| Send
your messages, comments and thoughts to editorial@meridianmagazine.com
Please include your name, city, and state or city and country.
Message to Meridian:
You are My Sunshine!
Edited and compiled by Kathy Green
Summer readers pause to share kind
words with Meridian authors.
Relaxing Tension between East
and West
Read
Article Here
Sources of Tension between
the West and the Islamic World by Daniel C. Peterson
Thank you for a profoundly enlightening
article. I'm sharing it with several fairly pompous colleagues of
differing viewpoints, far more brilliant than I, but who will hopefully
be humbled and further enlightened by your stunning insight, including
your keen and brilliant knowledge of the tangled historical threads
that have brought our fragile world to these current-day turmoils.
Jael
Florida
**
I appreciate very much the insights
Brother Peterson has shared with us. As Latter-day Saints, we have
a responsibility to understand and reach out in love to our Muslim
brothers and sisters. They are, in fact, the biggest group in the
world to whom the message of the restored gospel has not been given
in large measure.
I would love to hear more of Brother
Peterson's ideas about what can be done to help the Muslim people
and to open the doors one day to our missionaries. I have read large
portions of the English translation of the Qur'an and see many possible
correlations between the doctrines of Islam and those of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I just wish there was a way
we could reach some of the millions of sweet, sincere Muslims out
there.
Glenn Richardson
Roy, Utah
**
Thanks for publishing another of Professor
Peterson’s insightful observations on the effects of religious
beliefs on the modern world. While he specifically defers pointing
to optimistic developments in the relationship between Islamic societies
and Western cultures, the implication is clear in this essay that
those of us in the West who are religious believers are in a much
better position to understand and communicate with our Islamic neighbors,
especially to reaffirm that many Western people are also concerned
about and seek to limit the corruption and selfishness of much of
modern Western culture.
Most Western movies and television
productions that are marketed in the Middle East (even illegally)
tend to reflect the most libertine and cynical values of the materialistic
cultures that dominate Europe and the East and West Coasts of America,
while much of the more traditional culture of “middle America”
might be censored in Islamic states because it can be explicitly
Christian.
It is ironic that the attacks of September
11, 2001, inspired a resurgence of an openly religious admiration
for the heroes who guard us both at home and internationally. The
self-discipline and restraint that characterize the American armed
forces, in spite of being the unchallenged military superpower,
owe much to the religious morality of the all-volunteer force that
has grown up as the last draftees left in the 1980s. America is
very fortunate that the men and women who represent it on the front
lines in nations like Iraq and Afghanistan are among the best of
Americans.
One area where I would like Professor
Peterson’s opinion is the extent to which America should press
for nascent democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq to include a more
explicit tolerance for religious dissent and nonconformity. The
inclusive democracy practiced by America so successfully requires
not just an enactment into law of majority prejudices, but also
of restraint on both government and society to explicitly make it
safe to dissent.
Latter-day Saints have historical experience
of the tyranny of an intolerant majority in individual states and
in the nation as a whole. When America occupied Japan at the end
of World War II (where and when I was born), it imposed a new constitution
that had explicit guarantees of such minority freedoms. Americans
saw themselves in a pedagogical role with a society that had never
had real democracy in its two thousand year history.
We seem to have missed a crucial opportunity
at the point of our original success in Iraq and Afghanistan to
use our prestige to make it clear that democracy without the freedom
to dissent can also be tyrannical for minorities. Freedoms for even
dissenters is essential in establishing that it is not just the
majority of people who are sovereign over government, but all of
the people.
Raymond Takashi Swenson
Idaho Falls, Idaho
**** **** **** ****
Fibs and Bibs
Read
Article Here
Dishonesty and Sloppy Rhetoric,
by Lowell Brown
I just want to say how much I appreciate Brother Brown's column
on faith and politics. Thanks to you and to him for this column.
Bobbi Peterson
Pinetop, Arizona
**** **** **** ****
Vandagriff Delivers
Read
Article Here
Depression and Deliverance:
A New Book Serialization by G.G., Gregory and David Vandagriff
I can so relate to the first article
on Depression and Deliverance. I have been there. I suffered
for eight years. I was hospitalized four times. Suicide was a part
of my mind. I literally could not function. I had to quit my teaching
job. The only thing that prevented my planned suicide was the thought
of how devastating it would be for my husband and three children
and I also knew deep down that I could never meet my Savior that
way. I never really knew what kept me alive, but I found the answer
in this article.
