Personal Touch

Welcome to the Neighborhood News

In our Personal Touch with Rebecca Cressman segment, she interviews Pamela Goodfellow. In Arizona, a small group of women writers discovered that they had a lot more in common than the dream to publish. Each woman’s life had been touched by cancer. So, the group led by publisher Dr. Pam Goodfellow banded together to form: Writers Unite to Fight Cancer. Pamela R. Goodfellow PhD, producer, editor,and mentor to the authors, lost her mother and the love of her life to cancer. Dr. Goodfellow has served as mentor for youth at risk, and a rape crisis counselor. Her deep faith and spirituality guide her in both her professional and personal life. Margaret Turley, a 55 year old retired registered nurse, has cared for many cancer patients. Her novel Save the Child is a contemporary tale about parental rights with regard to medical care for terminally ill children.The nine authors will launch their new books by donating 100% of their proceeds to the American Association for Cancer Research. The event has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 4th in Gilbert, Arizona. Monetary gifts are also accepted online at: http://goodfellowpublishing.com/

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We have been counseled by plenty of church Presidents to engage in missionary work. Writing on the subject, we have Lu Ann Brobst Staheli, who blogs at ‘Lu Ann’s Library.’ She wrote her article “Called to Serve in Your Own Back Yard.” Her comment is as follows: “President McKay said, “Every member a missionary,” President Kimball told us to “Lengthen our stride,” and President Hinckley said, “as members we can assist the missionaries in finding investigators.” But what if you don’t know how to teach the gospel?” We can at least try, right? Lu Ann Brobst Staheli is an award-winning educator and author. Lu Ann is the author of Psychic Madman and When Hearts Conjoin.

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A lot of people here in Utah came from member families. There are more outside of Utah who are converts. It has been said that it seems easier for a new convert to bring his friends to visit with the missionaries than someone who’s been a member a long time. From Paul at ‘A Latter-day Voice,’ we get his article entitled “I’m a Missionary, Too?” His comments resonate with most of us, because I’ve heard –and read- many comments where people say they feel uncomfortable talking to people about the gospel. Paul says: “I really like the concept of member missionary work. After all, those missionaries who taught us when I was a kid came after my friend invited me to Primary, and his family invited our family to FHE. So you'd think that I'd be out there spreading the gospel like a sprinkler spreads water, right?” He then goes on to tell us why he feels reluctant, and then makes a list of ways that he’s found how to share the gospel.

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From the February 2005 Ensign, we get Elder Clayton M. Christensen, and his talk “Seven Lessons on Sharing the Gospel.” He gives us a few tips, and he starts by saying: “The ability to share the gospel isn’t a “gift” that has been given to only a few Latter-day Saints and denied to the rest. We have concluded from our own experiences and from watching others that finding people for the missionaries to teach can be easy and natural for all of us—if we go about it the Lord’s way. Here are seven of the lessons we’ve learned about what His way is.”

 
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Careful Listening

Welcome to the Neighborhood News

“I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.”  

~Ernest Hemingway.

Our first contributor in today’s newsletter is LuAnn Brobst Staheli. Lu Ann is an award-winning educator and author. She brings to us this thought “What You Repeatedly Hear You Will Eventually Believe.” You will find her posts at “LuAnn’s LDS Library.” She says: “Politicians use repetition all the time to sway our vote. Vote for me. I’ll solve all your problems. My opponent believes. . .(insert an option here that the people won't like).”

Our next entry comes from Seth Adam Smith. I believe this is a very talented young man, just check out his movies on YouTube. Seth blogs at sethadamsmith.com. His article is “The Selfish Giant – A Poem.” You may have read the original story, but Seth has rewritten it as a poem, and I love the ending. I also like his counsel, he says: “Just open your heart to the goodness of life.” Yes, life is good, and we should know that.

Our last entry is about Family Reunions. A good counsel to adhere to is: “You have to decide when planning a reunion what type of reunion you want to hold and whom you would like to invite.” Do you want a big, extended family reunion, or a smaller, cozier kind, maybe include just one side of the family?

To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Wednesday, 23 June's, please click here.

Sweet Musings

In today's Neighborhood News, Lu Ann Staheli brings to us her insights on "A Good Husband": "Love begets love, and unless we remain aware of the ways we treat each other, we may find ourselves moving apart instead of staying together. This can also be true within families and friendships, not just with romantic relationships and marriages."


We can keep our marriages healthy in many different ways. That's why Rachel Brunner, from About.com, brings to us "12 Ways to Have a Happy, Healthy Marriage": "Everyone in this life is affected by marriage, either that of their parents, their own, or their children's. Keeping a marriage strong while surviving life's trials can be a huge struggle, but learning from other's experiences can help us through these times."


What comes after a romantic dinner? A romantic dessert does, of course. Contributor Cindy dished up this recipe of to die for "Chocolate Truffles", and sent it to Carol Pellegrinelli from About.com.


To view a copy of Monday, February 22nd's, Neighborhood News, click here.