-knowledge-and-vision/) - Allen Gewalten zum trotz, sich erhalten! (“Despite all the powers, maintain yourself!”) The life of Sophie Scholl changed on the day she and most of her siblings were arrested by the Gestapo. Along with her brother Werner and her sister Inge, she was summarily removed from the family home in Ulm (a small town about
- [Leadership in Difficult Times: Forgetting](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/leadership-in-difficult-times-forgetting/) - In 480 BC, Xerxes, King of Persia, invaded Greece. He hoped to conquer and subjugate the region, succeeding where his father, Darius, had failed. Athens and Sparta, along with their respective allies, united to drive the Persians from their shores a second time.[1] Their decisive naval victory at the Battle of Salamis arguably changed the course
- [Dissent](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/dissent/) - We generally feel more comfortable around those who share our beliefs and outlook on life, who think the way we do. The naysayers, gadflies and critics in our ranks can be such a bother. They challenge our perspective and compel us to rethink our opinions. Even when they do it politely and diplomatically, they can
- [The Brightest or the Blackest Page](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-brightest-or-the-blackest-page/) - In the late summer of 1786, the Continental Congress authorized a meeting in Annapolis, Maryland to address the problem of burdensome restrictions placed by the various states on interstate commerce. Only five states sent representatives. Lacking a quorum, they were unable to conduct business. So, with time on their hands, a group of them planned
- [A Praiseworthy Rebellion](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/a-praiseworthy-rebellion/) - In a recent essay, I discussed the many flaws in the “wise choice” explanation for Eve’s decision to partake of the forbidden fruit. In this piece I advance my own explanation of Eve’s actions in the Garden, to wit: when she partook of the fruit, she was engaging in what I call a “praiseworthy rebellion.” Specifically,
- [Jehovah’s Temple Project](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/jehovahs-temple-project/) - Mormons pride themselves on being “a temple-building” people. Yet we often miss, or fail to comprehend, numerous references to temples throughout the Old and New Testaments. Indeed, a compelling argument can be made that much of the Bible is one long meditation on the subject of sacred space. And it begins at the beginning. Contrary to
- [Did Eve Make a “Wise Choice”?](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/did-eve-make-a-wise-choice/) - Humans crave certainty. Puzzles, mysteries and riddles are okay—so long as they have a solution. But when we encounter an enigma that defies explanation, we often sweep it under the rug or concoct a solution based on logic so twisted it would be the envy of a Cirque du Soleil contortionist. And this is especially true when
- [Posthumous Proxy Baptisms](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/posthumous-proxy-baptisms/) - Rituals, offerings and supplications on behalf of the dead are hallmarks of many faiths. Followers of the ancient Persian prophet Zoroaster chant prayers for the deceased in their funeral ceremonies, beseeching God to forgive their transgressions. The Catholic Church—until the Reformation quashed the practice—offered intercessory prayers and elaborate masses for the departed.[1] The Old Testament, on
- [The Louse on Our Bonnet](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-louse-on-our-bonnet/) - The year is 1648 and most of Europe is in tatters. The Dutch War of Independence between Spain and the provinces—what are today the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg—has raged for 80 years, while The Thirty Years War within the Holy Roman Empire has laid waste to much of the continent. The population of Germany alone
- ["What Do I Still Lack?"](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/what-do-i-still-lack/) - While en route to Jerusalem for the last time in his life, Jesus is approached by a rich young man who asks him the following question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” The Savior’s response is both clear and concise. “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”[1]
- [No, Deep Down We Are Not All The Same](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/no-deep-down-we-are-not-all-the-same/) - The Past is a Foreign Country: They do things differently there.L. P. Hartley Ever wonder why there were no economists before Adam Smith, the great British philosopher and pioneer of political economy? As odd as this may seem, prior to the 18th century no one had ever conceived of organizing a system around the notion of
- [The Joy of Being Lost](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-joy-of-being-lost/) - Human beings and virtually all animals possess exceptional navigation skills. Monarch butterflies, for example, fly south to Mexico for the winter and then return north in the spring, traversing some 2,500 miles. The travel time is so great it eclipses multiple lifespans. It is the great-grandchildren of these fragile, winged creatures who complete the journey.
