Latter-day PulseSubscribe
Faith · Ideas · Community

Latter-day Pulse

A short daily newsletter for Latter-day Saints, covering the conversations, debates and creators shaping our faith community.

Read today’s issue

Visit The Pulse

Video

Why does this religion that seems so odd work so well?

Watch on X

The Pulse

The Primary Pianist@Primary_Pianist

Latter-day Saint

The Invisible Theology Problem Evangelical: You Mormons have a terrible habit of interpreting the Bible through your theology! 😡 LDS: Guilty. Evangelical: Wait, what? LDS: Of course we interpret Scripture through our theological understanding. Everyone does. Evangelical: NO! We just believe what the Bible says! LDS: Oh, interesting. Let's try something. Jesus said we must be born of water and of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. What does that mean? Evangelical: Spiritual regeneration. Not necessarily water baptism. LDS: I see. And that's not an interpretation? Evangelical: No! That's what Jesus meant! LDS: Okay. What about the Father and Son being one? Evangelical: One divine essence, three distinct persons, coequal and coeternal. LDS: Fascinating. Where does the Bible explain that particular formulation? Evangelical: It's the necessary conclusion of Scripture! LDS: So... an interpretation? Evangelical: BIBLICAL DOCTRINE! LDS: Right. And when Paul says we're justified by faith apart from works? Evangelical: Faith alone! No works contribute to justification! LDS: And when James says a man is justified by works and not by faith only? Evangelical: You have to understand the context! James is talking about the evidence of genuine faith, not the basis of justification! LDS: Ah. So you're interpreting James in light of your understanding of Paul? Evangelical: I'M LETTING SCRIPTURE INTERPRET SCRIPTURE! LDS: That's actually a pretty good description of what we do too. Evangelical: NO! YOU FILTER SCRIPTURE THROUGH YOUR THEOLOGY! LDS: And you don't? Evangelical: Absolutely not! LDS: So when you read Scripture, you bring no theological assumptions, no denominational traditions, and no interpretive framework whatsoever? Evangelical: Correct! I just believe the Bible! LDS: Incredible. You've managed to become the first person in Christian history to read a text without interpreting it. Evangelical: You're twisting my words! LDS: Sorry. I must have interpreted them. Evangelical: 😡 LDS: Here's an idea. Instead of pretending one of us has theology and the other just has the Bible, why don't we compare our interpretations and see which is better supported by Scripture? Evangelical: Because Mormonism isn't biblical Christianity! LDS: And we've arrived right back at your interpretation being the definition of Christianity. Evangelical: IT'S NOT AN INTERPRETATION! LDS: Of course not. Your theology is apparently invisible. Evangelical: HERETIC! LDS: There's that invisible theology again. 🙂

Video

"Mormons Are a Bit Odd": Latter-day Saints React to "Elephants in Rooms" and Ken LaCorte

Watch on YouTube

The Pulse

Hank Smith@hankrsmith

Friend of the Church

Dads, please remember, the most powerful leaders lead with persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned, kindness, and knowledge. Control, dominion, and compulsion may produce temporary compliance, but they also breed resentment and rebellion. You may get compliance, but you won’t get conversion. And without conversion, the relationship becomes a house of cards, just waiting to collapse. Control is easy. That’s why it’s so tempting. It’s a shortcut. It allows us to get the behavior we want without doing the difficult work of building trust, developing relationships, and earning influence. Think about the contrast between God’s approach and Satan’s. God tells Adam, “By the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” In other words, meaningful things require effort, patience, and work. Satan, on the other hand, tempts Cain with a shortcut: “You don’t have to earn it. You don’t have to wait. Just take what you want.” Control is the shortcut to compliance. Love is the long road to conversion. And while control may change someone’s behavior for a moment, love has the power to change someone’s heart forever.

Video

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Jeremiah 31–33; 36–39; Lamentations 1; 3 – Jennifer Roach Lees

Watch on YouTube

Video

Growth Is Uncomfortable, but You Don’t Have to Face It Alone

Watch on YouTube

You’re all caught up.