Jellybeans in the Carpet:
Meridian Readers Scrape up Sticky Issues
Edited and compiled by Kathy Green
Grapes of Wrath
Read
Article Here
Happy In the Hall-Walking
Stage, by Mary Babcock
I am concerned about the amount
of food brought into the chapel to feed children during
sacrament meeting. I was in a new chapel (opened in February)
this very evening and found grapes, jelly beans and other
types of candy on the floor under the pews. There were the
usual remains of numerous crackers, cookies, cereal, etc
there also. Has this topic been discussed as yet? I remember
an article or two dealing with reverence of children during
Sacrament meeting, but don't recall a specific recommendation
on food and drink.
Could it be that our chapels
are becoming like public movie theaters?
Name Withheld
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A Good Scout
Read
Article Here
Following the Motto,
by Paul Bishop
“Follow the Motto:” one of
the best articles I have read on being prepared.
Carole Davis
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Resurrection’s Miracle
Read
Article Here
Easter's Promise and
the Second Estate, by Darla Isackson
Thank you for sharing your
testimony, for bearing your soul, and for pointing us all
to the scriptures for the answer to this perplexing question.
Each of us has relatives and friends who seem to have lost
their way — or never found it — in mortality, and some scriptures
would seem to condemn them, at their death, to a lesser
state in the world to come. It is important to know that
a prophet or teacher, in trying to make a point, will make
statements that appear to be contradictory at first to other
scriptures. That is why it is so important to pray for the
spirit and to read widely in our search for the truth. He
will make guide us and lead us and in the end enlighten
our souls. Your beautiful article touched my heart at this
wonderful Easter time.
Dennis Hess
Orem Utah
**
I loved reading this article
about Easter's Promise and the Second Estate. It reminds
us more at this time more then ever about the Ssavior and
the atonement that he suffered for ALL mankind not just
for sinners but for those who were not mentally well as
well. It made me realize that the Second Estate does continue
in the Spirit World and continues until Judgment Day. It
made me wonder that when we say Endure to the End that maybe
it doesn’t only mean the end of this earthly state but also
the end of our Second Estate or Judgment Day. We will not
be able to let our guard down until Satan is bound….
Kim Bennett
Agua Dulce, California.
**
I read Darla's article and
rejoiced. I now feel that it is Easter! I was feeling so
down this Easter weekend, felt that Sacrament meeting was
boring and fell way short of celebrating the resurrection
of the Lord. But Darla's article changed all that.
L. William Lauro
Salt Lake City, Utah
**
I truly appreciated this article.
My precious son suffers from severe depression/anxiety.
He was raised in the Church and accepted it as a child/young
man. Now at 21, he is inactive but extremely sensitive,
loving children and all good in the world. He cannot accept
the Church structure. He seemed to fall through the cracks.
His family of three brothers and one sister try to stay
close to him but he has chosen friends where he is comfortable.
He has been suicidal and is on medications/therapy. I constantly
worry about his future and only stress how his Father in
Heaven and Savior are so close to him. It is a constant
heartache for me. I work at not becoming depressed myself.
Thank you for sharing about
your dear Brian. It gives me greater understanding as I
pour over the scriptures and ponder. I seek refuge in the
temple. I am so grateful for what you have written.
Name Withheld
**
This was a beautiful article
that will bring hope to many. My heart ached when she told
of her son. I knew she was going to tell us that he had
died by his own hand before I saw her words. She shared
a great picture of a young man troubled at least with depression
and possibly other mental disorders. For some as yet unknown
reason, one of the characteristics of clinical depression
is a feeling of unworthiness. This comes from the medical
world, not the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
But young people especially
get that all confused, and they blame themselves and call
themselves sinners. And since they are so handicapped and
shorn of energy and enjoyment of life, they easily almost
naturally question the way of life expected of Latter-day
Saints, and criticism of the Church, its members, and leaders
follows. How often alcohol and illegal drugs are used because
at last something is found that treats the depression.
Jesus told us that he suffered
not only for our sins but he felt the pains of our illnesses.
We have some mental illness in our family, and some have
learned of this in their youth and had loving adult family
members to explain the origin of clinical depression and
the promise that "Jesus knows."
I have devoted time, energy,
and inspiration to saving the life of one of my brothers
-- time and time again. I have sat with him and felt the
blackness that suicidal depression causes to be felt emanating
from the sick one and clouding the very air surrounding
him. My brother is dying now of kidney failure. He has such
severe agoraphobia that he will not leave his house three
days a week for kidney dialysis. He knows that Jesus Christ
felt as he feels in those sad and lonely hours in Gethsemane.
And so he will soon have the great blessing of "going
home." I can only answer, Godspeed you.
And I believe, as Sister Isackson
has so skillfully written, that the principles of faith,
repentance, baptism, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost are
in full operation in the Spirit World. Our responsibility
in all of this is to be "saviors on Mt. Zion"
and perform the vicarious ordinances that will bring the
repentant to Christ. They are in a place where without Satan's
influence or power to tempt them and without the afflictions
of the mortal body to hamper spiritual development, great
progress will be possible for them. And part of that progress
is our responsibility in our temple attendance.
