Meridian Magazine :: Arts: Films That Feed the Soul: Recommendations For Family Viewing

Meridian Magazine :: Arts: Films That Feed the Soul: Recommendations For Family Viewing

The Atonement and the Value of One Soul

"If we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God."

--Elder M. Russell Ballard, "The Atonement and the Value of One Soul", May 2004 Ensign pg 84

The Lifeline of Prayer

"No earthly authority can separate us from direct access to our Creator. There can never be a mechanical or electronic failure when we pray. There is no limit on the number of times or how long we can pray each day. There is no quota of how many needs we wish to pray for in each prayer. We do not need to go through secretaries or make an appointment to reach the throne of grace. He is reachable at any time and any place."
--James E. Faust, “The Lifeline of Prayer,” Ensign, May 2002, 59

Give Thanks in All Things

"When we give thanks in all things, we see hardships and adversities in the context of the purpose of life... We are meant to learn and grow through opposition, through meeting our challenges, and through teaching others to do the same... the Lord will not only consecrate our afflictions for our gain, but He will use them to bless the lives of countless others."

--Dallin H. Oaks, "Give Thanks in All Things," Ensign, May 2003, 95

Peace Offering --- Accepted

On November 9th, I shared some thoughts on "Taking the Higher Road" -- you may want to read this, so you understand what I am talking about here.

It's been three days after my peace offering to our neighbors, and today I got a knock on our door. It was the neighbor who I quarreled with, she had a plate of rice krispie treats, and this is what she said to me "This is my peace offering with you. We won't knock on your door anymore, we understand, as we also have kids. And we'll take care of the bikes. We want to not have contention between us either. We understand."

I can honestly say I was surprised. But through this experience, I have gained a testimony that when we follow in the footsteps of the teachings Jesus, the outcome in some way will be a good one. The response from our neighbor shows that she was touched by my act of kindness to her. She didn't have to make a plate of rice krispie treats, and take the courage to knock on our door, apologize and hand them to me, but she did. The outcome could have been good in so many different ways, the very fact that I had a spiritual renewal was a blessing. I always think about how we might plant seeds in people's lives. You can't choose the outcome, but you can plant the seed and they can choose to make that seed blossom now or in the future. The important part, is that you took the step, you took the higher road, you planted the seed. God is watching over us, and I know that He is pleased with us when we make good choices. It truly is simple, sometimes it feels hard, but it is simple. I am grateful for this experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity of planting a seed that blossomed. I would encourage you, if you're frustrated with someone, or something – take the higher road and you will be blessed for your efforts.

Taking the Higher Road

In the last several months we have been frustrated with some bad neighbors. We currently live in the top unit of a condo, and the neighbors below us, who are renting from the owners recently moved in, about 4 months ago. Wow, it seems like a lot longer than that. Anyway, there has been one issue after another with them. It all started on the day they moved in. First it was smoking on the balcony, which is against the covenants here, as well as a city law. I went outside and politely let him know that it was against the covenants. He apologized and said he did not know. Within a couple of weeks they left their kids' toys and bikes out where it was a hazard - at the bottom of the stairs, in the breezeways, etc. Of note, there is a regulation regarding this as it is against the Disabilities Act. The second issue is, is that I was not seeing them at the bottom of the stairway and tripping on them with my infant in my arms. I really did not want to have anything broken, nor did I want my child to be hurt from a potential fall. And this is where it all started. I gave them a simple note, letting them be aware of the regulation and also mentioning my tripping on them. How I wish they could have just said "sorry, we'll take care of the problem" and leave it there. Not more than 5 minutes had passed and I got a fist hammering on my door. I honestly should not have opened it, yes, in hindsight, I should not have at all. The man yelled at me for the letter. He was angry, because I believe he felt he was being singled out in the letter, though all the other neighbors here already know the CC&Rs to the condo community. He also could not believe that in the 3 weeks time that they had lived there that I could have tripped on any of their bikes or toys. I so wanted to walk him outside and show him, but I knew that he knew better, he just didn't want to take responsibility and he tried to put the blame on my shoulders. I would have been fine with the last of that, but ever since then, we have gotten hammering knocks from these neighbors almost daily telling us that our kids are being too loud, jumping too much, or their crying is bothering them etc. We teach our children to have soft feet, to respect those that live around us, and they do. However, there will be times that they will have some noisy play, not throughout the day of course, but it would be unrealistic to keep them quiet 100% of the time. These are daily living noises. We are not loud during the city noise ordinances, unless of course, one of them is crying for one reason or another - but that is part of having children. There are other issues that are excessive noise issues from their unit, but we have not complained to them, although after the hours, have been tempted to call the police. The issues are ones that have affected our entire condo building, as well as other issues that I will not discuss here that have affected others in our condo community as well.

