David T
@improvementera.com
Latter-day Saint Christian. Random musings on Scripture, History, Culture, Lived Religion & Liturgy. Not a hater.
Home Sacrament today due to weather, and my newly ordained Deacon son was eager and enthusiastic to participate in the passing. While there is something important about celebrating as a community, this reminded me of the sacred experiences those Home Sacraments were for us during Covid.
January 26, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Home Sacrament today due to weather, and my newly ordained Deacon son was eager and enthusiastic to participate in the passing. While there is something important about celebrating as a community, this reminded me of the sacred experiences those Home Sacraments were for us during Covid.
January reading: 'When God Spoke Greek: The Septuagint and the Making of the Christian Bible' , by Timothy Michael Law. #ComeFollowMe
January 8, 2026 at 3:52 PM
January reading: 'When God Spoke Greek: The Septuagint and the Making of the Christian Bible' , by Timothy Michael Law. #ComeFollowMe
Here's their website! They even sell an 'Adult's Edition' with the same text, but for people who don't want to be seen carrying around what looks like a kid's Bible 😅
www.godsstoriesbook.com
www.godsstoriesbook.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Here's their website! They even sell an 'Adult's Edition' with the same text, but for people who don't want to be seen carrying around what looks like a kid's Bible 😅
www.godsstoriesbook.com
www.godsstoriesbook.com
This book starts with the Babylonian Exile as its first story, and only THEN goes into the Second (Genesis 2) Creation account and the exile from Eden presented through the eyes of someone in exile re-telling it, before going into the poetic Genesis 1 version. I LOVE this framing so much.
January 6, 2026 at 1:04 AM
This book starts with the Babylonian Exile as its first story, and only THEN goes into the Second (Genesis 2) Creation account and the exile from Eden presented through the eyes of someone in exile re-telling it, before going into the poetic Genesis 1 version. I LOVE this framing so much.
I'll be using 'God's Stories As Told By God's Children' (From The Bible For Normal People) as a compliment to #ComeFollowMe weekly Old Testament readings with my family this year. It's an EXCELLENT book for kids and adults alike - Bible scholars retelling the stories with good context & questions.
January 6, 2026 at 1:01 AM
I'll be using 'God's Stories As Told By God's Children' (From The Bible For Normal People) as a compliment to #ComeFollowMe weekly Old Testament readings with my family this year. It's an EXCELLENT book for kids and adults alike - Bible scholars retelling the stories with good context & questions.
My Sunday School class was downright giddy about the invitation to use new translations of the Bible, and several shared how they had started and it already transformed their experience. My kid's Youth Sunday School teacher brought it up too.
This is huge, y'all.
This is huge, y'all.
January 4, 2026 at 4:56 PM
My Sunday School class was downright giddy about the invitation to use new translations of the Bible, and several shared how they had started and it already transformed their experience. My kid's Youth Sunday School teacher brought it up too.
This is huge, y'all.
This is huge, y'all.
It really is a thrill to have made as decent progress as I have in being able to just pick up and read the Greek Bible and comprehend what I'm reading. Still a LOT to learn, but progress feels great.
January 2, 2026 at 7:02 PM
It really is a thrill to have made as decent progress as I have in being able to just pick up and read the Greek Bible and comprehend what I'm reading. Still a LOT to learn, but progress feels great.
Plus, it's in this direct timeline context when Joseph said Rigdon is to be as the Spokesman/Aaron figure to Joseph's revelator.
January 2, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Plus, it's in this direct timeline context when Joseph said Rigdon is to be as the Spokesman/Aaron figure to Joseph's revelator.
I understand WHY Moses (and Abraham) is jammed into the OT year, but I'd love to see it nestled in contextually with the D&C, where it fits perfectly, and adds to the contexts of many of the revelations in the D&C.
January 2, 2026 at 4:38 PM
I understand WHY Moses (and Abraham) is jammed into the OT year, but I'd love to see it nestled in contextually with the D&C, where it fits perfectly, and adds to the contexts of many of the revelations in the D&C.
