Thoughts and stories, by Pal

If you like short videos which really tell a story, you'll enjoy this article, from LDS Living.  If you need help or know someone with anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders, watching these may help you.  Turn on your sound! LDS Women Talk Addiction & Mental Illness in Brutally Honest Video Campaign by LDS Living  | Oct. 29, 2015 Ashley Sargeant battles bipolar, anxiety, and depression—and she fearlessly shares her struggles and her triumphs over mental illness. In fact, she has created a new campaign, #IAMSTIGMAFREE to spread her message of hope and healing. Recently, Sargeant created a series of interviews that she has shared to her  YouTube channel  where women have shared their own stories of addiction and mental illness in raw, heartbreaking, but incredibly inspiring videos. ►   You'll also like:  Church Releases Raw, Compelling Video Series on Addiction Recovery Last month, Sarge...

SCRIPTURE STUDY What will it Take to Be “Stirred Up”? By Ted Gibbons  · October 29, 2015 One of the things I have done in my scripture study is examine words and phrases that seem unexpected. This is one of the ways I apply Elder Holland’s counsel carefully. Speaking to teachers of the gospel he said, “Invite [your students] to read more slowly and more carefully and with more questions in mind. Help them to ponder, to examine every word, every scriptural gem. Teach them to hold it up to the light and turn it, look and see what’s reflected there. For some student, on a given day with a given need, such an examination may unearth a treasure hidden in a field, or a pearl of great price, a pearl beyond price” (Jeffrey R. Holland: CES Video Conference, 20 June 1982, videocassette). I found such a word in Doctrine and Covenants 18. “Behold, the world is ripening in iniquity; and it must needs be that the children of men are stirred up unto repentance,...

The United States and Brazil are the only countries as of today that have forced same-sex marriage upon their citizens!   We must continue to stand for a real marriage, that of a man and woman, no matter how long the debate! World Congress of Families: No Time for Depression after Gay Marriage Ruling By Maurine Proctor  · October 28, 2015 In a panel discussion at the World Congress of Families, the question was what is the future of marriage after the SCOTUS decision? Here are responses from Brian Brown and Cathy Ruse. Brian Brown, head of the National Organization for Marriage, asked traditional marriage advocates at the World Congress of Families, “Where do we go from here? Where do we go from a point where 5 unelected judges redefined our most basic institution in the law? Where they say our view of marriage will trump yours and you will now live under this new regime and if you don’t accept it, you will be punished, you will be marginalized.” He s...

This article is very fascinating!  The work this lady put into studying the Book of Mormon, and words used in the different books, etc. is very enlightening! SCRIPTURE STUDY Insights into the Authenticity of the Book of Mormon By Marilynne Todd Linford  · October 25, 2015, from Meridian Magazine Editor’s Note: The following is the first chapter in a new book from Marilynne Todd Linford on the Book of Mormon.  Click here  for more information.  My journey began when a series of experiences led me to type the Book of Mormon as a new way to study it. I began on January 13, 2010, and typed the title page, the introduction, the Testimony of Three Witnesses, and the Testimony of Eight Witnesses. A year and a half and 531 pages later, on August 1, 2011, I typed Moroni’s last words: “And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant thro...

This article gives very good counsel about what to do when we or others may need help.  We are told we should take care of our own stewardships, and not try to take over another person's stewardship.  But there are times when others may see solutions to our problems that we aren't able to.  I like the ideas here. When Problems Won’t Budge: The Value of Counseling Together By Wm J. Monahan  · October 22, 2015, from Meridian Magazine From the despair of debt to the quicksand of illness and loss, our deepest dilemmas can seem blindingly hopeless. The Lord has said, “Come now, let us reason together…” (Isaiah 1:18; see also Doctrine and Covenants 50:10). If we are willing to open our hearts to the counsel of good mentors, they can see things we missed. Why counsel together?   The value of counseling together in councils hit me like a road-to-Damascus moment in the mission field. In the Philippines, power outages occur routinely and witho...

This past week on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, there was a "Face to Face" program for the youth, with the Piano Guys!  For those who don't know, this is the second in a series, with youth sending in questions about life and their testimonies, and the Gospel, and they are answered by someone.  The one a few months ago, was with Elder David L. Bednar.  On Wednesday, the next day, Jon Schmidt, the piano player, gave a fireside in the St. George Tabernacle.  I was there, and he was amazing. All ages will enjoy this!  The Face to Face with the Piano Guys ABOUT THE PIANO GUYS The Piano Guys  are a musical group consisting of Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, Paul Anderson, and Al van der Beek. They say they’re just bunch of ordinary guys who came together with the same intrinsic purpose: to make a positive impact in the lives of people all over the world through music videos. They became a YouTube sensation with more than 709 million total views. Th...

This is very interesting.   However, I have heard it all before, and totally believe it.  Otherwise, why would we as women, want to live worthy of exaltation?  Woman are truly loved and respected in our Church! Church Releases New Essays About Heavenly Mother & Women and the Priesthood by LDS Living  | Oct. 23, 2015 From the Church   Makes You Think The Church recently released two new Gospel Topics Essays that address the reality of our Heavenly Mother as well as the role of women within the Church. Beginning in November 2013, the Church began publishing in-depth essays on topics of special public interest and sensitivity--essays designed to clarify and provide transparency regarding aspects of the LDS faith. Since that time, Latter-day Saints and those from other beliefs have gained many insights from the  Gospel Topics Essays , insights regarding topics like plural marriage in the Church, race and the priesthoo...