Santa
and Other Readers Plump up the Mailbag
By Kathy Green
Greetings
from Santa
I
was converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints in January. I became an elder in April and have
thoroughly enjoyed learning about the true Church and
Gospel as restored by Joseph Smith. But one of the greatest
blessings I've received was the discovery of your website
recently.
Your
website, and its offerings, have found a special place
in my day and my heart. I thank you and all brethren
and sisters involved in preparing the magazine and the
website. It has added a new dimension of joy and color
to my new life. (I'm enclosing a photo of me at work...)
John Degel
Malta, Montana
**
Fat
Farm!
Read Article Here
Is
It Bad to be Fat? By Orson Scott Card
Great
article. I sent it on to all five of my children.
Some of us are fat and some are thin. The article
gives laughter and hope to those of us who are fat and
I hope understanding to those of us who are not.
May
the blessings from our Father in Heaven over flow in
you life because of your kindness and compassion!
Name withheld by request
**
Brother
Card pointed out two categories of people: those who
seem to not be able to lose weight no matter what, and
those who seem to be able to eat whatever they want
and stay slim.
I
propose a third category, which I suspect quite a few
people fall into: those of us who can and do gain weight
unless we are careful on a day in and day out basis
to exercise and try not to eat more than our bodies
require. When we do eat, we make sure we eat the correct
fuel for our bodies and not junk.
For
many reasons, we try hard to keep our weight down and
are more or less successful at it. For some of us, it
isn't the luck of the gene “draw” but a decent amount
of work and paying attention to the needs of our bodies
that keeps those pounds off. We do live in a time of
plenty; and just as having excess money can be an extra
responsibility, so is having so much food available.
We need to choose wisely and without excess. Some people,
even choosing wisely, will weigh more than others who
eat the same way. The thing to remember is that if you
feel good, have lots of energy and are active, your
weight is fine — whatever it is. A healthy person is
an attractive person — health is beauty. I manage
my health because of the lethargy and fog that sets
in when I don't exercise and eat the wrong foods. Weight
loss is a side benefit of keeping my energy up,
I
think that Brother Card was a little harsh towards people
on the slimmer side. To be sure, some people are judgmental,
but most of them are not, and have either been there
or are close to people who have been there.
I
wholeheartedly agree with Brother Card about not getting
hyper over scientific “claims” with little or unsubstantiated
evidence. We all need to rely more on our common sense
when it comes to our health. I also agree completely
with Card’s appreciation for the great variety that
exists in the human race.
Allison Staker
California
**
Thank
you for the great article "Is It Bad To Be Fat?"
by Orson Card. From the bottom of my heart I am thankful
for the insight that he has. Obesity is a symptom.
The medical profession doesn't seem to understand that
wisdom. This article is the best thing I have read
in a long time. Overweight people are victimized mercilessly
by people who have no idea what they are talking about.
Judy Dugan
Glenoma, Washington
**
Excellent
point of view and perfect timing with all the recent
news hoopla about “everyone who is over 50 and fat will
soon die.”
Let’s
do our best to have healthy minds and bodies in a positive
way rather than living fear based lives.
Name withheld by request
**
Bravo!
Favorite point: Until you have been overweight (and
I don't mean a mere 10-20 pounds) then you don't have
the right to judge or treat someone cruelly. Love your
article. I too have found that exercise helps me release
stress from my job, family and ward calling.
I
still have the emotional eating to tackle, but exercise
alone has helped me lose 35 lbs. since January. I still
have another 70 to go until I fall into the medical
definition of being at "normal weight," but
who cares? I just want to feel better about how I look
and if that means I only lose another 30, then so be
it. Thanks again!
Rachael Cravens
Grandville, Michigan
**
Thank
you for this well written article. As one who is often
depressed (and consequently "comfort eating")
about my yo-yo weight I found it refreshing to read
this article. It is very true that larger people are
treated like they are unintelligent and that hurts.
