While this web site contains jargon that is readily recognizable to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, it is often cryptic to those who are not. I freely use many terms and proper nouns that are unique to my faith. I know this can be intimidating or off-putting for those who are not members of my church. Please know that I don’t mean for that to happen. Many of my dearest and most admired friends are not of my faith. You are welcome here as well, and I hope that you find something of value in your quest for truth. You can learn more about my faith at comeuntochrist.org.
Several podcast listeners have reached out with comments and requests. I hope this site will be a suitable way for us to be in touch and maintain a dialogue as time goes on.
I have two exciting writing projects in the works. At their current rate of development, however, it’s going to take a long time before they are completed. So, in the meantime, I think I will release bits and pieces of them in the blog portion of the website from time to time.
In addition to more audio episodes and writings, I hope this site will be a useful study tool for you. The links section can take you to trusted resources. And — concept maps have always held special interest for me. I think they have an amazing way of creating context and connections in the scriptures. They can also allow a less linear and more holistic view of things. I am hoping to curate a nice collection of them here.
Please know that this site stems from a genuine desire to understand the scriptures. I hold no illusions about my own creative efforts; they are an amateur’s attempts to come to terms with the structure, beauty, complexity, and doctrine of scripture. I have found clarity in this pursuit as I have shared these efforts with others.
As Nephi put it so beautifully, “the fullness of mine intent is that I may persuade men [and women] to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.” (1 Nephi 6:4) That is my intent as well — crude as my comparative efforts are.
When I discover, as I do from time to time, that these efforts have provided others with insight and support in their own strivings to come to know God more fully, I feel gratified and motivated to keep pushing forward.
So as I like to say at the end of my podcast episodes, THANK YOU for listening [and for reading]… I hope that [my efforts] have had the effect of drawing you to the scriptural text — a text that is endlessly rich with detail, and generously adorned with truths that help us navigate through our own exile story in mortality. I have found, and hope that you have too — that carefully studying the word (of scripture) has the inevitable benefit of drawing us closer to its Author, THE Word, even the Lord Jesus Christ. I offer my personal witness that His attention is fixed upon us. He delights to bless us and to honor our efforts to come to know Him better.