Reminder since it's been a while: you signed up for this newsletter over here a few months ago I think. Probably from seeing me link to it on Facebook.

I launched this newsletter (and another one called Software Invention) right after I came up with a new workflow for bookmarking articles and reading them later. With that figured out, the idea being that I could use the bookmarking workflow to curate articles and stuff to share without too much work (cause with my main responsibilities, this newsletter won't happen if it takes work). Anyway it turns out there was some flaw in the bookmarking workflow, so I immediately stopped using it and thus have not sent this newsletter much. (At least this got one or two issues--the Software Invention one didn't get sent a single time, and I've now rolled it into my personal newsletter).

Anyway, big news: the other day I finally got around to making a really simple bookmarking app that does everything I need, and I've actually been using it. So it's time for newsletters again.

Welding Another Link in Wonder’s Chain: The Task of Latter-day Saint Intellectuals in the Church’s Third Century

I'll attempt to summarize this essay's argument, based on memory from when I read it a few months ago (supplemented by light skimming):

The church isn't growing as fast as it used to. This is expected: we've already been through one or two cycles of fast vs. slow growth. For example, the church started out with the message 'We'll help you know which church is true (btw it's this one)' and that was very relevant at the time. But after a while, growth slowed down and the message had to be reworked. In the mid 1900's, the message became more focused on families and stuff, and that was a hit. But again, that message isn't hitting as hard for a lot of people as it used to, apparently.

The Restoration will always be the main component of our message, but there different ways to explain it. The author argues that people who like to think about these kinds of things should try to figure out how to make the message of the restored gospel relevant to people living today. He finishes off by preempting two counterarguments: first, that intellectuals should be focused on apologetics instead; second, that regular members shouldn't try to rework the church's message because that's the leaders' job.

The Holy Church of Christ Without Christ

Not about LDS specifically. Some nihilism to balance out your usual diet of uplifting Ensign articles, since I think it's interesting to consider outside perspectives.

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OK, that's all I got for now. There's one more article I wouldn't mind sharing, but it's another "outside perspectives" one, and I'd prefer to keep those to under 50%. Talk to you next week, ya sick freaks. Send me any good articles you come across.

Jacob