The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints used to have a tradition of building cities.
Under the leadership of Joseph Smith, we built the cities of Kirtland, Far West, and Nauvoo. Brigham Young oversaw the building of almost 300 cities across the Intermountain West. City building slowed dramatically after his death. We haven’t built any new cities in the last hundred years.
Why?
The Mormon ethical system is distinct from modern ethical theories like utilitarianism and deontology – and also from ancient ethical theories like virtue ethics and natural law. Although there is significant overlap with other ethical theories, the emphasis on covenants is unusual. Here, I describe this covenant system of ethics.
How do we understand and interpret the historical events recorded in scripture – or elsewhere?
What should my first blog post be? I am sufficiently confident in this argument that I have presented it over the pulpit at church. And I think it also captures my personal peculiarities well.
