Photo Finnish: Readers Can’t
Stop Loving Finland
Edited and compiled by
Kathy Green
Gem Quality
Read
Article Here
Diamond of the North, Helsinki,
Finland Temple, a photographic essay by Scot Facer Proctor
Your coverage of the Helsinki Finland
has had special meaning to me. My mother's ancestry is from Finland,
with my grandfather being the last to immigrate to the United
States in the 1910's. I grew up hearing my mother, her parents,
and siblings speaking Finnish and enjoying Finnish customs such
as saunas. I have fallen in love with Finland! Thank you!
Susan Stafford
Auburn, Washington
**
The photos of the Finland temple
is beautiful, as are all of your pictures of the temples. I love
them all and appreciate your sharing them with so many of us who
would never have the opportunity to see them if not for you.
Viola Colson
Walterboro, South Carolina
**
I love the pictures! Thank you so much for the article! Think
I used to live a stones throw from the Temple...but I moved out
of country...
Maija-Liisa Aarsnes
Norway Romerike ward
**
Thanks you so much for the beautiful
pictures and comments you have made about the Helsinki Temple.
I was also there and attended the third session in the Celestial
Room with my daughter and her husband. My husband and I served
from 1972 to 1975. We arrived with five young children, the oldest
just turning seven and the youngest at 10 months, then I gave
birth to our sixth child, a son, while we were there. I often
reflect and wonder how I did it, but always loved the experiences
we shared in Finland, never feeling burdened in any way.
My daughter returned to Finland for her mission in 1986-1988,
so appreciated being a part of the dedication. My son, Brian,
the one born in Finland, was also with us, but attended the first
session at the Marjaniemi Chapel. It was exciting to be able to
see the Marjaniemi Chapel as it wasn't there when we were in Finland,
but we were the ones who found the mission home in Marjaniemi.
How exciting it was to know that all the mission presidents since
our time have used this home. Brian and I spent a beautiful morning
strolling down Harmaapaadentie to visit his first home.
Because it rained most of the time
we were there, my daughter was unable to get as many pictures
of the temple as she had wanted. She has her own photography business
and calls it "Sisu Photography." I don't know if anyone
explained that word to you, but "sisu" is a word used
to describe the Finnish people. It means, stamina, "guts",
stick-to-itiveness! I think you get the idea after meeting these
wonderful people.
My husband passed away Dec 30, 1995, the first Finnish mission
president to go to the other side. This was my first trip back
since we returned 31 years ago, so it was very meaningful. I know
he was there enjoying this wonderful experience.
Faye Wade
Bountiful, Utah
**
I am so appreciative of the Proctors'
sharing their temple dedication experiences with us readers (most
recently, the Finland Temple). Most of us will never be able to
see all of these temples in this lifetime.
What incredible experiences they
have brought to us through Meridian. Thank you for this unique
way of sharing your testimonies.
Debbi McCracken
Las Vegas
**
I served a mission in Finland 30
years ago. I have been back to Finland since then with my wife
Marci. Finland might not fill the bill as the ultimate "destination
resort" for those who travel and think that is important,
but if you want to go somewhere that is sublimely peaceful, beautiful
and relaxing, then Finland is the place.
My most special memory of our most recent trip to Finland is that
of visiting a very remote cabin on an island near the Savonlinna
castle. We were spirited there by a special Finnish family with
whom our lives are now and forever intertwined. After visiting
the Sauna, as my wife and I floated in the fragrant black water
caused by millions of decomposing leaves and listened to the Cuckoo
birds, we were convinced that Finland is a little piece of the
Heaven on earth and that it could never get any better than that...
But it did get better. Now they have a Temple to prove it! It's
time for us to go back again!
Brad Folkersen
Kaysville, Utah
**
Your articles and pictures on the
various temples have brought tears to my eyes and uplifted my
spirit.
Keep up the good work and may Heavenly
Father continue to bless your lives as you have brought so much
joy and inspirations into other lives.
