Readers Respond to Electrical Current
Events
Edited and compiled by Kathy Green
Shock
Treatment
Parents
Should be Outraged - Read
Article Here
We
as a family with grandchildren attending elementary and junior
high and high school in Palmdale, Calif. strongly protest
the treatment that these first, third and fifth graders were
subjected to according to your article, and T V and radio
reports. What are the classes above elementary school being
taught and subjected to?
Home
schooling looms much larger on the horizon. Looking
forward to closing public schools that subject our youngsters
to this kind of treatment.
Joan
and Philip Hoskins
Browns Valley, California
**
You
bet we are concerned about this decision. What is the majority
of our country neglecting, besides speaking out and getting
involved? I have sixteen grandchildren,
I definitely would not want them surveyed with this survey.
I
was a late teenager before I could even answer any of the
questions in that survey. I am appalled and disappointed that
we have judges who can make such irresponsible decisions.
This is a worse nightmare for parents throughout the whole
world for these kinds of things to happen, especially here
in America, the promised land. We are
losing the battle by letting these things keep happening and
it’s no wonder our country is being washed away and blown
away.
Parents
have to be stronger and outspoken and hopefully during this
day of elections, elect responsible individuals who will do
their part, but we also have to do our part. Thank you for
the article. We heard about it on a radio talk show last week
on our way home from an assignment in the Conference Center.
The
talk show host was outraged as were we. And after reading
the questions it is very alarming.
Glenn
and Diane Taylor
Ogden, Utah
**
I am a lifelong resident of the liberal Santa Monica
and Bay Areas of California. You can imagine the changes
that have taken place in the state in my lifetime.
In the 40s and 50s, life was wholesome and good compared
to now. Our predominantly non-member friends and neighbors
were about as conservative as we were.
It just sickens me to hear what's happening now. I used
to be quiet in order to 'get along,' but now I feel we should
express our values at work and school, to friends and colleagues
when the appropriate opportunity comes along.
Carol Hansen
Fremont, California
**
Parents
should not be outraged. Outrage does nothing to protect our
children. It is a knee-jerk reaction. I did not find the court’s
response shocking; in fact I thought it was fairly appropriate.
If you are going to encourage concerned citizens to “write
[their] local media,” you might at least suggest they read
the case first. Here it is: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/9th/0356499p.pdf.
I
did find the content of the questions shocking. However, what
I find more shocking are the parents who carelessly turn their
children over to public schools in the current moral climate
without constantly informing themselves of the dangers. For
example, the letter sent out by that district raised all kinds
of red flags. The parents could have made their concerns known
at that point, and they also had the option of not allowing
their children to take the questionnaire.
There
was a recent Meridian article on how to gracefully and effectively advocate for change in schools
in cases like this. I thought the suggestions were very wise.
We don’t need to make enemies of our school administrators,
we need to make friends. We need to show that our children’s
education is a top priority by being actively involved in
the schools. If I were a school administrator confronted by
“outraged” parents I’d never seen before, I’d roll my eyes
and wonder where they are on PTO nights.
Lindsay
Varnum Cano
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
**********************************************************
Merci
Times Three for Mental Health Site
Connecting
Saints with Mental Health Services - Read Article Here
Thank
you, thank you, thank you for linking the website and the
well-directed article. As an LDS health care professional,
I appreciate the vast array of information readily available
in an organized manner on the linked website. Most families
are affected by some of the conditions listed. Having such
resources available to these families is a positive step toward
their ability to understand and cope with these conditions.
We all have different challenges in life. Our goal is to help
each other return to our Heavenly Father's arms.
Lori
C.
Rancho Cucamonga, Clifornia
***********************************************************
Van Dolls
The
Temple Express: How Two Sisters’ Temple Attendance Blessed
the Entire Ward -- Read Articles
Here
A few weeks ago, our stake high council met in order
to review possible solutions to a drop in morale and spirituality
among our ward members. This article may well represent a
key answer to our concern and I will definitely share it with
our stake leaders.
Many thanks for this very helpful insight.
Charles Defranchi
Paris, France
**
What
a wonderful idea, and what a wonderful couple of sisters.
I live 4-5 hours from any temple, so this would be a great
idea to start in my ward, only twice a month would be about
all we could do here. It was an inspiration to me to read
of how it motivated their ward and the resulting blessing
they received. There is nothing quite like attending the temple.
The Lord does provide when we make our best effort to serve
Him. Of that I know from personal experience.