My frustrations levels went through the roof, and it was affecting how I felt, my overall feeling about how life currently felt, how I was as a wife and a mother, and probably a friend too.

Over a period of time, I started to be more aware of God reaching out to me during this frustration, and trying to help me take the "higher road." I will be perfectly honest in saying that I was feeling like I was not about to take the higher road because I was angry with them, because I was sick and tired of what we were dealing with on a daily basis, because I just didn't at the time feel it was in me to do it, I just didn't want to.

But, I noticed that my patience levels on a daily basis was dwindling into nothing. I noticed that I felt like a dark cloud every day followed me where ever I went. I was starting to more and more look at the negative vs. the many positive things in my life. I was being dragged down into a hole that I knew if I didn't do something about it soon, I would maybe be hiding in there for some time.

One of my favorite quotes, and I'm not sure who it is by is that when we listen and then follow God, we will always be right. How comforting that is to me. We can't go wrong.

I talked to my friend on my On Wings of Faith group and they encouraged me to take this step. I was totally feeling out of my comfort zone, but I don't think it really was out of my comfort zone, but that Satan simply did not want me to climb into the hole that I had chosen to get myself in. The moment I decided to take the higher road with these neighbors, is when I could literally feel my spirit lift to heights I hadn't been at in awhile. Like a spiritual bandaid. I knew that what I was doing was right. A member on On Wings of Faith (Melissa) told me that I could not choose how they responded, but that I would be blessed. All of the members on On Wings of Faith encouraged me to do this, and that God would make note of my efforts to make some peace.

So, I made some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and also wrote a little note. In this note, I explained where we were coming from, where our frustrations stemmed from. I also apologized for a bit of an argument I got in with one of the neighbors. And I asked them if there was a better time for my children to have their louder playtime during the day. I have not yet heard back from them. But, it is much better than the almost daily hammering of our door for noises that are daily living noises. We'll see what comes of this. For now, however, my spirit has been renewed, a breath of fresh air has made life more sweet and less bitter.

For the Beauty of the Earth - TOTW

For the Beauty of the Earth

Hymns, For the Beauty of the Earth, no. 92

1. For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,

[Chorus]
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

2. For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light,

3. For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,

Text: Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835-1917
Music: Conrad Kocher, 1786–1872

Psalm 95:1–6
Psalm 33:1–6

The Profound Power of Gratitude - TOTW

"Gracias, danke, merci whatever language is spoken, 'thank you' frequently expressed will cheer your spirit, broaden your friendships, and lift your lives to a higher pathway as you journey toward perfection. There is a simplicity even a sincerity when 'thank you' is spoken."

--Thomas S. Monson, “The Profound Power of Gratitude,” Ensign, Sept. 2005, 3

Who’s Losing? - TOTW

"One warm evening during the past summer months Sister Ashton and I enjoyed a professional baseball game. During the early part of the competition our attention was diverted from the action by a late arriver. As he walked by, he spotted me and asked, 'Who’s losing?' I responded with, 'Neither one.' Following my answer, I noticed that he glanced at the right-field scoreboard, saw the game wasn’t tied, and walked on, undoubtedly wondering about me.

Seconds after he made his way to a distant seat, Sister Ashton said, 'He doesn’t know you very well, does he?' 'What makes you say that?' I replied. She responded with, 'If he did, he would know you don’t believe anyone is losing. Some are ahead and some are behind, but no one is losing. Isn’t that right?' I smiled in approval with a warm feeling inside.

Proper attitude in this crisis-dominated world is a priceless possession. Never before is it more important for all of us to move forward with conviction. We may be behind, but we are not losing if we are moving in the right direction. God will not score our performances until the end of the journey."
--Elder Marvin J Ashton, "Who’s Losing?" Ensign, Nov. 1974, 41

Meridian Magazine:: Line Upon Line: We Have the Answers to the Hard Questions

"Recently, as I sat in Barnes & Noble at a book signing, looking at all the books around me, I was suddenly struck by the fact that in one way or another they all dealt with life’s great questions. Why injustice? Who are we really? Where are the answers? Why do I feel so empty? Is there absolute truth out there somewhere, or is everything relative?"

