M E R I D I A N M A G A Z I N E
Saints and Angels: Readers Raise Voices
and Questions
Edited and compiled by Kathy Green
All Work and No Play: Off-Balance in Canberra
Setting the Rule of Work before Play by Natalie J. Hale
I disagree not because I want to play but I am unable to play because there is too much work.
As I young mother with three little children and
my husband a Bishop, the work never stops. There is always more house to clean,
phone calls to make, children to clean up, people to serve and make meals for,
meals to make for my own family. My children miss out on playing with me because
I am so busy trying to get all the work done. My husband complains because I
see spending time with him as "playing" and therefore the few times
he is home I am cleaning the house. He has to wait until I am finished which
is usually too late and I am too tired for it to be constructive time.
I have been raised on that philosophy of work first play later and am teaching
it to my children. It is so ingrained into me that I cannot stop. But as I look
at the life of some friends who play with their children and spend quality time
with their husbands and can turn a blind eye to the needs of cleaning, serving
and cooking I am envious. How do I find that balance between work and play?
Elissa East
Canberra
Australia
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Health and Happiness Made Simple
'Tis A Gift to Be Simple, by Carolyn Allen
I love the articles by Carolyn Allen. They make me reach within myself to find answers for my overweight condition. The articles help me to want more for myself especially in the way of health and happiness.
Name withheld by request
**** **** **** ****
Hosing Out Trash Talk
The Lesson of the Washing Machine Hose, by H. Wallace Goddard
I enjoyed the articles, especially this:
“When I was sealed to Nancy, I covenanted not only to take out household trash to curbside but also to haul any unkind trash about her from my mind. I made a sacred covenant to see and emphasize all that is good about my beloved partner.”
So many young people do not understand that this is marriage in a nutshell.
Deb Roundy
Rupert, Idaho
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Morbidly Blessed
Life Inside a Fat Suit: One Person’s Story, by Kathryn H. Kidd
Thank you so much for the wonderfully written testimonial.
It really opened my eyes, and made them water too.
I am a small woman who has never had much trouble with weight, considering dating
a wonderful man with a serious weight problem. How ugly I have been for thinking
he isn't as worthy of my love and companionship as someone my size. Now I can't
wait to see him again, to give him a big hug and a warm smile.
Anyway, thanks again for the reality and humility checks. In my profane fog
I forgot that my goal in a partner is not a trophy, but someone with whom I
can share life and love.
**** **** **** ****
Virtue and Vice President
Invitation to Cheney Sparks Debate
It would be great if you guys implemented a posting
response for these [First Line News] articles.
The church's political neutrality is IRRELEVANT to this subject. Those who think
differently must realize that Cheney is not addressing the BYU students as a
Republican. I am quite confident that he will not even mention his political
affiliation. Rather, Vice President Cheney is addressing the students as the
Vice President of the United States. What a great honor for such a position
to come to the university! Why do I have a gut feeling that it is only liberal
LDS members who are opposed to Cheney speaking? His address is not about politics.
It's about graduation. Surely this graduation is one instance in which we can
look past bipartisan politics.
Derwin D. Shelley
New Haven, Connecticut
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Return on Investment
The Missing Scriptures, by Steve Orton
I found this article interesting because I had a similar experience about 23 years ago. My family joined the Church when I was 13, in a small branch of the church in England. On the day of our baptism the missionaries who taught us, Elder Joseph Allen Taylor and Elder David Banks, gave us a Book of Mormon and a Bible in which they each wrote a message. Sadly, within a year my mother had dropped the scriptures in the street and could not find them again. Not long afterward, our family went inactive and the missing scriptures were forgotten.
When I was 16 I came back to church. My family was not supportive of this decision but I knew the Church was true and I had to follow that witness. My decision to return to church culminated in my having to leave home.
Aged 17, I began to share a flat with another girl from church. I remembered the missing scriptures and found myself thinking about them often, wishing I still had them, particularly as a memento of the missionaries who had taught me the gospel. I was somewhat hesitant to pray for their return because, like the author of the article, I had other scriptures and my desire was sentimental rather than a real need. However I was so longing for them and could see no other way of finding them therefore I began to pray about it.
One day a work colleague came to my flatmate saying her husband had found a Book of Mormon and as he didn't want it, did she? She brought it home and it was a Book of Mormon inscribed to our family and the Bible that had been missing! This experience greatly strengthened my faith that God was aware of me and my wants and desires — even the sentimental ones, and that he was concerned for the welfare of me, a seventeen-year-old girl! I remained active in the Church, married a wonderful man in the temple and we have 6 great sons. I too am grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord.
