Ezra Taft Benson addresses depression

What follows is a great sermon from a modern day prophet of God about depression.

Ezra Taft Benson, “Do Not Despair,” Ensign, Oct 1986, 2

We live, in an age when, as the Lord foretold, men’s hearts are failing them, not only physically but in spirit. (See D&C 45:26.) Many are giving up heart for the battle of life. Suicide ranks as a major cause of deaths of college students. As the showdown between good and evil approaches with its accompanying trials and tribulations, Satan is increasingly striving to overcome the Saints with despair, discouragement, despondency, and depression.

Yet, of all people, we as Latter-day Saints should be the most optimistic and the least pessimistic. For while we know that “peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion,” we are also assured that “the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst.” (D&C 1:35–36.)

With the assurance that the Church shall remain intact with God directing it through the troubled times ahead, it then becomes our individual responsibility to see that each of us remains faithful to the Church and its teachings. “He that remaineth steadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved.” (JS—M 1:11.) To help us from being overcome by the devil’s designs of despair, discouragement, depression, and despondency, the Lord has provided at least a dozen ways which, if followed, will lift our spirits and send us on our way rejoicing.

First, repentance. In the Book of Mormon we read that “despair cometh because of iniquity.” (Moro. 10:22.) “When I do good I feel good,” said Abraham Lincoln, “and when I do bad I feel bad.” Sin pulls a man down into despondency and despair. While a man may take some temporary pleasure in sin, the end result is unhappiness. “Wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10.) Sin creates disharmony with God and is depressing to the spirit. Therefore, a man would do well to examine himself to see that he is in harmony with all of God’s laws. Every law kept brings a particular blessing. Every law broken brings a particular blight. Those who are heavy-laden with despair should come unto the Lord, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light. (See Matt. 11:28–30.)

Second, prayer. Prayer in the hour of need is a great boon. From simple trials to our Gethsemanes, prayer—persistent prayer—can put us in touch with God, our greatest source of comfort and counsel. “Pray always, that you may come off conqueror.” (D&C 10:5.) “Exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me” is how the young Joseph Smith describes the method that he used in the Sacred Grove to keep the adversary from destroying him. (JS—H 1:16.) This is also a key to use in keeping depression from destroying us.

Third, service. To lose yourself in righteous service to others can lift your sights and get your mind off personal problems, or at least put them in proper focus. “When you find yourselves a little gloomy,” said President Lorenzo Snow, “look around you and find somebody that is in a worse plight than yourself; go to him and find out what the trouble is, then try to remove it with the wisdom which the Lord bestows upon you; and the first thing you know, your gloom is gone, you feel light, the Spirit of the Lord is upon you, and everything seems illuminated.” (In Conference Report, 6 Apr. 1899, pp. 2–3.)A woman whose life is involved in the righteous rearing of her children has a better chance of keeping up her spirits than the woman whose total concern is centered in her own personal problems.

Fourth, work. The earth was cursed for Adam’s sake. Work is our blessing, not our doom. God has a work to do, and so should we. Retirement from work has depressed many a man and hastened his death. It has been said that even the very fiends weave ropes of sand rather than face the pure hell of idleness. We should work at taking care of the spiritual, mental, social, and physical needs of ourselves and of those whom we are charged to help. In the church of Jesus Christ, there is plenty of work to do to move forward the kingdom of God. Missionary work, family genealogy and temple work, home evenings, receiving a Church assignment and magnifying it are but a few of our required labors.

Fifth, health. The condition of the physical body can affect the spirit. That’s why the Lord gave us the Word of Wisdom. He also said that we should retire to our beds early and arise early (see D&C 88:124), that we should not run faster than we have strength (see D&C 10:4), and that we should use moderation in all good things. In general, the more food we eat in its natural state—without additives—and the less it is refined, the healthier it will be for us. Food can affect the mind, and deficiencies of certain elements in the body can promote mental depression. A good physical examination periodically is a safeguard and may spot problems that can be remedied. Rest and physical exercise are essential, and a walk in the fresh air can refresh the spirit. Wholesome recreation is part of our religion and is a necessary change of pace; even its anticipation can lift the spirit.

Sixth, reading. Many a man in his hour of trial has turned to the Book of Mormon and been enlightened, enlivened, and comforted.The psalms in the Old Testament have a special food for the soul of one in distress. In our day, we are additionally blessed with the Doctrine and Covenants—modern revelation. The words of the prophets are crucial reading and can give direction and comfort in an hour when one is down.

Seventh, blessing. In a particularly stressful time, or in the anticipation of a critical event, one can seek for a blessing under the hands of the priesthood. Even the Prophet Joseph Smith sought and received a blessing under the hands of Brigham Young and received solace and direction for his soul. Fathers, so live that you can bless your own wives and children. To receive and then consistently and prayerfully ponder one’s patriarchal blessing can give helpful insight, particularly in an hour of need. The sacrament will “bless … the souls” (D&C 20:77, 79) of all those who worthily partake of it, and as such it should be taken often, even by the bedfast, who can arrange with their bishop to receive the sacrament at home or at the hospital.

Eighth, fasting. A certain kind of devil goes not out except by fasting and prayer, the scriptures tell us. (See Matt. 17:14–21.) Periodic fasting can help clear up the mind and strengthen the body and the spirit. The usual fast, the one we are asked to participate in for fast Sunday, is to abstain from food and drink for two consecutive meals. Some people, feeling the need, have gone on longer fasts of abstaining from food but have taken the needed liquids. Wisdom should be used, and this fast should be broken with light eating. To make a fast most fruitful, it should be coupled with prayer and meditation; physical work should be held to a minimum, and one should ponder on the scriptures and the reason for the fast.

