Thoughts and stories, by Pal

 This really made me think!  Everywhere we go we see this ----   ! Are We Guilty of Latter-day Idolatry? By  H. Wallace Goddard  · February 6, 2023 In his stirring message,  The False Gods We Worship , President Spencer W. Kimball suggested that many of us Latter-day Saints are guilty of idolatry. Idolatry! That seems like a harsh indictment for such an earnest people who do so many good things. Yet he challenged us: In spite of our delight in defining ourselves as modern, and our tendency to think we possess a sophistication that no people in the past ever had—in spite of these things, we are, on the whole, an idolatrous people—a condition most repugnant to the Lord. Idolatry is the worship of someone or something other than God as though it were God. Satan is clever. He knows that we are unlikely to place a golden calf in our living room and convene the family for prayer around it. We know better than that. So, he uses a more cunning method to push u...

This is the most alarming thing I've read yet!  What is happening to our America and our world?  It is truly the "last days" of freedom and peace -- it seems!  What some people are doing because they feel "unsafe or offended!" “Not Welcome Here”: Alexandria’s Christ Church Bans George Washington; Oxford University Fair Bans Christianity By Maurine Proctor  · November 5, 2017 Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please  CLICK HERE Two events in the last weeks seem oddly and unfortunately related and signal a world that is being undone from the foundations up because someone yells, “I feel unsafe.” This is not because someone is actually particularly unsafe, but because this has become a potent tool for the offended. “All are welcome—no exceptions” reads a sign on Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, but the congregation doesn’t really mean it. Somebody very specifically is not welcome here any more—our first U.S. president. This ...

These words of wisdom were published in Meridian Magazine on Thanksgiving Day.  We all were so busy, I saved it for a day like today!  Have a good one! The Importance of Learning Little Lessons in Life By Vickey Pahnke Taylor  · November 24, 2016 To sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please  CLICK HERE “In fact, is not managing life’s  little  challenges so often the  big  challenge? Those who wait for a single, spectacular, final exam are apt to flunk the daily quizzes.” (“Thanks Be to God”, Elder Neal A. Maxwell) Quizzes. I remember having pop quizzes in school. Sometimes, the announcement would bring a shiver through my body. Largely because I knew I wasn’t properly acquainted with the material that would be included in that quiz. Ughh. Other times, it didn’t phase me. I was on top of class teachings and ready to ace that quiz. So it goes in life. Because we are multi-faceted people, with ...

We had a wonderful Stake Conference this last weekend, January 9th and 10th, 2016.  We didn't have anyone from outside our stake come, but those who did speak gave many inspirational thoughts and ideas.  Our last Stake Conference was August 8th and 9th, 2015, and we had Elder David A. Bednar as a visiting authority.  You can find notes in blog #474, August 11, 2015. Our chapel is just across the street, east of this beautiful St. George Temple.  We can see the top spire from the window in our front door! Saturday evening, I didn't take notes, but I do have some memories of special talks by President and Sister Center, who are soon to be released from being the President and wife of the St. George South Mission -- I believe that is the name of it.  Sister Center gave some very interesting and thoughtful ideas on how to prepare your son or daughter for missionary work.  The first idea she presented was to teach them how to WORK!  She encouraged p...

This is a good article about forgiving and forgetting.  Don't hold grudges, and try and make peace with everyone. To my readers -- My husband Wayne is on kidney dialysis 3 times a week, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.   I take him, and try to keep up on which foods he can or can't eat -- it's very complicated!  He has 3 or 4 doctor appointments each week, usually, in addition to dialysis, so I may not be writing my blog as often.  I do enjoy it, but I'm tired also!  I think I will repost some of our pioneer stories, and past blogs that people have read.  I would welcome any comments, and you can write to my e mail if you'd like;    paralee.eckman@gmail.com Release Someone from Emotional Prison By JeaNette Goates Smith  · April 27, 2015 Share on email Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on google_plusone_share Share on pinterest_share More Sharing Service Once, in an attempt to re-...

I just had to pass this on today -- It is so great and timely! New post on  Brian Mickelson.... How to Not Be Offended by General Conference… by  BJM No, I'm don't usually feel offended or hurt during General Conference. In fact, I never do. I mean, I do get a little sting every once in awhile because I need to change, but more often I feel comfort and peace and I feel excited to get to work on what needs to change in my life. What I do see online, however, are people expressing thoughts along the following lines:  How could President Packer say that? He obviously doesn't know what it is like to __________...  or  This is the problem! Elder Anderson just made matters worse when he said __________... In fact, I'd imagine that people are going to get a little worked up about Elder Cook's priesthood session address where he stated to unmarried young men (that are in the marriage age realm): ...the longer you remain single, after an appropr...