I had the most profound experience last week. I was sitting at the temple waiting to witness a friend’s wedding. In rolled an elderly woman sitting in her wheelchair. Her body had disintegrated. All that was left was skin on bones.
The week before I had attended a funeral of a good friend. He was normally a big jolly fellow, not fat, but tall and built. Cancer had stole his life too soon, and left his wife and three daughters weeping. The final pictures of him were skinny. The funeral weighed heavily on my mind this day, as I was also simultaneously overjoyed for our dear friend starting his life with his new wife.
I was contemplative, and seeing this sweet little old lady, effected me to the core. My heart ached for her to be healthier. I wished I could have seen her at her prime. I wanted her to have a little meat on her bones, so she could get up and walk without fear.
And it dawned on me. All at once. I live in a pervasively sick society. And I am not talking about cancer or heart disease. I am talking about attitudes.
I am talking about my own attitude. When my sister and her hubby just visited from California, I couldn’t question them enough about their eating habits. They are both the epitome of looking good. and I wanted to know their tricks to the skinny life.
The answer: For breakfast we eat a piece of toast. For lunch a half a sandwich, but for dinner we eat whatever we want.
Whatever your little teeny tummy’s can handle, which I am sure ain’t much.
For a moment I wondered if I could jump on board the regiment.
But why? Why would I want to deprive my body of nourishment? So I can be skinny? I will tell you why it’s tempting. Because everyone else is doing it. Why is everyone else doing it? Because they want to look good. Period.
Who defines what looks good? We do. Our advertising does. Our pop culture. Our movies. Our admiration in others. Our minds.
At church on Sunday, we discussed the idea that our bodies are temples. Our teacher did a really great job. One concept was especially meaningful to me. We are the house for the Lord. Our bodies are the literal house. We can live in such a way that the Lord will be with us.
And I am here to tell you, that the Lord doesn’t use body size to determine with whom he dwells, but he uses the size of the heart, and the purity of the mind.
We are doing God a great disservice when the worshiping of “skinny” or “rock hard abs” becomes a greater priority over Him and who we really are.
I recently attended my 20 year class reunion. There were the bombshell gals. There were the ones who have gained a pound or two or 100. And there were ones in between.
But, each individual carried their own spirit. I could sense into their heart. I could tell which ones were healthy. Which ones were happy. Content with their life. And loving of others.
And I am here to tell you that when our time comes, those are the things that will matter.
We have created such a sick society that obesity is an even bigger problem then anorexia or bulimia. Our society is sick as a whole. Why? Because our ideals are sick. People are sick at both ends of the spectrum, instead of being safe in the middle, where all they are worried about is their personal best.
Yes, our bodies are temples. And yes, some of us have some learning to do in the maintenance department. So, you don’t need to tell me to lessen my caloric intake or get my butt in my tennis shoes more regularly.
But, I will tell you this. When you see an emaciated woman of 80 or 90 years old and realize that the society around you has all their young people trying to look the same as her, you may be forever changed too.
Last night, Michael explained that he was the kind of guy that kept making deals with God.
He figured that if he would just do certain things God would take his blues away. I guess you could say that he was just holding on waiting for the light to come.
After hearing his doctor and family adamantly encourage him to try medication,
he finally gave in.
He was in a dark place and it dawned on him
that maybe medication would be the way that God would help him out. Maybe the medication was the avenue in bringing the light.
The medication worked. The little pills worked a miracle in his life. One that he had needed for so long. He could actually get out of bed without a struggle.
Michael, just like so many others, wondered why he suffered for so long when it wasn’t necessary.
I am a little dumbfounded when people
are so anti-medication.
I truly believe that the people who are so
vocal about how “bad” medications are,
are probably some of the ones that will benefit the most.
It always astounds me when people truly believe that
more exercise or meditation
can cure a true illness.
I cannot tell you how many times I have helped friends
be o.k. with the idea of medication
and how many of them have found happier and saner lives.
I have stories. So many stories.
From the woman with lots of kids who couldn’t cope at all.
She started thriving after getting the right anti-anxiety meds.
To the younger mom with little kids
who just couldn’t understand why she would be given this trial,
but once she found the right meds.
was so deeply grateful to be able to mother
without the constant darkness and hopelessness.
It’s such a bummer that an unnecessary stigma
keeps people from tapping into God’s help.
Yes, God inspires scientists to invent this stuff.
It scientifically fills in the gaps that have been left
because of genetic mutation, environmental factors,
and even just the pressures of living in such a fast paced society.
People have mental illness.
People also have stressful lives.
Medications can help with both.
And they do.
My go-to question to a lot of my struggling friends is,
“if you had cancer would you refuse treatment?”
Of course not.
So, you people who are anti-medication,
please leave your stigma creating judgement elsewhere.