- [The Rising Generation and the End Times](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-rising-generation-and-the-end-times/) - In 2001, an email containing the following excerpt from a talk attributed to Boyd K. Packer circulated rapidly in LDS circles: You were in the War in Heaven and one day when you are in the spirit world you will be enthralled with those who you associate with. You will ask someone in which time
- [God's First Temple](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/gods-first-temple/) - In 1783, Benjamin Franklin wrote an essay called, “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North-America,”[1] in which he chronicles an exchange of views about religion between a Swedish minister and the chiefs of the Susquehanna Indians. The man of the cloth began the conversation by reciting the biblical creation story and the expulsion of Adam and Eve
- [A Stranger in a Strange Land](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/a-stranger-in-a-strange-land/) - In November 1972, I arrived in Chile to commence my two-year stint as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My first posting was to Linares, a small town of around 38,000 people about 200 miles south of Santiago. To say that I was not in Kansas anymore would be an
- [A Father's Kiss](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/a-fathers-kiss/) - Around 1:00 am on Monday, June 20, 1987, I awoke with severe chest and abdominal pains. When they failed to subside, I asked Margaret to call an ambulance. By the time we arrived at the hospital in suburban Maryland, I was nauseous, running a high fever, and experiencing chills. Later that morning my personal physician
- [Religion: “Reports of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated”](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/religion-reports-of-my-death-have-been-greatly-exaggerated/) - Anyone who has been paying attention knows that organized religion has not been fairing well lately. According to a recent Gallup survey, church membership in the United States last year fell below 50% for the first time since the company began gathering data over 80 years ago.[1] Religious affiliation held firm at 70-75 percent until 2000,
- [Character](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/character/) - What is Character? Is it something that can be identified, described or developed? Is character fixed or can it be changed? Does it determine our fate, as the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, declared? Are the events in our lives merely the manifestation of our individual and collective character, as postulated by Henry James? For centuries, philosophers,
- [The Wine and The Cross](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-wine-and-the-cross/) - The Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark and Luke—are so called because they each relate many of the same stories when recounting the life and ministry of the Savior, and do so in a similar sequence. John’s gospel, by contrast, is different. Radically different. The Gospel of John is a meticulously structured work that is more symbolic than
- [Making Sense of the First Vision](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/making-sense-of-the-first-vision/) - The reality of the first vision occurring precisely as described in the Pearl of Great Price is deeply ingrained—some would say, inculcated—in Mormon culture. Instructions given to church leaders and educators by Ezra Taft Benson on this point were unambiguous: “You should always bear testimony to the truth of the First Vision. Joseph Smith did
- [Louisa and Wendell](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/louisa-and-wendell/) - In 1858, a young woman named Louisa walked to the edge of the Mill Dam in Boston, Massachusetts and contemplated suicide. A self-described spinster, unemployed, and having recently lost a sister to rheumatic heart disease, she didn’t see a way forward. But, as she later told a friend, she stepped back from the abyss because
- [The First Vision: A Brief History](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-first-vision-a-brief-history/) - While every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is acquainted with the First Vision, few are familiar with its history. By “history” I mean the role it has played in defining the mission and theology of the church. And like most history, it’s a bit messy. In the spring of 1820,
- [Christ Moves At Our Pace, Not His](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/christ-moves-at-our-pace-not-his/) - Healing the blind was one of the most frequent miracles performed by Christ during his earthly ministry. But one of those divine interventions sets itself apart from the rest: The Healing of the Blind Man at Bethsaida, which can only be found in the Gospel of St. Mark. Bethsaida was a town located on the
