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Tomorrow, Out of Africa

Tomorrow, Out of Africa

Last updated on: April 18, 2026 at 7:28 pm by Dan Peterson

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Tomorrow, Out of Africa 2026-04-18T19:28:26-06:00 Dan Peterson

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A pre-fire view of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris from the Pont de la Tournelle, which is to say from the east southeast. The Quai de la Tournelle is visible on the left. (Wikimedia Commons public domain image)

We took a third-generation unit — whose personal name is redacted here so as to avoid the tender ministrations of some of my more obsessive and unhinged anonymous online critics — to see an afternoon performance today of the Disney musical version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The performance took place at the Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy, Utah, which, as I generally like to point out, is a major local, state, and regional cultural treasure.

Many of the themes of the story are just a tad “adult,” the mood is darker than that of most Disney musicals, and parts of it might be a bit scary for a young child, but the 3GU evidently enjoyed it nonetheless. The performance was very well done and, of course, since it was being performed on the Centre Stage of the Hale, the effects were spectacular.

Coming out of the parking structure after the conclusion of the play, I noticed that the car ahead of us bore the personalized license plate TAPIR. Seeing that, and knowing that a few critics of the Church like to deride me as “Tapir Dan” because they mistakenly credit me with the suggestion that the “horses” in the Book of Mormon might perhaps have been Baird’s tapirs, I wondered whether some of my more obsessive detractors hadn’t perhaps reached an entirely new level of fanatical devotion to me. (What intelligence and planning it would have required to put that car right in front of me at just that time!) But then, a few minutes later, another car ahead of me had the personalized license plate AHIMSA, and I just can’t see any of my small cabal of anonymous critics going quite that far. Moreover, I can’t divine any motivation that they might potentially have for trying to identify me with India, with Jainism, or with Mahatma Gandhi.

Political map of Africa (public domain, Central Intelligence Agency)

I’m excited by this announcement from the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square:

Please join us for a special broadcast

On April 19, 2026, a special Music & the Spoken Word broadcast, “The Joy We Share,” will highlight how communities across Africa live the commandments to love God and one another.

We anticipate a sold-out audience. Seating is first come, first served. Come early and enjoy the 9:00 a.m. pre-show with us.

The program will feature music and footage from many countries in Africa, including Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, showcasing the continent’s cultural diversity.

A brief pre- and post-show will also stream on Facebook Live, including messages and musical performances in Amharic and Swahili, from members of the African community.

The First Presidency and the Twelve have their offices in the Church Administration Building at 47 East South Temple in Salt Lake City. The high-rise Church Office Building stands behind it. (LDS.org public domain photo)

This is an important statement from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about a legal action that it has undertaken: “Getting It Right: Clarifying Trademark and Branding Concerns.” I think it important that people who want to discuss the matter read the statement and make an attempt to understand it.

The main entrance to the enormous Humanitarian Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah (LDS Church photo)

Alas, it’s time now for a bracing dip into the Christopher Hitchens Memorial “How Religion Poisons Everything” File™, which, although it can’t possibly keep up with the sheer volume of theistic villainy that religious loons routinely visited upon our innocent world, provides at least an impression of the scope of the problem. Here are a few representative recent abominations from the Hitchens File:

Deseret News: “Opinion: When the government steps back on refugees, faith steps forward: We recognized that protecting human dignity is not separate from national security — it is part of it”

LDS Newsroom: “Church Leaders and Global Partners Unite in Geneva to Advance Humanitarian Care: Representatives from 25 countries and 11 international organizations gather to mark the release of the Church’s Caring for Those in Need 2025 Report”

Deseret News: “How Ensign College is bringing light to many Utah prison inmates: Latter-day Saint-sponsored school awards dozens of certificates at the Utah State Correctional Facility”

I’m absolutely thrilled to learn of this initiative. It reminds me of another article that I recently saw, which, so far as I’m aware, has no connection with either the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or religion more generally — thus clearly demonstrating that even secular programs can be and do evil: Stand Together: “Inside the college in prison that lowers the re-arrest rate by 93%: This college in San Quentin State Prison helps incarcerated individuals redefine themselves – and it could show us how to build a better education system for everyone.”

And it reminds me of a 2011 film that I saw many years ago, when it first came out, at Mark Skousen’s annual libertarian convention, FreedomFest: Its title is Zero Percent, and it was directed by Tim Skousen, Mark’s son. (It also features, as one of the teachers in the prison educational program that it portrays, Jo Ann Skousen, Mark’s wife and Tim’s mother.) Here’s a blurb about Zero Percent: “Rare access within the walls of the notorious Sing Sing Correctional facility to follow the lives of several of society’s forgotten men as they experience the transformative power of education while going through a rigorous college program called Hudson Link — with astounding statistical results.” See the trailer for Zero Percent here.

One of the most remarkable experiences that I’ve ever had came when I was asked to give a fireside to inmates within the walls of Utah State Prison, back when it was located at Point of the Mountain, at the south end of the Salt Lake Valley. I entered the prison with some degree of dread, and it was quite jarring to hear the heavy metal doors close behind me. But I had an unexpectedly positive experience there.

Finally, these last two items were found adjacent to the Hitchens File. They leave you wondering how much Lani Daniels and Jane Hedengren might have been able to achieve had they not been hindered and hobbled by the baneful effects of religious faith:

Deseret News: “Latter-day Saint boxer Lani Daniels claims third world title belt in emotion-filled fight: New Zealander celebrates her underdog victory — and expresses concern for her opponent’s health following unexpected TKO”

Deseret News: “BYU’s Hedengren breaks NCAA 5,000 meter in dominating fashion at Bryan Clay Invitational”

Posted from Park City, Utah

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