Tag Archives: professional

Self-Control vs. Self-Indulgence

In a world so full of bright shiny things, it can be very easy to become distracted. I have long thought that the bulk of the world’s problems simply come from a complete lack of self-discipline. Greed – lack of self-discipline. Selfishness – lack of self-discipline. Crime – lack of self-discipline. Inhumanity – lack of self-discipline. Elder Richard G. Scott said: “Some of us at one time or another let the pressures of life or the false teachings of men cloud our vision, but when we see with clarity, the difference between the plan of God and that of Satan … Continue reading →

Freelance Writing: Outline of a Query Letter

Create a professional query letter by including relevant information, ways in which you can be contacted, and keeping it less than one page in length. Use the following or a similar outline. Use the Appropriate Salutation Locate the editor’s name and always address your letter to the editor. There may be different editors for different topics, so be sure you’re writing to the appropriate one. Example: Dear Ms. Smith, If you cannot ascertain the person’s gender by the name alone, look for clues in the guidelines. If the editor’s name is Pat Smith, and there is no indication if Pat … Continue reading →

We Lived Before

“Adam, our great progenitor, “the first man,” was, like Christ, a pre-existent spirit, and like Christ he took upon him an appropriate body, the body of a man, and so became a “living soul.” The doctrine of the pre-existence,—revealed so plainly, particularly in latter days, pours a wonderful flood of light upon the otherwise mysterious problem of man’s origin. It shows that man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth in a temporal body to undergo an experience in mortality. … Continue reading →

The “Easy” Life of a Writer

You know; the writing process is not an easy thing. I’ve heard people say, “Wow, you’ve got the easiest job ever.” I have to laugh, because that is far more socially acceptable than smacking them in the face. Let me give you a rundown of my average day: 4:30 a.m. – Wake up, stumble to the computer and sit there yawning while the thing boots up. Open WordPerfect and write daily blogs for www.families.com. 5:30 a.m. – Blogs must be finished and work must begin on current books, two of which are currently in the works with one having a … Continue reading →

Life From an Eternal Perspective

Sometimes when the furnace goes bust, the water heater explodes, and you’ve stubbed your toe a dozen times since waking, you may think to yourself, “Murphy’s Law is in full force today!” it might be not only healthy, but wise to step back and look at life in the eternal perspective. I think it’s safe to say that I have led a somewhat chaotic life, which is probably why I crave peace and quiet so much. When life comes crushing down on me I may stutter, but I am not crushed. Oh yes, I weep, I fear, I worry – … Continue reading →

Enduring to the End . . . Just how far away is that?

Many times, as people get on in years, they begin to wonder and worry a little more about that “enduring to the end” thing. Why? Because the body and mind can start to slow down and it’s not as easy to be as active as you’d like. So what all is involved in enduring to the end? Well, breathing is always a good place start. Okay, sorry, my last blog has apparently affected my brain. Who knew it was contagious? Okay, seriously – enduring to the end is not as complicated as one might think. There are different responsibilities for … Continue reading →

Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest! Help!

Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest – Help! You know, I gotta wonder about the state of today’s society. I mean, what self-respecting society produces such dim-witted individuals such as the ones I read about today. I was cruising around the internet looking for a little lighter topic and ran across this on DumbThings.com: “Iraqi terrorist, Khay Rahnajet, didn’t pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with “return to sender” stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb, he opened it and was blown to bits.” I didn’t know whether to laugh, slap my hand on my forehead or … Continue reading →

Advantages of Learning CPR and First Aid

There is always that awkward moment of shock after tragedy strikes. Everyone’s thoughts are racing, wondering, What is going on? What happened? What is wrong? Then the bystander effect kicks in, and it’s in these crucial moments that action must be taken. After only seconds of a person being unable to breathe, irreversible brain damage begins, gradually progressing, and unless someone acts a life could end. It doesn’t take a Doctor to step up to the plate; anyone can help if they know what to do. There are many benefits to knowing CPR and First Aid. As far as careers … Continue reading →