Meridian Magazine:: Line Upon Line: We Have the Answers to the Hard Questions

Strengthening Each Other - TOTW

"If you sometimes get discouraged, consider this fellow. He dropped out of grade school. Ran a country store. Went broke. Took 15 years to pay off his bills. Took a wife. Unhappy marriage. Ran for House. Lost twice. Ran for Senate. Lost twice. Delivered speech that became a classic. Audience indifferent. Attacked daily by the press and despised by half the country. Despite all this, imagine how many people all over the world have been inspired by this awkward, rumpled, brooding man who signed his name simply, A. Lincoln.” (Wall Street Journal.)

'It is important to know, when you feel down, that many others do also and that their circumstances are generally much worse than yours. And it’s important to know that when one of us is down, it becomes the obligation of his friends to give him a lift. I hope that each of us will cultivate a sensitivity toward the feelings of others, and when encouragement is needed, make an effort to extend it. Be a friend, and you will have a friend. God be thanked for wonderful friends.'
--Gordon B. Hinckley, “Strengthening Each Other,” Ensign, Feb. 1985, 3

Meridian Magazine :: You Tube: An Apostle?s Testimony of the Book of Mormon

I absolutely enjoyed Elder Holland's talk in General Conference. What a powerful testimony! In this 5-minute video, the essence of Elder Holland’s talk is given with beautiful photos and illustration.

Meridian Magazine :: You Tube: An Apostle?s Testimony of the Book of Mormon

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Meridian Magazine :: Family Connections: At Risk: Our Children?s Imagination

I think that this is a fabulous article. I have found it really sad in so many children who lack the capacity to have an imagination. We have experienced this in our own family, with my stepson in fact, who we only have every other weekend if that. He has done much better in the past year, but the environment he has grown up in, has given him the lack of imagination that he so needs.

And then on the other hand, our oldest has a fabulous imagination - our bed can turn into a train, a boat with crashing waves and sharks beneath, an airplane soaring through the clouds... It is so much fun!

And not only does it create fun in a child's life, but what about the importance of their brain development and how it helps them with life's challenges in general? :)

Meridian Magazine :: Family Connections: At Risk: Our Children?s Imagination

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Three Choices - TOTW

"Tomorrow’s joy or tomorrow’s despair has its roots in decisions we make today. Perhaps some people think to themselves: 'I know I need to change some things in my life. Maybe later, but not now.'

Those who stand at the threshold of life always waiting for the right time to change are like the man who stands at the bank of a river waiting for the water to pass so he can cross on dry land.

Today is the day of decision."

--Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Three Choices,” Ensign, Nov. 2003, 78

Testimony Builder - Thoughts By Me.

Today, I will be taking our boys to church, as my husband is sick with the flu. I think it can be a challenge to be by yourself and take your kids to church, but I also think that it is very important to follow through.

Let me step back a few years. When my oldest was under one, I would take him to church by myself, as at the time my husband was not active in church. During the course of the 3 hour block, I became discouraged because I wasn't getting the spiritual uplift that I wanted and needed. I was spending much of the time in the hallway, because my baby was being too noisy to be able to sit through some of the meetings. At that very moment that I became discouraged and thought to myself what is the point of me being here, the Primary President came around the corner and said to me, "I remember those days, it will get better." At that moment in time, it occurred to me that I am not the only one that has had to go in the hallway, that there will be better days, and it is important for me to be there even in the hallway for a short time period in my babies life. Why? Because it shows him that going to church is an important part of our lives, and eventually when he is older, the habit will be instilled in him, and again, when he grows older he'll start to realize the weekly spiritual nourishment that he can get at church. What a great insight that was for me. It was not coincidence that the Primary President came around the corner at that exact moment, and that what she said to me gave me a better testimony of why it is so important that I come to church with my little one even if it is in the hallway for a brief time in life.

Now, my oldest is in Primary and is loving it. I can see the spiritual growth he has gained by my persistence and faith in bringing him to church each Sunday. It is wonderful to hear him so excited to learn about our Savior. To learn about eternal families, as sometime in the future our family will be sealed for time and all eternity, what a great testimony builder this will be for him, and for our little family as a whole. It is exciting to see him be excited to say the family prayer at night, or during dinner time. It is heart warming to hear him speak with his little voice that permeates a spiritual warmth throughout my heart.

And, I am back to the hallway days off and on with our youngest. He will be able to go to the nursery in about 6 months, which will in turn help for me be able to focus on my weekly spiritual uplift. But again, for now, it is important to teach him that going to church weekly is important to us individually and as a family.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach our little ones the importance of living the gospel in their daily lives. I am grateful for the small teachings I receive through my children, for their little insights that give me strength to push forward. This life is truly an amazing journey, difficult at times sure, perhaps difficult is an understatement at times, but nevertheless, it is a blessing. I truly am grateful for the opportunities for spiritual insight and spiritual growth.