Ninth, friends. The fellowship of true friends who can hear you out, share your joys, help carry your burdens, and correctly counsel you is priceless. For one who has been in the prison of depression, the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith have special meaning: “How sweet the voice of a friend is; one token of friendship from any source whatever awakens and calls into action every sympathetic feeling.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938, p. 134.)

Ideally, our family ought to be our closest friends. Most important, we should seek to become the friend of our Father in Heaven and our brother Jesus the Christ. What a boon to be in the company of those who edify us! To have friends, one should be friendly. Friendship should begin at home and then be extended to encompass the home teacher, quorum leader, bishop, and other Church teachers and leaders. To meet often with the Saints and enjoy their companionship can buoy up the heart.

Tenth, music. Inspiring music may fill the soul with heavenly thoughts, move one to righteous action, or speak peace to the soul. When Saul was troubled with an evil spirit, David played for him with his harp; Saul was refreshed and the evil spirit departed. (See 1 Sam. 16:23.) Elder Boyd K. Packer has wisely suggested memorizing some of the inspiring songs of Zion and then, when the mind is afflicted with temptations, singing aloud, to keep before your mind the inspiring words and crowd out the evil thoughts. (See Ensign, Jan. 1974, p. 28.) This could also be done to crowd out debilitating, depressive thoughts.

Eleventh, endurance. When George A. Smith was very ill, he was visited by his cousin, the Prophet Joseph Smith. The afflicted man reported: “He [the Prophet] told me I should never get discouraged, whatever difficulties might surround me. If I were sunk into the lowest pit of Nova Scotia and all the Rocky Mountains piled on top of me, I ought not to be discouraged, but hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I should come out on the top of the heap.” (George A. Smith Family, comp. Zora Smith Jarvis, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1962, p. 54.)

There are times when you simply have to righteously hang on and outlast the devil until his depressive spirit leaves you. As the Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.” (D&C 121:7–8.)

Pressing on in noble endeavors, even while surrounded by a cloud of depression, will eventually bring you out on top into the sunshine. Even our master Jesus the Christ, while facing that supreme test of being temporarily left alone by our Father during the crucifixion, continued performing his labors for the children of men, and then shortly thereafter he was glorified and received a fulness of joy. While you are going through your trial, you can recall your past victories and count the blessings that you do have with a sure hope of greater ones to follow if you are faithful. And you can have that certain knowledge that in due time God will wipe away all tears and that “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9.)

Twelfth, goals. Every accountable child of God needs to set goals, short- and long-range goals. A man who is pressing forward to accomplish worthy goals can soon put despondency under his feet, and once a goal is accomplished, others can be set up. Some will be continuing goals. Each week when we partake of the sacrament we commit ourselves to the goals of taking upon ourselves the name of Christ, of always remembering him and keeping his commandments. Of Jesus’ preparations for his mission, the scripture states that he “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” (Luke 2:52.) This encompasses four main areas for goals: spiritual, mental, physical, and social. “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be?” asked the Master, and he answered, “Verily I say unto you, even as I am.” (3 Ne. 27:27.) Now, there is a lifetime goal—to walk in his steps, to perfect ourselves in every virtue as he has done, to seek his face, and to work to make our calling and election sure.

“Brethren,” said Paul, “but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philip. 3:13–14.)

Let your minds be filled with the goal of being like the Lord, and you will crowd out depressing thoughts as you anxiously seek to know him and do his will. “Let this mind be in you,” said Paul. (Philip. 2:5.) “Look unto me in every thought,” said Jesus. (D&C 6:36.) And what will follow if we do? “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.” (Isa. 26:3.

“Salvation,” said the Prophet Joseph Smith, “is nothing more nor less than to triumph over all our enemies and put them under our feet.” (Teachings, p. 297.) We can rise above the enemies of despair, depression, discouragement, and despondency by remembering that God provides righteous alternatives, some of which I have mentioned. As it states in the Bible, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor. 10:13.)

Yes, life is a test; it is a probation; and perhaps being away from our heavenly home we feel sometimes, as holy men in the past have felt, that we are “strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (See D&C 45:13.)Some of you will recall in that great book Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan that the main character known as Christian was trying to press forward to gain entrance to the celestial city. He made it to his goal, but in order to do so, he had to overcome many obstacles, one of which was to escape from the Giant Despair. To lift our spirits and send us on our way rejoicing, the devil’s designs of despair, discouragement, depression, and despondency can be defeated in a dozen ways, namely: repentance, prayer, service, work, health, reading, blessings, fasting, friends, music, endurance, and goals. May we use them all in the difficult days ahead so that we Christian pilgrims will have greater happiness here and go on to a fulness of joy in the highest realms of the celestial kingdom."

END

For further information that ties in with steps 8 and 11, read a post on casting out darkness as spoken of in D&C 50 and dozens of scriptures.  Click HERE.

Becky Rocque's Class on Generational Clearing

Becky Rocque shared a story of looking in the medical field for a cause to an illness. She said, sometimes the cause will NOT be found by traditional medicine, because it is a generational issue (passed down energetically.) As we have personal experiences everything gets programmed into the body. This is evident because a reflexologist or a practitioner of foot zoning can find where your body is out of balance by examining your feet, an iridologist can see the same thing by looking in your eyes, and there are those who can “read” your condition from other parts of your body. In the medical field this is true with hair. You can have a few strands examined and those strands alone will tell you what’s going on in your body, what you’ve ingested in the past.... Becky Rocquue also taught how to do a Generational Release through prayer.
(Class taught by Becky Rocque, Alpine, UT, April 2009)

Becky's website is http://www.healingheartsandhomes.com/
Her e-mail is rebecca_rocque@byu.edu

