Guided Missives : Letters from Meridian Readers
Edited and compiled by Kathy Green

Northern Light

Crickets and Seagulls with Steven Kapp Perry -- Read Article Here

I am a Canadian fan of Steven Kapp Perry. I love the way his music touches my heart in a very personal and meaningful way. It always invites the spirit, which I treasure. I felt drawn into this story, which caused me to remember emotion and memory of my own in a nursing home as a youth. His words are respectful and tender as he shares the reticence of youth to give service. I really hope that Steven will continue to share his gifts of music and written word. I work with youth and know that the youth also "feel" the messages shared in his music when we have had occasion to sing together.

With sincere appreciation for his willingness to share his talents,

Jennifer Stewart
Guelph, Ontario Canada

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Behind The Eight Ball

December’s Family Value: “Fidelity and Chastity,” by Linda and Richard Eyre -- Read Article Here

I disagree with the "eight-year-old " rule of new privileges, responsibilities and the "talk." My wife and I have worked to accomplish much of what you present by gauging, quite accurately it turns out, the "time" for the items above, particularly the talk. "Good touch, bad touch" comes much earlier, initial discussions of sex are tailored to the child and from hints we gather from what the child is saying or asking.

Public schools are trying to "prepare” children, and they are children, much earlier that we believe is necessary. Consequently we take on an added responsibility to know what is taught, how it is taught and opt out as necessary. I don't brag about how our kids turned out but their lives, their missions, their temple marriages, their children indicate that they received healthy physical and spiritual understandings on the topics of sex and chastity.

Frank Mcleskey
Fairfax Sation, Virginia

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War and Peace

Our Troops Need Your Christmas Gift of Love, by Gary and Joy Lundberg -- Read Article Here

Here is another great way to support our troops:  If you don't have a family member or personal acquaintance serving overseas, I encourage you to support Any Soldier. This website provides all the information you need: www.anysoldier.com

Cards and letters as well as care packages are all appreciated. They're doing a very hard job, and doing it very well, in spite of the constant denigration of the press. If you appreciate your freedoms, thank a soldier!

Diann T. Read, Lt Col, USAFR
HQ AIA/DOOI
Lackland AFB, Texas

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We read your article with interest. We have a son serving in Afghanistan as part of his National Guard duty and he is the LDS Group Leader. He has been there almost a year, with expectations of coming home in January. His perspective on this war has been most interesting. Recently, upon commenting about his experiences, he said that he has been happy to serve his country even though he doesn't care for the military life, nor does he believe a great deal is being accomplished in his location for the 'good of America.'

We support our military but we do not support this war. This is not the contradiction your article states. Our son is a soldier and we support what he has to do because it is his duty. We think that this war is a huge mistake and that there is no end in sight.

Our son is in the intelligence branch. He has very little hope that Afghanistan is ready for democracy. The centuries of evil traditions are preventing them from moving forward from the stone age to a democratic society. He has worked for months developing relationships with the locals in order to get information on the location of terrorists and weapons caches. Most of the time the human intelligence sources that he has been courting put their information up for sale to the highest bidder. There is no loyalty. It is worse in Iraq.

I have to shake my head when LDS friends tell us about all the copies of the Book of Mormon being handed out to the locals and about all the baptisms. The only baptisms that take place are among the military. It is absolutely true that if a native Muslim in Afghanistan or Iraq were to be baptized, he would likely be stoned to death or shot by his family and friends. We know of one LDS convert in Iraq and he was converted outside the country.

Why do Latter-day Saints as a whole support this war so enthusiastically? We know that the Gospel of our Savior will be sent throughout the world in one way or another. Is war the conduit? I think not. What a terrible price to pay, for the locals and for us. Surely the Lord has something in mind of a more peaceful nature.

Again, we state, we support our troops, they do what they do because they are following orders. We do not support this war. It was ill-conceived and totally unnecessary.

