Thoughts and stories, by Pal

  We all want to hear from our Prophet at Christmas time!  Inspiring words! President Nelson invites all to ‘make room in your heart’ this Christmas for those struggling to feel the Savior’s love View 1 more In a video message released Dec. 16, President Russell M. Nelson invites all to help others feel the Savior’s love.  Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints   By Sydney Walker     Updated 16 DEC 2021 8:09 AM MST As many are burdened with fear, uncertainty and the ongoing effects of the  COVID-19 pandemic  this Christmas season,  President Russell M. Nelson  shared a message of hope and joy with the world.  “The Christmas season is near and dear to my heart, as I know it is to many of you,” President Nelson said  in a video message  released Thursday, Dec. 16. “Given all that we have experienced during this past year and more, may I share a message about how we can help transform lives during this specia...

                        I read this in the Deseret News today, and I feel it is important for us                  to be aware of, and to study and learn what our leaders teach us! ‘Of course, Black lives matter’: President Oaks speaks on ‘Racism and Other Challenges’ at BYU devotional by Lindsey Williams  | Oct. 27, 2020 Speaking at the Marriott Center at Brigham Young University, President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, renewed Church leaders’ pleas to Latter-day Saints to “root out racism.” In his address, President Oaks spoke about current events tied to racism, like the police-produced death of George Floyd, as well as historical examples of racism, as reported by  Church News . Speaking about the protests following the death of George Floyd carried under the message of “Black Lives Matter,” President Oaks said, “Of course, Black lives matter—...

I don't believe in being a pessimist!  Actually I love life, and I am so grateful, at my age of 85, to be able to live through the challenges the world, and my family are now facing daily. Early this morning, the dear sister, Ruby, of my deceased husband Wayne, passed away at age 91 -- the 8th of a family of 9 children.  And my son-in-law who fell in the early morning 2 days ago, will have a serious operation on his left elbow this morning.  None of this is related to the Corona Virus, which is devastating the world today.   These videos may not be comforting, but they may help us to feel that Heavenly Father knows what would come at this time, and in the future, and will help us get through them.  Let's help each other, so we will all come out okay! We all were born for this time, and we truly have the faith and strength to do our best in these circumstances, and help others also!   I'm not sure just when each of these warnings were give...

      Some missionaries are still out in the mission field, and trying to spend          their time usefully -- and are showing their talents! Watch: Quarantined Missionaries Around the World Spread the Gospel Through Social Media Music Videos by Greyson Gurley  | Mar. 30, 2020 In order to connect with others during quarantine, many people are sharing their musical talents with each other through social media—missionaries included! With more time on their hands than usual, some missionaries have found creative ways to spread the gospel virtually, including companion duets, catchy compositions, and multi-language compilations. Even Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf has posted about those who are sharing the gospel through music. The apostle shared a video of his grandson and his grandson’s companion playing a rendition of the hymn “There is Sunshine in my Soul Today” on guitar and clarinet. Here are a few videos th...

I returned from a cruise with staff of The Book of Mormon Central, just before Christmas!  I loved it, and learned so much about it!   They have so many helps to study The Book of Mormon, and this is a beginning.  We are beginning with the Title page, and Introductory pages.   I hope you enjoy the entries from The Book of Mormon Central, and go to their website, and start getting their helps on your own e mail! SCRIPTURE STUDY 7 Short Videos to Kick Off Your Book of Mormon Come Follow Me Study By Book of Mormon Central  January 1, 2020 View this post  on Book of Mormon Central . The Come Follow Me curriculum for this year is covering the Book of Mormon. Fortunately, Book of Mormon Central has produced a massive amount of content that can help individuals dive deeper into the Book of Mormon. This content includes over 500 videos which are featured on our  YouTube channel  and included  in our scripture app ca...

This was posted last year, July 4th, 2018, and is # 1050 in this blog.  I hope you enjoy these special memories!  And Beautiful music! Happy July 4th to all you dear friends!  I'm reposting # 881 I posted a year ago, about my husband Wayne, and him coming home on July 4th from the army in 1955, and 2 years earlier on July 4th from his mission to Sweden.  Fun memories!  Also some beautiful Patriotic songs!  (Further down) Wayne, on a July 4th holiday at our son Allen's in Menan, Idaho. Wayne on the left, and Blaine, his twin brother, in the army in 1954, in Europe. This was first written on July 4, 2016.   Tomorrow, July 4th, is the anniversary of two major events in my husband Wayne D Eckman's life! In 1953, he returned home from his 2 and a half year mission to Sweden,  and was awaiting his draft papers to be in the army, during the Korean War period.  In August, the next month, is when Wayne and I were introduced by m...

Dear friends!  This beautiful new song "Risen", by Shawna Edwards is accompanied by Daniel Blomberg! You can see him in the video.  We knew Daniel when he was 15 years old, in Sweden, when my husband Wayne and I were there on a mission.  He was a fantastic musician at that time also. He grew up, active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, went on a mission, learned several languages, went to BYU, and other universities, receiving a fantastic education.  He has taught in universities, but his real love is helping arrange and perform music.  He lives now in Utah, and he and his wife have five talented children, and he is really making a name for himself! If you ever want his help in arranging music, or making a beautiful video of music you have already composed, he is the right one to contact! I am proud to be his friend!  

As a special video for Easter Sunday, you would love to watch the final testimony of Elder Bruce R. McConkie, given in April Conference, 1985.  He passed away just 12 days later.  This is so impressive, I hope you enjoy it, and that it strengthens your testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ, whose Atonement and Resurrection we celebrate today on Easter Sunday. Here are 2 different links, to the same video! https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1646588748725157 https://www.facebook.com/LDSStandingUnited/videos/1646588748725157/UzpfSTE2NDIzNDE1NzM6MTAyMTY5MDgxNjI4MDk5NzM/?notif_id=1555811053288800&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic

Here is a beautiful article in Meridian Magazine, that will help you have the true spirit of Easter, and the Resurrection and Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 6 Ways to Prepare your Heart for Easter By  Book of Mormon Central  · April 14, 2019 Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please  CLICK HERE View the article  on Book of Mormon Central .  Easter is the most important holiday of the year. While Christmas often gets a lot of focus, Christmas is only the beginning of the story of Jesus Christ. The final week of Jesus Christ’s life, often referred to as “Holy Week,” is the pinnacle of the ministry of Jesus Christ and the climax of the entire Plan of Salvation. Easter is the perfect time of year for Latter-day Saints and Christians all over the world to reflect upon the life, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. More importantly, it is a time for everyone to reflect upon their own lives and recommit to living...