Tamara’s Notes from an Introductory Class taught by Rebecca Rocque in Layton,UT May 2007:
Issues come from 4 areas (although most every problem we have is a combination of them): Generational, Personal, Environmental, Spiritual.Generational issues means we inherit emotional characteristics and mental characteristics in addition to the physical characteristics we inherit from our parents and ancestors. It is like having a microchip from mother and father automatically’ running you.’ You have that program inside you. It has been renovated and upgraded by those before you. It contains both strengths and weaknesses.
People say "but it’s not fair that a little baby inherited Grandpa’s temper... " This is in the scriptures somewhere that if the children repent for their ancestors it does clear for them. ( I commented to check D&C 98:46-48.)
Becky also said that generational clearing actually clears from the DNA in the cells of your body for those who came before you as well as those after you. So when you do generational clearing you are clearing for your ancestors as well as your children, grandchildren and posterity. (This makes me wonder about D&C 110:12 "After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and in our seed all generations after us should be blessed." and D&C 88:74-75 " And I give unto you, who are the first laborers in this last kingdom, a commandment that you assemble yourselves together, and organize yourselves and prepare yourselves, and sanctify yourselves; yea purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean; That I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God, that you are clean from the blood of this wicked generation; that I may fulfil this promise, this great and last promise, which I have made unto you, when I will. ")
Becky said by clearing for ancestors with generational clearing it does not take away their moral agency. It is just like opening a door for them. They can’t continue their repentance process of restitution or making it right. Whatever tendencies... they created in the flesh is still affecting their posterity. They can begin repenting and feel better, but they cannot make it right unless someBODY does. Bonni Burrows writes the clearest near death experience relating to this. In the 70's she wrote of seeing ancestors teaching children what issues they would have to be dealing with in their life on earth. Journey to Life is the name of her book. Bonni also has a small $3.95 pamphlet that she sells and Bonni lectures also.


Becky took a class from a man who taught her how to do a fear release on someone. It was a short script you had to work through. (Karin Cummins and I assume this was Kent Scott’s class from Orem.) She said it was good, but that she felt it could be done in a simpler, quicker way. She took another class and the teacher said you had to face East and every hour on the hour say certain things. She shook her head and said, I think we make this too complicated. It can be done easily. The simpler, the better. So when I’m home and it’s quiet and I have time, I go in the bathroom and walk the floor doing a simple little clearing routine. I pray and ask for this to be cleared and that to be cleared. And sometimes I wondered if it was really doing anything. Then this happened.
She told a story of her sister coming to her and asking, "Becky, what are you doing?" Becky told her about school... "No, what are you doing?" Becky told her about home activities. "No, what are you up to??" What do you mean? Her half sister answered, "Every night for the last 5 nights Grandma Homadoo has been coming to me saying "Becky’s family is being cleared and moving forward. Will you please find out what she is doing? I can’t move forward until you do. She’s not in my blood line, so I can’t move forward."
Generational Clearing for your Children. Becky’s son was in a band. He dyed his hair black and was told by someone at church that he could not bless the sacrament with dyed hair. He was wounded by this treatment and said fine, I’ll never go back to church then. Becky began doing generational energy clearings for him over being offended, not being true to what he knows is true, having his feelings hurt... every emotion she thought he was having trouble with. Her son had moved out of the home and toured all over with his band. About the time she started doing clearings, he surprised her and moved back home. One day she noticed an open copy of The Book of Mormon on his bed. She commented to him about it and he said, "I’ve decided it is time to turn my life around." !! Doing clearings does NOT absolve them of responsibility. But isn’t it easier to clean your house if someone else has cleaned it for you first? I did the Spring cleaning and he stepped into it. (Comments from the audience were given that this gives hope to grandparents or parents who have rebellious children or grandchildren and really don’t know what they can do to help the situation.)
Okay, so if you don’t want all the stuff that is in your "programming" handed down from your ancestors( patterns of negativity, patterns of ....) you can CLEAR it with your words. The book Feelings Buried Alive Never Die has a few paragraphs long script you can use, for instance. However, I think it can be done even simpler. Sometimes you’ll have to say it more than once, however, if it is more entrained or later more ancestors show up wanting to clear that same thing. During the day I carry post it notes or you could use index cards. I write down any negative feelings that I come across. I keep track of this list until I have time to do a clearing. Then you can clear them all at once.
For example, I went to a family reunion. First everyone was very nice, how are you and all that. Later, the pettiness came out and people were talking about others and complaining. I got out my list. I thought this is much better than sitting around judging these people for how they are acting. Instead of that, I will focus on helping them. Instead of judging and criticizing them myself, I will offer help to the situation.
STEPS
Before a clearing I always pray and ask for the spirit of discernment so I can know what words to use. Begin your clearing like prayer, whatever fits your belief system. Ask that any ancestors who have those issues be allowed to be present or that the information be given to them. Say whatever comes to your mind. Words will come to you.
For instance, I had already cleared a lot of self esteem issues for my family. But one day the phrase "I’m a little petunia in an onion patch." popped into my head. I hadn’t heard that phrase for decades. My great aunt? used to sing that all the time. I had forgotten all about that, but it came to mind. So I did a clearing using that exact phrase. (This is true because different words have different frequencies.) This process can be done out loud or quietly. Say, "I clear the generational patterns and traditions of _______.(Read your post it note or say "all things on the note" or all the things you can think of whether physical, spiritual, emotional or environmental. For example: I clear blockages to the kidney, kidney failure for 16 year old niece...) And I give it to Jesus Christ (or if they are not Christian they can say" I cast it to the Sun.") to be repolarized into positive energy."
What is repolarized? Assume everything physical is a generational issue. Think about it. What if your kids are stubborn? When you pick up a stick, can you pick up only one end of that stick? No, you pick up both ends when you pick up one. You get both sides. If someone is willing to take a stand on something, we say they are committed, immoveable... Therefore, you are asking the Savior to turn weaknesses into strengths.
Finish the script with "And I ask that it be replaced with __________." You fill in the blank. When Becky first did this, she filled in with the opposite every time. Now she listens to the spirit. Or you can just ask that it be" replaced with light, love and truth" or "whatever I need at this time in my life. End in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. (Karin Cummins commented that it helps to also say I clear ...with grace and ease having that intention also, because intention is everything. Becky agreed.)
Sometimes she specifically says "I clear the generations and especially for my son Bryce." We are all related way back. You can clear for others not in your bloodline, but it isn’t as strong. You can clear for adopted children, just know that the words will come to you, even if you don’t know their birth parent’s history at all.
When enough people are doing generational clearing that will raise the vibration of the planet. For 85 years scientists have been tracking the ripples in ponds. They have found that it never ends. It goes out to the edge and then bounces back in and out and in and out and in again. You can clear a space for the person to step into. But it doesn’t change their responsibility or agency.
For Indigos, most of their issues are generational! At least 75% of their issues are. Most Indigo’s issues are more in the 90 percentiles for being generational. Kids with allergies just need to test how much of their allergies are generational? If 100%, then they don’t need drugs- they need generational clearing!
She shared an experience of her son running into the house and banging the door. She wondered what was up so went to find him. He said, "Mom, can I have a pet snake?" She said, well... you can either have a Mother or a pet snake. Which one do you want?" He ran out. She was prompted to look in his bedroom. There was a 5 gallon bucket in his room with a dinner plate on top of it. She was terrified of snakes. Opening it a crack she found it almost clear full of 50 or 75 water snakes! She said just know that with clearings, it can get worse at first before it gets better. To heal, keep going through the process. All the other stuff won’t come up once you’re through. KNOW that when you’re finished that it IS DONE. Trust. Know it has worked. Avoid doubt because if you go into that you will have to clear "doubt."
All of a sudden grandparents and parents have a way to help their family. Know that all of a sudden a teen will come and ask you about the issue that concerned you! It will be out of the blue. I have seen this happen so many hundreds of times that I know it works. And another warning: don’t get scared if ancestors start showing up to you, especially if you are the first in your family to do this kind of work.
(A man- one of 3 in the entire room of at least 30 people asked something like "So, contemporary LDS sister, are you inferring that we have the responsibility to save every one?" Becky said no, It is not your responsibility, it is a choice you have to offer this gift to someone else. It is an option that is available. You decide if you will offer it.)
She said you can do this work for other things. She had a student who always sat in the corner of her classroom, and although every step was outlined in the computer tutorial she constantly had her arm in the air asking questions. It was totally annoying Becky. So she finally decided to clear "annoying." right there at school walking between the desks. After that day the girl never again raised her hand.
( personal notes,Rebecca Rocque, Introductory Class, Layton, UT, May 19, 2007)