Thank
you so much for putting this wonderful story on your website.
And thank you for a great magazine. I enjoy it each and every
day!
Margie
Zimmerman Jackson
Hamilton, Montana
**********************************************************
A
Modest Proposal
What
You See at Church May be Shocking -- Read Article Here
I
just read your article and agree with it 100 %. As a seminary
teacher, I see all kinds of examples of immodest dress. At
church one would assume that these issues would not become
a problem but like your article said, it is. As a father of
two girls I am aware of what they wear and the latest trends.
However I do find the clothes needed for my daughters.
I
also have a son. This is the reason why I am responding. The
boys also need attention. To me a lot of the reverence of
the sacrament is lost when the young men passing have to hold
a tray in one hand and their pants in the other.
Nothing
looks more ridiculous than a young man in a white shirt, cartoon
inspired tie, and pants with the waist that is about five
or so inches below the waist. I do not need to see what kind
or color of underwear the young man is sporting.
My
father is a bishop and he stresses greatly the importance
of dress and he is saddened by what he sees. I hope in the
future that I will see something about the young men.
Trent Foulk
Phoenix Arizona
**
I
am going through this problem with my very soon-to-be daughter-in-law.
My son is a returned missionary and, thank
goodness, still very pure. He has chosen a young woman who,
unfortunately, has made some serious mistakes in her your
life, as many of us do. However, they are to be married in
the temple, very, very shortly and she and I have had many
discussions about her clothing. I have told her that if her
temple garments will show, in any form, any amount, at any
time, because of her outer garments, the outer garments are
not appropriate. Common sense tells us that if a woman's blouse
comes just to her waist, even if her skirt or pants, jeans,
etc., come up to the waist, when she sits, twists, bends,
etc., skin will be showing, therefore making that piece of
clothing completely inappropriate!
Two
years ago, I took my husband to have some tests run and there
was a young couple in the waiting room. The young woman stood
up to take care of her young child and when she bent over
I was appalled! There, hanging out, was about 9 inches of
Temple Garments! When she sat back down I went over to her and said very quietly to her,
"Did you know that your religion shows?" She looked
at me like I was crazy and said, “Excuse me?" I said,
"I'm LDS. When you bent over to take care of your child,
my nonmember husband, myself and
the other 50 people in the waiting room just got a great look
at your garments. Please remember and respect those covenants
you have made!"
She
looked a little sheepish, but I don't think it really mattered
to her! We live in the South and have seen bathing suits with
a cover-up tied around it IN SACRAMENT MEETING! Beach flip-flops
seem to be the mode of footwear for young women and even sandals
on the young men. Now, I am not speaking of teenagers. I am
speaking of our Young Single and Young Married adults! There
is no excuse for this!
They
were taught better, or should have been taught better at home.
I was a teenager in the 70's, when miniskirts, bikinis and
other revealing clothing were popular. It was simple. We just
didn't wear that clothing! It wasn't allowed! When this type
of apparel is seen on young girls and teens, the blame must
be placed strictly on the parents. Are they not the ones purchasing
these items for their children? Do they not realize what this
does to the many sick pedophiles and other deviant people
who are out there in the world around our children? It all
goes back to one statement. "We must live in the world,
but not be OF the world"
Name
withheld
**
My
10-year old asked why I wouldn't buy her tank tops, trying
to justify the purchase with the classic line. "My friends
going to church can." I showed her one of her mothers
garment tops and asked, "Can mom wear a tank top and
cover this?"
"No."
"Do
you want to go to the temple?"
"Yes."
"Then
why get in a habit of buying clothes you can not wear to the
temple, that will not cover temple
garments?"
"OK,"
she said a bit deflated, "That makes sense."
"If
you will make it a habit now it is not a complete wardrobe
change when you are able to go through the temple. You will
have already been making correct, modest decisions."
She
is fine with that and there hasn't been dissention since.
If parents will make it a habit with their grade school children
then it isn't nearly the problem when they hit junior high
and high school.
Brian
E Kamerath
Murray Utah
**
I
wanted to mention to you, that, after I became a member, I
suddenly found myself in need of modest clothes that went
below the knee. As a single working mother I had only acquired
clothes given to me, so I wasn't choosy, and the skirts I
had were not "flimsy" but they were above the knee
in length. I have long legs so it made this more noticeable.
I couldn't help it. I had no money for clothes. Other sisters
in my ward had no clothes to give me in my size either (I
am considered on the skinny side). I went to the temple one
day feeling embarrassed to have people look at me like I was
doing something wrong.
