Thoughts and stories, by Pal

I was privileged to be in the Hill Cumorah Pageant in 1955, just before I was married.  I had gone to BYU the winter before, and had been writing to Wayne in the army.  I signed up during the winter to go with the group from BYU to be among the group scenes.  We were joined by the missionaries who were then in the Rochester, New York, mission.  We spent one week on a bus driving back there, two weeks there, and one week driving back home.  We didn't fly at that time, as people do now. The Hill Cumorah as it probably was in 1800's.  Taken in 1910.      While there for 2 weeks, we learned missionary lessons so we could go among the crowds who came to the Pageant and talk as missionaries.  I was in a group that stayed at the Joseph Smith Farm Home.  The night before we left on June 28th, Wayne proposed to me, and gave me a diamond ring.  He had come home from the army on July 4th, and we had been writing for 14 months an...

This new blog by Brian Mickelson is really great, and goes with the one I posted yesterday, on transitions in life -- including coming home from a mission and getting on with life. MyPlan.lds.org, and a Pattern for Transitions… by  BJM My friend and colleague recently posted a link to  MyPlan.lds.org , where returning missionaries will put together and follow through on plans that will make their transition from full-time missionary to returned-missionary a little easier and more effective. Interestingly, their first "learning experience" relating to returning home successfully will take place  before  they enter the MTC. Another learning experience will take place when they've been out in the missionary field for about half of their service time. Then, various learning experiences will occur each week of their last six weeks in the field. These plans will be shared with their mission president and home-stake president so that they have built-in support for...

Are you facing a transition in life?  A new job, coming home from a mission, marriage, divorce, loss of a loved one, moving and many other changes in life can be almost overwhelming.  Here are great suggestions on how to face them with faith and courage. MORMON CHANNEL BLOG Adjusting to Change: How to Tackle Life Transitions July 9, 2015 details comments Details Whether you are off to college, starting a new job, becoming a parent, or facing another kind of major life change, you may feel as stressed as you feel excited. Change is emotional. Change is also inevitable in this life. That should not make us feel afraid; we must keep moving. We must always be learning, growing, and progressing in this life in order to earn eternal life in the future. Below are five steps to seeing your life transitions as opportunities to grow. Step 1: Willingly accept the change. The quickest way to make any transition harder is to resist it rather than acc...

Ideas in this article would help us all be "Filled with Life and Energy".  This appears in the July 2015 LDS Ensign Magazine.  I liked it so much, I decided to print it here, especially for those who may not get the Ensign.  Filled with  Life and Energy By Randal A. Wright, in the July 2015 LDS Ensign Magazine, page 22 What one practice, if followed consistently and with discipline, would help you have better health, energy, and inspiration?                                                           Pres. Harold B. Lee                                                                              ...

After the beautiful and inspiring funeral yesterday of Elder Packer, I found this article with some of his art work I hadn't seen.  I think you will enjoy it.   Photo Gallery: The Artwork of President Packer  The Bishop's Team  , 1999, (pg. 112) Acrylic on canvas; 22 x 30 in. President Packer painted this scene of a faithful bishop's horse team waiting patiently in the field while he went to help his ward members. He told it in his  April 1999 general conference address . President packer putting the finishing touches on his painting in his backyard. (pg. 113) Singing Meadowlark , 1990, (pg. 133) Acrylic on canvas; framed, 11 1/2 x 14 in. President Packer explains that meadowlarks sing "Brigham City is a pretty little town," but people often mistakenly interpret the song to be about their own hometown. Beyond the fields can be seen President Packer's hometown, with the steeple of the Box Elder Tabernacle just visible. ...

How would you feel, if you were called, or you were the wife of a man who was called to be an apostle?  This tells of the feelings of those dear people.  ----   And soon this will happen to 2 men who will be called to fill the places of Elder L. Tom Perry and Elder Boyd K. Packer. Who knows but that one of the 2 new ones called may someday become the President, and Prophet of the Church! President Monson + 4 Other Church Presidents Share Story of Being Called as an Apostle by My Best LDS  |  Mormon Life ‘Daddy, Salt Lake City is Calling’—When 5 Future Church Presidents Were Called as Apostles July 8, 2015 General Conference Stories and Quotes ,  Inspiration ,  Prophets and Apostles Ezra Taft Benson ,  Gordon B. Hinckley ,  Howard W. Hunter ,  LDS ,  LDSconf ,  Mormon ,  Spencer W. Kimball ,  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ,  Thomas S. Monson When the...