The Secret and The Law of Attraction

Some people were introduced to the law of attraction on the docudrama "The Secret" which gained widespread attention on Oprah. It is also the title of a book. The founder of Rapid Eye Technology has been teaching Rapid Eye Techs about the law of attraction, what she calls "cause and effect" for nearly two decades. I believe in the law of attraction because it is found in the scriptures as the law of the harvest, among other things. The concerns I have with the law of attraction focus on how it is applied by some people.

Many people have felt there was something not quite right with the law of attraction as put forth on "The Secret." The movie never openly admitted that God is in control, yet I know He is, so I didn't let that element bother me. In my mind, the law of attraction has always been about God. Hearing that the law of attraction existed felt right to me because I approached it in the context of faith. I understand that faith requires believing things are possible before we see results or things manifesting in our lives. We put faith into practice by visualizing our goal's reality before it manifest in our physical world.

God tells us that He works this way. The Pearl of Great Price says, "For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth." (Moses 3:5) The Book of Mormon teaches us, "And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad." (Ether 12:19)

We see things with our 'eye of faith' so that they can come true. I really enjoy Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley's comments on a quote that expresses this principle. He wrote, "I am impressed with Commander William Robert Anderson, the man who took the submarine Nautilus under the North Pole from the waters of the Pacific to the waters of the Atlantic. In his wallet he carried a tattered card with these words: 'I believe I am always divinely guided. I believe I will always take the right road. I believe that God will always make a way, even when there appears to be no way.' I share his convictions, for I too, believe that God will always make a way; even when there appears to be no way." (Gordon B. Hinckley,Standing for Something, NY: Times Books, 2000, 111). Joseph Smith taught in the Lectures on Faith that faith is a principle of power and that faith works by words. "The Secret" alluded to all of that.

Besides viewing "The Secret" from a perspective of faith, there were other reasons its message appealled to me. It reminded me of the law of the harvest in the Bible. My friend Michael Fitzgerald has written a wonderful book, The Law of Attraction and the Bible, which reads like a comfortable visit with him while seated on a sofa. I was privileged to get a sneak preview of his book. This is the review I wrote back to him:

"When I first read about the Law of Attraction, I was angry. I felt there was no way I had anything to do with attracting the trials I was dealing with in my life. However, as I read more about what I called the 'supposed' law, my entire perception changed. I was no longer a victim of circumstances! I started to believe I really had power to change my thoughts and my situation.

"I discovered that even just reading about the Law of Attraction gave me hope and lifted the depression I experienced. That was years ago. When I saw "The Secret" I was already convinced it had true principles because they had worked in my own life. For me, the Law of Attraction is all about faith in God."

"Michael Fitzgerald's book uncovers a bigger secret. He reveals aspects of the Law of Attraction in Jesus' own words over and over again. You'll be amazed at his insight! The Law of Attraction and the Bible is a must read for skeptics and believers alike. I read this book so fast that I can hardly wait to go back and reread a hard copy. I will underline passages, write in the margins, and dog ear the pages, like I do all the good books I read! This one is terrific!"

