Join in the Jubilee: Readers
Lend their Voices to History in the Making
Edited
and compiled by Kathy Green
Seventieth Inning Stretch
Read Article
Here
Joshua's Seventieth Jubilee,
by John P. Pratt
Thanks for a great magazine.
I love the articles by John
Pratt. Please keep them coming as they really stretch the
mind!
Also, will we get to know who
the mysterious Dr Bridell is? I have found his articles
thought provoking and his diet difficult to achieve; but
I love the connection of spiritual/physical. This is so
true.
Trish Congerton.
Pukekohe, New
Zealand
**** **** **** ****
What He Said
Read
Article Here
Ten Persuasive Answers to
the Question “Why Not Gay Marriage?” by Glen T. Stanton
I
feel very happy to find a person who can express my own
feelings concerning marriage and its importance. This and
other articles help me to explain our viewpoints simply
and plainly to my coworkers. I can’t wait for the second
part!
Walter Cruz
Lima, Peru
**** **** **** ****
On the Mend
Read Article Here
Three Important Action Steps
for Betrayal Recovery by Fay A. Klingler
What a great article. Not anything
we don't already know, but a great reminder. If I had the
resources available right now I'd buy her book. Emotional
abuse, to me, is far worse than physical. It damages us
worse than a broken bone. I speak from personal experience.
I appreciate articles that help us heal. Thanks for the
help.
Alana Tompkins-Rhodes
Tooele, Utah
**** **** **** ****
A Star is Born
Read Article Here
Dawn was Here, by Susan Law
Corpany
Meridian continues to score
again!
Looking forward to the Tuesday
columns of Susan Law Corpany. Thanks for sharing her with
those of us who had not heard of her.
Virginia Braley
Liberty Lake, Washington
**
Powerful impressions came to
me as I read about Dawn. I do think some people know when
the time is near. If only subconsciously, they do and say
things that are clearly remembered as indicators. Six weeks
before my seventeen-year-old son died he stated strongly,
"I don't think I can wait two years to go on my mission!
I want to go now!"
He had just cleared some things
up with his bishop and he was simply feeling the burst of
purity and strength with being “on track.”
It is a beautiful and loving
memory for me. Oh, the tumbleweeds!
Brenda. Floyd
West Jordan, Utah
**** **** **** ****
A Voice and a Choice
Read
Article Here
Sign the Marriage Protection
Petition
I just want to praise you all
for doing such a good job with your online magazine. I
received an e-mail from a church member about contacting
my senator about the marriage between a man and a woman.
I had no idea this was going on. Thanks for making it easy
for me to get involved and to make my voice heard. Thanks
for all the good you do!
Tonya Tingey
Colorado
**
I agree with the constitutional
amendment effort and have been supporting it for over a
year — it is too bad that some members won't get involved
unless "urged” by the First Presidency.
It's like the Book of Mormon
challenge, I guess. Members have to hear it from the top!
Thanks for taking the special
effort to get the petition to Nevada.
The Roman Catholic Bishops
are putting on a full court press. Catholic papers and pulpits
were filled this weekend requesting members to speak out
and contact their senators.
Frank McLeskey
Fairfax Station,
Virginia
**
This was extremely helpful.
Having worked for a Congressman, I know that they read,
or are informed of, their constituents’ feelings on these
issues. It is very important that we raise our voices. The
worst thing we can do is remain silent.
Julianne Hatton
Lexington, Kentucky
**** **** **** ****
The Price of Freedom
Read Article
Here
Same-sex Marriage: A New
Threat to Religious Liberty, by Maggie Gallagher
You all wrote a powerful article,
obviously Spirit guided.
What I found Sunday after it
[the letter from the first presidency] was read in Sacrament
and discussed in the elders quorum and general Priesthood
session, though, gave me pause.
To be sure, there were those
who understood the gravity and historical significance of
this event. But there were others, too many, who took issue
with getting involved or worse did the 'head in the sand'
trick and blindly said that it won't happen here, while
it is and has been happening for some time now.
All too often I have witnessed
the Saints going about their business seemingly oblivious
to what is happening in the real world about them and subsequently
not taking action to counter the very real actions made
by people who serve the causes of the adversary. Indeed
on Sunday after I was given instructions by the bishop during
the general Priesthood session for all to hear, to help
get the word out on how to get to our Senators I was chastised
for my “negativity,” and again assured, “It won't happen
here.” (It is already happening here in Maryland!)
To me, this is a denial on
a dangerous level and narrow mindedness that will spell
disaster to those who don't get it.
This was not a message from
the First Presidency per se but a message from our Heavenly
Father through the First Presidency. This is a Divinely
inspired plea for all people of faith and the Saints in
particular. We must now go to battle to preserve one of
God's most Holy of ordinances; to defend the Constitution
and the principles upon which it is based and the heritage
from which the Lord's restored Church has sprung.
