M E R I D I A N M A G A Z I N E
Youth of the Noble Birthright
Carry Off Spectacular Cultural Event. Readers Weep.
Edited and compiled by Kathy Green
“More Precious than Gold:” The Sacramento California Temple Youth Cultural Celebration by Maurine Jensen Proctor. Photos by Scot Facer Proctor
Highest compliments on your coverage of the cultural celebration here. The descriptions, quotes, and photos were marvelous. The use of narrative and pictures conveyed the spirit and sense of the performance. Perhaps greatest of all, the article correctly and clearly highlighted the spiritual purposes and approach that supported everything that was done. We were blessed with highly talented and creative people. Yet, without the Spirit at every level, it simply would not have worked. As it was, the performance was just what everyone hoped and worked for — inspiring and professional.
Thank you for the excellent pictorial article. You got the event and the people who did it just right!
Norman Boehm
Cultural Committee Chairman
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I think these temple cultural celebration photo essays are my favorite I always come away exhilarated and uplifted (I keep the Kleenex handy whenever I see one of these), grateful to be part of this Kingdom of God on earth. The pictures were perfect and you have a way of picking the perfect words and quotes to convey the spirit of the occasion. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us.
Melanie Ferguson
Baytown, TX
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What a marvelous activity for the youth in the Sacemento area. Thanks for sharing this article.
Carol Hakanson
West Jordan, UT
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Thanks for the fabulous story about the Sacramento Temple Youth Cultural Celebration. I was privileged to have worked with the youth in Sacramento Stake teaching the Irish dance. You did not post any pictures of Irish dancing, but do you have any you could possibly email to me? We were never able to get on the floor and take some and we'd like to have some for our history of the celebration we're doing. On a personal note, two of my daughters were dancing Irish and we'd love to have some pictures of them.
Thanks again for the wonderful article. It truly was an incredible experience and your words captured the spirit of the event.
Sydney Day
Elk Grove, California
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Other than a few visits throughout the years and a couple of friends who live in the area I have absolutely no connection to Sacramento, but this article/photo essay of the Youth Celebration, associated with the dedication of the Temple, has moved me to tears. The Spirit of the event has touched my heart and I cried through each page and was sad there were only five. Thank you for bringing this Spirit and testimony builder to those of us who would never have had the opportunity to see it otherwise. Each of the recent temple dedications have been spiritual feasts through your words and camera lens. Thank you.
May the Lord continue to bless you.
Kurt Busselberg
Mesa, Arizona
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I got up to get my sons ready for seminary and was so excited to check out your wonderful article on the Sacramento Temple Youth Celebration. I was one of the composers for the celebration. It has been a wonderful journey. I remember waking up about 3:30 in the morning with the song “Celebrate” in my head. I woke my husband and started singing it to him. Many miracles have happened in my life to comfort me and kept me going.
And then to see that beautiful young lady "Elizabeth" sing my love song "Missing Piece" better than I imagined. After all of the songs were written I was then asked to lead our stake youth in learning them each Wednesday night. To see these youth turn into wonderful musicians, and start really enjoying themselves, was such a joy. In the song “Celebrate” there are two lines I just love: "Hearts are binding together, Lives are changing forever." It has been such a beautiful sight to see this come to pass.
Thank you for your wonderful coverage of the event. My heart has been full of joy and just yesterday it started to sink in realizing that it was over. I will miss the youth so much. I keep feeling the urge that I need to write another song. Your article made my day!
Thank you for coming and sharing this amazing and memorable experience with us.
Sherrie Chretien
Folsom, California
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Bravo! How I wish that I could have been in the audience to view this wonderful performance! My hometown is in the Sacramento Temple District. Coincidentally, I was in my hometown during the Sacramento Temple open house; however, I was unable to attend as I was caring for my mother, who had just had shoulder replacement surgery. My heart was there, though. Reading your article and viewing the wonderful photographs brought back memories of performing in dance festivals as a teen (Oakland Coliseum, Fresno Convention Center). Participating in something on such a grand scale is a great thing for these youth. I applaud the men and women who made this happen. I am sure their lives have been blessed, as have all those who participated.
