Meridian Magazine : : The Place Where Latter-day Saints Gather

Cover Story: Energy Medicine — Is DNA the “Final Answer?”

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For each of us, there are a few split seconds in our time on earth where the river bends and life proceeds in a new and very different direction. Perhaps it's meeting your spouse, when a child is born, or when you discover the gospel for yourself.

By Carolyn Allen

Mormon Youth Put Life on Hold to Serve as Missionaries

Each of the more than 53,000 young Mormon missionaries serving as volunteers for the Church has a different story to tell about leaving behind career and studies to serve missions.

Mom's Personal History

Want to help mom write her life's stories? Personal Historian makes it easy to organize, write, and publish personal histories. It brings timelines, photos, documents, and genealogy together to write a life story. Download your free trial today.

A Need for Unity — as Citizens and as Disciples

In this election year, we would do well to consider two ways how God would have us work with one another and how we may make wise decisions in the civic arenas.

By Stephen M. Studder

Is the Gospel Vision of the Arts No Longer Valid?

President Spencer W. Kimball had a gospel vision of the arts. Some 31 years later, is that vision coming to pass?

By Greg Hansen

Fablehaven — Grip of the Shadow Plague Sells Out Before Release at Amazon

A Brigham Young University graduate is poised to capture the top position in the New York Times Best Selling Children's List with his third book in the Fablehaven series.

By Kjirstin Youngberg

The Way was Opened

A simple act of courtesy on a tennis court makes possible an apostle's visit to Germany after World War II.

Edited by Laurie Williams Sowby

Treasured Friend and Treasured Recipes

People are like an encyclopedia, filled with information but not often opened. Here is the story of one human encyclopedia, along with a recipe she shared along the way.

By Dian Thomas

Responding to Uncertain Times

Two weeks ago Meridian Magazine quoted prophets who warned us of calamities. Now the news media are making the same predictions. What has happened in the past two weeks? Plenty!

By Carolyn Nicolaysen

Church Works with Governments to Strengthen Families

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and government officials in the Philippines are joining together to provide resources to help strengthen families and communities.

President Thomas S. Monson to Give Closing Address at BYU Women's Conference

President Thomas S. Monson will be the concluding speaker during this year's Brigham Young University Women's Conference. He will address the attendees at 3:45 p.m. on Friday, May 2, in the Marriott Center.

Were the Three Witnesses Hypnotized?

Some critics claim the Book of Mormon witnesses may have been sincere in their testimony, but they were actually the victims of “hallucinations” or “hypnosis” induced by Joseph Smith.

From FAIR, the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research

Lesson 18
“God Himself ... Shall Redeem His People"
Mosiah 12-17

Lesson 17
"A Seer ... Becometh a Great Benefit to His Fellow Beings"
Mosiah 7-11

McKay School of Education at BYU to Offer New Doctoral Program

The David O. McKay School of Education at Brigham Young University will initiate a newly designed doctoral degree program beginning fall semester 2008 titled Educational Inquiry, Measurement and Evaluation (EIME).

Becoming a Godly Healer

Inadvertently, the young bishop closed off the channels of communication. He was suckered into a debate about the merits of a ward member's complaint and missed the cry of her soul.

By H. Wallace Goddard

The Making of a Modern Parable

Parables are fun to create, and there are great benefits in the making of modern parables. Children would always rather listen to a story than a lecture, so creating a story for an important issue is an effective teaching tool. In the process of creating a parable, you can also see gospel principles in new ways.

By Steffani Raff

Visiting Teaching Success Stories

After all these weeks of discussing visiting teachers (including ourselves) who didn't measure up, here are some stories that will make you realize why it's all worthwhile.

By Kathryn H. Kidd

Forgiving Ourselves — Getting Back Up When We Let Ourselves Down

LDS psychologist Wendy Ulrich helps us claim the "amazing grace" of the Atonement, planting the seeds of joy rather than continuing to harrow up our souls with guilt — whether real or imagined.

By Steven Kapp Perry

A Week in the Life of a Mormon Family

It’s early morning, and Hilary and Patience Ekpo are going over the day’s plans. After reading scriptures and praying together, they gather their five children together and go through a similar exercise, this time with the whole family.

The Spirit of the Trail

One of the great events in 1997 was the reenactment of the Mormon trek west as part of the sesquicentennial celebration of the Saints' migration to the Great Basin 150 years before. If you missed that reenactment, or if you want to participate again, it will be repeated beginning this June.

By Steve Orton

Be the Change

What we know changes how we feel. How we feel changes how we act. How we act changes the way our little portion of the world operates. Or, perhaps it changes us enough that we can better operate within our portion of this world.

By Vickey Pahnke Taylor

Define Universe and Give Two Examples — A Comparison of Scientific and Christian Belief

In addition to an exposition of the doctrine of Christ, this book has a bonus in that positions of fundamental and current scientific thought are clearly presented. The author shows that there are severe limitations of science, compared to no limitations in the doctrine of Christ.

Reviewed by Richard Fairbanks

Elder Ballard Receives Award

Elder M. Russell Ballard accepted the 2008 Distinguished Public Service Award from the Washington, DC chapter of the BYU Management Society in a gala dinner at the Georgetown University Conference Center on Saturday night.

By Steve Orton

Latter-day Saints Respect Diversity

A respect for the diverse beliefs and unique contributions of all the world’s faiths is one of the hallmarks of Mormonism.

Is the Universe Friendly?

It seems that life conspires against little boys. But as one little boy learned when he grew to manhood, it also conspires against adults. The universe gives and the universe withholds. Is nature a friend or a foe?

By H. Wallace Goddard

Where Did all Those People Come From?

Critics charge the Lehite colony was too small to account for the populations described in the Book of Mormon. Where did all those people come from?