Michael, who happens to be a bishop, will surprise you at how many times he found this law evident in the Bible. Being a visual learner, I liked how he was illustrating his thoughts with arrows, picturing for the reader what hewas talking about. I think of his mirror image arrows pushing toward each other everytime I find an additional verse elsewhere that holds yet another example of the law of attraction. Michael Fitzgerald's book is available at http://bible-law-of-attraction.blogspot.com/ He has since come out with a second book for members of the church titled The Law of Attraction and the Scriptures.

There was something else in the movie "The Secret" that seemed familiar. I realized it was a verse in the Doctrine and Covenants, D&C 88:40, which says, "For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own..." Isn't that verse saying that what we 'put out there' will come back to us?

Brigham Young shared an example that ties in here. "I have proven this many a time . . . I have plenty on hand, and shall have plenty, if I keep giving it away. More than two hundred persons eat from my provisions every day, besides my family and those who work for me. I intend to keep doing so, that my bread may hold out, for if I do not I shall come short. Do you believe that principle? I know it is true, because I have proven it so many times." (Journal of Discourses, Vol 3, 332-333.)

Attaining dreams requires more than just thoughts, it requires action. It seems "The Secret" focused more on the thoughts end of the process. I accept what is truth from the movie and enjoy that portion. I loved the movie's section on health, but not the focus on acquiring worldly goods.

I'll admit to a few concerns about how people will apply this movie's teachings. In my opinion, consciously applying the Law of Attraction is a wise thing, provided we are founded on the rock of Christ and his gospel. Like almost anything, The Secret 's teachings can be harmful or beneficial, depending on how they are used. There is the possibility of going overboard in our zeal for the movie and forgetting Who is really in charge of this world . God is in charge! Of concern are those who may attempt to' attract' a carefree life without pain or growing experiences and then send their backlash against God when things don't go as they had planned.

Having everything in life turn out as we wish is NOT what we came to experience earth life for! Many of us find that the low points of our lives are where we grow the most spiritually. Carol Tuttle teaches that the law of attraction doesnt' guarantee life without soul stretching experiences, but that those types of experiences will no longer undo us as they may have done in the past. I have experienced that those words are true.

Richard Eyre brings up some other valid concerns about the movie. He wrote several columns on Meridian Magazine’s online site which he says expose "The Dangerous Secret" for the deception in it. He sure ruffled some feather's when he first called The Secret "dangerous." Hear him out and you may learn from his perception, as I did. Here is a "Reader's Digest" version of the main points in his articles. We are deceived if our goals are any of the "Three Deceivers": control over others, more and more ownership of worldly goods, and independence from God. The pursuit of these three draw us away from God and His ways. Instead, we should choose to be: grateful for the things God owns and allows us to use, grateful for what God controls and grateful for our dependence on Him. Richard Eyre said the Three Deceivers were good economic and political goals, but bad spiritual goals. I appreciated his honesty in finally saying at the end of his series of articles that it was the implied goals portrayed on "The Secret" that troubled him, not the plans for how to get them.

Gratitude, like Eyre says, is hugely important. I have learned to seek to develop gratitude even for the trying times I go through. Doug Mendenhall's books are great at teaching to have gratitude in ALL things. Doug writes that when you begin expressing gratitude out loud for the hardest trials you've ever had to face, it may feel akin to chewing on concrete. I am so glad I pushed through that miserable-in-the-mouth feeling and kept at it anyhow. What a difference this has made in my life!

The intent of people's hearts on the movie "The Secret" differentiated them for me. Those who seemed only intent on using the law of attraction for monetary gain or prideful pursuits left a sour taste in my mouth. While those whose hearts were in the right place and applied the law of attraction to bless others as well as themselves had admirable motives. They didn't seem based on selfish intent. It was quite the opposite, and they inspired me.

Lastly, the reader may enjoy what I found written by scholars. It is an LDS perspective on the law of attraction, otherwise known as karma or the law of the harvest. The scholars quotes were found in Religions of the World- A Latter-day Saint View (by Palmer, Choi, Keller and Toronto, pp 21, 27-28. ) This is an institute manual I picked up at the Distribution Center. It perfectly describes the issues I had with how people interpret the law of attraction. I took the liberty of adding emphasis to my favorite parts. I hope you enjoy it at least half as much as I did. The quotes follow:

Hinduism

"The law of karma is a system of cause and effect whereby people's actions determine the circumstances of their lives. . . . Social and economic status, according to this view, are not matters of random fortune, or the whim of the gods, but consequences of personal actions. It is the Christian "law of the harvest" vigorously applied. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Gal. 6:7) The effects of karma are inescapable...."

Latter-day Saint Reflections:

"Latter-day Saints recognize both the law of the harvest and the intercessory power of a merciful God. " [Latter-day Saints] stand in between the Oriental faiths and much of the Christian world. . . . For us, the immutable law of infinite consequences sustains nature and critically influences [humanity]. . . . [We] believe in a cosmic law of justice, that cause and effect are intrinsic to the human condition- that [people] are blessed or disadvantaged according to their willingness to comply with divine law." (Spencer Palmer, BYU Devotional, July 25, 1978)

"The salience of law in the eternal progression of mankind is clearly pointed out in the Doctrine and Covenants: "There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundation s of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated." (D&C 130:20-21)

"It appears from this and other revelations that the Latter-day Saint "law of the harvest is more specific and personal it its cause- and-effect relationships than the karma of Eastern philosophy. The violation of specific commandments brings specific punishments just as obedience to a law entitles an individual to a personal blessing. Hindu karma, on the other hand, tends to respond to evil deeds indirectly. . . . Christian scriptures teach that the "law of the harvest" is not the sole cause of earthly misfortune. Besides the classic tale of Job, there is this account from the book of John:

"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. "(John 9:1-3)

"Hence, Christian theology provides for the possibility that God may afflict people ( or allow them to be afflicted) with poverty, sickness and sorrow in this world for reasons other than their own unrighteousness. Moroni writes that the Lord "gives unto men weakness that they may be humble" (Ether 12:27), not necessarily as a punishment for sin. Christ told his followers that, as a result of their faith and righteousness, "[in] the world ye shall have tribulation" (John 16:33). A corollary idea is that sinners sometimes find themselves among favorable worldly circumstances. Job, a 'perfect and upright' man (Job1:1) in the midst of terrible afflictions given him as a test, lamented to his friends,

"Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. . . . Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways." (Job 21:7-9, 14)

"The Eastern doctrine of karma does not recognize this phenomenon of deferred justice. The typical Hindu insights would reject the unfairness of forcing a person who led a righteous premortal existence, as Job undoubtedly did, to suffer undeserved torments in mortality. In the Eastern view, a person's karma- no the intervention of deity- is the principal factor in determining his happiness in life.

