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Editorial articles and opinions from the desk of Leo Morris

Larry Morris' poems are gentle, poignant and powerful expressions of the many nuances and experiences in his grieving the deaths of his wife and then/also of his son. These nuances and experiences will resonate with your own, no matter who you are grieving or how long it has been. His poems will give words to your own moments in grieving for which you may not have had any words at all. He will take you into those ordinary but deep moments of sadness and loneliness as well as into precious moments of hope, gratitude, peace or beginning to live again. The flow of his book holds that tension beautifully. He becomes a companion in your sadness and a gentle voice beckoning you slowly into a new life. He draws on his faith in a way that can include all of us in our desire for hope and healing after the death of someone we love. These simple but profound poems will speak gently to your heart. Rev. Penelope Guntermann, M.Div, M.A, Retired Mental Health Therapist, Seattle WA

What did David O. McKay say about the theory of evolution, or George Albert Smith about Saints thinking for themselves? Why did Relief Society president Eliza R. Snow and others write a heartfelt letter of appreciation to the governor of the Utah territory? With fifteen new letters, this revised edition of A Treasury of Latter-day Saint Letters answers these and other intriguing questions through the words of early Church figures, from apostles to Joseph Smith's relatives. Historian Larry Morris, formerly with the Ensign and the Joseph Smith Papers, explains the historical context of each epistle and presents the text of the letter itself. Preserving the exact words and spelling of the writer, this inspiring and thought-provoking volume offers a glimpse into the personal lives and candid feelings of a host of prominent Church members--a rare view not often seen from the pulpit or in history books.

A Documentary History of the Book of Mormon presents the first extensive study of the primary sources chronicling the origin of the long-ridiculed narrative that has now been reprinted more than one hundred and eighty million times in one hundred and ten languages. The scores of documents transcribed and annotated in A Documentary History include family histories, journal entries, letters, affidavits, reminiscences, interviews, newspaper articles, and book extracts, as well as revelations dictated in the name of God. These texts tell the captivating story of what happened (and what was believed or rumored to have happened) between September 1823 -- when the seventeen-year-old farm boy Joseph Smith announced that an angel of God had directed him to an ancient book inscribed on gold plates -- and March 1830, when the Book of Mormon was first published. From the late 1820s to the present, the controversy -- as well as the curiosity -- has never ceased. By bringing together for the first time a substantial compilation of both first- and secondhand accounts relevant to the inception of the divine revelation -- or clever fraud -- that launched a new world religion, A Documentary History makes a highly significant contribution to the rapidly growing field of Mormon Studies.

Through his wife's nearly five year battle with ovarian cancer, Larry P Morris, wrote poetry to describe his journey as a caregiver, He wrote about the desperate days and nights, the roller coaster of emotions, the search for treatments, the quest for answers to what was going on and the new intimacy between he and his wife in the midst of it all. He wrote about the solace of his faith and the pain of the many questions that had no answers. Morris writes with the powerful emotions of deep joy, profound pain, desperate longing, honest anger, deep loneliness, tremendous gratefulness and touching love. If you want to understand the life of a caregiver, or you are a caregiver and want to hear someone put your journey into the powerful words it deserves, you will find this book helpful. Many of the poems in this books have already been used to begin discussions on specific topics and as prompts to share feelings in caregiver support groups. If you are a caregiver, who has lost a loved one and are processing your years of service, this book will help you reflect on the love that you gave and find meaning in it. This is a book to be read slowly and let the power of its words take you deeply into your own journey.

From the first account of “Colter’s Run,” published in 1810, fascination with John Colter, one of America’s most famous and yet least known frontiersmen and discoverer of Yellowstone Park, has never waned. Unlike other legends of the era like Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and Kit Carson, Colter has remained elusive because he left not a single letter, diary, or reminiscence. Gathering the available evidence and guiding readers through a labyrinth of hearsay, rumor, and myth, two Colter experts for the first time tell the whole story of Colter and his legend.

In the autumn of 1940, two icons of American culture met in Sun Valley, Idaho--writer Ernest Hemingway and actor Gary Cooper. Although "Hem" was known as brash, larger-than-life and hard-drinking and "Coop" as courteous, non-confrontational and taciturn, the two became good friends. And though they would see each other over the years in Hollywood, Cuba, New York and Paris, it was to Idaho they always returned. Here they hunted together, waded through marshes and hiked sagebrush-covered hills, sometimes talking and sometimes not but continually forging a close comradeship. That bond sustained them through the highs and lows of stardom, through personal trials and triumphs and from their first conversation to their deaths seven weeks apart in 1961. Author Larry Morris celebrates the story of that unforgettable friendship.

“Combines adventure, mystery, and tragedy . . . a ‘Who’s Who’ of explorers who opened the pathway for an ocean-to-ocean America.” —St. Joseph News-Press (Missouri) The story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition has been told many times. But what became of the thirty-three members of the Corps of Discovery once the expedition was over? The expedition ended in 1806, and the final member of the corps passed away in 1870. In the intervening decades, members of the corps witnessed the momentous events of the nation they helped to form—from the War of 1812 to the Civil War and the opening of the transcontinental railroad. Some of the expedition members went on to hold public office; two were charged with murder. Many of the explorers could not resist the call of the wild and continued to adventure forth into America’s western frontier. Engagingly written and based on exhaustive research, The Fate of the Corps chronicles the lives of the fascinating men (and one woman) who opened the American West. “A fascinating afterword to the expedition . . . demands inclusion in the canon of essential Lewis and Clark books.”—Seattle Post-Intelligencer “Succinct, clear style . . . The diverse fates of the members of the expedition . . . give the feel of a Greek epic.”—Santa Fe New Mexican

Sin, once considered something to be avoided at all costs, has become common place and accepted. No longer believed to be a threat, or even to exist, like Elvis at the end of a concert, sin has left the building. But has it? Common sense would tell us to run from situations which have the potential to be destructive. Ideally, we would not purposely put ourselves or our loved ones in harm's ways. Yet, daily, the spiritual poison of indulgence damages our most valuable relationships. Sin ravages individuals, families, friendships, and communities. Anger, envy, greed, lust, sloth, gluttony and pride are killing us, but there is hope... Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy but I have come that you may life and have it abundantly." John 10:10 In Deadly, Larry Morris seeks to expose sin for what it is: existent, toxic, and devastating to what is precious. Each chapter searches the dark corners of the heart and helps identify lurking sin and then offers practical means of liberation. Larry Morris is passionate about sharing the Truths of the Bible in a practical way. He has a B.A. in Theology from Southern Nazarene University and 20 years of pastoral experience. Larry currently pastors the Broken Arrow Church of the Nazarene, banazarene.org. He and his wife Kristi live in Oklahoma with their two children Hope and Jason.

Where Darwin Meets the Bible provides an account of the lasting conflict between creationists and evolutionists.