- [A Minister, a Slave, and a Virus](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/a-minister-a-slave-and-a-virus/) - Towards the end of October 1702, the prominent New England Puritan Minister, Cotton Mather, was worried. His preoccupation was not with the ghosts and goblins associated with Halloween, as one might have suspected given his role in the Salem witch trials a decade earlier. Rather, his mind was focused on another invisible purveyor of death:
- ["…whether by mine own voice…"](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/whether-by-mine-own-voice/) - In 1864, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a serious problem in the Sandwich Islands, what today we call Hawaii. The head of the church’s mission there had abused his stewardship and needed to be replaced. Elders Lorenzo Snow and Ezra T. Benson of the Quorum of the Twelve were dispatched to
- [The Dysfunctional Family of Man](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-dysfunctional-family-of-man/) - The names by which we know Christ’s parables are often our own invention; they usually cannot be found in the scriptures. While these labels provide a convenient way to refer to a given story, they sometimes distort and obscure its message. A good example of this phenomenon is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. After
- [The Gift of—and to—the Magi](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-gift-of-and-to-the-magi-2/) - Christmas stimulates our senses like no other holiday. The dazzling holiday lights and decorations, the scent of pine from the tree and the aroma of roasted chestnuts emanating from the street vendor’s cart in the big city, that first sip of cinnamon-laced eggnog (we’ll pass on the fruitcake, thank you very much), the heft and
- [A Christmas Story](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/a-christmas-story/) - Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.1 Timothy 4:12 (KJV) Gene Weingarten, an award-winning author and writer for The Washington Post, was trying to come up with a topic for his next book. While bouncing ideas off
- [Grace and Gratitude](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/grace-and-gratitude/) - ’Tis the season of giving thanks for the gifts we have received. While most of us appreciate the importance of gratitude, we typically give little thought as to how we express it. We don’t stop to ask: “How should I give thanks? What is the best way to show my appreciation?” The importance of the manner in which
- [Resistance is Necessary, not Futile](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/resistance-is-necessary-not-futile/) - “What’s in a name?” Juliet rhetorically asks in reference to Romeo’s clan: the Montagues. The answer, as she would soon learn, is: “quite a lot.” And in the world of the Old Testament, names were hugely important. The creation story underscores its significance when God gives a name to our world and to each of
- [Incest](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/incest/) - Well, I’ll bet the title of this essay got your attention! I mean, when was the last time you read a post about incest on a website devoted to religious, scriptural and historical subjects? But what better place to find it than in the Book of Genesis where Lot is warned by some angels to
- [The Fifth Commandment](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-fifth-commandment/) - When my parents married, my mother was not a member of the church and my father, who hailed from a long line of Latter-day Saints, had been inactive for some time. But they each retained a strong belief in God and desired to find a place to worship where they both would feel comfortable. When
- [Forgiveness](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/forgiveness/) - On the evening of March 4, 1865, a black man, dressed in his Sunday best, approached the entrance to the White House. He was there to see the President of the United States who, earlier that day, had delivered his second inaugural address to the nation. Having heard that Lincoln would be hosting a reception
- [Dancing Bears](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/dancing-bears/) - January 1, 2007, was a dark day for many Gypsy families living in Bulgaria, for that was when their country joined the European Union. The livelihood of these individuals was suddenly threatened because, as a condition of membership, Bulgaria was required to outlaw the keeping of bears in captivity. For centuries, young bears were captured
- [The Unexpected](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/the-unexpected/) - In the early 1950s, the Karnaphuli pulp and paper mill, one of the earliest large-scale industrial enterprises in the recently established country of Pakistan, commenced operations. For raw material, the plant drew almost exclusively upon the vast bamboo forests along the upper reaches of the Karnaphuli River in East Pakistan. The suppliers of the bamboo