I attended the funeral of an
adorable little two-and-half-year old neighbor boy this
week. His great-grandfather reminded us that his big spirit
had left the confines of his little body, and he was going
forth as a great missionary to teach the Spirits in Prison.
What "joy" it is to "know that [our] Redeemer
lives.
Name Withheld
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Cancer Sign Language
Read
Article Here
Ruling Out Cancer,
by L. William Lauro, MD
Around Christmas I read an
article in Meridian about signs of cancer. Although cancer
doesn't run in my family (except for leukemia, which wasn't
mentioned in the article), there's always a first time.
I'm glad to have this article to keep as a reference. It
has helped me make a couple of medical decisions in the
past few months, and I'm grateful for the information.
Patricia in Virginia
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Desert Song: Carry
On!
Read
Article Here
A Photographic Chronicle
of Loss: story and photographs by Kjirstin Youngberg
It is so sad to see Richard
Dutcher's terrible loss. I respect and admire him and pray
that he will have the strength to carry on.
Your article was excellent.
Judy Dugan
Washington State
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The “D-bate”
Read
Article Here
Sunshine, Vitamin D
and Cancer: The Current Controversy, by L. William Lauro,
MD
This was all very good information
for those of us who have to be out in the sun with work.
My question: If 400 units of Vitamin D are included in the
supplement, but only 650 mg of calcium, what do you do to
get enough calcium? Taking double amounts for sufficient
calcium, gives me too much Vitamin D. Then there is the
question of which type of calcium to use.
It is so hard to determine
which product will be available to the cellular level of
the body. So many are cut with fillers or forms of calcium
that are not even healthy. I have known people who have
calcium deposits from taking calcium supplements. It just
should not be so hard to find healthy products and be able
to truly know they are healthy.
Shirley Rasmussen
Stevensville, Montana
**
Thank you for a great article.
I have been involved in osteoporosis research since 1984.
Vitamin D supplementation has been a big topic at bone/osteoporosis
meetings the last couple of years. Vitamin D3 is definitely
preferred for supplementation.
Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol
is readily available in supplements. I get mine as a Walgreen
brand when they are on sale at half price. That brings the
price down to 125 soft gels, 400 IU/gel, for $2, or literally
just a couple of pennies for a day's worth of vitamin D3.
Gail P. Dalsky
Burlington, Connecticut
**
I had a melanoma on my leg
at age 28. I never wore shorts and was not a swimmer. Because
we are all different, the causes of cancers are also, I
believe. When the body is out of balance it works very hard
to correct the mistakes (poor diet, lack of proper exercise,
etc.) we have made.
The toxic world we live in
also stresses the wellness factor. One reason for disease
does not fit all and neither does a remedy. Wellness and
remedies come in many forms.
Real, whole remedies were put
here for us to find and use. See the Word of Wisdom. But
it is easier and more profitable to corrupt parts and sell
them as whole.
Elaine Smith CN
Herbalist
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Labor Payne
Read
Article Here
Giving Birth, by Marvin
Payne
What a good read!!! I so much
enjoyed this article the humor, the depth, the feeling.
I can sense my own artist and the good humor of my spirit
when I read this column. Congratulations on all the births
and opportunities to witness the miracles of creation on
different levels.
Wendy Rojas
San Antonio, TX
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The Route of All Evil
Read
Article Here
Bankruptcy: It’s Legal,
but is it Ethical? by Richard P. Halverson
I have to respectfully disagree
with your article on bankruptcy and morality. Though there
are no doubt some folks who only wish to take advantage
of the system, I believe the large increase in bankruptcy
filings has to do with other reasons. Many persons, such
as myself, at one time had a good paying job. In my case,
for example, I knew that I could borrow money off my credit
card, and easily pay it back as I had always done in the
past. Granted, I quit my job in hopes of becoming financially
successful in my own business.
Was this irresponsible on my
part? Probably, but when I went back to the job market,
I was only able to get a mediocre paying job. The real problems
started after being late on just one payment. Suddenly all
my credit cards jumped from interest rates of around 7%
to as high as 25%. Long story short, things have snowballed,
and I find that even with credit counseling, or debt mediation,
I am not able to make the monthly payments.
How about if the credit lenders
would at least be willing to allow someone who would otherwise
have no alternative then to file bankruptcy, to make payments
that they could afford, and without continual extreme price
gouging penalties and huge interest rates? Granted this
may not be a perfect resolution, but at least they would
get their money back, and the borrower could at least feel
a little better about himself.
Believe me, there is nothing
I would rather do then pay off my debts to my creditors,
as I have always done for many years. But within the last
four months, my overdue balance has jumped from $40,000
to $50,000. I'm at my wits’ end as to what to do about this.
I am not traditionally a whiner, and I live on a shoestring
budget, but I'd have to disagree with your article and suggest
that major credit card companies do have to take part of
the blame for such an increase in bankruptcy filings.
