Most miracles are subtle. They can only be discerned with the eye of faith.
I sat down at a World Family Policy Forum on January 15, 1999. I am always interested in the latest thinking about families. There were a few minutes before the session began and, as I rummaged through my bag for writing materials, the person next to me introduced herself and asked me what I did. “I’m a professor of family life and human development.” She asked me about some of the truths I had discovered in my work.” I reached into my bag and pulled out a one-page summary of myths and truths related to families.
“Fascinating!” she declared. We talked about some of the myths and truths, and she looked me in the eyes, “Are you interested in writing articles for our new magazine?” That was Maurine Proctor. And that was the beginning of my relationship with Meridian Magazine.
I began a series of articles entitled Myth of the Month. Each month I wrote about a popular myth regarding personal well-being, marriage, and parenting that had taken root within our culture in spite of being based on fallacies. It was a joy to explore those common beliefs and show the ways that good research and the gospel of Jesus Christ provide us far better and radically different ways of thinking and living. The truth can set us free—when we apply it in our lives! Some of those myths were collected in a book we published as Modern Myths and Latter-day Truths so that the ideas would continue to be available long after the articles had been posted.
At one point, the Proctors encouraged me to write a series of articles on marriage. Later still, the federal government decided to create a summary of the research on parenting, and I was asked to be one of the four team members working on that project. Once again, Meridian Magazine provided a forum to share those research findings and to connect those findings to teachings found within the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those articles led to a book on marriage, Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage and a book on parenting, Bringing up Our Children in Light and Truth.
Meridian Magazine has been a valued publication of articles exploring the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Proctors have given me the opportunity to explore myths that some of us as saints have accepted when the gospel reality is so much more encouraging. It has been a joy to write about Jesus, especially about how He is willing and able to love and redeem us in spite of our weaknesses and failings. And about how we can bring greater joy to our lives by inviting Him more into our everyday lives.
More recently, I wrote about sixty articles for Meridian Magazine showing the harmonies and discoveries in the areas of personal well-being, marriage, and parenting. This was an attempt to summarize the discoveries of a lifetime of studying families. Those articles have been published in book form as Discoveries: Essential Truths for Relationships.
I believe that initial encounter with Maurine Proctor was a miracle orchestrated by God. In a world in which there is so much unhelpful chatter related to popular ideas and social media myths, we are blessed to have Meridian Magazine which has provided me the glorious opportunity to share God’s truths along with discoveries from research.
My dearest hope is that some of the things I have shared in articles and books have helped readers take the gospel of Jesus Christ more seriously and find ways to apply it toward creating healthier relationships, with themselves, their family members, and Jesus Christ.
I am everlastingly grateful to Scot and Maurine Proctor and celebrate this anniversary of Meridian Magazine! What a rich community of sharing they have created!
If you are interested in any of the books mentioned above:
Discoveries: Essential Truths for Relationships, and Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage are both available at Deseret Book.
Modern Myths & Latter-day Truths, Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage, The Soft-Spoken Parent, and Bringing Up Your Children in Light and Truth are all available at my Etsy shop.
Discoveries: Essential Truths for Relationships, Between Parent & Child, Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage, Finding Joy in Family Life, and The Marriage Garden are available at Amazon.
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