Readers
at the Ready: Meridian Readers Receive and Offer Help
Edited and compiled
by Kathy Green
In God We Trust
Read Article Here
Putting our Trust in the
Lord, by Wendy Rojas
Our daughter, age 41, came
home in November very ill. It has taken all this time
to discover she has lymphoma in an aggressive stage.
I have prayed and had blessings and thought I had put
my trust in the Lord, but there was always that "but."
Sunday I was sitting in Sacrament
meeting listen to the Stake Relief Society Presidency
talk. The lady speaking put down her notes and said.
"I feel that I need to add something to my talk at
this time." She then started talking about how much
do we really love and trust the Lord. She then stated
if we have pure trust there will be no "buts"
in our thinking.
I felt like I was going to
fall off the bench. I had been praying for days and I
did have buts in my prayers. She was talking to me; she
added those words for me. Now this article.
I think I need to listen
and obey.
Name withheld
**
Thank you for sharing this
article. It is so beautifully written, so touching.
J. Bothell
Dover, Delaware
**
What an incredible story,
wonderfully written.
Ken Mano
Pleasanton,
California
**
We recently had a lesson
in Relief Society that touched on this topic. I commented
that we can trust in Christ and our Heavenly Father because
they have proven themselves most trustworthy. The point
was made that our trust/faith in the Lord grows when we
obey and are blessed. I added that our trust and faith
in the Lord is also bolstered when we repent and receive
forgiveness and healing. In short, anytime we participate
in the Gospel plan our trust is rewarded with confirmation
that God is trustworthy.
Todd Lillywhite
Murray, Utah
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Reverse the Ratio
Read
Article Here
10 to 1: Guess Who Congress
is Hearing From on Marriage? By Maurine Jensen Proctor
Thank you so much for your
vision and leadership in this "fight for our lives."
Your article today is inspiring and motivating, and I
have again contacted my Congressman and have sent a thank
you to President Bush for his steadiness.
I am an erstwhile member
of the Family Leader in Idaho group, and have participated
in our phone conversations only once. Caring for a little
granddaughter who doesn't yet understand the boundaries
of phone conversations makes it a little hard to join
in each time, but I am kept up-to-date by Gayann and Sheila.
I recently submitted an article
to our local newspaper on this topic, and I'm attaching
it for your interest
Thank you again, not only
for this leadership, but for many books etc. which have
blessed us with your writing and your husband's inspiring
photography. By the way, I think we're kissing cousins
— same Proctor ancestor.
Kathy Stanger
Idaho
[Editor’s
note: Here is Sister Stanger’s letter.]
Few subjects
have caught our national attention lately as much as the
debate about same gender marriage. Nearly without exception
each commentary, print article or letter defends its position
by reinforcing a seriously distorted argument, and I’m
bothered enough to speak up where I would much prefer
to be silent. (Yes, there are times when I prefer to
keep my opinions to myself.)
The argument
that most offends me is the intellectually wanting statement
that if we don’t support same gender marriage we are homophobic
bigots. Come on folks, we can examine an issue more critically
than that.
First, to
be clear: Homosexuality is a subject about which even
medically and psychologically trained “experts” know very
little. Further, those of us who know and love people
who are struggling with gender identity know that the
heartbreak is cruelly trivialized by the simplicity of
the arguments put forth. Until we know more about homosexuality,
I suggest a moratorium on simplistic solutions.
Remember
H.L. Mencken’s great line: “For every complicated problem
there is a solution which is short, simple and wrong.”
Same gender
couples can make any legal arrangement they wish in order
to facilitate partner benefits of inheritance or agency.
No one is in jeopardy as have been those who had to fight
civil rights injustices. Please don’t equate the two
any longer.
As I see
it, this battle is not about homosexual rights. There
are none wanting.
There is
a whole generation of adults in this world, even in Idaho,
who are wise enough to allow everyone his own path through
life, no questions asked. We live and work together as
genuine friends and families even without some letter-writer
shaking a finger at us.
Let’s be clear. This battle is about traditional marriage,
its definition and its defense.