"The flexibility of the Latter-day Saint "law of the harvest" stems from its subjection to the will of God. It is not the law that deals with mankind in Latter-day Saint theology, but the Lawgiver acting in accordance with the law. The Lord metes out the blessings and the afflictions, and he may choose to withhold either as a test of faith. The Eastern law of karma can operate independent of deity. A person gets in life what he is fated to get. Not even a god can make it otherwise."

(End of quotes)

We are blessed a multitude of times over to have the gospel- a standard to judge truth and error against! Sincerely, Tamara

Rapid Eye Technology (RET) explained by the founder

Rapid Eye Technology by Ranae Johnson:

Let’s assume that your family of origin had some unresolved issues (don’t they all?). Within that family dynamic, you may have gotten the message "you’re not good enough" or "you have to take care of me." So you go through life feeling that, indeed, you really aren’t good enough, or that, in order to be loved, you have to take care of everyone else’s needs. Once you’ve taken on this huge burden, it can lead to your own addictive process, co-dependency, or just plain burnout. Such dynamics are generally accepted as part of the human condition. We may even recognize how our own life is compromised by such dynamics, yet find it difficult to break the patterns.

My own experience has taught me that to live our lives and make our decisions free from such negative conditioning requires education and new skills. I have dedicated my personal and professional life to this process. Rapid Eye Technology was developed over a period of 30 years and is a combination of inspired information and deep study. I began using parts of this method with my autistic son and with other individuals who were not being adequately served by the established medical community. I had some stunning results. For instance, my son is now an adult living in his own apartment. He holds down a job and is living a fairly normal life. This is quite amazing when you consider the usual alternative for an autistic person.

Rapid Eye Technology releases emotional stress and provides education and skills for increasing quality of life. RET is a process that uses eye movement. The rapid eye process simulates rapid eye movement with an eye-directing device moving in a neural-linguistic pattern in front of the person’s eyes. This stimulates various sensory data. (For instance, when we look up, we’re accessing memory; when we look down, we’re accessing feelings.) We go into these various places with this pattern to find the source of the stress. As the person blinks, information stored in the body is accessed and released. The eye-directing device helps to access different parts of the mind, such as auditory, emotional, and visual memories. It also helps the right and left hemispheres of the brain work together to process the problem and to release the stress and trapped trauma.

 Rapid Eye Technology is used for all types of stress-related conditions. The wonderful thing about RET is that it’s a short term therapy program, and it’s safe. Many people ask, is there a danger of releasing too rapidly? In my experience, the answer is no. We all have excellent survival systems. We developed these systems in order to protect ourselves, and our psyche will only allow us to release old trapped trauma as fast as we are able to assimilate the changes. Most people release trauma in layers.

Rapid Eye is a holistic model. First, we do a quick review of the person’s medical, psychological, and family history. Then we introduce a neurological integration exercise that begins brain access to stored preverbal memory. This integration allows the client to process, more naturally, all emotions–past, present and future. From there, we facilitate the process of exploring/releasing negative core beliefs through the use of various aids. In all of this, we create a very nurturing and safe place for processing. The miracle of Rapid Eye Technology is that a person does not have to relive every traumatic event in order to release the attendant stress. Clients are conscious and always have control in their sessions. Technicians are well-trained and are there not to control but to facilitate. We do not diagnose, prescribe, or advise.

We begin by seeing the client whole and healed (the master plan). We hold them in that space during their session. The body (through RET and Life Skills) soon catches up to that place of being whole and healed. We always end each session with positive reframes. Whatever is released is replaced with positive information. Other techniques are used during personalized sessions to address the issue of falling back into old patterns.

We also offer free classes on Life Skills, which is the cognitive portion of Rapid Eye Technology. These classes help the client practice and anchor new techniques rather than reverting to the "same old stuff." With Rapid Eye, the individual is able to make his or her own connections between the trauma and the subsequent events in life. For example, we have worked with people who reported they were rape or incest victims. We have seen them move from self-hatred and self-degradation to loving themselves and making positive choices. We have also worked with individuals who felt trapped in their lives in other ways. After one or two sessions they have been able to create dramatically positive situations for themselves. Others who were severely ill have become healthy and functional after releasing their emotional stress. Still other individuals have reported cessation of panic attacks, combativeness and the whole realm of self-defeating behaviors to which we are prone.

 I know there’s a lot of people who say, "Well, I don’t really believe in these ‘miraculous’ quick healing things." In many cases, I agree. The journey for some people is longer than for others. But seeing what Rapid Eye Technology has done for people over the last 15 years is phenomenal. Bottom line, it is working to change. For me, the biggest "miracle" happens when a client goes home, able to move through life with grace and joy. They see the connection between their actions and what happens. Just getting through the day loving yourself and loving the world is the miracle many would choose for their lives if they could. RET can help that to happen.

Ranae Johnson, Ph.D., is the founder of this model of Rapid Eye. Rapid Eye Technology, Inc. is an educational, scientific organization dedicated to the enhancement of the worth, dignity, potential and uniqueness of each individual and, thus, to the service of all. It embodies unconditional love through awakening, creating gratitude, honor and universal community. Questions are welcome: 503-399-1181; or toll free 1-888-399-1181.

