The word commandment, even in the religious context, has for many a certain harsh connotation to it. For many Christians, the first thing that comes to mind when the word commandment is uttered is the Ten Commandments, a wide ranging list of “thou shalt nots.” “Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou […]
In Christianity, the word “Christ” refers to the title bestowed upon Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph and Mary, born in Bethlehem during the reign of Herod the Great, perhaps between 6 BCE and 4 BCE. The honorary title Christ refers to the Christian belief that Jesus of Nazareth was the anointed one, the […]
The story of Adam and Eve is well known, even to many who have never read the Old Testament account of their life together in Genesis. Adam and Eve where the first man and the first woman, the beginning of humanity’s journey. A literalist’s interpretation may say that if we followed each of our family […]
A common misconception of those assumed to be on the political right, as well as some of the more naïve souls on the political left, is that self-described Anarchists and Marxists are kindred spirits, if not co-conspirators. History teaches that in the long run this is far from the case, and a dangerous misconception to […]
The phrase, “There’s no I in team,” has been bandied about in team sports for decades. Although the phrase’s origins may not be readily apparent, the sentiment the phrase conveys is. Selfish players do not a good team make, me first players are not conducive to team success, individuals need to sacrifice for the greater […]
I was asked recently to give a lesson in my ward’s Elder’s Quorum on one of the talks from the October, 2020 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was given the opportunity to choose which talk and chose, basically at random, a talk called “Eyes to See” by the […]
My father, John Boeman, was the command pilot of an Army Air Corps B-24 Bomber during World War II. The B-24, nicknamed the “Liberator,” was the most popular Allied heavy bomber in the Pacific theater. My father and his crew flew dozens of missions against Japanese targets from their base on the little island of […]
I write the following not because I do not have a testimony of the Church of Latter-day Saints, which I joined as a 32 year old in 1997, but because I do. I work upon the premise that I am a flawed individual, that every other person is flawed in their own way, and that […]
I first read the book of Book of Mormon at the age of 32 after being given a copy by a friend. I read it with much skepticism, and very low expectations. My appreciation for the book only grew in time and after a number of readings over a number of years. I now accept […]
The history of racial and ethnic strife in the United States, in particular the treatment and status of those citizens of African descent, is long and complex. Other groups can claim being treated poorly from time to time but no other group has as consistently, pervasively, and with as grave of consequences been mistreated as […]