Orrin Porter Rockwell (1813-1878) Porter Rockwell is one of the most colorful characters in Utah and LDS Church history. He is memorialized in biographies, novels, articles, ballads, and monuments. Childhood protector, lifelong friend, and bodyguard of Joseph SmithBaptized June 9, 1830, just 2 months after church organizedTried and exonerated for attempted assassination of Gov. Boggs“No … Continue reading Porter Rockwell and the Utah Mormon War
"Sunday Sermon" My wife has always been a fan of Emma Smith. Me, not so much, since I am a big fan of her nemesis, Brigham Young. My wife was originally in a minority in the church, but now she is in the mainstream majority. Miraculously, I have also become a fan of Emma. What … Continue reading Emma’s Reputation: Hero or Villian? Sinner or Saint?
"Court Case Friday" I received a phone call in the middle of the night from the O.C. Sheriff’s Judicial Protection Unit (JPU). A reliable informant “snitched” that his accomplice was going to assassinate a judge because he was “Mormon.” The threat was credible. The JPU called me, and wanted to know the names of the other LDS … Continue reading Threat to Assassinate a Mormon Judge
"Court Case Friday" As a new D.A. I was prosecuting a drunk driver. My expert criminalist testified in the jury trial that the defendant must have consumed at least seven drinks in order to reach his blood alcohol level. After finishing with the criminalist’s testimony, I rested my case, and the judge announced a noon recess. … Continue reading LDS Drunk Driver With a Guilty Conscience
"Sunday Sermon" “The Way” The early Jewish disciples of Jesus referred to the church as “the Way.” They called themselves "followers of the Way.” (See: Ellicott’s Comm., Acts 9:2; MacLaren’s Expositions, Acts 9:2; “Christianity in the 1st Century,” Wikipedia.) I thought I was "special," several weeks ago, when I first "discovered" "the Way." But then … Continue reading Early Church Members: From “Followers of the Way,” to “Saints,” to “Christians”
Sunday Sermon Learning from each other We Latter-day Saints never claimed to have a monopoly on truth. There is much we can learn from our Christian cousins, and there is much they can learn from us. (See: "20 Distinctive Beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," londonedition.net, Oct 3, 2021) We also … Continue reading 5 things we can learn from our Christian cousins
"Court Case Friday" I was presiding over the high volume arraignment calendar in my OC courtroom, when I called the case of a criminal trespasser. As I thumbed through the police report, I noticed that the defendant was arrested for disrupting an LDS stake conference. I also learned that the LDS Church had obtained a … Continue reading The Paranoid Defendant – “Constantly Surrounded by Mormons”
Most California judges are appointed by the governor. Since I didn’t have the political "juice" for an appointment, I ran an election for an open seat. Thankfully, this was my first and only contested election. Judges come up for re-election every six years. In thirty years, no one ever challenged me. Thanks goodness! (Unfortunately, I … Continue reading My Judicial Campaign and the Quirky Voters
Just about everyone who knows me well, knows that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most Orange County attorneys who regularly appear in my court know I’m LDS. I was presiding over a driving under the influence (DUI) jury trial. We were selecting the jury. The clerks, bailiff, reporter, … Continue reading The LDS Juror and The Clueless Lawyer
The London Edition 