Our bodies know how to heal

Our bodies are intelligent and know how to heal. Spencer W. Kimball said:

"Our ills are usually of our own begetting. They must be corrected by ourselves. Man is the master of his destiny, be it good or bad. Man has the inherent capacity to heal himself physically. A doctor may cleanse a wound, sew it up, bandage it well, but the natural power of the body must do the healing. Likewise, a healing process in the spirit and mind must come from within the self will. Others may help to cauterize the wound, suture it, and provide a clean proper environment for the healing, but the body, with the aid of the Spirit, must heal itself."

I know our body’s natural intelligence is designed to heal. When we clear our Energy we support this happening. Candace Pert wrote, "Now that I know my body has wisdom, this calls for a new kind of responsibility on my part. I can no longer act like a dumb machine and wait to be fixed by the mechanic- otherwise known as the doctor. Now I have the potential to consciously intervene in the system myself, to take an active role in my own healing. I’m both more powerful and more responsible in creating the health I experience than the dumb machine I used to think I was." (Molecules of Emotion p 18-20)

Alma 46:40 teaches another important truth about disease: "And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land- but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases to which men were subject by the nature of the climate" Please notice that it said God had prepared the plants and roots to remove the CAUSE of diseases. That is far and above just removing symptoms.

Besides the obvious reference to vegetables and herbs, could that include today's pure herbal supplements? Beyond that, it occurred to me that Essential Oils come from both the verse's mentioned "plants and roots." Pure Essential oils can really make a difference! Healing Oils of the Bible by David Stewart, Ph.D. explains that monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in essential oils bypass the blood brain barrier and deprogram information from cellular memory to help achieve healing. Pure Essential Oils, Flower Essences and homeopathics are all under the umbrella of Energy medicine. God’s creations do share their intelligent design! (See Vibrational Medicine by Dr.Richard Gerber.)

Unresolved emotions can lead to disease

When we store unresolved negative emotions in our body, it doesn’t just disappear, it leads to disease. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." ( Prov 17:22) "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick." (Prov13:12) A plethora of authors, including medical doctors, teach that we store unresolved negative emotions in our body which over time can lead to disease

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Grudges, if left to fester, can become serious maladies. Like a painful ailment they can absorb all of our time and attention." (Nov. 2007 Ensign) Candace Pert wrote, "I’ve come to believe that virtually all illness, if not psychosomatic in foundation, has a definite psychosomatic component."( Molecules of Emotion, p 141) A wise Stake President wrote I Make Me Sick- a Latter Day Saint Perspective on Managing Stress ( manuscript available from Dr.Bradley Wilde’s office 100 TaBi Drive, Worland, WY 82401 307-347-4224.) Releasing unresolved emotions gives relief to one’s mind as well as one’s physical body! Do you want to feel better? Rid yourself of every bad feeling toward yourself and others.

Are examples of this found in scripture? Certainly. Alma15:3 says "And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on account of his wickedness, for he had supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat." Zeezrom was sick and it was caused by tribulation in his mind- a classic case of unresolved thoughts and emotions. Lehi and Sariah "having suffered much grief because of their children... were brought down, yea, even upon their sick beds. Because of their grief and much sorrow, and the iniquity of my brethren, they were brought near even to be carried out of this time to meet their God." (1 Nephi 18:17-18) Numbers chapter 5 tells of a trial women believed to be immoral were put through in O.T. times. Those who were guilty developed the physical reaction of a swollen belly and rotting thigh. No wonder it is called Mind/Body Medicine!

What did God say to a depressed Enoch when he saw in vision the world’s population dying in the flood and "refused to be comforted"? God said "lift up your heart and be glad." That’s God’s advice to us, also. Lift up your heart and be glad. Something good can come of what feels like a "flood" in your life. Carry on! Have faith! Your thoughts WILL affect your life and health! Choose to let them be positive! If you keep thinking the way you’ve always thought, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got. Sometimes my daughter said she either needed to see her Rapid Eye Technician who was trained in several modalities or to go straight to the hospital emergency room. My daughter’s quick turn around after sessions with that RET tech were astonishing to her NAMI support group.

Another personal example is my husband who lost his hearing overnight in one ear over a decade ago. He spent a whole week in the hospital where doctors could not find any physical reason for his hearing loss. They were barking up the wrong tree! Human beings are clearly not only bodies. I praise God that there are health practitioners who practice from the viewpoint of "Person = Body + Mind + Spirit" instead of the absurdly reductionist "Person = Body." After my husband visited just a few minutes with a gifted Cranio-Sacral therapist, she sensed an energy block on his ear. She found there were layers of emotional issues blocking his hearing. She helped him clear them and during his 1 hour session he began to be able to hear again in that ear! What a great blessing! It is another example of Candace Pert’s findings that strong emotions not processed thoroughly are stored at the cellular level (Molecules of Emotion pg 290)

Similar findings are reported by hundreds who say strong emotions affect our bodies creating energy imbalances that can lead to illness if unaddressed. I continue to hear of miracles that occur in these therapists’ offices involving a whole array of illnesses. Many times they are able to help patients that the medical community have no answers for.

Emotions Affect Our Health

We store emotions in our physical body. Emotion is an invisible form of energy! Sometimes we say the tension in a room is so strong we could cut it with a knife. That is because emotions have frequencies. These frequencies affect the cells of the body. Bruce R. McConkie’s entry for the "Book of Life" in Mormon Doctrine (p 97) validates the belief in storing emotion. "

In a real though figurative sense, the book of life is the record of the acts of men as such record is written in their own bodies. It is the record engraven on the very bones, sinews, and flesh of the mortal body. That is, every thought, word, and deed has an affect on the human body; all these leave their marks, marks which can be read by Him who is Eternal as easily as the words in a book can be read....The Great Judge will then read the record of the book of their lives; the account of their obedience or disobedience will be written in their bodies."