From FAIR, the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research

Gracefully Parting with Church Magazines

When an issue of your favorite church magazine has lived its useful life, how do you dispose of it without feeling guilty?

By Kathryn H. Kidd

Latter-day Laughs

Kathy Harrison from Alabama writes: “One day on the way home from church, we were talking about the branch president and his wife having a new baby, and guessing that they were going to have twins. One of my younger sons said, ‘She can't be having twins. If she were, she'd have two humps!'" Come laugh with us.

Edited and Compiled by Trish Manwaring, Assistant Editor, Meridian Magazine

Beautifully Modest

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The Arrangement of Marriage

On the day of his son's marriage, a father wonders about the blending of families and the intricacies of the extended family institution.

By Richard Eyre

Fantasies to Keep Youngsters Turning Pages

Are you looking for a great fantasy? Here are some books that will have your nine-year-old — and older — turning pages quicker than you think possible.

By Holly E. Newton

Global Warming — Latest Excuse for the War on the Family

Global warming cultists are starting to blame religion and family as a big source of what they see as climate change—and in a recent article, the Latter-day Saints were mentioned by name.

By Don Feder

Lehi's Dream of the Tree of Life — 20 Years Later

An artist uses friends and family to illustrate his large illustration of Lehi's dream.

By Steven Lloyd Neal, MD

Osmonds to Join Tabernacle Choir for Concert

The entire Osmond family, including the Osmond Brothers, Donny, Marie and Jimmy, will be featured as guest artists for this year's Pioneer Day Concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.

New Books Celebrate Women

Several new books in the LDS market hold special appeal for women and would make welcome Mother's Day gifts. Some combine art, prose, and music in delightful packages, while others offer words of wit and wisdom.

Reviewed By
Laurie Williams Sowby

Utopia? Count Me Out!

Ah, Utopia — the perfect world. Do you really want to live there?

By Davis Bitton

How to be a Somebody

There are lots of little ways you can be somebody. Every one of us can make a difference.

By Mary Ellen Edmunds

Straight Talk About Casual Sex

"We live in a sex-saturated society where supposedly the majority of young people are "doing it," more often than not without "benefit of marriage." The time for some straight talk about casual sex is long overdue, and every young person needs to know the truth about this risky behavior."

The Almighty Jacket Layer

What good does a jacket do? Why spend time or money on a jacket?
By Judith Rasband

A Twenty-Something’s Guide to Spirituality, Edited by Jacob Werrett & David Read

This one-of-a-kind book captures the perplexities that confront us in the college years, but does so with refreshing honesty and a faith component that denotes real desire to perform God’s will.

Reviewed by Catherine K. Arveseth

President Monson Announces Two New Temples in Arizona

Plans to build two new temples in Gila Valley and Gilbert, Arizona, were announced today by Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This will bring the total number of temples to 134 already in operation or in the planning and construction phases.

Picking up the Pieces

Is there one of us that does not relate to Brooke White on “American Idol” last week? We're prepared and ready. We've prayed and done absolutely everything possible for success — then something happens. We lose our instincts and our way, and then we have to pick up the pieces.

By Carolyn Allen

Latter-day Laughs

Susan Lythgoe from England, writes: “During choir rehearsal, we were admonished for not paying attention to the chorister, all finishing a line at different times. The chorister complained that at the end of one particular line all she could hear was ‘Er, er, er.' Someone piped up: ‘To er is human; To er, er, er is unforgiveable!'" Come laugh with us!

Edited and Compiled by Trish Manwaring, Assistant Editor, Meridian Magazine

Del Parson: Painting the Savior’s Love

This is the magic of Del Parson. You can’t help but walk away with a smile on your face after spending a little time with him or with his artwork.

By Steevun Lemon

Stepping Back from the Parental Role

There comes a time in the life of every parent when it's time to step back from parenting and learn to be a friend.

By Richard Eyre

Books for Kids to Read Aloud

Here are read-aloud books books that pull the reader, young or old, instantly into the realm and joy of the story. There is an element of unique fantasy, dialogue or storyline in each book that is great fun to read out loud.

By Holly E. Newton

Dream Big and Work Hard

We all have Mount Everests in our lives. Are we going to climb them, or are we going to sit back and enjoy the view?

By Dian Thomas

Church Collaborates on Emma Smith Movie

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints collaborated with the Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith Historical Society on the new movie, Emma Smith: My Story, which was released in theaters across Utah on 11 April.

Energy Medicine: Tools and Diagnostic Techniques that Measure Energy

All healing takes place at the energy level. Energy is all around us, and it works for us (or against us) even if we don't notice it.

By Stan M. Gardner, M.D.

Those Crafty Mormons — Beware of Their Eyes!

Your cousin, your sibling, or your child has joined the Mormons. You are horrified. How do you explain this to your friends?

By Davis Bitton

A Lesson to End all Quarrels

Having problems with quarreling in your family? Try this simple FHE lesson to help make a difference.

By C.S. Bezas

Whom the Lord Loveth, He Chasteneth

Once I spanked my three-year-old son for running into the street without looking and nearly getting hit by a car. After the spanking, he turned a tear-streaked face to me and asked, “Why would you spank a kid for not getting hit by a car?”

By Susan Law Corpany

Mormons and Baptists Clean Up Houston Neighborhood

More than 200 Mormon teens and youth leaders worked with their Baptist neighbors recently to clean up a downtown neighborhood in Houston, Texas.

To Life, To Life!

Although genuine happiness, health, peace and joy may seem in scant supply, there is always an abundance of genuine problems — and food! The pleasure that comes from eating seems to make the problems go away, at least for a while, so we eat, and eat, and eat.

By Carolyn Allen

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