Thank you for the article and the photographs. They touched my heart and spirit.
Patti Hatch
San Diego, California
I am so happy to have found this place. I just found out about it last week. I have been on here every day since reading and reading. I grew up in the Church but have struggled on and off. I became inactive several times. I’ve been a single parent for almost 17 years. I have a son preparing to leave on a mission next month to Kentucky. I wish I had known about this site years ago. It came at a good time when I am trying to figure out just what it is that I believe. Thanks so much for providing this special place.
Cheryl Meyers
Riverdale, Utah
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Please thank the author for this precious article that gives many ideas on keeping in touch with grandchildren. The times are getting more risky: I may not be able to (or want to) risk flying to see my family. This article shows other ways to keep families’ hearts knit together.
Johnii Bothell
Dover, Deleware
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Thank you for the article on grandparents communicating with grandchildren. Hope you do more of them. I'm a convert to the Church, and also did not have grandparents to set these examples for me, so I need lots of help.
Clerice Fisher
Richmond, Washington
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What a WONDERFUL article! I made a hard copy of the article and plan on doing every single one of the suggestions. Just fabulous!
Grandma Polly
Mission Viejo, California
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I totally agree with Debra about self-learning. I am a dental hygienist and have been raising our six children while practicing just part time (always reading and learning). I am now studying music therapy and getting a degree in music little by little at our community college; but most of my learning is through books! I think the most inspiring thing Sister Woods said was that 10 minutes a day can make a difference! I think constantly about becoming a writer, sneak times to write and wish I had a tape recorder with me to get my ideas down while driving. I also want to become an artist and sometimes think that my goals are too broad; but Debra's article gave me courage not to limit my areas of learning!
I also have mentors and attend conferences on topics that I am interested in! I just turned 50 and think I still have the best half of my life to live.
Cindy Bower
Casper Wyoming
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Slavery and Redemption on Every Family Tree, by Sherlene Hall Bartholomew
I am a great-great grandson of Benjamin Thomas Crutch Langford. I am fascinated by this article. I am seeking to learning more about the Langford family roots. My father, Virgil Langford, was born in 1906 in the Lucas County, Iowa and spent most of his life in Wayne County, Iowa. He died in 1990. His father, John G. Langford, my grandfather was born in 1870 in Iowa and died in Lucas County, Iowa in 1947. His father, Benjamin Thomas Crutch Langford, my great-great grandfather was born about 1830 in Kentucky and died in 1902 in the Moore, Oklahoma area where he is buried. My first cousin, Ann Langford, who lives in California has told me that she believes that Stephen Langford is our great, great, great, grandfather and that Benjamin Thomas Crutch Langford's father was (John) Robert Langford. Could this be correct? I think she has gotten this information on Internet blogs. Thank you so very much for this wonderful article.
Loren Langford
Iowa Falls, Iowa
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http://www.meridianmagazine.com/ideas/050602fat.html
Is it Bad to be Fat? by Orson Scott Card.
Thank you!
May the blessings from our Father in Heaven overflow in your life because of your kindness and compassion!
Stacey Braghini
Edmond, Oklahoma /span>
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Fatherland
My dear brother Lloyd, I'm so happy to see this article and pictures of my father's land.
I'm a convert, baptized two years ago, and I live in San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico. It makes me so happy to know something of my countrymen in Korea. I'm working on my genealogy, but it's difficult for me, as I'm unable to contact a few cousins in Seoul, and the rest of the family I assume is in North Korea, to which I have no access. My family and I are closely tied to the Republic of Korea. The (not familiar with nexos) in the Korean embassy in Mexico are extensive, and searching for my ancestors in North Korea would be like treason. I have faith that a few rolls of microfilm that I requested from Korea will arrive, and that I will be able to find my ancestors there.
I would love to get in touch through email with the family history center in Seoul, Korea. Perhaps some of the ordinances have already been performed for my ancestors there; I've only done them for my dad, a brother who was born in Korea, and my grandparents.