- [Living With Our Dead](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/living-with-our-dead/) - Throughout history, most societies have embraced the notion of an afterlife where the spirits of the dead reside. Such a belief frequently spurs the living to find ways to stay in touch, or otherwise maintain a connection, with those who have gone before. And some cultures do it in unique ways. Mormons, for example, perform
- [Sacrifice and Devotion](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/sacrifice-and-devotion/) - Sacrifice As a passionate student of the American Civil War, I have visited many battlefields and other historical sites where the Bellum unfolded. But still on my list—until the fall of last year—was Charleston, South Carolina, the location of Fort Sumter, where the War Between the States formally began on April 12, 1861. I went there primarily
- [Throwing The Food Of The Children To The Dogs](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/throwing-the-food-of-children-to-the-dogs/) - The Healing of the Syrophoenician (Canaanite) Woman’s daughter, chronicled in both Matthew and Mark, is an episode in Christ’s ministry we tend to pass over or sweep under the rug because it is embarrassing and difficult to explain. The challenges posed by the text, however, are no excuse for leaving it out of a manual or
- [Sweating Blood](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/sweating-blood/) - There is only one church calling I have ever coveted: Primary pianist. By means of inspiration, manipulation, and sometimes prevarication, I have managed to secure that posting, off and on, for around 25 years. My heart broke when three years ago back surgery compelled my release. When people ask why I enjoy serving in this
- [Noah and Abraham: A Study in Contrasts](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/noah-and-abraham-a-study-in-contrasts/) - We frequently study the events, teachings and stories in the scriptures in a vacuum, giving little thought to what came before or what follows afterward. While we may appreciate the need to read a given passage in its proper historical and cultural context, we often fail to ask the question: is there something more I
- [Miracles on the Water](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/miracles-on-the-water/) - Each of the synoptic gospels recounts two miracles Christ performed on the Sea of Galilee. The first is Jesus calming the storm while the second is the Savior walking on the waters. Jesus Calms the Storm After a long day of teaching people near the shores of Galilee, Jesus proposed to his disciples that they
- [To Be An American](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/to-be-an-american/) - This essay is based loosely on some remarks I delivered at a flag raising ceremony in Arlington, Virginia on July 4, 2018. What does it mean, “to be an American”? What defines us as a people? Some believe it is our fierce independence and dogged questioning of every new proposition, character traits often confounding to
- [When Caesar and God Collide](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/when-caesar-and-god-collide/) - We often misread scripture because we don’t study it carefully, are predisposed to simply accept the interpretation of an ecclesiastical leader, do not read it in context, or fail to consider the culture and beliefs of the original audience. And sometimes, it’s a combination of all of these. Such is the case, I believe, regarding
- [Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing?](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/whence-is-that-goodly-fragrance/) - On the Sunday before Christmas, it has become my custom to play a 30-minute prelude on the piano in our chapel before the start of church. The music, consisting of sacred carols from different countries, varies from year to year. A short printed program, providing some background information on each piece, is placed in the
- [Bishop Duane G. Hunt](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/bishop-duane-g-hunt/) - In the mid-1970s, sportswriter Frank Deford was sent by his employer, Sports Illustrated, to cover an NCAA convention in Chicago. The day following his arrival, Deford wandered into a nearby coffee shop to get some breakfast. The place was quite crowded, but he spied a lone vacant seat at the end of the counter and
- [Solitude and Society](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/solitude-and-society/) - Melchizedek is an obscure individual who makes but one appearance in the Bible, and most folks can’t tell you where or when. But Latter-day Saints sure can, for the high priesthood of Mormonism bears his name. Unfortunately, our exclusive focus on his priestly authority causes us to miss something profound in his encounter with Abraham.