I believe that Jesus mentions storing emotion in the body when he says things like my bowels are filled with compassion and mercy, or let thy bowels be full of charity (See also 1 Colossians 3:12) Eccles 7:9 says, "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools." Disease has an emotional root because we store emotion in the soft tissues, especially the major organs. Certain frequencies are attracted to certain parts in our body.

It is interesting that in studies of heart transplant recipients, significant numbers experience new personality characteristics which correspond to the heart donor’s likes, habits, & tendencies. Other thought -provoking instances are those labeled with multiple personality disorder who only exhibit a certain medical condition when they are a specific personality. The minute they switch to another personality, the physical condition is immediately resolved! As an example, one case involved blood test levels of diabetes disappearing instantly only to re-emerge later when that personality reappeared. An internationally known neuroscientist says, " The body is the unconscious mind! Repressed traumas caused by overwhelming emotion can be stored in a body part, thereafter affecting our ability to feel that part or even move it." (Candace Pert, Molecules of Emotion, p 141)

The mind-body connection and emotions

Thoughts and emotions greatly affect your health. The Bible says “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...” (Prov 23:7); Job said, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” (Job 3:25). Behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts. (Jer 6:19) President Kimball taught: "Every thought that one permits through his mind leaves its trace. Thoughts are things. Our lives are governed a great deal by our thoughts." (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball p 154) Evidently, thoughts becoming things was taught by prophets long before the people quoted on the popular movie "The Secret." The book of Moses teaches us this creation principle, that things are created first spiritually, then temporally. Lectures on Faith 7:3 teaches, “When a man works by faith he works by mental exertion instead of physical force.”
Brent & Wendy C. Top pose a very interesting thought, “Perhaps in discovering the electromagnetic field scientists have merely found a way to detect and measure the real energy of the spirit body and the intelligence or Light of Christ which comprises it.” ( Glimpses Beyond Death’s Door, p254) I believe their supposition has merit since D&C 84:45 teaches “...whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
It seems to me that science and religion might be talking about the same things, just using different language. Quantum physicists say everything is composed of vibrations that emit frequencies into the universe. Dr. Sari Suttka wrote, “Energy is in-FORM-ation which creates a vibration that manifests into a pattern which emits a signal that can be found somewhere along an electromagnetic spectrum.”
Religious leaders use different words to teach the same principle. David O. McKay taught that we affect others constantly by “radiation.” He said the effect of our words is being broadcast to the world. “There is one responsibility which no man can evade; that responsibility is his personal influence. Man's unconscious influence is the silent, subtle radiation of personality -- the effect of his words and his actions on others. This radiation is tremendous. Every moment of life man is changing, to a degree, the life of the whole world. Every man has an atmosphere which is affecting every other man. He cannot escape for one moment from this radiation of his character, this constant weakening or strengthening of others. Man cannot evade the responsibility by merely saying that it is an unconscious influence. Man can select the qualities he would permit to be radiated. He can cultivate sweetness, calmness, trust, generosity, truth, justice, loyalty, nobility, and make them vitally active in his character. And by these qualities he will constantly affect the world. This radiation, to which I refer, comes from what a person really is, not from what he pretends to be. Every man by his mere living is radiating either sympathy, sorrow, morbidness, cynicism, or happiness and hope or any one of a hundred other qualities. Life is a state of radiation and absorption. To exist is to radiate; to exist is to be the recipient of radiation.” (David O. McKay, April 1948, emphasis added)
Pres. McKay shared more on how our thoughts vibrate outward and how we are the recipients of other’s vibrational frequencies toward us. “Every man and every person who lives in this world wields an influence whether for good or for evil. It is not what he says alone; it is not alone what he does. It is what he is. Every man, every person radiates what he or she really is. Every person is a recipient of radiation. The Savior was conscious of that. Whenever He came into the presence of an individual, He sensed that radiation -- whether it was the woman of Samaria with her past life; whether it was the woman who was to be stoned, or the men who were to stone her; whether it was the statesman, Nicodemus, or one of the lepers. He was conscious of the radiation from the individual. And to a degree so are you, and so am I. It is what we are and what we radiate that affects the people around us. As individuals, we must think nobler thoughts. We must not encourage vile thoughts or low aspirations. We shall radiate them if we do. If we think noble thoughts; if we encourage and cherish noble aspirations, there will be that radiation when we meet people, especially when we associate with them. (David O. McKay, 1964, emphasis added)
“Thought is electrical energy or vibration that quickly enters your brain-servant, and stimulates the creation of matching molecules of emotion- (endorphins or depressants, etc.) The information and emotion molecules relay the positive or negative chemicals along with their connecting thought vibrations, down the nervous system, and direct the nerves and muscles in this intelligent human body. You can feel the vibrations as tingling sensations. This is an amazing discovery in each of us. What you think about becomes the directives for this two-part system to follow! Say what you desire for you to become.” (Carolyn Ringger, anangelstouchstor.com) Elder Packer said, “Remember, Nephi told his rebellious brothers, who had rejected a message from an angel, “Ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words. (see1 Nephi 17:45, Ensign, Apr 2005, 8 ) A related principle is taught by Nephi who said his spoken words were even mightier than his written ones. (2 Nephi 33:1 See also Ether 12:23)
The words we use affect our health. The Old Testament teaches: “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” (Prov 16:24). I believe Jesus taught the principle of the power of our words when he said: “Not that which goeth into a mouth defileth a man, but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” (Matt. 15:11) No wonder we are taught “If ye do not watch yourelves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds... ye must perish.” (Mosiah 4:30) LDS author, Garth Allred wrote a fabulous book which emphasizes the effect of thoughts on health. Traditional medicine has mostly ignored the mind/body connection, but fields such as psychoneuroimmunology are changing that.