Ah, Marriage!

As a child, I dreamed of the day when I would meet "Prince Charming" and live happily ever after. Then I grew up! Marriage is not for the Pansies or Faint of Heart of this world. You have to roll up your sleeves and learn to work with someone who does everything, from paying the bills to raising children to loading the dishwasher, totally different from you. Then there comes a point in marriage when you think "Marriage shouldn't be this hard. Maybe it will be "greener" if I try it somewhere else." But it's not! I know a lady who tried 6+ times and the men were all the same. It's the ones who decide to stick it out that find that, most often, except for in extreme cases when the person you married turns out to be a total nut job, marriage does have it's benefits. #1 Security! Wives and Children, particularly, are safer in this crazy world, if the original man is around the house. Of course, the original man needs to be at least sane even though he is different and not the threat himself. #2 Self-improvement! I've learned a lot of what I can do better on when I see my husband and children copying me. You don't know how bad something sounds until you have it said back to you. #3 This world is a lonely place without consistent companionship.

For all you married people out there, good luck and carry on! And for you unmarried who are still debating whether or not it is worth it? Don't throw the "baby" out with the dirty bath water.

Sincerely,
Poor Anne

Signs of the Times

I have noticed that a lot of Hollywood movies and even some Christain movies focus on how terrible things are going to get at "The End of the World." I do believe that things are going to get worse before they get better and that we are going to have to rely on common decency to survive. But I also believe that things WILL GET BETTER. No matter how many times "the world" has tried to oppress, knock down, degrade us, the human race, we have risen from the ashes stronger, more resilient, and more wise. I believe we will do it again, one final, last time and then live with, Our Lord, in peace for a thousand years. - Poor Anne

"The lesson which the Signs of the Times should teach us is one of patience, endurance, and calm reliance on the Lord. The result will be that we shall be stronger, wiser, purer, happier, for the experience gained, and the work of the Lord ... will yet triumph gloriously over all its foes, and the infinite atonement of the Redeemer will accomplish its perfect work. After the trial comes the reward."

--- John Taylor, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith

A Child's Prayer

God, make my life a little light,
Within the world to glow;
A little flame that burneth bright,
Wherever I may go.

God, make my life a little flower,
That giveth joy to all,
Content to bloom in native bower,
Although the place be small.

God, make my life a little song,
That comforteth the sad,
That helpeth others to be strong,
And makes the singer glad.

- M. Betham-Edwards