My question
then is why would we support the upheaval of a centuries-long,
successful foundation of our legal and governmental traditions
just to satisfy a small but vocal lobby that may or may
not speak for other homosexuals. And why do so simply
to avoid seeming prudish?
Frankly,
in this arena we can’t afford to worry about what others
may think. We know better than to fall for such twisted
logic.
We must
not allow some bored activist, with hands in the deep
pockets of the entertainment world to make us question
our commitment to time honored traditions. Supporting
same gender marriage does not prove we are broad minded
and sophisticated, rather it may well prove we have not
yet thought through the far-reaching ramifications of
such a profound change upon families, children, and all
social institutions which touch upon marriage. All would
be changed irreparably.
That’s simply
too high a price.
**
The two of you continue to
simply amaze me. I'm thankful that you've taken the cause
of family and marriage support so totally. I know from
personal experience with my company that there is a price
that's paid with taking the time that's necessary to serve
"on the point;" but that there are also immeasurable
blessings that come from such service.
Know that the Hansen family
continuously expresses great appreciation for your efforts
and personal sacrifices. Keep up the good work and know
that you and your loved ones are in prayers worldwide.
Dave and Nannette Hansen
Bountiful, Utah
**** **** **** ****
Memories of U
Read Article Here
With Joy Shall Ye Draw Water:
LDS Couple Brings Well to Ethiopian Village
Thank you for publishing
Rebecca Birkin's articles on Africa. They touched my
heart and helped me want to find a way to help. I knew
Rebecca at the University of Utah and it was exciting
to see where life has taken her.
Cyndi S. Hampton
North Ogden,
Utah
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Timely Time Management
Read Article
Here
The Priority Principle:
Doing First Things First, by Daryl Hoole
I was wondering what I was
going to talk about or teach this evening for family home
evening and I read this article and thought this might
be a good one to give.
Thanks for being right there
at the right time.
Lillian Campbell
Roy, Utah
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The Halls of BYU
Read
Article Here
Slavery and Redemption on
Every Family Tree, by Sherlene Hall Bartholomew
I read your article this
morning, July 9, 2006, as I was searching for information
on my grandfather’s genealogy. I am a granddaughter of
Alva Bedford Langford and Jacosa Alldredge. Alva is the
son of James Harvey Langford Jr. and Rose Ellen Jackson.
I read your article with
fascination as I tried to piece together the connections.
I’m not sure what to say, except that the Langfords are
definitely an interesting group of people. We will have
a Langford reunion in Utah (at Deer Creek) in July 2007
(descendents of Alva and Jacosa). Your stories of the
gold and murder are fascinating. My grandfather, Alva
Langford, was a milk boy to Pancho Villa when they lived
in Colonia Juarez.
Can you tell me where you
are from? — i.e. James Jackson side or Langford side?
Were you related to the Hall from BYU who was involved
in the artificial diamond? (I hope I got that straight.)
Thank you for your article.
I’m glad I stumbled onto it as I was searching the internet!
Chadra Kling
Pleasant Grove,
Utah
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Rousing Reveille
Read Article
Here
Faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ: “Lord I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”
Chapter 3, Part 2 of The
First Principles of Marriage, by H. Wallace Goddard
Wonderful article! Thank
you so much! This article can be applied to all relationships,
not just marriage, but it certainly is a wake-up call
to be constantly working at improving our relationships
with our spouses.
Pam Low
Cincinnati,
Ohio
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Fatherly Advice
Read
Article Here
Faith of Our Fathers: Creating
One Nation Under God, by Dawn Frandsen
Wonderful article! I fear,
however, that our country is descending slowly to that
point where "wise men" no longer stand for the
principles expounded in our inspired Constitution. I
have witnessed such a drastic change that has seemed to
spiral out of control in these last ten years. It is
time, even past time, for good Latter-day Saints and other
righteous people of this country to stand and bravely
declare that we MUST return to the moral society that
our form of government was formed to protect. It cannot
work unless we recommit ourselves to those righteous principles
expounded in the Declaration of Independence and in The
Constitution of the United States of America.
Natalie Thompson
Orem, Utah
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