Please don't judge parents by their clothes and think they
are teaching their kids hypocrisy — it may be that they are
spending their money on long skirts and appropriate clothes
for their daughter as I was, or maybe even just food. I would
suggest that ward members who are offended by the clothing
of new members on limited incomes might make an effort to
find second-hand clothing among the Relief Society sisters.
Lisa
Lehmuller
Fairfax, Virginia
**
This
article by Gary and Joy Lundberg is the best I've read on
modesty in a long time. I've witnessed nearly every example
they wrote about, to the point that I've had to turn my head
to avoid seeing what I didn't want to see. If only everyone
in the Church could read this, and follow the wise counsel.
I forwarded it to my bishop, with the gentle hint that he
might want to share it with our YW and RS presidents, I printed
a copy for my paper file, and I'm keeping it in my "favorites"
email file. Thank you so much for writing what I've been thinking.
Tamy Lee
Reno, Nevada
*****************************************
Saving
Grace
Letter
from the Highlands -- Read Article Here
Thanks for an excellent article. You have described
exactly how I feel.
Joy Johnson
Riverton City, Utah
**
Nice
thoughts. I appreciated your message.
Herm
Olsen
Logan, Utah
********************************************************
Can
This Guy Write Poetry?
“A
Prequel, Just Like Star Wars!” -- Read
Article Here
It
is rare that I run across an author whose writing reads like
poetry. What a breath of fresh air to read the first few paragraphs
of "A Prequel"! If you were to write a book that
reads this way I would be the first to buy it.
Darryl
Borden
San Antonio, Texas
Reformed
Reptiles
Sexual
Offenders — Serpents Amoung Us? -- Read Article Here
Thank
you for this article about Sexual Predators. While the crimes
these people commit are terrible, we are not in the position,
in fact we are commanded not, to judge. Absolutely, we need
to watch our children carefully, but that is nothing new.
Sexual offenders have been around for a very long time, and
many, many have changed their lives.
Many
of them have taken plea deals because they could not afford
adequate representation and over-zealous prosecutors intimidated
the accused. We do not know the individual stories, which
is precisely why we have been commanded not to judge. On the
contrary, we have been commanded to love them.
We
can love the sinner, fellowship the sinner and befriend the
sinner without jeopardizing our families' safety. In fact,
if we don't, we jeopardize our own eternal reward.
Judy
Haisten
Summerfield, Florida.
**
In
this article, it was suggested that sexual predators "deserve"
their fate. Technically, of course, they do. Any of us who
have committed a sin deserves the loss of spirit that comes
through sin. This is justice. Justice cannot be denied.
But
Christ paid for our sins. He has satisfied the demands of
justice. All we need to do is to follow the strict requirements
that he has stipulated for repentance. This is true in all
cases. So, someone who has committed a very serious sin has
need of very serious repentance. But, we should always remember
that Christ has asked us to forgive ALL others. Being a vigilante,
spreading rumors, and gossiping are not the actions of those
who love, and are willing to forgive.
Arn Kratzer
Hillister, California
**
While I fully agreed with much of this article, as well
as the spirit (caution) it was written in, there is a clear
bias that people cannot change which is inconsistent with
the message of the gospel. In particular, one member is mentioned
who had his blessings restored, yet cannot work with youth.
That is wrong. If your sins were like scarlet, through the
atonement they are made white. If there is any doubt whatsoever
about repentance, then blessings would not/should not be restored.
Even outside the church (and I believe whole-heartedly
in repentance and baptism changing a person) there are, there
must be, sexual offenders who serve their time and are rehabilitated.
It is horrible that we label these people for life. Morally
reprehensible! Everyone makes mistakes! And everyone can
change!
Brent Taylor
Aurora, Colorado
Glorious
Family Home Evening
Work
and the Glory: American Zion Shows Joseph as Prophet and Man
--- Read Article Here
We too shared our family Home Evening group at the Theatre.
I liked your article and loved the show...keep up the good
work.
Gord Brinkhurst
Cardston Alberta Canada
********************************************************
First
Love
The
Book of Mormon, A Latter-day Corrective — #6: Different Kinds
of Self-Esteem -- Read
Article Here
Amen
to Wallace Goddard's article on self-esteem! Those who focus
on "liking themselves" first, do not show character
in their relationships with others. They tend to return love
only to those who love them first and withdraw from those
they think don't like them.
Charles
Eads
Pleasant Grove, Utah