Name withheld

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Puppy Love

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, by Maurine Proctor -- Read Article Here

The Hollywood premiere of "The Twelve Dogs of Christmas" was mentioned on Entertainment Tonight, Monday night. Ken Kragan and his daughter were highlighted.

Amy Lee Corbin
Colorado Springs, Colorado

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Shutter Bug Story

Kieth Merrill Ask Scot Proctor Some Questions about Photography, by Kieth Merrill -- Read Article Here

I loved this article on photography by Kieth Merrill and Scot Proctor!

Cindy Shrack
Dunkirk, Indiana

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Like It and Lump It

Turning Old Clichés into New Maxims:
Children are Like Lumps of Clay, and Parents are the Sculptors, by Richard Eyre -- Read Article Here

Another thing we always hear is that a child is a gift from God. I have a different point of view. When I was 4, my birthday gifts were a coloring book, crayons and a panda. I loved pandas so much, I wanted to make mine prettier, so I drew circles around its eyes with my new crayons. Mom was upset, but my dad said they were gifts and the panda was mine, so I could play with it any way I wanted,

So when I found out a baby was on the way and friends told me I was expecting a gift from God, I had to come up with a new idea.

Babies are like library books. You have to return them in good condition; otherwise you have to explain why you left the book out in the rain or how the pages got torn.

So this new baby would have to be in good condition to return to Heavenly Father. This child would be loved, nourished, given choices, reproved at times, given both a temporal and spiritual education, tickled and made to eat green vegetables.  He would be read to, taken to the zoo to see pandas, taught to make good choices, have parents who would try to be good examples and would laugh at bad riddles and jokes with no punch lines.

Parents who would share their love of the scriptures and the gospel, and their testimonies. There would be an abundance of love, ice cream cones and burnt toast because they wanted to help. There would be songs, laughter and love.

So one glorious day I will stand in the midst of my children and their families and hear that I have returned my daughters in good condition.

This is my prayer.

Janice Snyder
Fort Dodge, Iowa

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Slam Dunk

States of Grace, God’s Army II, reviewed by Margaret Blair Young -- Read Article Here

I have wanted to see this movie, but I may end up going alone since Richard Dutcher’s slam on Halestorm's movies.

My family, avid lovers of laughter and joy, has often commented on how nice it is that we can finally laugh at ourselves a little, and were shocked at Richard's comment on the LDS spoofs.

We have been great fans of Dutcher's work as well, and in an effort to support these good men and their work, we have made sure that we own them and give them as gifts. In the world we live in, spirituality is needed, and we appreciate those who give us something that we can feast on; but we also enjoy and need a little snack of laughter too.

We are different from the rest of the world, and yes the movies make that glaringly clear, but let us enjoy that difference and “the different talents” we find in each other’s work.

Anastacia Prisbrey
Manti, Utah

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Some Light Reading

Kieth Merrill Reviews Scot Proctor’s Witness of the Light -- Read Article Here

I am thrilled to see that you have done this DVD! (Bonus that it is in time for Christmas! I just ordered 3.)

I have enjoyed and shared the book Witness of the Light for 10 years now! It is underlined and highlighted and I have used it in teaching seminary. It made a difference during our family's Church History trip ten years ago. My 83-year old mother took your Institute class years ago when you lived in Salt Lake City, and she loved it! This is a marvelous way to honor the Prophet! Thanks for making this 200th anniversary celebration even more wonderful.

I wrote it in the front of your book (Witness of the Light) years ago... “Every member of the Church ought to have some understanding of, and familiarity with, the history of this tremendous movement. Without such understanding, it is difficult to sink the roots of faith deep enough that the tree will not topple when false winds of doctrine blow. No man can really appreciate Joseph Smith without reading his history. No one can really understand the tremendous heritage we have, which has been made possible by the sacrifice of the generations who have gone before. Without such understanding, it is not likely that there will be much of gratitude or appreciation” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Church News, January 4, 1997, p. 2).