Michael Bryant
Medford, Oregon
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Fluoride Warning is
Hard to Swallow
Read
Article Here
Toxins, Part II: What
You Should Know About Them and What You Can Do About Them,
by Stan M. Gardner, MD
I disagree with #9, “Use non-fluoridated
toothpaste and water." ANYTHING used beyond moderation
can be toxic. Too much water, too many vitamins (excessive
carrot juice turns you orange from the betacarotene), too
much anything (too much exercise) is never good. Less than
one part per million promotes dental hard tissue integrity.
Kids need to spit out (versus "eat") the toothpaste,
because, yes, too much of a good thing is not a good thing!
"In my office, we provide
patients with an IV procedure, which infuses the body with
phosphatidylcholine and glutathione." I would like
to have seen a footnote on that. Over all, it was a very
informative and knowledgeable article.
Meredith Hobbs Lund
Dental Hygienist, who will continue to be a "professional
student" all my life
*************************************************************
Cheer Up
Read
Article Here
The Cheeriest Person
in the Universe, by H. Wallace Goddard
Well done, Wally! As always!
Tim Carver
Layton, Utah
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A Few of My Favorite
Things
Read
Article Here
These are a few of
my favorite photographs of President Hinckley, by Scot Facer
Proctor
Beautiful photo essay. I have
seen some of your pictures before but I love your comments
because it makes your pictures real and almost like I was
there experiencing it all myself. Thanks for sharing your
spiritual insights.
Rachel Marshall
Lehi, Utah
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No Luck with Thirteenth
Principle
Read
Article Here
Strengthening Our Marriages:
Where to Begin and Where to Go, by Sean E. Brotherson
Attention to all 12 points
would help a marriage relationship. It seems that all are
dependent on people 'connecting.' You can't build a bond
or accomplish much if you don't connect on an emotional
level. John Gottman's books are excellent in analyzing and
discussing this.
I would like to read about
marriage where one partner prefers solitude, being alone
with thoughts, thinking, sitting at the computer all day
and evening with the door closed, whose greatest joy is
acquiring knowledge and facts. I know of a spouse who passes
back and forth in the house without greeting, refusing all
invitations to socialize (with spouse, family, or friends)
or travel. This person feels no need to respond to conversation
(you didn't ask a question), does not participate in ANY
home or property chores, and is not willing to negotiate
or compromise or talk about any issues. But this is a moral
person who attends church meetings and gives excellent talks.
This behavior is not an exaggeration. It has caused great
pain. I have seen it.
Many issues are discussed in
marriage articles, but I have never seen this one. It would
be nice to read something that dealt with it.
Thanks. I just wanted to mention
a serious problem that is never addressed,
Name Withheld
********************************************************
Rock-solid Advice
Read
Article Here
Identity: Built on
Rock or Sand? by Darla Isackson
Darla is so good in this article.
I am a 32-year old woman with five kids and I am not sick;
yet I still have had my struggle with identity.
It isn't the great “I do” that
I struggled with, but the great “I have.” It seems to me
stuff was emphasized excessively as a child and young adult.
I always figured I'd always be able to keep up financially
with those around me. This has not been the case. Homes
get more and more expensive, cars are expensive, and my
husband is the only one working outside the home in our
family, and not for even the "living wage" some
states figure you have to have to make it as a family of
4. At one time we made what one billboard we passed several
times said you needed every month for one child. At the
time we had 4 children. Thus I have had to realize that
material wealth does not make you more special or more important.
I have had a major struggle with this on the emotional level.
Probably lapsing occasionally into the "I do"
category of believing, it is what I do that makes me important.
However I have realized this is not true either. I have
had the insight to know that it is the "I am;"
I am a child of God that really gives me my identity, but
buying in emotionally, spiritually, and physically to this
is much harder. Thanks so much for your article confirming
that it is who I am that is important, not what I have or
what I do that makes me important though both can be important
in fulfilling divine roles. Our divine worth is not from
either of these and our divine worth and our divine roles
are two different categories. Also our divine role will
differ in our lives, but our divine worth is always in place
and unchanging.
Melanie Lewis
Twin Falls, Idaho
**
Thank you so much for these
continuing articles by Sister Isackson. It has been such
a blessing to me to be able to read what Sister Isackson
has so eloquently written regarding the challenges that
many of us face with chronic illnesses.
I am both a person with ME/CFS
and a single parent caregiver of an adult daughter, now
27, who has been ill with ME/CFS for 14 years. (We sometimes
refer to ourselves as the barely functioning unit!) As a
family, we have had to learn that being is what our lives
seem to be about, rather than doing. Unfortunately for my
daughter, her father and his side of the family, as well
as many others, view those of us not capable of 'doing'
as not being of worth. This has caused considerable heartache
for my daughter over the years, but she has learned many
lessons from these challenges and is a young woman of great
strength and wisdom. I stand in awe of her each and every
day.
I am so grateful to know that
our worth and sense of identity does not come from those
around us, what we can do or accomplish, but because we
are beloved children of a Heavenly Father. We are of worth,
because we are.
Thank you so much for these
articles. I'm sure they have helped to inform a great many
people of the challenges and struggles that the chronically
ill face, and have helped those of us with this particular
challenge to feel less alone and isolated.
Sister C. Best
Sidney Ward
Victoria, BC Stake
