Not Enough of Me
Just One More Day She was up at 3 am and again at 5 am with sick kids. After cleaning up the throw-up she was able get a few minutes of sleep before fixing her husband’s breakfast. They had family prayer and sent her husband off to work. He’s been working overtime. She ran the daughter to violin lessons and the son to gymnastics. She worked on her Young Women lesson as she and her toddler waited in the car. Just one more day and her husband would be back to his normal schedule. There’s Just Not Enough of Me to Go Around! He filled the empty fishing net. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at
The Man And The Millstone
A tear ran down Brother Jones’ face as he told me his story. He was 73 and has had many Church leadership positions. Up until a few days ago he had been a veil worker at the LDS temple. He had children and grandchildren who loved and supported him. (It was easy to see why, he was gentle and kind.) I noticed a bruise on his cheek. He told me he had been beat up while he was in jail last week. He innocently told other inmates his charges – two felony counts of sexual abuse of a child. Jailers moved him to “secure” for safety until his family bailed him out. He explained, “I had been tickling my granddaughters.” Yes, They are Our Neighbors Most individuals whom
“A Worthless Soul”
“I’m just no good. Today I was supposed to be in Boise. I couldn’t fix my truck. I’m frustrated. I can’t afford to pay someone to fix it. I’m not a good provider. I might lose my job… I talked to my wife about how much of a failure I believe I am and she says she’s going to divorce me… I came in the house twice and prayed. I lack the faith… nothing changed… I wish I was dead.” I sat in his front room as he went on and on describing how he believed he was “a worthless soul.” Such a good man and family. They were just completing Family Home Evening with their children as I arrived. I could see their garden in
Today’s Trials, Tomorrow’s Testimony
He Will Not Always Take Your Afflictions – The ultrasound was complete. The doctor told the prospective parents there was a cyst on the baby’s brain. – The divorce wasn’t even final before his wife learned about her husband’s girlfriend. – She was discharged from the mental hospital in Utah. Her parents located her at a bus stop in Las Vegas. – The foreclosure on the home was final. The family had to be out by Saturday. – There was nothing more the doctors could do. The young father died. What do all these families have in common? Each have completed a session at a local LDS temple. The Doubt And Fear Of Our Times “We are living through turbulent times. A great storm of evil
A Formula That Works
Grow Up Into Him in All Things …speaking the truth in love, may (we) grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Eph. 4: 13-15). My years of working with individuals who daily face tremendous sexual temptations have taught me that there is no special formula that works for everyone. This life is an individual journey and each person, under heavenly direction, must find the resources that will best aid them in confronting their earthly trials. However, there are certain common factors necessary in creating an environment where growth can take place. They are: Knowing Our True Identity When we are weighed down by mortal challenges and temptations the knowledge that we are children of God, spiritually begotten in the
Responding to Child Sexual Abuse
“Hi Sally, I’m Dr. Rick.” No response. I invited her in. She lowered her head and stood silently. The video camera was rolling. The microphone in the nearby potted plant was on. Sally’s parents waited anxiously outside in the waiting room. Authorities were collecting evidence from 3 ½ year old Sally. Allegedly she was sexually abused by her 16-year-old cousin. (Most children are abused by family members or close friends and very rarely by a stranger.) Sally’s initial interview was unsuccessful – She wouldn’t talk. As an expert interviewer, it was now my turn to try and collect “evidence”. What To Do Next When you suspect sexual abuse you have two responsibilities: Helping the child and Reporting to legal authorities. Reporting To Legal Authorities When
Has Your Child or Grandchild Been Sexually Abused?
Soft is the Heart of a Child The mother called my office about her 8 year old boy, Billy. Billy had been acting differently in recent weeks, particularly after his visits with his father, her ex-husband. Billy’s grades had dropped. A few weeks ago she received a call from the school because of inappropriate sexual comments he had made on the playground. During primary class last Sunday Billy drew genitalia on a picture he made of Joseph Smith’s first vision. And now he was having nightmares almost every night. The mother concluded by saying, “I asked him what was wrong? And he said, ‘Nothing.’ ” The shame and guilt experienced by a child who has been sexually abused is significant. Behavior and emotional
Measuring UP
“They’re right. I’m just no good!” she declared. Over the years, she had surrendered her “freedom to choose” positive feelings. Her family would criticize her and as a result she would feel depressed and frustrated. She had given-in to using her “family’s yardstick” to measure her own self-esteem. At times she was actually responding as if her family’s words, in some magical way, controlled her feelings and behavior. Her feelings and behavior were no longer hers, but a response to theirs. The tragedy of this scenario was this good woman was a very talented, bright, caring, wonderful person! In my opinion, she was not doing anything seriously wrong and the criticism from her family was unwarranted! In her case, like many others, the offending behavior seemed
You’re Fired!
My son-in-law and eight other employees joined the ranks of thousands of unemployed Friday when they were let go. He is well trained having both an MBA and CPA. Not to mention he has 3 kids and a new home – plus one of the best wives on the planet – my daughter! Getting fired, unfortunately, can happen to any of us particularly in these hard economic times where the national unemployment rate is around 10%. Moving On Typically, the first thing a newly fired person does is beat themselves up. Even when the job loss is because of the economy there is still the stigma of being terminated. My advice – don’t dwell on it. As hard as it may be, and it is
Hello, Is the President Available?
Calling the White House President Obama says he is committed to creating the most open and accessible administration in American history. So I called the White House to visit with him about some of my personal concerns. A receptionist answered the phone, “White House.” I asked if I could talk to the President and that I had some concerns. She transferred me to another line. I received a tape recording “President’s Comment Line” saying, “We are closed.” When I call upon God in prayer, he is not that way. The call always goes through. No foreign voice. No voice recording. No support staff is going to answer. We are His children. He’s not out of the office when we call. He’s not disinterested in our
