Thoughts and stories, by Pal

This was in our local newspaper  The Spectrum  on Jan. 24, 2015.  It sounded like it may have some good ideas for anyone who has had their child bullied.  I know that when we were raising children, our children had problems at times.  I even remember being either made fun of, or a type of bullying myself, over 70 years ago.  But today it seems to be more prevalent perhaps.  I hope this gives you good ideas. 13 signs your child might be getting bullied Question:  I have a problem with how to handle a situation that’s happening with my child at school. He is in first grade and claims to be being bullied. Well, he doesn’t say he’s “being bullied,” he says that kids are mean to him and no one likes him. It breaks my heart. My son is in a phase where he complains a lot about school and he tends to be kind of negative or pessimistic about things. This has me worried, but I don’t know if it’s because he’s being picked on or if he’s being treated li...

This was in the LDS Church News, and hearing from an Apostle of the Lord is always a privilege.  He relates this to students and what we all can accomplish with the help of the Lord.  BYU-Idaho devotional: 'Accomplishing the impossible' By Marianne Holman Prescott   Published: Thursday, Jan. 29 2015 in the LDS Church News REXBURG, IDAHO “The Lord uses the unlikely to accomplish the impossible,” Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told students at Brigham Young University-Idaho during a campus devotional on Jan. 27. Using examples from the scriptures and Church history, Elder Nelson spoke of the great work ordinary individuals have been asked to do that with the Lord’s help, were possible. Looking at Joseph Smith, a young, teachable, untitled youth to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth; the story of David, who slew Goliath with a stone and sling; and Moses, who was called to lead the children of...

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...