For Your Own Good

Welcome to the Neighborhood News

We'd like to share this note from the Mormon Messages page:

The Book of Mormon: What the Broadway Musical Misses

You may have heard about the Broadway musical, The Book of Mormon. You probably already know that reviewers have said that it isn't exactly a family friendly play. Here is the Church's response to the play:

The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but The Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people's lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ.

—Official Church Statement on the Book of Mormon Musical

Experience tells us that years after The Book of Mormon play has faded from the spotlight on Broadway stages and elsewhere, the volume of scripture will continue to quietly strengthen families and promote Christian values.


Share The Book of Mormon

The recent interest in The Book of Mormon gives us a great opportunity to share our beliefs. Mormon.org has a page about the Book of Mormon that describes very clearly what the purpose of the book is. Here are some ways you can share the page, including a video that introduces The Book of Mormon and an opportunity for visitors to request a copy.


• If you have access to a blog or web page, you can describe how The Book of Mormon has influenced your life and include a link to http://mormon.org/book-of-mormon so that people who read your web page can learn more about The Book of Mormon.


• You can embed the video directly into your website or blog as well. Once you've played the video you will see the link to copy the code to your clipboard. Simply paste that code in the appropriate spot on your website or blog.


• You can also visit the Mormon.org Book of Mormon page and "Share" it using your Facebook account. Doing so will allow your Facebook friends to recognize your interest in The Book of Mormon.


The Gospel of Jesus Christ will continue to go forth into the world, and the Internet is becoming a powerful tool for spreading the word. You can help others learn more about The Book of Mormon by sharing your testimony and truthful information through your blog or website, or by sending them an e-mail message containing links to official Church sources.

Send feedback to: mormonmessages@ldschurch.org


Our mailing address is:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
50 East North Temple St.
Salt Lake City, UT84150


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To see the Neighborhood News for Friday, 12 August, please click here.

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Bless Your Nest

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Ere you left your room this morning,

Did you think to pray?...

When your soul was full of sorrow,

Balm of Gilead did you borrow

At the gates of day?

O how praying rest the weary!

Pray will change the night to day;

So when life gets dark and dreary

Don't forget to pray.

Hymns, # 31

The first commandment says: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:28–30; see Matt. 22:37; Luke 10:27; Deut. 6:4–5.)

We are at times overwhelmed by our bodies, and our bodies determine how we’re going to act or react to different situations.

PresidentBoyd K. Packer has said the following: “There is another part of us, not so tangible, but quite as real as our physical body. This intangible part of us is described as mind, emotion, intellect, temperament, and many other things. Very seldom is it described as spiritual.” In the world we live in, most people don’t want to acknowledge the presence of a spirit, or talk about a soul. Isn’t that interesting?

Another thought from the same talk: “All of us experience some temporary physical sickness. All of us now and again may be spiritually ill as well. Too many of us, however, are chronically spiritually sick.”

Have you ever been down with the ‘blues’ and didn’t know how to let go of those feelings? It happens to the best of us. We all, at some point in our lives will go through our own version of Gethsemane. How we manage to shake those feelings will say a lot about our character.

President Packer said: “Obedience is a powerful spiritual medicine. It comes close to being a cure-all.” (same)

So, what are things that we can use to get through a harsh trial, and show obedience at the same time:

1-      Attend Church. The fact that you’re trying and participating in the Sacrament will help you get through the week.

2-      Say Your Prayers. Even if you don’t feel like it, as soon as you get on your knees, the Spirit will come to you and guide you on how to talk to your Father.

3-      Read Your Scriptures. Even if it is one verse a day, you’re showing Heavenly Father that you’re obedient. The blessing of understanding will come over you.

4-      Fast For Yourself. Use the principle of fasting to your advantage, you will be blessed. I have.

5-      Attend the Temple. This is a big one. I remember going through a heart break a few years ago. I was a spiritual vegetable, I was just going through the motions; I couldn’t function. My calling at the time was just as an organist, and that was a blessing in itself, because I don’t know if I could have been able to prepare, teach and share testimony during a lesson: it was beyond me. My loving husband would take me to the temple and that’s where I found my own Balm of Gilead. The promptings, the love bestowed on me by the Spirit and the many tender mercies I received there of the Most High is something that will carry me for a long time. If for any reason I allow myself to feel down again, I remember those precious moments of quiet contemplation sitting in the Celestial room, enveloped by the soft reassurance that I am loved.

6-      Forgive. It will do wonders for you. Miracles happen when people forgive one another. Even if it’s one-sided, forgive and move on, you will notice your load seems lighter.

My question is: isn’t your soul important enough to save? Some of us take very good care of our bodies, but we somehow forget about our spirits and spiritual lives. Absence of proof is not proof of absence.

I hope we all take better care of our immortal souls.

 As always we welcome your comments.

To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Wednesday 4 May, click here.

Home Therapy

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 Have you ever thought how it would be to live in a tent? Not just use one while ‘roughing’ it, but really use it all the time, because that’s all you have.