Please keep driving this point
home as you have started in your article, and drive it home
hard. The line has been drawn in the sand now and this is
no time for fence sitters and nay-sayers.
The issue may very well go
against us. It is in the Lord's hands either way. In the
end though, the Lord and our Heavenly Father are going to
be looking at what we as Saints did.
When we say that “they” should
do something, we should remember that the “they” we refer
to is us. Those who remain confident that “it won’t happen
here” need to be reminded that it is happening somewhere
already and it is only a matter if time before it crashes
through their door.
Name withheld
**** **** **** ****
In Praise of the Plot
Read
Article Here
"The Lord Be Between
Thee and Me For Ever"
1 Samuel 18-20; 23-24, by
Ken Anderson with Maurine Proctor
Brother Anderson has a gift
that benefits everyone! 1 Samuel 18-20; 23-24 was so clear
after reading his notes. He also cleared up a problem I
have had with understanding many of the Scriptures.
I have become a fan of Brother
Anderson's writings since I love mysteries and "tangled
webs." You, Brother Anderson, have made me realize
that each Book has a story. What I need to do is find the
plot and discern who are the good guys and who are the bad,
and why these particular people, places and events are put
into the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
David, Jonathon and King Saul
is a wonderful story that teaches among other things, humility.
Barbara Butler
Scottsdale, Arizona
**** **** **** ****
Faith Trumps Proof
Read Article
Here
Our Responsive Redeemer, by
James T. Summerhays
Any talk of proof in God is
entirely irrelevant. For belief in God is faith. Faith is
belief without proof. There is no room for rationality in
one’s belief in God. Once you believe, nothing — no intellectual
argument — can shake you from that belief.
You cannot be 'taught' belief.
God reveals himself to you when you are ready to receive
Him. This may be a rapid (Big Bang) or something which gradually
creeps up on you.
My experience (which is entirely
personal to me, and is 'tailored' for me) came out of once
again asking myself what we are on this earth for. This
time I got an answer (maybe I had been given it before but
I just wasn't listening) the answer came simply:
“To praise God.”
I was immediately struck by
the simple truth of those words. Yes!. For me everything
fell into place. I believed. No reasoning. No proof.
I didn't need any of those
worldly ways. I was 68 years old, and had lived a christian
life (note the small “c.”') But now I wanted to be a Christian
(large “C'” and so it all happened for me.
Where did those words come
from?
Well, I have no doubt.
When I was 84, my wife, who
I met when she was sixteen and I was seventeen, after 63
years of married life, quietly and peacefully passed away.
In my grief I prayed to God that “this burden of grief be
taken off my shoulders,” and a voice spoke:
“It’s not a burden, Alan, it
is a gift.”
Immediately I was able to stand,
to thrust back my shoulders, as I realized the truth. Yes,
it was a gift; or I look about me and see elderly ladies
struggling with their lives, alone, weak, some in pain,
and I am happy that my dear wife has been spared all that,
and am content.
Where did that answer come
from? Not from me. Then who?
Remember this was MY experience
'tailored' for me. In telling others of one’s experiences
there is a tendency and danger to assume that they apply
to others. It may be God may want me to tell others; it
may be His way of passing on the Good News. But one must
be careful one doesn't interfere with God's plans for others.
My love and prayers to you all.
Alan Rose
Maidstone, Kent,
United Kingdom
**** **** **** ****
Youth of Zion
Read Article Here
Youth of the Noble Birthright
by Darla Isackson with Rosa Sedillo
Thank you for sharing the sweet
story and testimony of Rosa. I have taught Seminary off
and on over the years and only by working with the youth
of this great church can you see into their souls. They
do not open up to just everyone; so I appreciate Rosa's
willingness to share her feelings. I know that the youth
are coming more and more prepared to battle the adversary.
We were told in our CES meeting that there is no need to
"sugar coat" the gospel of Jesus Christ as these
youth are able to understand more clearly the teachings
of the Savior than at any other time in the history of the
Church. They get it. They love to learn if they learn they
are loved in the process.
Rosa is a good example of what
is in store for the leadership of the Church not too far
down the road. In a time where there is so much negative
comments regarding the youth, it is encouraging to know
that Young Women and Young Men are waiting in the wings
bearing such strong testimonies. What courage they have,
like Joshua of old who was told to be strong and courageous.
Our youth truly have to be
Defenders of the Faith now, just to walk down the halls
of some schools and not be afraid of standing tall in making
choices that we think nothing of. I am grateful to teach
Sunday school each Sabbath with young people who inspire
me to share the joy of the gospel with others, unashamed
and unafraid. Rosa's testimony brings tears to my eyes
and hope for the "rising generation." Thank you
so much for blessing my day with her story.
Karolyn Pieren
Brookings, OR