## Pages

- [Eric Facer](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/about-this-website-and-me-2/) - I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Though my beliefs do not always align with those of the church, it has been a positive influence in my life and in the lives of my family, and in the world—sentiments shared by many others, I am confident, with respect to
- [Contact](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/contact/)

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/category/uncategorized/)

## Tags

- [gospel](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/gospel/)
- [rising generation](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/rising-generation/)
- [last days](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/last-days/)
- [Ecumenism](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/ecumenism/)
- [Meditation](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/meditation/)
- [Leadership](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/leadership/)
- [Religious intolerance](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/religious-intolerance/)
- [patience](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/patience/)
- [David O. Mckay](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/david-o-mckay/)
- [Christmas](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/christmas/)
- [incense](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/incense/)
- [memory](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/memory/)
- [bridesmaids](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/bridesmaids/)
- [kingdom of heaven](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/kingdom-of-heaven/)
- [grace](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/grace/)
- [tolerance](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/tolerance/)
- [scriptural literalism](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/scriptural-literalism/)
- [fundamentalism](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/fundamentalism/)
- [sacrifice](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/sacrifice/)
- [freedom](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/freedom/)
- [war](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/war/)
- [devotion](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/devotion/)
- [forgivness](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/forgivness/)
- [repentance](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/repentance/)
- [reconciliation](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/reconciliation/)
- [prodigal son](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/prodigal-son/)
- [conscience](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/conscience/)
- [authority](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/authority/)
- [government](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/government/)
- [obedience](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/obedience/)
- [definace](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/definace/)
- [kingdom of God](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/kingdom-of-god/)
- [Independence](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/independence/)
- [American Revolution](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/american-revolution/)
- [Liberty](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/liberty/)
- [Equality](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/equality/)
- [Miracle](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/miracle/)
- [Divinity of Christ](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/divinity-of-christ/)
- [Agency](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/agency/)
- [Advocacy](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/advocacy/)
- [Selflessness](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/selflessness/)
- [Gethsemane](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/gethsemane/)
- [Atonement](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/atonement/)
- [Children](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/children/)
- [Prejudice](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/prejudice/)
- [Humility](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/humility/)
- [Wisdom](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/wisdom/)
- [loyalty](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/loyalty/)
- [listening](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/listening/)
- [Ancestors](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/ancestors/)
- [Posterity](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/posterity/)
- [Tradition](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/tradition/)
- [Dissent](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/dissent/)
- [Groupthink](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/groupthink/)
- [Courage](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/courage/)
- [Iconoclasts](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/iconoclasts/)
- [Questioning](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/questioning/)
- [Paradox](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/paradox/)
- [Genius](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/genius/)
- [Adversity](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/adversity/)
- [Creativity](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/creativity/)
- [Resiliency](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/resiliency/)
- [Forgiveness](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/forgiveness/)
- [whiteness](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/whiteness/)
- [discrimination](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/discrimination/)
- [family of man](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/family-of-man/)
- [Honor](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/honor/)
- [Parents](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/parents/)
- [Family](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/family/)
- [Context](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/context/)
- [Literalism](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/literalism/)
- [Scriptures](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/scriptures/)
- [Charity](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/charity/)
- [Gratitude](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/gratitude/)
- [Ancestry](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/ancestry/)
- [Lineage](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/lineage/)
- [Unconditional Love](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/unconditional-love/)
- [Generosity](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/generosity/)
- [Kindness](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/kindness/)
- [Magi](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/magi/)
- [Gifts](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/gifts/)
- [Oracles of Simeon](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/oracles-of-simeon/)
- [Mary](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/mary/)
- [Faithfulness](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/faithfulness/)
- [Reflexive Obedience](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/reflexive-obedience/)
- [Science](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/science/)
- [Religion](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/religion/)
- [Openmindedness](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/openmindedness/)
- [Discipleship](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/discipleship/)
- [Revelation](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/revelation/)
- [Mercy](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/mercy/)
- [Compassion](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/compassion/)
- [Afflictions](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/afflictions/)
- [Vulnerability](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/vulnerability/)
- [Reciprocity](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/reciprocity/)
- [Pure Love of Christ](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/pure-love-of-christ/)
- [History of First Vision](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/history-of-first-vision/)
- [Reed Smoot](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/reed-smoot/)
