Thoughts and stories, by Pal

Today is President Russell M. Nelson's 95th birthday.  For those who haven't watched the inspiring program, with wonderful music, and telling about his life, it is now on YouTube.  You can find it at:  President Nelson’s 95th Birthday Celebration - September 6, 8:00 PM 95 Facts About President Nelson for His 95th Birthday by Jannalee Sandau  | Sep. 07, 2019 As we celebrate the 95th birthday of our beloved prophet, here are 95 fast facts about him, from the beginning of his life to today! Growing Up 1. He was 9 pounds and 11 ounces when he was born. 2. His family was not active in the Church while he was growing up.  3. Growing up, he didn’t like liver and would hide it in his pockets and throw it into a vacant lot on his way to school. 4. He learned about the Church by taking a streetcar to Deseret Book. 5. He once broke every bottle of his parent’s alcohol and poured it down the drain in the basement floor as a...

Watch President Russell M. Nelson's 95th birthday celebration here:  At 8 p.m. on Friday September 6, 2019. Watch Online The performance will be broadcast live in English on the Church satellite system,  ChurchofJesusChrist.org , and  Facebook , as well as on  thetabernaclechoir.org ,  youtube.com/thetabernaclechoirattemplesquare , and  facebook.com/thetabernaclechoir . The program will be broadcast in French, German, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, and ASL on the Church satellite system,  ChurchofJesusChrist.org,  and t hetabernaclechoir.org . Watch On-Demand The broadcast will be available for on-demand viewing on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, tabchoir.org/95thcelebration, and  youtube.com/thetabernaclechoirattemplesquare  imediately following the live broadcast in English, French, German, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, and ASL. BYUtv will rebroadcast the event on  byutv.org  at Sunday, September 8, 2019, at...

Do you ever feel that the Lord hasn't heard your prayers, or isn't answering them in the way you want?  This beautiful article helps us understand a lot! While We Search the Skies for Angels By  Ted Gibbons  · September 3, 2019 Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please  CLICK HERE Editor’s Note: Beloved author Ted Gibbons recently passed away after a battle with cancer. We will continue to share his wonderful insights here periodically. Embedded in many of Paul’s letters are messages left, as it were, in tiny crystal containers, almost hidden in the shadows of the eternal doctrines that fill Paul’s epistles. For example, in Philippians 4, Paul encourages the saints to “stand fast in the Lord” and to be “in the same mind of the Lord,” and to “rejoice in the Lord” (Phil 4:1,4). But in the midst of this counsel to be Christ-like. Paul teaches a lesson we might miss if we are not watching. He suggests an approach to life that will ...

This is a masterful article!   Why There is No Room for Middle Ground Concerning the Book of Mormon By  Elder Tad R. Callister  · August 28, 2019 Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please  CLICK HERE Cover image  via Book of Mormon Central . To get your copy of Elder Callister’s new book , A Case for the Book of Mormon,  CLICK HERE . God or the Devil? Years ago my great-great-grandfather Willard Richards picked up a copy of the Book of Mormon for the first time.  He opened it to the center and read a few pages.  He then said: “That book was either written by God or the devil, and I am going to find out who wrote it.”  He read it through twice in the next ten days and then declared: “The devil could not have written in – it must be from God.” [i] To the contrary, some have argued that the Book of Mormon is not an either/or proposition – either the work of God on one hand or the work of t...

I know I haven't written for almost 6 weeks.  On July 13th, I fell in the New York airport, got some severely bruised ribs, continued on to Ireland, but after 3 days had to fly home, missing most of Scotland, all over England, 2 days in France, and 2 days in Rome, with a visit and session to the Rome Temple.   I'll write about that another time.  I'm almost healed, but this article about one of my favorite authors needs to be here today.  She has inspired so many over the years, and I have featured many of her writings.  Even Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has quoted her!  Read about it below. I appreciate those who have continued to read previous blogs during the time I have been recuperating.   I'll get back to writing more blogs, with family history and inspiring thoughts -- hopefully, to you dear readers. Long-time Meridian Writer, Darla Isackson Dies of Cancer By Maurine Proctor  · August 21, 2019 Sign up for Mer...