Melanie Quesne
Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England
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Cause and Effect
All in a Good Cause, by Orson Scott Card
“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie — deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” John F. Kennedy
As I remember in the story of "Chicken Little," although Chicken Little was the one running around stirring up all the other chickens with his cries of, "the sky is falling," lurking in the background was Foxy Loxy. When all the chickens finally ran into the hen house for safety Foxy Loxy was the last one in shutting the door behind him. The sky didn't fall but another doom did befall the foolish chickens.
Another classic tale, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” comes to mind. I just don't see any clothes here.
What I am concerned about is that the world will get caught up in an elaborate scam by experienced, powerful con artists. In the end the claims of doom will not come to pass but a select group will become very rich and powerful at the expense of the very poor.
In spite of all the ice that has apparently melted
since the 1930's, Miami has not lost even one inch of its beachfront property.
We had the coldest winter in Tucson, Arizona, that we have had in years. Our
hottest summer on record, and we are familiar with hot summers, was1990. Tucson
had record temperatures of 119 degrees F, and Phoenix was 122 degrees F. That
was 17 years ago. If the change is so obvious why don't we see it? Where is
the Beef?
So when I hear that the Sky is Falling, I will not retreat to the hen house
but I will hold tight to my wallet.
In this case I believe the lie is deliberate, contrived and dishonest besides being forced upon us as the truth.
1 Nephi 8:26 – 27:
26
And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.27
And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers...
Those who disagree are shamed. If the theory of global warming was true would science need to shame people into believing it?
Randy Cook
Tucson, Arizona
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Home Run Remedy
Alternatives to Traditional Medicine, by Stan M. Gardner, M.D.
I've been practicing the holistic approach of treating a myriad of health issues for over fifteen years. Before this, I had been taking approximately $800 a month in prescribed drugs. I had been given 6 months to live due to the debilitating effects of Systemic Erythamatosis. I suffered from migraine headaches 24/7, Fibromyalgia in the extreme, and on and on. I was introduced to herbs and natural medicine by two of my low vision patients. I consumed what they suggested and at the end of one month, my excruciating pain subsided, my headaches disappeared and the change was unbelievable.
Three months later I had weaned myself off of ALL my prescribed drugs and began on a mission for the answer WHY? Why did these things work? For a couple of years I consumed myself in reading, studying, going to lectures and self absorbing myself into all I could find on alternative medicine including healing energies.
I've worked with many people using energy healing
and have reversed migraine headaches and almost any pain known. I've helped
an ADD/ADHD child go from bouncing off the walls to loving himself within minutes.
As I see results, I only want to learn more.
Two years ago a very good friend was told by her physician that her foot had
to be removed due to an ulcerated lesion on the top of her foot. A complication
from diabetes. She and her husband came to me and after researching I asked
them to read what Dr John R Christopher suggested and to consider soaking the
foot in hollyhock (marshmallow plan) tea. This she did twice a day and within
three days, the dark leg had become pink, the ulcer showed signs of healing
and within a couple of weeks she returned to the doctor for an evaluation of
her completely healed foot and leg and he was stunned at the healing. Unfortunately,
the doctor wasn't interested in the method she used to save her leg. Both she
and her husband practice a holistic approach to living (now in their 80's).
I believe God gave us physicians to help us with diagnosis, tests and the things
we need to save our lives, but I don't believe in the blank-check drug method
as I was given for almost 40 years, but in a more holistic approach. "Ye
shall know them by their works." Well, I rest my case.
Karen Evans
Fresno, California
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I have been following your columns in Meridian Magazine and have particular interest in this one. It is so exciting to see more medical doctors opening up to the alternative (or I prefer the term complementary because most reading I've done on alternative methods are really far out).
I was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer last August. I'm one of those who had no risk factors, having never smoked and having taken very good care of my self. But, as you can imagine, I've done much thinking and reading on complementary and alternative methods. I am frustrated with the medical doctors (my primary care being one) who never let their patients leave the office without another prescription. I'm so against throwing prescriptions at the patient!
Having said that — I am very grateful for traditional medicine such as chemotherapy, which is working for me. I would be dead if I'd been stubborn and only wanted alternative medicine and refused chemo because of its toxicity.
I also feel it is important to listen to the Spirit in determining what works best for each of us in our treatment. I have read much about people who refuse the traditional methods of treating cancer and go for alternatives like drinking concoctions the texture of sludge. I have not felt good about any of these and find most of them seem to be marketing ploys. I do understand the need for the FDA controls which keep our medicines safe.
I do believe we must do everything we can to boost our immune systems, not just cancer patients, but all people because of the environment we live in and the foods and water we drink. For the first time in my life I've started buying organic produce and being more careful about reading labels and becoming more extreme about refined white flour and sugar and drinking or cooking with tap water. I think everyone can benefit from this.
