Prelude: Still Thinking and Writing

Welcome to my new blog--Thinking at 74. I can't describe the process of getting to 74, but here I am. I still enjoy writing about where my thinking takes me. Please come with me and share you thinking too.

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It’s Fine to Have Problems

 I enjoy exchanging texts with my sixteen-year-old granddaughter, Mariah: Mariah :  Grandma, I found a quote I thought you would like. “The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.” Me :  True. Thanks for sending quotes to me. How are you? Mariah :  Good and u? Me :  Same, and it is good to be good. Mariah :  Yep. And it’s fine to have problems too.            I was shocked. How could she think it is fine to have problems? Doesn’t everyone try to avoid problems at all costs? Aren’t problems ugly and messy and painful and sad and totally unwanted complications to life?              I am sure you know that Mariah is okay with problems at such a young age because of personal experience. She has had many health problems, requiring multiple surgeries. She also suffers with severe allergies. By working through problems, sh...
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A Prophet's Example of Surviving Severe Adversity

A couple of months ago, I wrote about   how the prophet Moroni worked through depression . His firsthand account, documented in the Book of Mormon, is a template for survivorship. The prophet Alma, son of Alma, was also well acquainted with adversity and grief. Like Moroni, Alma recorded his emotional low points, tribulations, and patterns of healing in the Book of Mormon. A study of Alma’s trials shows the extent of his suffering. •      He experienced psychological abuse.  He and his mission companion, Amulek, were brought out of prison “to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire” (Alma 14:9). Believing women and children, perhaps including Amulek’s wife and children, were “cast into the fire” (Alma 14:8). Can you imagine the sights, smells, and sounds, let alone the excruciating reality? The persecutors also burned personal records and scriptures. Insult to injury. (Destroying personal histories ...
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Personal Revelation—Some Assembly Required

             Heavenly Father communicates uniquely with each of His children, one-by-one and one-on-one. He knows needs and understands hearts. He speaks every language, including love languages and unspoken emotional longings. Your personal connection with Him is yours alone. I believe each of us has a distinct frequency through which we individually communicate with Him via prayer and sacred pondering. When I pray for Sarah, He knows which Sarah I am referring to. His communications come through a secure channel. A revelation for you never comes to me. He connects reciprocally and exclusively on your wavelength to answer your prayers, show His love in tender mercies, supply needed inspiration, and grant miracles—all forms of personal revelation.  This direct link to Heavenly Father comes through the Holy Ghost. Speaking of Joseph Smith, President Henry B. Eyring said: “ Not only was he then called of God to establis...
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