The Rest of the Story
by Paul Christian

Last month in “I’m Going on a Mission”, we read about a reluctant missionary, Paul Christian, as he was transformed during his experience at the MTC. Like Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress, Paul went on his mission to New York and saw many sights and people along the way that opened the eyes of his understanding and unloosed his burden as he helped to relieve that of others. His only desire was to serve the Lord faithfully. This is the story he told shortly before returning home after two years of diligent service.


It’s Christmas Eve. I’ve just had the best day of my life; the best Christmas I’ve ever had.— I’ve been dreaming of a white Christmas.

About four months ago, we had a missionary activity in the morning. While we were playing handball, a family passed by and I smiled and

Father: Guardian upon the Watchtower
by Claudia Goodman

In a day when harsh voices insist that women are all powerful and totally self-sufficient, many are led to believe that they don’t need men. They insist that the role of fathers is redundant and obsolete, that men are merely appendages to the family.

But there are also those who step forward boldly to proclaim that a child is not whole without a father. The father’s presence in the home is so vital and all-encompassing that families who have lost their fathers must do everything in their power to compensate for them. There are ways to do so, however. Home teachers, bishops, uncles, and grandfathers are among those who can help fill the gap. In addition, we have the Lord’s promise that He will not leave His children to deal with more than they can handle. He will make up the deficit

Fresh Tex-Mex
by Julie Badger Jensen

Southwestern cooking can be bold and flavorful, yet healthy as well. There is an excitement about this “hot” cuisine. Mexican cooking is one of the world’s oldest traditions, intertwining foods of the Aztecs with the ingredients and cooking methods introduced by the Spanish conquistadors over 400 years ago. Combine with this home-style Texas cooking and you’ll discover the superb and unique Tex-Mex cuisine.

The real heart and soul of these wonderful foods is healthy . . . but has been changed over the years. To get back to these original dishes, replace some of the calorie-loaded and greasy ingredients with fresh fruit salsas, citrus marinades and savory chutneys. Herbs can add a bit of fire and spice.

The honest freshness of vegetables, fruits, and herbs are satisfying and delicious. This is what summer eating is all about . . . ripe, succulent tomatoes and

New Version of Top Selling Personal Genealogical Software Available for Free Via Popular Genealogical Internet Service

SALT LAKE CITY- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released announced version 5.0 of its popular personal genealogy management software. systemKey new features include a Palm OS application and the ability to view user screens in six languages and enter data in most known languages (including Asiatic and Cyrillic characters). Personal Ancestral File (PAF) is now available on CD-ROM or as a free download from the Internet.

The program helps users organize their family history records. The new product makes organizing one’s personal genealogy easy to do. It can produce, in automated or manual form, records for personal family histories or charts and logs to help users in their search for missing ancestors. Optional PAF 5.0 Companion software offers enhanced reporting and search capabilities.
PAF 5.0 allows users to view screens …

The Classics Corner Bids Fond Adieu . . . to Yieu and Yiew and You
by Richard H. Cracroft

Editors’ Note: Much to our sadness and loss we have to give in to Richard Cracroft’s desire to go on with his life. We have known and admired him for many years and have been trying to carefully plan his retirement so it would include an ongoing column for Meridian (we haven’t completely given up yet). We ask the Lord’s choicest blessings to be upon Richard and Janice in their “new and relaxed” life.

It’s time to go! Since last October, I’ve enjoyed sharing lists of good books with you-lists of classic LDS biography, history, and novels; and lists of British, American, and World classics-all with the idea of selecting books for possible giving or inclusion in your personal libraries. I’ve heard from many of you and made some new acquaintances

The Soul’s Captain

The media has quoted, repeatedly, from “Invictus” by William E. Henley because of Timothy McVeigh’s choice to use it as his final mission statement. If you are not familiar with it, you might be interested to read a response to Henley’s poem written by a poet, Orson F. Whitney.

Through a Glass Darkly: A Room with a View
by Marilyn Green Faulkner

This business of seeing is a strange process. We know that something mechanical occurs when light hits the retina of the eye, and images are communicated to the brain. That, however, is just the beginning of sight. From quite a young age, we also understand that sight is an inward process as well, and look beyond the surface of faces and objects for their spiritual significance. Perched precariously between the innocence of prewar England and the disasters to come, a young man named Edward Forster penned a novel about a young girl learning to see for herself, and poured into it all of his “insights” (a lovely word) about the clash between civility and nature, between keeping up appearances and living with a vision. He called it A Room with a View.

E.M. Forster was only twenty-eight

“Saints on the Sea”
by Kurt Bestor

[The second in a series of articles regarding the writing, recording, and performing a new oratorio]

“The truth shall set you free.” While this may be true for things spiritual, it hasn’t been the case as it pertains to my current project the “Saints on the Sea” oratorio. Recently, as I did a little web searching, I discovered the truth about the orchestra with which I’m recording – The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. It’s the oldest standing orchestra IN THE WORLD. Founded in 1840, they have established themselves as one of the world’s best, having worked and recorded with some the world’s greatest soloists, conductors, and composers. Suddenly, “yours truly” from little old Provo, Utah feels a little out of his league.

After two and a half months, I finally finished writing the piece. Although it’s being touted as an “oratorio,” it’s turned out

“Focus on the Family” Calls on Governments to De-Ratify Child Convention

On the eve of the final preparatory committee meeting for the UN Special Session on Children, the US-based Focus on the Family has issued a pointed criticism of the highly controversial Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). One of the key issues in the ongoing negotiations for the Special Session is UNICEF’s wish to tie the new document to the original Convention. Many governments are resisting this move.

Focus on the Family points out that “a close look at the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) reveals many unacceptable elements. These elements twist an otherwise praiseworthy treaty into one that intrudes on countries’ national sovereignty and endangers children by interfering with their parents’ rights to direct their upbringing.” Focus on the Family concludes that signatory nations should reassess their commitment to the CRC, which has