Lesson One of the 2012 Gospel Doctrine class on the Book of Mormon is now online. While the manual discusses the Three Witnesses and modern background information on the Book of Mormon, I explain the environment and apostasy of Jerusalem and the temple in 600 BC.
http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2011/12/boo
Read there / Comment here!
I was asked to do a review on Tyler Livingston’s new DVD production, “A Most Remarkable Book” regarding new insights on the Book of Abraham, the papyrus, etc. I was eager to review the video, but upon opening the hermetically sealed case, there was no DVD in it.
So, until Tyler can get me the DVD, I thought I would review the DVD case.
It is a standard-sized case. The cover is a dark brown, with lettering in a golden yellow. Those are well chosen colors, because though it is not a stark contrast (as you would have with black background and neon yellow font), the letters still stand out.
Nicely added to the cover is the round image of the Joseph Smith Hypocephalus. The hypocephalus, used in Egypt from the Late Period (623BC) onward, was normally placed underneath the head of the deceased to help him on his path through the after life. The Joseph Smith hypocephalus is dated to the first or second century AD.
While the image seems to be in Sepia, it is possibly the original color of the papyri that gives it the ancient look it has. That and it is 2 millennia of age.
The case is made of a good quality black plastic. To remove the DVD (for those who get a DVD with their case), it shows instructions to push the center button to release the DVD.
I hope this has been a valuable review for all of my readers. I also hope that quality control is better handled for future shipments of this video, as I believe the information on the DVD itself will benefit people much more than my review of the case.
Having a Master’s Degree in Teaching, I spend a lot of time studying different teaching methodologies, both in and out of the Church. In doing so, I’ve recently constructed a typology of major methods of core teaching methods used by instructors I’ve observed over the years.
It all ties into my depiction of a lake or ocean below. Note, I have a variety of degrees, none of which are in the fine arts….
Here we have a body of water. It represents the knowledge/truth available to mankind. For my legend, we have different representations.
The goal is to reach a level ‘A’ of knowledge in the subject (religion, science, etc).
The methodologies fall along these lines. ‘B’ shows a method where the instructor goes deep into the logic and structure of the data available. This differs very much with ‘C’, also known as the “water skipper”, because such an instructive method only touches briefly on the surface, and then skips to the next topic.
These two methodologies explain the difference between how Japan and USA teach math. The Japanese will pick a math theme and focus on it, sometimes for weeks. The students learn in depth how to understand the material, and can often take that information and expand it to other deep areas of knowledge. Meanwhile, USA math skills are often very shallow, skipping along the surface, expecting the students to pick up the deeper stuff later on in another class, or on their own. From the USA’s woeful standings in the world concerning math knowledge of students, we can determine that ‘C’ is a poor methodology.
Jon Huntsman’s ideas on restructuring the economy and to fix the banks is really interesting.
He would cap the size of banks, and also put in place a hard limit to the amount of leverage they can use. There are other key ideas that also really would restructure the economy by setting up the framework, rather than the Obama/Bush plan of tinkering with individual companies.
He explains that where companies are not allowed to fail, we do not have capitalism. Bingo!
Here is a great discussion on it on Morning Joe
While I think his chances for winning are low, I really like many of his ideas. If Romney or someone else wins, I would like to see him as Secretary of Treasury, so as to put some of these ideas into place. They can’t help but bring about a stronger economy, as small business and big corporations all understand what the rules are, the risks they must now accept for themselves, and that government will get out of their way.
Your thoughts?
The final Gospel Doctrine lesson for 2011, #46 on Revelation is now online. It discusses the battle between Order and Chaos, and returning into the presence of God.
http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2011/11/new-testament-gospel-doctrine-lesson-46.html
Read there / Comment here!