Thoughts and stories, by Pal

This article gives us much to think about.  Even if we live in a reasonably safe area, we may be called upon to help others.  Can we be the "safe haven?"  I am going to use her ideas to add to my "food storage".  There are items besides food that will be useful, if we become the place people come to after their own disasters!  Perhaps we can use some of our income tax returns to be a bit more prepared with some of these items. I Can Be a Refuge From the Storm By Carolyn Nicolaysen  · January 27, 2015, Meridian Magazine So you think because you don’t live in a flood plain, near a river, or in the probable path of a tsunami, hurricane, earthquake or tornado, that you are exempt from being prepared? Think again. I have spent a lot of time reading the accounts of disaster survivors. Their experiences highlight the fact that every natural disaster has a crisis zone where victims experience the horror of life threatening danger. But a...

It seems some people are splitting hairs about the Church's new statement.  Respect for others is at the bottom of what they were advocating.  With Elder Oakes as a lawyer and the other Apostles very educated men, why are any questioning their statements?  I believe it is a matter of faith in our leaders!  They are inspired men, and I have faith in their decisions !  !  ! Religious Freedom and Refusing Service By Cassandra Showell Hedelius  · January 28, 2015 The church’s  press conference  on LGBT nondiscrimination and religious liberty has generated a storm of discussion online, and only some of it is constructive. I notice many are confused–what are the parameters of the religious liberty the church is asking for? Wouldn’t this set up a free-for-all where any religious person could refuse service to anyone they don’t like? I certainly don’t speak for the church, but I’ve been following the development of these ...

Yesterday I posted news about the LDS Church news release on religious discrimination.  Today Meridian Magazine has much of the same, and also other happenings which show what an alarming thing is happening in our own country.  We pray for religious freedom in our country and all over the world! Rare News Conference: Why Church Leaders are Alarmed about Diminishing Religious Freedom By Maurine Proctor  · January 28, 2015 It is a fairly rare event for the LDS Church to hold a press conference, but Tuesday three Apostles and a member of the General Young Women’s presidency addressed something they consider alarming—the steady erosion of America’s treasured religious freedom and the increasing “tensions and polarization” between advocates of religious freedom and gay rights. What’s at stake is whether millions of people with “diverse backgrounds and different views and values will live together in relative harmony for the foreseeable future” or whether t...

Today this was on the Utah News several times.  I don't know if it was as well known in other states, or especially among Church members in other countries.  So I decided to post this, on January 27, 2015, as it is quite a significant action for our Church leaders -- to take a stand on religious and other types of intolerance. Topics: Mormon Report / Official Church Info Breaking News: Church Leaders Call for Protection of LGBT & Religious Rights source: LDS Living This morning, the Church held a press conference on the subject of religious tolerance and non-discrimination.  This morning, the Mormon Newsroom announced a special news conference to be held on Temple Square. The topic they revealed as "Religious Intolerance and Discrimination." Speakers at the conference included Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Sister Neill F. Marriott, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. Each took a few minutes to share some of the churches thoug...

This is a great new article which I just read today from LDS Living!  You'll love it!  I will add my testimony to the many which have been given -- that I know it to be a true translation by a modern day Prophet, Joseph Smith! 3 Ways the Book of Mormon Stands Up to Critics RANDAL A. WRIGHT - When it comes to the origin of the Book of Mormon, there are two possibilities: either Joseph Smith translated it or he wrote it — and either way would have taken a miracle. Learn three reasons behind why. As Elder Mark E. Petersen observed, “The Book of Mormon is a literary and a religious masterpiece, and is far beyond even the fondest hopes or abilities of any farm boy” (“It Was a Miracle!”  Ensign , November 1977, 11). From its discovery to its translation and publication, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon was simply miraculous—and the book itself continues to be a miracle in the lives of people all over the world. Here are three reasons why the Book of Mo...

This is a new post of Brian Mickelson today.  It is a sweet story about a small service Pres. Monson did.  People remember small kindnesses, and I hope we will all try to find some small kindness, even a smile, that we can do for someone today. New post on  Brian Mickelson.... Thomas S. Monson, Maddox Restaurant, and Crab…. by  BJM Since my grandmother passed away a few weeks ago I've been stopping in to see my grandfather each week on my way home from work. I love the visits. I ask him a bunch of questions and he tells stories to answer. I'm learning a lot... For example: Years ago Grandma and Grandpa were enjoying a meal at Maddox  (if you live anywhere near Northern Utah and don't know Maddox, stop reading, get up from your chair, and drive to Brigham City right now...get this problem solved). I don't know what Grandpa was eating, but Grandma had ordered crab. Apparently she wasn't super experienced with cracking crab open, et...

This morning, I went to an endowment session in the St. George Temple.  This article today in LDS Living has some great ideas to help us have great experiences while attending the Temple. S. Michael Wilcox: 10 Ways to Get More from Your Temple Experience EXCERPTED FROM  HOUSE OF GLORY  BY S. MICHAEL WILCOX -  This list of tips, excerpted from  House of Glory  by S. Michael Wilcox, will help any member have more powerful and personal experiences within the walls of the Lord's house. Most of us have a vivid memory of the first time we went to the temple to receive our endowments. I was a newly called missionary and had traveled to the Los Angeles Temple. I did not know what to expect. Although some aspects of my own endowment were wonderfully edifying to me, much of it was confusing. I left bewildered and a little frightened. I have since discovered that my experience was not unique. I have also discovered why my first experience was not all ...