Thoughts and stories, by Pal

"Love One Another", a 14 day challenge.  We are already in the 4th day, so hopefully we will also try to do the first 4 challenges and continue on until Valentine's Day. Love One Another—14-Day Challenge By The LDS Newsroom  · February 2, 2016 Love is in the air. Well, maybe not for you. But it could be. With the appearance of heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, cupid candies, valentine cards, and lovey-dovey stuffed animals on store shelves across America, it’s clear that in the United States, there is a definite commercialization of love during the month of February. But love isn’t confined to a month. Love is not dependent on relationship status. In fact, it’s not about one day. It’s about every day. In the words of our loving prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, “ Love is the very essence of the gospel , and Jesus Christ is our Exemplar.” If we want to be better followers of Him, we need to be more. We need to LOVE more. To focus o...

Counsel on marriage, and finding a spouse were the topics Elder and Sister Bednar talked about at BYU-Idaho.  Great counsel and wisdom! Elder and Sister Bednar share lessons, advice on finding a spouse, making marriage work at BYU-Idaho By Mike Price For the Deseret News Published: Thursday, Jan. 28 2016 6:10 p.m. MST View 3 photos » BYU-Idaho President Clark Gilbert and his wife, Christine, ask Elder David A. Bednar and Sister Susan Bednar questions during Date Night with married students at BYU-Idaho on Jan. 26. Tyler Rickenbach Summary Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Bednar, shared lessons they've learned in their marriage and in overcoming difficulties, answered a few questions and shared some advice Tuesday at BYU-Idaho. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Bednar, shared lessons they've learned in their marriage and in ov...

Another great missionary story from Haiti.  This beautiful Gospel truly lifts people in every way -- spiritually, intellectually and economically.   Hurrah for missionaries! Haiti: I thought the LDS missionaries were all CIA or FBI‏ By Mark Albright  · January 31, 2016 Cover image: Rousselande with her parents. Editor’s Note: Emmanuel and Lomaine Buissereth are the parents of nine children in Haiti.  The oldest son’s name is Roussel, and the next three daughters are named Rousseline, Rousselene, and Rousselande.  The five younger brothers and sisters are Emmanuela, Raphael, MedJine, Christopher, and Diana. All have grown up in extremely humble circumstances.  At great sacrifice and continuous hard labor, their mother works as a seamstress sewing long hours on a treddle sewing machine (because of the lack of reliable electricity) and their father performs mechanical repairs when he can find work, to help support thei...

I do love to read the inspirational thoughts daily, from Latter Day Light Daily Devotional.  Here are a few I have saved from the last couple of weeks.  I hope they inspire us all, and help us have good Sabbath Day Thoughts! Latter Day Light DAILY DEVOTIONAL January 30, 2016 Education SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY Doctrine & Covenants 93:53 "And, verily I say unto you, that it is my will that you should hasten to translate my scriptures, and to obtain a knowledge of history, and of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man, and all this for the salvation of Zion. Amen . " QUOTE OF THE DAY John Taylor "We are here, as a people, . . . not to imitate the world, unless it be in that which is good . . . but that we may put ourselves in possession of every truth, of every virtue, of every principle of intelligence known among men, together with those that God has revealed for our special guidance, a...

Counter Cultural Parenting By Nicholeen Peck  · January 27, 2016, in Meridian Magazine Editor’s Note: The following is part one of a two-part series on “counter-cultural parenting.” To make sure you don’t miss part two, subscribe to Meridian for free by  clicking here .   Society is transforming tremendously fast. In the past 10 years the United States has become drastically divided as a nation on important issues like the value of life, the value of religious institutions and morals, the value of the natural family, and what constitutes proper education. The list could go on. Fruitless debates fill the airwaves and the Internet. Families feel attacked, individuals feel devalued, and children are becoming more aggressive and depressed. What is happening to the world? The answer is that counter culture has become the new culture. Luckily, the families of the world still have hope. If culture and the process of creating or changing culture are under...