Grace Y. Chen
Bountiful, Utah
**
I just want to add my appreciation
to the Proctors for the wonderful work they do with the Meridian
Magazine and for providing it to its readers. I just viewed the
celebration of the Finland Temple and what a thrill to be able
to see a glimpse of this wonderful event, along with the others
they have covered. You bring the world to our doorstep and we
are very grateful. Keep up your wonderful work!
Wini Jensen
Highland, Utah
**
Having served a mission there 1959
- 1961 (21/2 years). I grew to love the Finnish People and their
country. I believe the berries pictured are lingon berries (I
believe they are currants).
Thanks for a beautiful article and
great pics.
Richard Mecham
American Fork, Utah
**
I felt so moved by your beautiful
article, especially the many pictures that captured the spirit
of the event and it's preparation. You cover these things so well.
I live in England, but felt so much nearer to all the countries
and the Saints mentioned by you. I wish so much that the wonderful
performance had been broadcast over here, and those people who
are not of this church could see what a 'marvelous work' is happening
through the Lord's hand.
Thank you for making your magazine so freely available - I often
refer my friends to it. Reading it still reminds me of my visit
to Salt Lake last year!
Brian Kocziban
Orem, Utah
**
I served in Finland between 1963
and 1966.
In a busy life that hardly leaves
time to reminisce, your articles on the Finnish temple and its
surrounding celebration brought on a beautiful wave of longing
and memories. Thank you. (Kiitoksia paljon!)
Wes Rampton
LaGrande, Oregon
**
Our son, Kurt Schneiber, served his
mission in Helsinki, Finland so seeing and reading of this wonderful
celebration brought us closer to those saints. Thank you for the
wonderful work you do in the Meridian Magazine.
Ada Allan
San Leandro, California
**
How I love the photo journey's that
you take me on. When I click to open a new days post I never know
what I will find. Your pictures and narratives of the celebrations
that have taken place near the temple dedications have been delightful.
I work in an environment that is not always a happy place to be
and when I read your stories they take me away to places I will
never travel to but by your pictures and stories. You make the
Saints look so lovely while they are celebrating their varied
cultures and the meaning of temples.
April Peyton
Medina, Ohio
**
Thank you, thank you! We ARE indeed
one BIG family...thanks for helping all of us to feel a part and
see a part of something so absolutely amazing and wonderful. One
can't read the captions or look at the pictures without tears
welling up.
Cheri Mains
Pennsylvania
**
Thank you so much for all the pictures
and information on the Finish Temple. It was as if I was almost
there. Keep up the good work. I love all the photos of the temples
that you have done and the celebration that goes with them. Can't
wait until we get ours in South East Alaska.
Sincerely
Jenny Lyn Smith
**
Thank you so very much for the photo
essay on the cultural celebration for the dedication of the Finish
Temple. I was a wash in the Spirit as I read the article and looked
at these joyful faces filled with the light of the gospel! What
a joy to see so many bright, intelligent, and beautiful
blonds! Can anyone doubt the inspiration of President Hinckley
in requesting these celebrations.
Dan Petersen
Memphis, Tennessee
**
Thank you for once more shrinking
our world and making our neighbors seem so close. Your pictures
are the only way I'll ever get to visit these countries.
I can see the love and happiness
in the faces of these wonderful LDS people of other countries.
And I have your San Antonio Temple pictures on my screen saver
to savor EVERY DAY!
Thank you so very much.
Beverly Moore
Kerrville, Texas
**
I am a Finn living in Washington
State who couldn't make it to the Temple dedication. You can imagine
my joy when I found these articles in your magazine. Tears were
streaming down my face as I read the articles and saw the photos
and felt the Spirit. For a moment it felt as if I was there. Thank
You for these articles as I have forwarded them to my friends
and family also!
Kati Sant
Pasco, Washington
**
My husband and I sat here at the
computer and wept as we read this wonderful news from Finland.