- [Joseph F. Smith](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/joseph-f-smith/)
- [Plural Marriage](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/plural-marriage/)
- [Duty](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/duty/)
- [First Vision](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/first-vision/)
- [Passover](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/passover/)
- [Promised Land](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/promised-land/)
- [The Mother of Jesus](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/the-mother-of-jesus/)
- [The Beloved Disciple](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/the-beloved-disciple/)
- [New Wine](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/new-wine/)
- [Heritage](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/heritage/)
- [Diversity of Thought](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/diversity-of-thought/)
- [Character](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/character/)
- [Laughter](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/laughter/)
- [Restoration](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/restoration/)
- [Great Apostasy](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/great-apostasy/)
- [House of Israel](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/house-of-israel/)
- [Adaptation](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/adaptation/)
- [Intellect](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/intellect/)
- [Teaching](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/teaching/)
- [Change](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/change/)
- [Fatherhood](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/fatherhood/)
- [Independence Day](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/independence-day/)
- [United States](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/united-states/)
- [Creation](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/creation/)
- [Myths](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/myths/)
- [Condescension of God](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/condescension-of-god/)
- [Sacred Space](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/sacred-space/)
- [Service](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/service/)
- [Navigation](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/navigation/)
- [Life](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/life/)
- [Culture](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/culture/)
- [Collectivism](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/collectivism/)
- [Individualism](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/individualism/)
- [Friendship](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/friendship/)
- [Perfection](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/perfection/)
- [Eternal Life](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/eternal-life/)
- [Motive](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/motive/)
- [Pride](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/pride/)
- [Religious Tolerance](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/religious-tolerance/)
- [Introspection](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/introspection/)
- [Family History](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/family-history/)
- [Temples](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/temples/)
- [Baptism for the Dead](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/baptism-for-the-dead/)
- [Contextual Reading](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/contextual-reading/)
- [Birth of Christ](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/birth-of-christ/)
- [Redemption](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/redemption/)
- [Slavery](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/slavery/)
- [Civil War](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/civil-war/)
- [Humor](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/humor/)
- [Joy](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/joy/)
- [Sin](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/sin/)
- [Adam and Eve](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/adam-and-eve/)
- [Unity](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/unity/)
- [Priesthood](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/priesthood/)
- [Women](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/women/)
- [Old Testament](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/old-testament/)
- [Despotism](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/despotism/)
- [The Constitution](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/the-constitution/)
- [Time](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/time/)
- [Forgetting](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/forgetting/)
- [Truth](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/truth/)
- [Faith](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/faith/)
- [Vision](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/vision/)
- [Knowledge](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/knowledge/)
- [Foresight](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/foresight/)
- [Ingenuity](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/ingenuity/)
- [Critical Thinking](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/critical-thinking/)
- [Doubt](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/doubt/)
- [Ideology](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/ideology/)
- [The Second Great Commandment](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/the-second-great-commandment/)
- [Ambition](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/ambition/)
- [Mothers](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/mothers/)
- [Fathers](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/fathers/)
- [the family of man](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/the-family-of-man/)
- [Integrity](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/integrity/)
- [Convictions](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/convictions/)
- [Music](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/music/)
- [Antisemitism](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/antisemitism/)
- [Virtue](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/virtue/)
- [Acceptance](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/acceptance/)
- [Hypocrisy](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/hypocrisy/)
- [Love](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/love/)
- [Marriage](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/marriage/)
- [Family Governance](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/family-governance/)
- [Elections](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/elections/)
- [Judicial Integrity](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/judicial-integrity/)
- [Covet](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/covet/)
- [Religious Freedom](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/religious-freedom/)
- [Patriotism](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/patriotism/)
- [America](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/america/)
- [Peace](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/peace/)
- [Goodwill](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/goodwill/)
- [Enemies](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/enemies/)
- [Serendipity](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/serendipity/)
- [Miracles](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/miracles/)
- [ancient cultures](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/ancient-cultures/)
- [scripture study](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/scripture-study/)
- [proof texting](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/proof-texting/)
- [Idolatry](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/idolatry/)
- [Charisma](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/charisma/)
- [Polytheism](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/polytheism/)
- [Prophets](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/prophets/)
- [Kings](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/kings/)
- [Politics](https://thewellexaminedlife.com/tag/politics/)