On the Plurality of Worlds, by David Lewis#

"This book is a defence of modal realism: the thesis that our world is but one of a plurality of worlds, and that the individuals that inhabit our world are only a few out of all the inhabitants of all the worlds."

If I swallow the philosophic modality pill, then I find myself in much agreement with Lewis in various debates. However, I find the whole subject to be mis-guided. I think of possibilities as branching from free-will decisions and (potentially) non-deterministic physical laws. Anything that did not actually happen is only possible if these branchings could have given it---i.e., the physical laws are fixed, as is free will. And, these possibilities are not linguistic or abstract constructions, but mathematical configurations of choices.#

In my mind, many things that these philosophers find possible, I find not to be, such as talking donkeys. Based on LDS theology, i.e., my belief in co-eternal intelligences (separate from spirits, bodies, and souls); you could say I believe in haecceities and other essential properties.#

Some parts of Lewis' argument I found very intriguing: non-world beliefs (p. 28); doublethink (p. 35); how imagination and possibility are not the same (p. 90); "Whatever the truth may be, it isn't up to us" (p. 114); his argument that modal realism does not promote scepticism, it merely gives the old argument new form (p. 116), along with an interesting "proof" about primes (p. 119); and egocentric properties, again (p. 125).#

Element 2:1 (Spring 2006)#

The Mormon Trinity and other Trinities, by Stephen T. Davis#

An account of how Mormons understand the Trinity, expressed in traditional theological terms.#

Unity of Action and the Unity of God, by Benjamin Huff#

An explanation about what it means in the scriptures when it says that the Godhead "are one", yet are also separate and distinct. The basic idea is that if we understand "persons" as the originators of actions, then if the Godhead were perfectly unanimous in their actions, then they could be considered one person, while being separate personages, or beings.#

Lockean Persons and LDS Metaphysics, by Jan-Erik Jones#

A discussion of whether in LDS theology the soul is materalistic with a connection drawn to Lockean metaphysics.#

Latter-day Saint Conscience, by Rosalynde F. Welch#

An analysis of what Latter-day Saints say in place of the term "conscience", as used by other religious movements, with connections to history and discourse.#

Embodied Knowledge of God, by Jennifer C. Lane#

An interesting take on how rituals and acting like Christ give us knowledge of God that is deeper than we would have if there were to be new sections added to the Doctrine & Covenants regularly.#