We feel the same spirit here as we read it. I learned early in
adulthood that the Lord provides moments of PURE JOY to counter
the trials and sorrows of life. I could and should write a book
of my experiences with the contrasts.
I love the Meridian Magazine ! !
! and have found joy in every issue. The best was when you sent
a picture of Bro. Walter Krause and Sis. Edith. It was only two
days later that I saw them in the magazine and wept for JOY. My
husband, Gordon Watson, was on a mission in Berlin in the early
60's and loved those two people. They came to our Berlin reunions
for many years, as the church brought them to conference because
of their positions in the church. We heard the story of the Freiberg
Temple from Bro. Krause, himself. The last time they came here,
he got sick and so they said they would probably not come this
far again. We thought we saw the last of them. And then, there
they were, in the Magazine.
My dear Gordon passed away 10 years
ago, but his children still love anything about Germany. As a
family, we sent money to Poland so the Czerwinski's could come
to Freiberg to the temple. So many wonderful experiences with
people so loved, so far away.
My new husband, of 2 months, is a
convert with a sure testimony and a wonderful man. He shares my
deep feelings and joy.
Thank you again for this wonderful
communication. God bless you for all you do and for letting us
share in people and events that we cannot attend in person. We
LOVE YOU !
Lynn and David Jensen
Central, Utah
**
Puzzle Solved
Read
Article Here
Christ in the Work Place:
Ripples of Adult Conversion, part II by Paul Bishop
Thank you so much for this article.
I spent 20 years of my life working for an agency that was responsible
for investigating all kinds of horrific crimes. I always felt
like I lived two separate lives one at work where I focused on
the offender and seeking the evidence needed to prosecute the
perpetrator and avenge the victim, and the other life I lived
at home and at church teaching and wanting to love my fellowmen.
This article gave me the missing piece of the puzzle, which completed
the picture. I can now see where the focus of my investigations
should have been shifted a little to include the possibility of
repentance. This additional insight into motives for crime investigation
has helped me feel better about the professional part of my former
career. I just wish I had been able to have the benefit of this
insight years ago while I was still struggling with my two identities.
I have now shared these articles with my friends who are still
actively working on crime investigation.
Name withheld by request
Food for Thought
Read
Article Here
Eating: Gourmet, or Gluttony?
by Stan M. Gardner, M.D.
I find one of the biggest problems
to be the Relief Society Cookbooks. Sorry but do a good calorie
count of the recipes for “Funeral Potatoes,” “Sour Cream Enchilada’s,”
or any casserole recipe. We eat so much saturated fat and have
moved from working from dawn till disk on the farm to sitting
at a desk. We are obese because our lifestyles have changed from
hard manual labor to the “Information Age” and sitting at a Desk
but we still want to eat the recipes handed down the line filled
with fats. Moderation in all things doesn’t mean we eat half a
stick of butter instead of the whole thing- there are some radical
changes we need to make in order to be healthy.
Brian Kamerath
Murray, Utah
Mining Meridian Gold
Read
Article Here
Turning Darkness in Light,
by H. Wallace, Goddard
Recently I've come to realize how
much I rely upon your e-publication for so many things...today's
Myth of the Month series is a gold mine of sound, reliable inspiration
and advice.
After months of asking my friends if they've read 'this or that'
on Meridian, then to realize they didn't know this wonderful source,
I have forwarded your site to them. As with so much today, getting
the time to read can be difficult, but I will persist.
Susan Cohrs
Coppell, Texas
**
I truly am blessed as I read your
articles: all of them.
The one you did saying that Satan is the accuser was one I needed
the most. I am repenting of the accusing feelings I have had towards
someone and praying to have the pure love of Christ. I am beginning
to understand how vital is that we pray earnestly for it.