I do hope more and more physicians will work to
help the health industry understand we are not just a "machine" but
they need to treat the entire body — mind, body and spirit - to heal us
and keep us healthy.
Lari Smith
Sacramento, California
****
I appreciate Dr. Gardner's comments and comparison
on alternative and traditional medicine in Meridian Magazine.
I believe that there is a place for traditional medicine and crisis intervention.
But our bodies are well-equipped to heal themselves. How we treat our body and
take of it allows it to heal itself and run efficiently or not. Alternative
medicine seems to assist the body in healing itself. That's why I tend to look
there first for answers.
I appreciate Dr. Gardner's straightforward comparison of both. It appears to
be accurate from a patient's point of view.
Karen
Bothell, Washington
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Remember Who You Are
A Mormon in the White House by Lowell C. Brown
This article by Brown has many good points and ones many of us face as we talk to other Christians. We need to be respectful and knowledgeable about our beliefs. This should be about who we are and how we treat others and the impact of those teachings in our lives.
Dr. Don Lindley
Manhattan Kansas
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Parley P. Pratt Graduates from Seminary
The Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt —
Revised and Enhanced Edition
Edited by Scot Facer Proctor and Maurine Jensen Proctor
Thanks for running such wonderful serialized books
in your magazine. I love to read and learn from them. They are all insightful
and thought provoking. I read Elder Pratt's autobiography as a seminary student
years ago, but I am enjoying it much more now. Thanks for the great work you
are doing.
Peggy
Colorado
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DVD = Deliver at Dawn
Anti-Mormon DVD Being Distributed Nationwide
Thank you so much for your article on the anti-Mormon
DVD being distributed. I read the article and then as soon as I got home there
it was in my mailbox. I greatly appreciate your efforts to inform us about these
rising attacks. Thanks Meridian for helping be another “Watchman on the
Tower.“
Jessica Prisbrey
Utah
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I thought you might be interested to know that most of the prominent LDS communities
in Southern Alberta were inundated with the DVD's, They began to appear on the
doorknobs of all homes in a while plastic bag as early as 7 A.M. last Sunday.
I have yet to meet someone who saw the persons leaving the DVD's.
Rick Turner
Alberta, Canada
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Meridian Writer Answers Prayers
The Lord's Yoke, by Darla Isackson
It has been a very long night, actually couple
of months, and I was feeling like I just couldn't keep going in the calling
I have been asked to serve as a Church Service Missionary. The burdens were
seemingly more then I could bear. I had prayed for help; somewhere I needed
the strength to move ahead, to have faith to go on.
As I logged on to the computer this morning (Meridian is my opening page), there
before my eyes was my answer. Yes, I'm a member of the Church. I have a strong
testimony, but at times I get so tangled in my struggles I forget how easy it
is to find that peace. As I read through Darla's words of honesty in "The
Lord's Yoke" I wept as I felt hope and faith again.
I just want someone to know what a gift of peace means to a person who has forgotten
in the pain of current life. Today will be a better day because I will remember
to yield to my Lord, follow His lead and feel the lightness of His yoke. I will
feel joy.
"God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom. So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds!" Spencer W. Kimball
Name withheld by request
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Sight and Insight
Lesson 16, "I was Blind, Now I See" John 9-10 by Bruce Satterfield
These articles for Gospel Doctrine are just so
insightful and enrich my lessons so much! Keep up the great work!
Skylar Merrifield
Fort Worth, Texas
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Tears for Florida Friends
Gladys Knight Tells Floridians, “This is the Light” by Geoffrey Biddulph
I'm tearful after reading this wonderful article.
My home is in Florida but I live in Utah now. Sister Knight may be teaching
some of my dear black friends, and it humbles me. May God ever bless her.
Martha Harrison
Brigham City, Utah
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Keeping an Eye on the Eyres
The Value of Unselfishness and Sensitivity
(And How to Get Involved with Joy School this Fall with Your Preschooler) In
connection with Richard and Linda Eyre
Excellent as usual. Thank you so much for having Richard and Linda Eyre as part
of the fine magazine that you provide. We have gained much from them and you.
May you continue in good health and prosperity.
Kathy Moody
Maine
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Water Works
Read
Article Here
The Blessing of Water by Carolyn Allen
I have had some struggles with a few minor health issues (and the desire to lose a few more pounds). I pray about it on occasion. Amazingly, I get the same answer every time — DRINK MORE WATER! I listen and do — for a while — then fall back to not drinking enough water. I feel your article was further encouragement to me as a result of my prayers. I am now determined to do what I have been told to do time and time again. Thank you.
