Several years ago, one of my close relatives had a suicide attempt. It was devastating for everyone involved. Because of his experience, I have been more aware of the this topic.
Recently, I had a discussion with one of my friends on this topic. Through our discussion I learned that suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US.
Starting at 2:00 in the video below, a young man discusses his experience about how he seriously tried to take his life because of his depression. He describes how his brother “lifted” him starting with taking a week off of work just to be there. He explained that the fact that his family reached out to him in love is what got him on the road to healing. The message at the end of the video is: “There is nothing more powerful than the arm of love that can be put around those who are struggling.” We need to watch out for each other. We need to love one another."
You can also view the video on You Tube by clicking here.
Several months ago I heard about a movie that was going to be produced by our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to be shown in movie theaters. As I have watched the different trailers come out one by one, I have been impressed by each story. Take a half a minute to watch each clip. You, too, will be uplifted....
Col. Gail Halvorsen (Ret.) Known as “The Candy Bomber” during the 1940s Berlin Airlift, Gail Halvorsen sparked a movement when he started dropping candy tied to parachutes out of his airplane window to children below. This small act of kindness quickly became a life-saving boost to the morale of the people of West Berlin and soon caught worldwide attention and support.
Meet the BISHOP: Jermaine Sullivan works full-time as an academic counselor to 200 students in order to support his wife and three kids. He also volunteers full-time as a Bishop of a Mormon church in Atlanta, Georgia. He leads his diverse congregation with youthful exuberance while shattering stereotypes of what it means to be a Mormon Bishop.
Meet the MOM Dawn Armstrong, a struggling single mother, had hit rock bottom and lost all hope. Then she met some Mormon missionaries who helped her and her son get back on their feet and start a new life. Her son is now older and ready to fulfill his two-year voluntary missionary work. As she helps him prepare to leave home for the first time ever, she also prepares to say goodbye.
Meet the FIGHTER:
With her husband’s help, extreme sports enthusiast Carolina Muñoz Marin has fought her way to the top of women’s amateur kickboxing in Costa Rica, challenging the traditional stereotypes of a Mormon woman. In between family time and training for competitions, Carolina and her husband run a charity to help those in Costa Rica who are less fortunate.
Meet the COACH:
As Head Football Coach of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Ken Niumatalolo balances the pressures of his high-stress job by putting his family and faith first. In the competitive, high-stakes world of college football, he made the shocking decision to cancel staff meetings on Sundays, traditionally seen as critical to the team’s success, to instead honor the Sabbath day.
After leaving his village to receive a degree in Engineering, Bishnu Adhikari returned to his home in Nepal with a newfound faith and a determination to help improve the living conditions of the area. Bishnu now travels to remote villages in the Himalayan Mountains to build roads, schools and water systems, all while living with his faith and respecting his culture and his family’s expectations.
Net proceeds from the film will be donated to charity. (The Red Cross).
From the LDS newsroom homepage:
A new uplifting song recorded by Mormon artist David Archuleta is being enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. The single, "Glorious," is from #MeettheMormons, a new feature-length documentary that was released in 250 theaters across the country on 10 October by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
You can also see the video by clicking here. This is the full video. Pass the popcorn and enjoy the show!
You can also see the whole video by clicking here.
Frozen's Santin Fontana was the guest artist at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's 2014 Summer Celebration of Song Concert. The last number was a series of songs about being happy. Enjoy!
I enjoyed watching the Pioneer Day Concert this past July on my computer. I didn't know much about the guest singer, Broadway singer and actor, Santino Fontana before seeing the concert. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's webpage describes him as: The artist who brought magic to life as Prince Hans in Disney's blockbuster film Frozen.
This video help me learn a little more about Santino and his thoughts and impressions of singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
On September 23, 1962 the The Jetsons TV show debuted. I watched that first show along with all The Jetsons shows. I have fond memories the Jetson family.
The Jetsons live in the year 2062 in a futuristic utopia (100 years in the future at the time of the show's debut) of elaborate robotic contraptions, aliens, holograms, and whimsical inventions.
Whimsical inventions. What are whimsical inventions?
home computers?
the Internet?
microwave ovens?
cell phones?
modern medical technology such as an EKG or MRI?
NONE of these whimsical inventions were around when I was 6 years old.
As a 6 year old I would have never imagined that I would "Skype" with my grandchildren who live in Idaho while I live in California.
I tried explaining to my son how cool it was to imagine these things as a 6 year old kid. I never thought that what I saw on The Jetsons show would ever happen in my lifetime. Now I am experiencing many of the Jetson's ways of life today as a 57 year old....just 51 years later.
He wasn't impressed.
I'm just wondering when Rosie, the household robot maid, will be part of my life!