I am here to tell anyone out there
who needs some light in their lives
that getting on medication
may be God’s way of giving you the blessings that you need.
Don’t be afraid.
Here is Michael’s Med song:
And here is another one just for fun. It will give you another coping strategy until your meds kick in.
Don’t suffer a second longer than you have to. You don’t have to take medication forever, but if you need help, take it. Get sane, and then decide when you don’t need it any more.
Would you refuse an epidural just so you could feel the pain? Well, yeah, some of you would. But, why? Why suffer like you are in childbirth for longer than a day, or a month, or even years?
Especially if you are a mom. The best thing you can ever do for your kids is to be happy. Even if it means you need a little help getting there.
The last week or so I have been having trouble with feeling really lethargic. I don’t want to get out of bed. It dawned on me this morning that I am experiencing a slight bout of depression.
I have been on my medication for 7 years and I have never felt better. I don’t ever cry incessantly like I used to. I don’t think hopeless thoughts. I don’t lay in bed all day. I don’t sit around worrying.
I don’t do so many things that I used to do. I am generally pretty happy a great majority of the time.
And even though right now I am in a tad of a funk, needing some greater direction in my life, and feeling the effects of the recent move, missing friends, a new career consideration, and the weighty decision of whether or not we are done having children, the worst of the funk is feeling tired. Really tired.
I would say that is pretty damn good.
Especially when 10 years ago, if I found myself with the amount of crap that I have on my plate right now, I would have been suicidal, locked in my room, crying all day and night, and feeling like it would never end.
I questioned him about Mormons being excluded from his definition of Christian.
I have a deep testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ and believe that “He is the only way, the truth, and the life.”
My total trust and dependence on my Savior is what draws me to The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, but this book of scripture (I am always surprised how people will put the book down without ever reading it) and my other belief in a living Prophet as a mouthpiece for God on the earth, are the very things that exclude me.
I am shocked that while I am excluded, Methodists who allow homosexuality, Lutherans with women called to the Priesthood, Baptists who all have different interpretations of the Bible, and even Catholics who believe in a Pope are in.
Why, I asked?
“Because they are willing to come to my congregation and say that I am saved; if you would come to my congregation and say I know I am saved through Jesus Christ, then you would be in too.”
Well, I could do that.
No problem.
“Well, you would also have to denounce The Book of Mormon and your prophet.”
Oh, I see how this goes.
It should be of no surprise to me that mainstream America
would even entertain the idea of electing a Jack Mormon.
I think a lot of religious people have turned Jack, if you will.
They take what works for them and leave everything else behind.
I hate to be the one to break it to you all,
but God doesn’t work that way.
There is a scripture that says
“eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.”
It’s not a commandment how we should live
but how we shouldn’t.
I am also a little hopeful in Americans
as Romney is way ahead of Huntsman in the polls.
Maybe it is also important to other people that
people have integrity?
The following video jokes about Hunstman and Romney.
Mockeries to my faith happen often. They started with the church’s inception. The founder Joseph Smith was martyred. Hundreds of the earliest Mormons were murdered in cold blood.
Of course I think it is a crying shame. I also think it goes with the territory. If one is to decide where God is solely by the amount of mockery His followers receive, I think you would be right to investigate my faith.
Once in a while though they get it right. Thank you to CNN for reporting with dignity.
Thank you also to Catholics for being nice.
Above Colbert talked about the I’m a Mormon campaign. In case you are interested here is my profile on Mormon.org.
Oh, and if you aren’t going to vote for someone because of their religious beliefs, then don’t vote for Romney because he deserves a non-vote more than Huntsman. Since Huntsman claims 10 religions.
Or vote for Huntsman for being the better man because he jumped in the race as a favor to Romney to allow Romney’s faithful dedication shine.
added a few hours after original post:
My brother Adam just messaged me congratulating me for hitting the maximum amount of sensitive subjects in one post. Why not get them over with all at once?
Be Still My Soul is one of my favorite hymns. Ever since the day I got home from my mission. I went to the temple because I didn’t know what else to do with myself. I threw up all over the lawn. Leaving my missionary service behind, made me sad, empty, scared, and confused about my future. I had given 18 months of my life to the Lord and I had found myself by losing myself and I found greater purpose in serving others. I didn’t want to have to live my life for me.
I got inside the temple and sat down in the chapel. On the organ played Be Still My Soul.
Something told me to open up the hymn book and read the lyrics. Pretty sure it was The Spirit.
Be Still, my soul, The Lord is on thy side; with patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake To guide the future as he has the past.
Wow. It was just what I needed to hear. And beautifully communicated through music.
It was the first time I learned the lesson of commanding my spirit to be still.
Since then I have had much more practice. One of my favorite verses of scripture is
Be Still, and know that I am God. -Psalms 46:10
I think of it often when I have to work at being still.
alice w. gold 
