Dan Ellsworth is a consultant and writer living in Charlottesville, Virginia. Dan serves on the Mormon Studies Council at the University of Virginia, and is a contributor to Interpreter and other groups dedicated to improving Latter-Day Saints’ understanding of theology and scripture.
An encounter with Isaiah can sometimes challenge faith rather than expand it. Bible scholars can sometimes add to the confusion. Dan Ellsworth’s new resource helps people navigate several difficult issues to ensure the text blesses and strengthens us.
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In contrast with self-worship, authentic love of self is grounded in the transcendent love of God and the real understanding of identity His love conveys to us.
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Is the kingdom you seek in this world or the next? Here’s a little self-assessment to tell if it’s time to look in the mirror.
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People tend to seek information that affirms what they already think. But prophets are called to a very different task. And whether prophetic teaching is subtle or direct, the public reception is often sadly predictable.
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Americans have misunderstood “Satanic” as either ridiculous fear-mongering or a reliable laugh-line—not appreciating what’s at its core: A worship of self or “self as god.”
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It is important to understand the lived experience of our faith, including the reasons why people step away. But real understanding of these experiences is not possible unless we account for the variable of conversion.
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Some of the charged responses to inexplicable tragedies like this are only understandable. And some are clearly standing in the way of both greater healing and more effective prevention of future violence.
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Difficult days are ahead. So make sure to weigh carefully who you are choosing to trust to guide your heart, mind and family.
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Our discussion of Brad Wilcox’s firesides has been a hard and valuable one, and Dan Ellsworth closes with this plea for more forthrightness about the uncomfortable challenges Zion requires of us all.
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Part three of a series exploring differences in conservative and liberal approaches to faith – with a focus on the “social gospel.”
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Part two of a series exploring differences in conservative and liberal approaches to faith – with a focus on competing ways conservative and liberal-leaning believers tend to approach authority and belonging.
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Part one of a series exploring differences in conservative and liberal approaches to faith—considering especially the implications for Latter-day Saints.
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Many Latter-day Saint congregations have experienced deep conflict over our varied perspectives on COVID-19. This presents a teaching opportunity for Latter-day Saint families; the healing of divides in our congregations begins in each of our homes.
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In an age where Christians (and everyone else) tend to flow with the cultural current, the remarks of President Dallin H. Oaks on Friday at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville were striking in their departure from popular rhetorical trends.
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Popular culture often uses demonic themes for shock value, with many modern commentators denying the existence of Satan or demons outright. But believers benefit from understanding the reality of demonic influence, and clues to the nature of that influence are found in the demons’ own words in scripture.
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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s remarks at BYU revealed an already-existing conflict over how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its critics conceive of identity. As prophets affirm repeatedly, our true identity existed long before any of our present experiences, and is remembered, more than discovered.
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As the doctrine of the “self-centered” West becomes increasingly distinct from the doctrines of the Restored Gospel, the faithful can no longer stay in a middle ground.
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In demanding activities we don’t always know exactly what we’re getting into. Thank goodness.
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It’s not just folks on the political left who we’d love to go deeper in exploring meaningful questions. These are some of our questions for brothers and sisters on the political right as well.
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An open letter to Pro-CRT Latter-day Saints at BYU and beyond—inviting a good-faith dialogue that honestly engages some of our meaningful disagreements.
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