Mary Jurgaitis
Neillsville, Wisconsin
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Choice Words
Choosing Between God and Mammon, by Chance Thomas
Thank you for a powerful voice of commitment to covenants!!
Mark Irvine
Cove, Utah
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For the first time in years, I read in print what I have heard spoken a thousand
times in conversations with people, both in and out of the Church.
The comparison of Steve Young and Eli Herring was long overdue.
I agree wholeheartedly with the author. I respect Steve Young for his athletic abilities and for all that he has done for the image of the Church, but no matter how you cut it, a choice was made. A choice that provides the rest of us the quandary of beating up on ourselves when having to choose between what we feel is right by the letter of the law, as compared to a situation where we can attain great comfort, worldly respect and good fortune by doing something that just hits a little left of the mark.
No matter how you color it, Eli Herring did exactly what he was supposed to do. There is no argument that effectively disputes that point. He will find favor with the Lord, and has already found great respect with those who seek the meaningful things of life. He is a stand alone type of man — a real life hero and example for all men to look to when faced with tough decisions of this nature.
I think that this article is critically important to all men as we slip even deeper into the last days. It's a hard thing to talk about because it deals with a very influential, and much admired, personality; a genuinely nice person who chose a slightly different approach to success. However, it needs to be addressed.
I feel that it was presented in a very tasteful light.
Good job!
Mike Aston
Columbia, Pennsylvania
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Some years ago, during my service as bishop, two young priests in the quorum had a decision to make that presented a similar dilemma. They both needed jobs in order to save for a mission and they both were confronted with having to work on Sundays. I told them both that the Lord wanted them spiritually prepared for a mission and this would not occur if they worked on Sundays. I was impressed to tell them that if they worked on Sunday they wouldn’t go on a mission. One priest turned down a job that required him to work on Sunday and the very next day obtained a job that respected the Sabbath.
The other young priest accepted a job that required him to work on Sunday. The priest who refused to work on Sunday went on his mission, the other priest got entangled in the world and didn't.
Paul B. Brock
Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
****
I appreciated your well-thought-out and well-expressed article on choosing between God and Mammon. I especially related to it as a freelance graphic designer and singer. I have had to make similar decisions in the past, and I can see that the Lord has been more interested in my sacrifice than increase. But he has blessed me and my family greatly; perhaps one of the greatest blessings is being able to sleep at night knowing I haven't worked on something that goes against gospel standards.
Barry Hansen
Salt Lake City, Utah
****
I thoroughly enjoyed his article. It was extremely
well written and very thought provoking. I very much appreciate his examples
of "taking the high road." I hope that he will be sharing other insights
with us in the near future.
Mary Jane Helms
Meridian, Idaho
****
I loved this article. I appreciate how Steve Young
has inspired many people. Nonetheless all of my heroes have been ordinary people
being faithful in daily life.
We now live in Santa Monica and I attend church with many people in the entertainment
industry. This is a really tough place to maintain standards. We have had to
give up all the group Suzuki violin activities because all are on Sunday. My
kids have been participating in them for almost 7 years in other places we have
lived. My daughter has found three orchestras to join. One is Tuesday only and
the other practices on Thursday nights and was going to perform on Sundays.
I told them she could not and would not play on Sunday. Since they are starting
out and she is one of their best players they cancelled plans to play on Sunday.
Truly if we all refuse to break our Sabbath our communities change and it only
takes a small number of people to make the shift. When we lived in Walla Walla
no violin activities were done on weekends to honor both the 7th Day Adventist
community (which is huge there), and the Sunday observant people. As a result
weekends were spent with family and friends and community life was extremely
strong. Good things happen when we take a break from the world.
Liz deForest
Santa Monica, California
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Did You Hear That?
177th Annual General Conference Saturday Priesthood Session March 31, 2007
Would you please see if there are many other brethren
amazed at the closing hymn on Saturday night's meeting. As I have interacted
with various members in our Ward here in Penticton, British Colombia, Canada,
we have all commented on how spiritually moving it was. I know that following
the closing prayer most stayed in their seats stunned at by what they had just
listened to in the closing hymn.
I would really like to know if it has affected others around the world the same.
Thanks and regards,
Allan Canton,
Penticton Ward,
Vernon Stake,
British Columbia, Canada.
**** **** **** ****
Time and Key Signature
The Key to Managing Our Lives: What’s Time Got to Do with It? By H. Wallace Goddard
As I read your article, I remembered very similar experiences. I have discovered that if I can spend that first “tithed time” each morning immersed in my scriptures I develop an entirely new agenda for “my” day which isn¹t about me at all but often fills “me” more deeply than any tightly-planned schedule could. I love the surprises of working in partnership with my Heavenly Father.
Jan Clayton
Draper, Utah
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