I
will keep on trying to keep my weight to a healthier
level for me through exercise and healthy eating rather
than fads.
Well
done for giving me a little more self-worth today. I
really enjoy receiving and reading Meridian Magazine
and do my best to recommend it to other LDS readers
here in the UK.
Wendy Scarlett
West Sussex, England
****
**** **** ****
Get
Physical
Read Article
Here
Ponder
Your Matter Unorganized (What to Do with All Those Family
History Papers and Pictures) by Darla Isackson
Thank You Darla! I'm just
in the “spiritual creation” of The Gathering of all
histories, photos, etc.
You have given me some
great suggestions for the “physical creation”' of files
and a method of organizing what I have.
Ta Ta — I'm off to organize!
Colleen Adair
Lawton, Oklahoma
Editor’s
note: To date, Darla Isackson has received more than
400 letters from Meridian readers in response to this
article. She is busily trying to answer them. Look
for a follow-up article from her next week.
**** **** **** ****
Play Your Cards Right
Read Article Here
Trump That! by Susan
Law Corpany
What an insightful article!
From my own experience, I hope I have learned the same.
Long ago I learned to try not to mention personal troubles
unless it was to communicate empathy and understanding
with others. I once read a quote from Brigham Young
that was something like "Don't advertise your troubles,
there's no market for them." I adopted this philosophy
after sharing with friends who always seemed to have
something worse to downplay my own feelings at the time.
However, I love listening to the troubles of others
because it makes mine seem less important!
I don't know how successful
I am at this, but I certainly do understand Susan's
viewpoint. Before our first child passed (many years
ago), we were surrounded by supportive family, friends
and co-workers who encouraged our hope that he would
live. After his passing, I was touched by the many sisters
who communicated their empathy by sharing their own
experiences. One had lost four of eight children. I
do not believe they were trying to “trump” our loss,
but were reaching out in love to support us in our time
of grief.
I look forward to having
an opportunity to read more of Susan's writings. I do
not get to read nearly as much as I'd like.
Judy Shepherd
Elkton, Maryland
So “Sue” Me
Read Article Here
Counsel for the Defense,
by Susan Law Corpany
Susan Corpany has done
it again! She manages to bring you to a wide range
of emotions in just a few minutes: serious, spiritual,
life and death all mixed up with her delightful down
to earth humor.
Whatever you do Meridian
— keep her articles coming!
Susan in AZ
**
I'm so glad that I am not
the only one who “communicates” with the dead in this
manner. My sons have thought mom nuts when I have told
them of the experiences I have had with those who have
passed on. My father, grandfather, three friends and
my sister-in-law's mother passed within a year’s time,
this past year. Thank you for the delightful insight
into the eternities! I so much prefer to laugh through
the sorrow!
Robyn Shelby
Ontario, California
**
“Counsel for the Defense”
by Susan Law Corpany was a chance to glimpse a life
through her eyes and it was a life well lived. I want
him on my side at the pleasing bar of God!
You have many gifted writers
on staff.
Cheryl A. Macinanti
Tewksbury,
Massachusetts
**** **** **** ****
Blessing Benji
Read Article Here
LDS Dancer Wins National
Competition
Thanks for the article
on Benji. He not only captured the hearts of young
girls but grandmas too. The light of the gospel was
certainly glowing from him. It's great to see young
people like him, sharing his talents and testimony.
My sister and I voted and voted and voted for him.
We cried and shouted when he was announced the winner.
Go Benji!! The Lord will bless you as you continue
to serve Him.
Betty Miller
Crestview,
Florida
**** **** **** ****
The Soul’s Sincere Desire
Read
Article Here
Powerful Teachers Pray,
by C.S. Bezas
I just read Powerful Teachers
Pray, by C.S. Bezas, and was incredibly moved. I've
been preparing for Gospel Doctrine class and tortured
by the fact that last week during our class, someone
was offended by something, and went to the Sunday School
president. The president then felt the need to come
to me and get my perspective (and, to his credit, express
his support for me). Since then, the adversary has planted
negative thoughts in my mind toward the anonymous class
member, doubts in my heart about my ability to do/say
what the Lord would have me do/say, and insecurity in
my heart about this calling. This article has inspired
me to turn it over to the Lord, and to pray for the
mystery student who chose to remain silent during class,
but to share his concerns with my supervisor.
