Thoughts and stories, by Pal

Gospel Questions Teens Have --This was in LDS Living on June 24, 2015. How to Answer Common Gospel Questions Teens Have JOHN HILTON III AND ANTHONY SWEAT - Teenagers constantly ask questions about the gospel. Why does it matter what I wear? Why can’t I date until I’m 16? How can I tell the difference between my own thoughts and feelings and inspired ones from the Holy Ghost? Here are some helpful answers to address some of the “whys.” As religious educators, we get questions from youth all the time. When we set out to write our books  WHY?  and  HOW?  our purpose was to try and answer the types of questions teens most frequently ask us. In this article, we’ll share what we believe are some of the top questions teens ask about the gospel (and, of course, some answers too!). Standards Questions Why does it matter what I wear? While in the Amazon jungle, Anthony went fishing for piranhas with a native guide. All it took was putting some raw...

The last 3 days before martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith -- from Latter Day Devotion. The Prophet Joseph Smith and his beloved brother Hyrum June 25,1844  - With the personal guarantee of Governor Ford of protection, the Prophet Joseph Smith, and those traveling with him who had been indited, voluntarily surrendered to the constable in Carthage. At about   8 a.m.  the Prophet and his brother Hyrum were again arrested and this time charged with treason against the state of Illinois based on the testimony of Augustine Spencer. At   8:30 a.m.  Governor Ford called all the troops to the public square and addressed them "in a most inflammatory manner, exciting the feelings of indignation against Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith" ( History of the Church , 6:563).  At 9:15 a.m. , the Governor invited Joseph to walk with him through the troops. They first went to General Deming's quarters where the Governor again "pledged the faith of the state tha...

This article was in LDS Living.  It is quite interesting! One Big Reason Young Mormons Are Afraid of Marriage (And How to Fix It) JENNY SPENCER - JUNE 17, 2015 You may not have even heard of this particular reason why young single adults are delaying marriage, but it's no less powerful. Find out what it is. As a young single adult in the Church, I’ve had a plethora of conversations with friends about why we’re afraid of dating, afraid of commitment, afraid of marriage—or all of the above. Our general Church leaders tell us that it’s the most exquisite and important thing we’ll ever experience in life. And yet, many of us put off the search to find a spouse. We want to be with the absolute best person for us. Keep searching, they say. Don’t settle for anything less than the best, we’re told. We get the same message from the media that surrounds us. If the phone you have is better than the last one you had, then it’s a sure-fire bet that the next phone you ge...

 LDS teen spends final days at church  and  temple, caring for  others By  Sarah Petersen ,  Deseret News Published: Monday, June 22 2015  Afton Wallace attends church with her family. From left: Robert Wallace, Scott Wallace, Sheri Wallace, Katie Wallace, Abigail Wallace, Afton Wallace and Kaylynne Wallace. Provided by Robert Wallace Summary "We were all crying," said Afton's father, Robert Wallace. "It’s the worst news that you could have. Then she said, ‘Dad, can I go to the temple?'" “ I think that the thing that is so remarkable about Afton, despite the pain, despite the unsettling knot in her stomach, ... she remained herself. ... She had this infectious ability to be happy, even when she should have been the most miserable.” Robert Wallace When doctors told Afton Wallace, then 17, there was nothing else they could do to save her life, Wallace spent time grieving with her immediate family. But ...

Great Story!  This is such an interesting story, of a young convert in New Zealand who had to have a tatoo removed to serve a mission.    New member cuts out tattoos to serve mission   Thomas Swain   June 8, 2015 Written by Ione Cussen Pasi Haufano didn’t always want to serve a mission, it wasn’t until he was in his mid-twenties that he even starting to consider the idea. But when he’d made that choice, nothing was going to stop him. His perseverance became a beacon of faith, an example of determination that has quite simply become legendary. Pasi was raised in a Polynesian (Tongan/Samoan) home in New Zealand and was Baptised in 2006, but he didn’t really understand the significance of what he was doing. “I knew I had to be baptised, but I never understood the doctrine behind it”, he said, “I couldn’t even remember the name of the church, I didn’t know that there was a Book of Mormon.” Pasi at home in New Zealand wi...

This is such a comforting article.  It contains thoughts from a book by Robert L. Millet, a BYU Religious Professor, entitled "When a Child Wanders."  Why There Is Hope Even If Your Child Has Strayed ROBERT L. MILLET - from lds living Learn more about the doctrine behind what happens when a child wanders from the faith. I thought I knew something about the depth of divine love and the supernal power of the everlasting covenant when I chose to write  When A Child Wanders . The last two decades have, however, sharpened my convictions and deepened my faith. My wife Shauna and I have witnessed miracles as loved ones have been drawn back to the fold, but we still seek with all our hearts for the restoration of each one of our children to full and complete acceptance of the restored gospel. And we trust in the assurance that “Our heavenly Father is more liberal in His views, and boundless in His mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive” (Jo...