"The power of the atonement of
Jesus Christ enabled me just enough strength to keep going."
That is why I'm here today. The right medicine has helped my cause.
I'm probably a "lifer" on it but that's OK.
I know that there are people who will
read these articles and say, "That's me." It so helps
to know that someone has been in the depths of depression and came
out to see the wonderful world we live in. I'm truly grateful every
day that I'm back living in the beautiful world that Heavenly Father
created for us. I am 63 and have eight grandchildren, with one on
the way in December. I am Relief Society president now and work
in the temple. Heavenly Father has been so good to me and has answered
many prayers. He does hear us.
Thanks so much for doing these articles.
They will be of help and give hope to many sisters.
Joy Cromar
Pleasanton, California
**
The words, thank you, thank you, thank
you, cannot scratch the surface of my gratefulness for this book.
I have read this first installment with painful recognition yet
hope, immense hope. Thank you so very much.
Bonnie Wilcoxson
Princeton, Idaho
**
Vandagriff describes the feelings of
clinical depression perfectly. I can especially relate to the description
of wanting to cease existing. I don't know if people who haven't
been there can really understand how black the hole can be. But
this book should help. I was diagnosed about 12 years ago, and the
right medication has been my lifeline. My parents still do not know
this. (And I am almost 50 years old.) They believe that righteous
living and prayer should be enough, and that "pills can't change
how you feel." Thank you for sharing this story.
Kathy
Utah
**
Thank you for this valuable article.
I look forward to the rest, as I'm sure many will. It's true that
feeling depressed leaves you feeling guilty that you can't feel
joy. My biggest fear is that I will teach my children that the Gospel
is not one of joy but of sluggish duty. It is healing and helpful
to know that others with children have been able to function and
be healed. I look forward to learning how the Atonement can help
with this. I, too, come from a genetic line that battles this illness.
Name Withheld
**** **** **** ****
Fellow Travelers
Read
Article Here
One Man’s Journey through
Grieving, Depression and Trauma, by Bruce T. Forbes
Thanks to Bruce T. Forbes for the insightful
article. I find your words comforting and true. Not having thought
about the subject too much in the past regarding adult men, I have
become more aware through you, of my lack of understanding. With
sensitivity and courage I hope to approach those in need with a
different perspective.
I also read and enjoyed your article
regarding music.
I, being a chorister for senior Primary, will also change my approach
to teaching the children. Please keep writing; your wisdom is needed.
Marian Vance
Las Vegas, Nevada
**** **** **** ****
Magnetic Topic
Read
Article Here
Can the Book of Mormon Support
the Idea that the Liahona Contained a Magnetic Needle? by Alan C.
Miner
Does it really matter if the Liahona
had a magnetic needle? Probably not. But one question begs another
and then another and pretty soon we begin to see things in a different
light. I like that.
Sometimes it lets us see how God deals
with mankind and how he could be dealing with myself. Sometimes
what we set out to prove is disproved. Or we may see a change in
the way we look at truth. We know so much about the Book of Mormon
from those who have learned by study and by faith.
Stephen Todd
Lemoore, California
**
It is always interesting to see the
ideas pertaining to the things of God.
I am happy that there are people who really delve into these topics
and to see, hear and read of them.
As for me, I am content in the knowledge I have concerning the workings
of the Lord. He is Almighty, and anything that he does works, and
works well and perfectly and is predicated on His words that pertain
to that certain topic. Can we not follow His words about this and
just know that if and when we obey we are entitled to His direction
in all things. We read in the words of Nephi that when they obeyed
and were in tune with the Lord, the "ball" worked. When
they and those with them were "murmuring,” they were
left to wander.
E.C.,
Ogden, Utah
**
Am enjoying the "expanded discussion"
on the nature of the Liahona and the "curious" ideas that
can come from delving into history and other things pertinent to
the situations described in the scriptures. I too, am satisfied
[spiritually] with Nephi's explanations, but as he [& others]
often admit in the book that "even a hundredth part cannot
be written", well, discussing the other 99+% is acceptable!