I have a quote on my fridge now by John H. Groberg that I look
at all of the time and am working on applying it:
"When filled with God's love, we can do and see and understand
things that we could not otherwise do or see or understand. Filled
with His love, we can endure pain, quell fear, forgive freely,
avoid contention, renew strength, and bless and help others in
ways surprising even to us."
Kathy
Las Vegas, Nevada
**** **** **** ****
Soft-Spoken Speaker
Read
Article Here
The Soft-Spoken Parent: The
Top 10 Strategies to Turn Away Wrath by H. Wallace Goddard
I love to listen to Brother Goddard
speak, and I know this has to be a very wonderful book.
Sarah McWhorter
Arkansas
**** **** **** ****
A Victory for the Crickets
Read
Article Here
Sometimes the Seagulls Don’t
Come, by Susan Law Corpany
I just wanted to say thank you to
Susan Law Corpany for the article "Sometimes the Seagulls
Don't Come." Each time I read it, I start to cry and she
certainly touched me with this article. So much of what she has
written is true in my life. We have six children who have all
left the church and gone the ways of the world. Testimony Meeting
for me when someone tells of how a child has returned is hard
for me since that is what I desire also. This will be an article
that will go into my journal and one that I will not forget for
a long time.
Name withheld by request
**
Susan Law Corpany is quickly becoming
one of my favorite authors! Each time I read one of her columns,
I feel like I'm on an enchanted secret path to a part of a magical
forest that no one has ever been before but once they get there
they are so awed they never want to leave it. Sometimes the nugget
of wisdom is obvious, easy for me to find and use. But more often
than not, a subtle phrase or idea will trigger something in me
that is less easy for me to find but so much more satisfying when
I do. I appreciate her thoughts and articles, and hope that you
will continue to feature her in your magazine.
Cathy Steiner
Rogers, Arkansas
**
Only one word comes to mind...OUTSTANDING!
Well, maybe a couple more. I love
this article. It's a reminder to me to "be still and know
that He is God," and that our prayers will be answered in
the best way for us, but not necessarily the way we asked that
they be answered.
I love all of Susan's work. Everything
she writes hits so close to home, it seems as if she's writing
just to me -- I think it's a gift.
Bonnie Teerlink
Citrus Heights, California
**
I had to read this article, just
because of the title, and I should have known it would be written
by Susan Law Corpany because of the title. Her articles are ones
I need to read. She always hits points in her articles that come
home to me.
It IS difficult to understand why
some prayers are answered one way and some another way, especially
when the answer isn’t the way we’d like it to be, and then to
hear that others had the answer we wanted.
My husband is a new member of the
church, and his questions always keep me rethinking about words
either I’ve used or others in the church normally use that either
are shortcuts to other meanings or just cliques that new members
or investigators don’t understand. Such as “I know the Book of
Mormon is true.” What does that really mean? I heard a Stake President
last weekend say, “I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God.”
Now that made sense to me.
Thank you, Susan, for helping me
to be more thoughtful in the words I use.
Sue
Kansas
**** **** **** ****
Great and Small
Read
Article Here
In All Things by Vickey Pahnke-Taylor
What an excellent article and certainly
one we all need in this day and time. It seems there are more
obstacles now than ever before. Or possibly it's the fact that
I'm an adult and see all the obstacles, but I truly believe there
are more obstacles and trials in today's world than at any other
time in the history of the world.
I appreciate the way Vickey wrote
the article to show the difference in the fact that all things
have an opposite (as we learn in school - for every action there
is an equal and opposite reaction) which is so true. TV is a good
thing in that we can see the news around the world and enjoy church
meetings from BYU-TV, etc. But the opposite remains. TV programs
that promote inappropriate activities for youth as well as adults,
news being so depressing that it causes people to commit suicide.
The computer can be used to distribute excellent messages such
as this one, while other web sites show inappropriate material
for both young and old.
I just wanted to once again express my thoughts as I think this
is a very appropriate article for all to see.
Linda Thompson
Woodington, North Carolina
**** **** **** ****