Thank you for all you do
at Meridian! You make a difference in my life, and in
the way I am able to help others!
Lisa Stamps
Sandy, Utah
**** **** **** ****
Spirit of Teaching
Read Article Here
From Father to Son:
Joseph F. McConkie on Gospel Teaching, by Devan Jensen
I add this article to some
of the most compelling reading I have done. I was actually
looking in your archives about the remembrances of Bruce
R. by his son I had previously printed on my work computer
concerning the apostle’s struggles with cancer and his
last days and the blessings and administrations given.
I made copies at that time,
of the two excerpts posted on your website, to share
with co-workers who value these kinds of articles. After
reading about the children of Elder McConkie gathering
in the Garden, forming a circle next to the Tomb, then
observing the dove in their midst, I found that I could
not speak as I handed the pages to them. I could only
indicate that this needs to be read. I feel the same
way about this interview. I appreciate the access to
the interview and the spirit of teaching only the scriptures.
Gary V. Griffin
Springville,
Utah
**** **** **** ****
New Protections for Perilous
Times
Read Article Here
BYU Business Professor
to Testify
I am certain that the 1st
Amendment founders never had protection of the sale
and promotion of pornography to children in mind.
While I am certain that
adults have the right to profane their minds and bodies
as they choose, leaving the ability of children to access
such addictive, degrading and damaging material in reach
of unformed minds and souls is not their right.
We have (highly appropriate)
laws prohibiting "adult" material from open
display on magazine racks that are available to children.
The magazines don't force themselves in front of yet-undeveloped
minds. The internet, however, does. I am a senior
citizen, and I am plagued with "spam" inviting
me to meet sexy girls, take medication to enable behavior
that is impossible to me, and other material much more
offensive in language that makes it even more disgusting.
The software to protect me from this sort of unwelcome
intrusion is not effective very long, as people
are working on ways to get around the barriers much
harder than the software can keep up with.
There is no constitutional
right protecting me (and how much worse it must be for
families with children!) from the assault of the commercial
filth vendors, because the founders could not conceive
of a people so degraded as to invent this kind of invasion
of privacy, or even the product that is so aggressively
marketed.
The ACLU is our conscience
in a twisted sort of way. The half-hearted laws we
are considering are no protection — what we need is
a new constitutional amendment that spells out the right
of people to refuse to be forced to see, hear or read
what they see as offensive, degraded and immoral.
Once we have a constitutional
amendment that actually has some teeth in it, there
would cease to be lawsuits which are constantly encroaching
upon our right to be safe from aggressive commercial
invasion of our homes by offensive and immoral material.
Our rights would be protected for a change, and with
it, our right to protect our children.
Thank you for providing
a way for the ideas of one senior citizen who grew up
in a safer time.
Patricia Williams
St. George, Utah
Happy Boy’s Campers
Read Article Here
Encourage Them to Move,
by Fay A. Klingler
Recently I discovered how
easy it is to please my grandsons when they visit.
My daughter-in-law was going to girls’ camp and so I
decided to have a boys’ camp at my house for my young
grandsons while I babysat. I discovered that it really
didn't matter what we did — it was the special invitation
and the agenda that thrilled them. The absolute highlight
was the meal plan — clearly detailed with a menu.
All of the kids who could read were thrilled. Everything
didn't go exactly as planned, but as long as the meals
were on time they were thrilled. After they arrived
home they were thrilled to tell their parent all about
the wonderful boys’ camp they had been to. They acted
like it had been a spectacular event and talked about
it for days. Just for fun I have attached our agenda.
Hopefully, it will give other grandparents some fun
ideas for the future.