I look forward to the possibility —
and sincerely hope it comes up — of a discussion on the "other
spindle." There were two — and one showed them the way
to go. No one I know (though I do not bring it up that often) has
ever wondered about that other spindle — what it did, why
it was there, or if it was ever used.
Susan Cropper,
Nampa, Idaho
**
According to the Greek historian, Herodotus;
600 BC, Pharaoh Necho of Egypt paid the Phoenicians to build a fleet
of vessels to sail south out of the red sea and to return through
the Pillars of Hercules, circumnavigating Africa.
Perhaps these people had a knowledge
of magnetic navigation.
Or perhaps the magnetic compass has
been around much earlier than we thought — and has been in
existence and in use by ancient Chinese explorers who may have been
in the vicinity of the Arabian peninsula at the time of Lehi.
Looking forward to learning more of
your series on the subject.
Darin Carlyle
La Quinta, California
**** **** **** ****
Framing the Big Picture
Read
Article Here
Taking Autism to Church, by
Sharisa Lewis
Thanks so much for the article. I too
have a seven-year old with moderate autism and have the same struggles
with him each and every Sunday. There were a lot of parallels for
me in the story. These are the kinds of stories that give us hope
and make us stop and look at the big picture! Mom to Mom, my heart
goes out to her and I wish her all the best!
Tiffany
Davenport, Iowa
**** **** **** ****
The Halo Effect
Read
Article Here
Blessed by Angels, by H. Wallace
Goddard
I deeply appreciate Brother Goddard
for taking the time to write the article about beings and ancestors
from the past being accessible to us here and now.
This idea gave me deep comfort when
I read it. My parents have passed on and I miss them terribly. They
each loved my five children deeply. I have often wished for their
counsel and support when my children have left the paths of truth
and righteousness and have caused themselves and their children
such awful pain. The concept presented by Brother Goddard is both
hopeful and enabling.
I have had the wonderful experience
of calling upon my parents and ancestors to assist, guide and comfort
my struggling posterity. I had intended they assist and bless the
lives of my children only, but I had the double blessing of "feeling"
their love and presence with me as well, as quickly as I asked for
their help, through and in the name of, Jesus Christ.
I too have yearned to commune with
so many great and blessed spirit-beings who have traveled here in
this realm. This article made my spirit soar!
I also appreciated the reference to
time being an aspect of earth only. I have had many wonderful insights
on that subject and many more subjects. I can relate to the outpouring
of spirit referred to in this article that enables us to glimpse
eternity and the many marvelous truths that we have not had clarified
yet.
Thank you again, Brother Goddard! I
read all of your articles faithfully and always come away edified
and uplifted.
Elaine Callas-Jordan
Casper, Wyoming
**** **** **** ****
Happy Feet
Read Article
Here
Lacey Schwimmer: Making People
Happy Through Dance by Rebecca Birkin
Thanks for running the story on Lacey
Schwimmer (and for the excellent stories on Benji and Heidi last
year). I was a stranger to dance before my daughter introduced me
to the show last summer. Imagine the thrill of seeing this level
of talent for the first time! Those amazing kids give me goose bumps
and make me cry. I am so proud of all of them, and I’ll admit
I couldn’t be more pleased if the LDS dancers were my own
kids, seeing them doing so well in the competition.
I overheard a couple of ladies in the
supermarket commenting that the dances were suggestive, and I nearly
dropped my 2%. Suggestive of joy, talent, and grueling hard work,
perhaps. Suggestive of discipline, transcendent beauty, grace and
power; and evocative of reverence for our divine nature. I asked
myself in the produce isle if I had ever heard Lacey, Benji or Heidi
make a negative crack about anyone, ever. Nope. I don’t think
any of the dancers on the show have ever offered up judgments about
another person’s profession or attire.
Maybe they are too focused on doing
a good job.
In the spirit of Brother Goddard’s
provocative recent article, “Blessed
by Angels,” I hope some of our favorite angels, Brother
Brigham and the pioneers who danced around their campfires during
their rigorous hike across the plains, are looking down on our adorable
little Lacey and calling out to one another, “Saints be praised!
Will you look at that little gal dance?”
Charlotte Cox
Terre Haute, Indiana
© 2007 Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
|