I am looking forward to using the 52 family home evening segments. You do a wonderful daily service in your Meridian Magazine and now, this production is another evidence of your heart... I thank you for making my life better and helping me sink my roots of faith deeper.

Cyndy Weiss
Vancouver, Washington

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I am so very excited about this DVD. Last year I made arrangements at our visitor center to have a private viewing of the First Vision on December 23^{rd —} Joseph Smith’s Birthday. I invited my two children and their families to meet me there for a birthday party.

I have 6 grandchildren who are now 8, 7, 5, 3, 3, and1. I introduced Joseph Smith to them and what film we were going to see. After I bore my testimony I asked them to remember Joseph Smith and learn all they could about him this next year because we would meet again on December 23, 2005 and celebrate his 200^th Birthday. We left the visitor center and I had birthday cupcakes in the car and we sang Happy Birthday and toured the temple grounds.

I have been trying to think of what I would do for this year when we meet for the 200^th birthday party. This is perfect!

Becky Jones
St. George, Utah

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I read with great delight Brother Proctor’s description of his new film on the Prophet Joseph.  Let me say that I am so happy that he has turned this dream into a reality. This is the great challenge of artists, but when we do what compels us, we feel deep inside that we are actually honoring covenants made long ago with our Heavenly Father. 

I once heard Neil Anderson, of the Quorum of the Seventy, say in a stake conference, as he pointed his finger out to the congregation, "Each of you here has something to do to build Zion. Now, go out there and do it."

I can't wait to see the film.

Sarah Hinze
Mesa, Arizona

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The Right Path

The Yellow Brick Road, by Vickey Pahnke-Taylor -- Read Article Here

I enjoyed your article re: the comparison of Gospel principles with "The Wizard of Oz". It reminded me of the time I was assigned as a home teacher to a young convert in Georgia, and I used the analogy of the yellow brick road and the Emerald City to illustrate that she now had her feet on the path to the Celestial Kingdom and exaltation. She just needed to "follow the yellow brick road.”

Robert Starling
Riverton, Utah

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Vital Records

The Book of Mormon, A Latter-day Corrective ― #10
Our Records Are Vital for Our Well-Being, by H. Wallace Goddard -- Read Article Here

Perhaps we should also maintain a list of the challenges that God places in our paths as obstacles for us to overcome. 

Richard Gage
Winters, California

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A Meridian Miracle

How Do I Get My Spouse to Change, by Laura M. Brotherson -- Read Article Here

I am an LDS bishop, and I'd like to share an experience with you. I recently had a wife visit with me who was very upset at her husband and has been for some time. I asked the husband to visit with me, knowing there are always two sides. They both said that they loved each other and wanted to save the marriage. I asked them to talk things out together and come up with a plan and present it to me.

That was to happen last night. When they came in they had not come up with a plan because of disagreements, but the wife had brought in her list of grievances. The meeting started to deteriorate as the wife attacked the husband with her complaints, some of which were things that had happened years ago. The husband had heard these same complaints over and over through the years. He was frustrated with her unwillingness to forgive him.

Before things got too far out of control I said I had something I wanted to read to them. I told them that what I was about to read may be hard to take because it will require a complete change in their approach. That they will have to forget the past and start with a completely new mind set. I then pulled out your article "How Do I Get My Spouse to Change". I had a copy for each of them to follow along with as I read it to them. When I finished reading it I was greatly pleased with their responses. They both said it was the best article on the subject they had ever heard. They then began to point out the parts of the article that they were impressed with. I then pointed out to them the date that I printed it. It was that same day. I let them know that my wonderful wife who, of course, has no idea of those who I am working with had emailed it to me that morning and that it was an answer to my prayer on their behalf. Thank you again Laura, for this great article. I'll be sharing it with eight other bishops at our Bishop's Council meeting.

Name withheld

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