Get out those Thank You cards!

By Lisa Hymas

We often like to recite the old adage, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!" In reality though, Elder Holland reminds us of, "a line from the Apocrypha . . . 'The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones," Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Tongue of Angels," Ensign, May 2007, 16–18).

The point? Our words can be powerful! One of the most powerful ways to use our vocabulary is by praising and complementing.

When there is a company I admire or a product I love, I want to let them know. Saying thank you is a great and simple way to accomplish the task.

I have written to Chick-fil-A thanking them for not opening their stores on Sunday - Go here to thank them yourself!

I have written to the Quaker Oats Company thanking them for their Simple Harvest granola bars and the healthy ingredients they contain. A few weeks later I even received a thank you box in the mail from Quaker! It contained a few boxes of granola bars, oatmeal, and ten dollars in coupons! Want to send them a note?

In response to a question about television viewing from a 1981 Ensign, Bruce L. Christensen states:

"Once we begin to exercise disciplined viewing, we are ready for the next step: expressing to the programmers our preferences. When you see a program that you especially enjoy or feel to be a worthwhile broadcast, write to the station, network, and sponsor and let them know. Do the same for objectionable programs."

"It has been my experience that people take time to write only when they are angry. Few people inform programmers the kinds of programs they want to watch or specify what they would like to see. Although you might feel a stronger motivation to write letters about undesirable programs, positive letters that thank sponsors, networks, and stations for quality programs may ultimately have more influence."

Have you seen a wholesome, uplifting movie or television show recently? Send the producers a letter of appreciation. Did you catch what products were advertised during the time slot? Send a letter to the advertisers telling you how you enjoyed seeing their commercial during such a good and family friendly program. Not only does it let people know the kind of person we are taking the time to say thank you, but it will help us to see more good around us.

Need some ideas for good movies, try this website: CAMIE Awards (Character and Morality in Entertainment)

Who else can you thank?

Literacy in Action

By Lisa Hymas

Literacy encompasses not only the ability to read, but also to write. By being literate we can educate ourselves on various subjects and acquire greater knowledge of those topics. To be informed is important, but perhaps to inform others is more valuable and far-reaching than we can know. We can use our literary skills to help keep ourselves and others informed.

You don't have to be city mayor, CEO of a company, or even a Hollywood celebrity to speak up and be heard. We all have opinions and ideas about the things we like or do not, what we agree with, or what catches our passion. What are we doing with those ideas? They may not always impact society, but then again what if no one spoke up about Prop 8 in California, decided to question women’s suffrage, or rebel against England’s Stamp Act (leading to the Revolutionary war)? Giving our input makes a difference! Our impact does not always need to be on a large national scale to make a difference - there are many important ways to be heard.

To be discussed:

Saying Thank You

Filings complaints

Supporting a proposed law/amendment

Making a local impact

"The time has come when members of the Church need to speak out . . .”

"We need to remember Edmund Burke’s statement: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” We need to raise our voices . . . "

M. Russell Ballard, “Let Our Voices Be Heard,” Ensign, Nov 2003, 16