It brings me great joy to see you hugging a Korean mission companion. I love my father's country and my heart jumps every time I read an article about Korea, but my heart almost escapes when I see an article about my beloved Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Martha W. Kim
San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Editor’s Note: For our many Spanish readers, Sister Kim’s original message follows:
My dear brother Lloyd, I'm so happy to see this article and pictures of my father's land.
Soy conversa y tengo dos años de bautismo,vivo en San Luis Potosì, S.L.P. Mèxico. me mucha felicidad saber algo de mis paisanos en KOREA.
Estoy armando mi genealogìa, pero es difìcil para mi, pues no puedo tener contacto con unos sobrinos en Seul, y el resto de la familia yo supongo està en Korea del Norte a la cual no tengo acceso, pues mi familia y yo estamos sumamente ligados a la Repùblica de KOREA, los nexos en la embajada de Korea en Mèxico son muy extensos y `buscar mis antepasados en Korea del Norte serìa como una traiciòn, tengo fè en que me llegue algunos rollos microfilms que solicitè de Korea y encontrar ahì a mis antepasados.
Me gustarìa mucho tener contacto via e mail con el centro de Historia familiar en Seul,Korea, tal vez ahì ya se han hecho ordenanzas por mis antepasados, yo sòlamente lo he hecho por mi papà, un hermano que naciò en korea y mis abuelos.
Mucho gusto me da verle abrazando a un compañero de misiòn koreano, amo a la patria de mi padre y mi corazòn brinca cada vez que leo un artìculo de korea, pero mi corazòn casi se sale cuando veo un artìculo de mi amada Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias.
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Thank you so much for these articles on the gospel doctrine lessons. I am a newly called teacher and am a bit rusty. The insight, depth and spirit in this particular lesson were just the focus that I needed. The lesson went very well and I have to give a great deal of credit to this article.
Skylar Merrifield
Fort Worth, Texas
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The Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt — Revised and Enhanced Edition, edited by Scot Facer Proctor and Maurine Jensen Proctor
Thank you so much for this article and all the other wonderful articles in the archives.
I am so grateful to you for making them available to so many people who I am sure love them as much as I do
I love Meridian Magazine and look forward each day to see what you have written. I am never disappointed. I learn so much and feel my life has been enriched greatly by having the opportunity to have it brought to my home daily by you wonderful people.
Viola Colson Walterboro
South Carolina
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Thank you, thank you. I'm so excited to read this new book. I was on board when Leadership and Self-Deception first came out and you serialized it. It was one of the most profound and life- changing books I've ever read. I have since recommended it to many who agree that it helped them in profound ways.
I can't wait for Monday! (Bet you don't hear that very often!)
Debbie MacDonnell
Midlothian, Texas
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Preserving Purity in Marriage, Chapter 5 of The First Principles of Marriage, by H. Wallace Goddard
This was such a great and precise article. It should be mandatory reading for us, especially the Priesthood and at least the leaders.
This is exactly what happened to our temple marriage after 24 years. My husband became attracted to a woman he associated with professionally. I knew something was dreadfully wrong, but he denied it. The steps mentioned in the article are totally accurate.
Fortunately this "affair" fizzled, but the damage was done to our marriage, and to our family (4 kids) and especially to my dear husband who suffered an emotional mini-breakdown. The warnings were in his Patriarchal Blessing, but he couldn't seem to see it. He left our home for two years while we tried to come to grips with everything. It made both of us changed people.
We are now back together and trying to make it work. We still love each other, but he is not sure he is "in love" with me. Hopefully if he returns to Church the Spirit will help him. He truly is a wonderful man. He has served as Young Men President, Elders Quorum President, Stake Young Men President, first assistant to the High Priest group leader and veil worker. Really no one in the ward has reached out to him. I've stayed active in our ward, but basically the same is true. So there is some bitterness we have to overcome. Our leaders should be educated on how best to help us and make sure we are still part of the fold and know we are cared about. They would make time for us to attend our funeral if we took our own lives, which is a daily thought as you go through this. Again, we are changed people.
Thank you again for this excellent article. And thank you for the articles on Benji (my favorite) and Heidi. We were looking for them. I look forward to reading your site daily. Don't forget us up here in Canada.
Name withheld by request
Ontario, Canada
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