Healing

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As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are a prepared people.  We know what to do in case of earthquake, tornado or flood.  We know how to turn off the gas and have the tool to do it.  We have food in our basement and 24-hour kits packed and ready to go in case of emergency.  Most families have a meeting plan should they not be together when an emergency strikes—where to go and who to contact.  We’ve all helped put together humanitarian kits that are now stored in warehouses and ready to roll at a moment’s notice. 

We read our scriptures and say our prayers.  We have our home evenings and teach our children to be good and kind and to choose the right.  We fulfill our callings and serve one another. 

So what happens when a threat comes from within?  What do you do when your trust has been violated by someone within the family?  What if it is your children who have been harmed?  How do you cope?  What do you do to help your children?  How do you get through this?  Are you required to forgive?  How do you go through daily routine when your mind can’t fathom what has been happening to your family?  No year’s supply of batteries or powdered milk will get you through this emergency.   There are answers in the scriptures and you will find strength from within that you didn’t know you had.  You can talk to Church leaders, but at times even they seem almost overwhelmed with this new reality. 

For one family, their lives were changed in many ways.  Each family member seemed to handle it in a different way.  There’s no guidebook on how to cope, how to behave, how to get through this.  Healing is an individual and ongoing process. 

We have put Marion Stewart's book Healing in a pdf format. Please read it here.

Remodeled!

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Yes, you are seeing something different! We have changed things up a little.

We have incorporated a fresh look for the New Year—not too different. We don’t want to ruin what we have that you love, but everyone needs a new outfit occasionally!

We think our updated style is cleaner and a little friendlier. Our articles are now grouped together in one block, but please don’t ignore our sponsors, since they make it possible for you to receive the yourLDSneighborhood Newsletter.

Back in 2006 we had an idea to open a dialogue with our neighbors by establishing an online community of people who share the same values and outlook on life. Our goal was to present information that would help simplify your life rather than clutter it, give you a fresh perspective on principles or problems, encourage you to be steadfast and obedient, help you think “outside of your box,” make you laugh, inspire you to serve and create in your world...basically give your day—and your life—a lift. In short, our goal is to give you ideas that you can use immediately, and we hope that we have been successful so far.

We realize that not every article pertains to every person, but even those that may not seem to apply at first glance often contain hidden jewels. For example, don’t miss the embedded video in this coming Wednesday’s piece about foster care. It is priceless; and although aimed at mothers, it applies to everyone.

Perhaps you haven’t noticed our special feature “Personal Touch” that is the focus of each Monday issue. If you haven’t checked it out, you are missing out on great interviews and ideas that may encourage you to make a difference in your world. For example, today’s interview with Quinn Curtis talks about creativity and how we are all active creators, regardless of our roles in life:

“I think with whatever we are doing, we are creating something—whether it’s creating a meal for our family by putting ingredients together or creating just a family vacation or creating your outline for your day so that you have time with your children—creating a story time with your family. I think no matter what we are doing, we are all creators, and we are in a creation process. So finding beauty within that and creating beauty is all about being present and conscious in your creation process.” (Quinn Curtis)

Patricia, the yourLDSneighborhood Newsletter editor, always shares great ideas on our blog. We always welcome and appreciate your comments about the newsletter on our blog, including topics you would like to see discussed. Access the blog here or simply click the "Comments? Post on Our Blog" graphic in each newsletter.

In addition, we have attempted to address difficult issues that every neighborhood has to deal with—either in their own families or close by. Realizing that there are others who have dealt with or are dealing with the same things can help ease our own burdens.

In that light, there is a new part of The Neighborhood which will probably be of interest to you if you haven’t already visited. It is called Sensitive Smatterings  and is a venue where our neighbors can post the experiences which they prefer to keep anonymous or that need a sensitive home. Occasionally a featured article link will send you there, but you may want to visit and browse the archived topics to see if there is something that would be helpful or informative for you and your family.

Don’t forget about our “parent” site yourLDSneighborhood.com. There you will find links to great products and services especially suited to your needs and values. While you’re there, join Facebook and look for our unique offers, interviews, articles, and the occasional contest.

Lastly, if you enjoy the yourLDSneighborhood newsletter, please forward it to your friends. The more people that read it, the stronger the neighborhood. (And our sponsors get excited, too!)

Thanks for being a part of our Neighborhood!

Denise Rust

Editor in Chief

The Twelve Days of Christmas Tradition

I believe that one of the most misunderstood traditions in this holiday season is the one about the Twelve Days of Christmas. Most people think it starts 12 days before Christmas, when in reality that's not the way it was intended.

I grew up celebrating it, even though I didn’t even know that’s what it was called. When I was a little girl growing up in Argentina, the best day about Christmas was actually January 6, when the Wise Men or Magi would come and leave a present on my polished clean and carefully laid out shoes, by my bedroom door. How many times did I imagine hearing their camels (not reindeer) making noises outside the house!

There’s symbolism in every single one of the presents in the song, even if some people think they are a bit odd and not related to Christmas.

Advent is a season of preparation, of joy and hope for the coming of the baby that will be the Redeemer of the world. Epiphany happens 12 days after the birth of the Savior. If you start counting on December 25th, then the evening of January 5th is the 12th night and January 6th is the 12th day of Christmas.

In most countries around the world where they still celebrate the old traditions, that’s when the Wise Men came to deliver presents to the newborn baby. And people believed there were three Wise Men just because He was given three presents. In South America and Spain, it’s called Dia de los Reyes Magos (Day of the Kings).

The song was created to teach young children about the tenets of the Catholic church. And these are the meanings:

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  1 Partridge in the Pear Tree= Jesus Christ, the Son of God

  2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments

  3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues

  4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists

 5 Golden Rings = the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch.”

 6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation

 7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments

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 8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes

 9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments

11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles

12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

One more thing, I just came across the group Straight no Chaser, and fell in love with them. So check out their YouTube version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. It’s hilarious.

To check ideas for gifting go here, here and here.

Sources: here, here and here.

And may you all have a Merry Christmas.
Patricia.