In these times, not many people do that anymore. After all, this is the 21st century and most people are used to living in buildings. There are, however, some individuals that still use tents. Even in our modern world, in this wonderful country of ours, some people don’t have a home. Have you seen the Extreme Makeover Home Edition show on TV, where they go and surprise families with the news they’re getting a new home? One of those families was living in a trailer and tents.

I’ve been reading David Wooley’s Promised Land books, and he is so good at explaining the culture of Nephi’s times. At some point, when the family leaves their ancestral home, escaping into the dessert, they pack a lot onto their camels. Their ‘tent’ was very spacious, with room enough (partitions) for all the members of the family. Even if they had to live in the dessert for a long time, they had all that they needed to make their father’s tent a home.

I remember reading about Rachel and Leah in the Old Testament, and that each one had her own tent. Of course, the children lived in their mother’s tent, and I’m sure that tent was home for them.

I know that even the humblest home or trailer has the minimum amenities needed for us to live somewhat comfortably. But are we making that place a home for our children? What are our priorities?

I think we should focus on what we’ve been taught for so many years:

1- Family prayer

2- Family Home Evening

3- Family scripture study

No matter where we live or our circumstances, where we call home should be a place of refuge for our loved ones. Somewhere our children want to rush to and feel protected, loved and at peace.

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

Be Prayerful

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I believe we all think scripture study is something we have to do at some point of the day. But how important is it, really? And do we do it together as a family, or individually? Our contributor Jennifer Ricks, from ‘Cleaving Together,’ comments on this subject in her article “Scripture Study in the Car.” She tells us: “When my husband and I were first married, we knew that taking time for scripture study early in the day was important for our family, but we struggled to find time for it.” Her account is a good read, and makes you think about the sacrifices we want to make to get something great: personal and shared spirituality.

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The ‘Executive Homemaker,’ blogger Julie Paquette has this cute craft in her website: “The Prayer Box Recipe.” To teach children how to pray, she put together this activity. You follow the simple A-C-T-S model and that way your prayers won’t be repetitive. Just pick an activity from each letter every night, and help your child say his prayers. Cute idea!

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From ‘Families in Zion’ we get this Family Home Evening lesson named “Are You Saying or Praying?” With it, we aim to teach our children that prayer comes from the heart, that they’re ineffective if repetitious, and should always be sincere to reach our Father.


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To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Friday, 20 August, please click here.

Personal Touch

Welcome to the Neighborhood News

Dear friends, I’m excited to write about today’s newsletter. It’s such a treat!

First off, we have the Personal Touch interview with Rebecca Cressman. She got in touch with Keith Hamilton & Tamu Smith who are in the cast of I Am Jane, a production that is remembering the life of black Mormon pioneer Jane Manning James. The Mormon Pioneer trek across America became a turning point in U.S. history, but not all of that history has been remembered nor celebrated. Keith Hamilton and Tamu Smith want to change that so that the inspiring lives of early black LDS pioneers are not forgotten. To bring these stories to life, Keith Hamilton and Tamu Smith have taken to the stage as actors in I Am Jane, the award-winning stage play written by Margaret Blair Young. I Am Jane celebrates the true story of Jane Manning James, a black LDS pioneer woman who survived the mobs at Nauvoo, the westward migration to the Salt Lake Valley and the societal prejudices of an unforgiving era with unyielding faith, courage, and tolerance. Actress Tamu Smith plays the role of Jane. Keith Hamilton plays the role of Jane’s husband and works behind the scenes too as the show’s executive producer. Historically accurate, the play explores the challenges Jane and other black Mormons faced within the LDS Church, especially during the settlement and establishment of what is now Utah.

Our first contributor is author Tristi Pinkston, who sent to us her article “Constant Prayer.” Have you ever needed to pray to Heavenly Father, in a continuous basis, without stopping? Well, that’s her story. When we are discouraged, or lonely or desperate for the Lord’s help, we know that we need to turn to Him. How about doing it when we are happy, or content, and share that joy with our Father? Please, read her inspiring story. Also, as a reminder, Tristi’s book “Secret Sisters” is now out in stores.

Our next entry comes from Sista Beehive, from “As Sistas in Zion.” She’s amazing, and I love how she tells us about praying at her home, and how she’s teaching her children. Her article is “It’s Not my Turn to Pray”, and boy, can I relate to that. At home it’s always, ‘not my turn’, or ‘I did it last’ and it never ends, so I’m glad for her words of inspiration.

Our last article comes from Shabang, who blogs at “The Journal of a Black Mormon Girl.” Oh my goodness, I like her honesty and willingness to express her feelings and share them with us. I also liked her story, referring to Jane Manning James, and how, as a young woman, she didn’t know the church had black pioneers in its history. I think it’s great that we can find our own roots at some point in our lives; we need them if we are to last the attacks of the adversary.

To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Monday, 14 June's, please click here.