Editor's Note: Readers have been generous and quick to respond to our plea for donations to Meridian.  Please read some of what they have been saying here.

Is Meridian Magazine worth $10 to you? My question is sincere. We have been publishing Meridian for almost ten years and now I ask: Is Meridian and all we've been offering for free for these ten years worth $10 to you? Ten years for ten bucks.

With the economic downturn, very regretfully we have had to let long-term staff go, thus doubling the work load. Meridian has been hacked into twice this past year, costing us dearly and underlining the need for us to move to the next level of technology. Reporting on the family and marriage, from our value system, has made us a target. And, of course, running an online magazine is just plain costly, but we have always brought it to you for free.

So again, I ask you: Ten years for ten dollars—is Meridian worth $10 to you?

The average non-matinee movie ticket now costs about $10. A large popcorn costs about $6, a drink about $4. Thus, the average expense at a theater is about $20. For a family of four, for two hours of entertainment, well, you can do the math.

Are more than 17,000 original articles published worth ten dollars to you (the cost of about three gallons of milk)?

Are more than 500 gospel doctrine lessons offered to you for free all these years worth ten dollars to you? That's half the cost of a standard DVD release from Disney.

I'm genuine in my asking: Is ten years of Meridian worth ten dollars to you? I do understand that not all of you have been reading Meridian for all ten years—so the math will change a bit for each of you.

I'm appealing to you to help us continue with all we've been doing with Meridian these past 10 years, bringing you thoughts from some of the greatest writers in the Church; bringing you those gospel doctrine lessons to aid you in your studies and teaching; giving you front-row seats to major church events; giving you great ideas for your marriage and family from the likes of our fabulous authors; bringing you daily-updated news to keep you informed of your changing and unsteady world.

One reader in Idaho put a value on Meridian this way: I'm not sure how I found you or you found me, but I'm glad it happened.  I really do enjoy your magazine.  The times are very troubling and I have grave concerns about my family, the people of our local stake, the people of the church around the world, and good people in general.  It is good to have a source of information that I can trust to be accurate.  I appreciate your efforts, it is needed.”

Producing Meridian on a daily basis is certainly not free. Is all of that worth $10 to you?

I'm really not asking for much—I don't want to create another stress in your life. I just want to be able to continue to bring all of this to you for free, I really do. I don't want to go to a paid-subscription model—ever—if possible.

More than a million unique readers have come to Meridian in the past 90 days—with complete access to all we offer—for FREE. We want to continue with this approach, but again, the economic downturn has affected everything at Meridian—from advertising dollars being greatly reduced, to sales of products, to fewer tour participants and having all other sources of income decrease markedly.

If each of you could take one minute more (beyond the 2 ½ minute talk) and donate $10 (or $20 for a couple—if you can); Meridian can get through this economic downturn together with you, without changing our business model at all.

I want to keep bringing you Meridian Magazine for free but I need your help to do it. I've never had to ask for your help, financially, in the past ten years.

Please tell me that Meridian is worth something to you.

I know the economy has hit all of you. That's why I am not asking for much.

Again, is Meridian worth $10 to you?

If there are some of you who are not comfortable using your credit card online you may send a check made out to Meridian Magazine to:

Meridian Magazine
P.O. Box 94
Fairfax Station, VA 22039-0094

For your generosity all of us here at Meridian thank you in advance. We are extremely grateful.

Scot Facer Proctor
Publisher, Meridian Magazine
Washington, D.C.