The JST is easier to approach when you see Moses 1, a Vision Given to Moses (an initially distinct text) as Joseph essentially having a vision of himself AS Moses, and then himself going on afterward to continue living out the conceit of Moses writing the Bible for a reconstituted Latter-day Israel.
January 2, 2026 at 4:31 PM
The JST is easier to approach when you see Moses 1, a Vision Given to Moses (an initially distinct text) as Joseph essentially having a vision of himself AS Moses, and then himself going on afterward to continue living out the conceit of Moses writing the Bible for a reconstituted Latter-day Israel.
Looking forward to a different approach to my OT study going into #ComeFollowMe2026! #LXX
December 31, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Looking forward to a different approach to my OT study going into #ComeFollowMe2026! #LXX
UPDATE: Latter-day Saint Christmas Season is officially over, Church social media informs us.
December 31, 2025 at 12:32 AM
UPDATE: Latter-day Saint Christmas Season is officially over, Church social media informs us.
I found that as I was looking for the listing for something I DID know was coming, the 6th Edition of the Oxford Annotated Bible w/ Apocrypha. Amazon lists that one as being available in June 2026 amzn.to/4b7yiMT
December 29, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I found that as I was looking for the listing for something I DID know was coming, the 6th Edition of the Oxford Annotated Bible w/ Apocrypha. Amazon lists that one as being available in June 2026 amzn.to/4b7yiMT
Ooh, didn't know this was coming! Third Edition of Jewish Annotated New Testament, featuring the NRSV:UE. Coming out in April 2026! amzn.to/49vUe30
December 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Ooh, didn't know this was coming! Third Edition of Jewish Annotated New Testament, featuring the NRSV:UE. Coming out in April 2026! amzn.to/49vUe30
At home with a sick family, watching broadcast of our Ward's Christmas program - and they just had a moment for everyone to stop and greet everyone on either side of them.
These Latter-day Saints just accidentally discovered the liturgical practice of the Sign of Peace.
These Latter-day Saints just accidentally discovered the liturgical practice of the Sign of Peace.
December 21, 2025 at 4:06 PM
At home with a sick family, watching broadcast of our Ward's Christmas program - and they just had a moment for everyone to stop and greet everyone on either side of them.
These Latter-day Saints just accidentally discovered the liturgical practice of the Sign of Peace.
These Latter-day Saints just accidentally discovered the liturgical practice of the Sign of Peace.
First updated lyrics for #HymnsForHomeAndChurch I think we've seen...
December 21, 2025 at 12:43 PM
First updated lyrics for #HymnsForHomeAndChurch I think we've seen...
For some reason, the NRSV has had its YouVersion link taken off the list (Yesterday, it linked to the NRSVue on YouVersion, as the other listed translations still do)
December 18, 2025 at 3:31 AM
For some reason, the NRSV has had its YouVersion link taken off the list (Yesterday, it linked to the NRSVue on YouVersion, as the other listed translations still do)
"There’s a misconception that modern translations ... are less than faithful to the ancient sources — that in modernizing ...translators have compromised or dumbed down the doctrine...that simply isn’t true. [They] often have access to manuscripts that were not available to early translators. ”
December 16, 2025 at 4:19 PM
"There’s a misconception that modern translations ... are less than faithful to the ancient sources — that in modernizing ...translators have compromised or dumbed down the doctrine...that simply isn’t true. [They] often have access to manuscripts that were not available to early translators. ”
So these are some good NRSV editions, although the SBL Study Bible is the most recent edition of the Harper Collins, and it includes the updated NRSVue (I have that in digital, but not hardcopy). New Oxford Annotated Bible is also a solid pick, which is also due for a new edition soon.
December 16, 2025 at 2:07 AM
So these are some good NRSV editions, although the SBL Study Bible is the most recent edition of the Harper Collins, and it includes the updated NRSVue (I have that in digital, but not hardcopy). New Oxford Annotated Bible is also a solid pick, which is also due for a new edition soon.
Making threats online is now specifically a Membership Counsel Grade Issue.
December 16, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Making threats online is now specifically a Membership Counsel Grade Issue.
🚨 The handbook update is there, but the Bible list is not active...
December 16, 2025 at 12:21 AM
🚨 The handbook update is there, but the Bible list is not active...