How Spirituality Keeps You Well

How Spirituality Keeps You Well
~ by Dr. Ranit Mishori

Planning on going to church this holiday season? That should be good for the spirit, of course – and perhaps also for the body. According to a study in Annals of Epidemiology (the branch of medical science dealing with the transmission and control of disease), people who attend religious services tend to be healthier than the rest of us. More specifically, weekly churchgoers have a lower risk of death than those who never set foot inside a place of worship.

The report came out earlier this year, but it’s only the latest in a series of studies exploring the link between health and spirituality. This research has found that prayer and meditation seem to be associated with improved immune systems and fewer episodes of chronic inflammation.

Not surprisingly, the benefits extend to mental health as well. People who identify themselves as more religious reveal lower rates of depression. A study reported in September by the Journal of Affective Disorders showed lower suicide rates among people who regularly attend religious services.

So is church a healing place? While some faithful may believe it is, scientists point out that religious people often take better care of themselves. Studies show that regular churchgoers are also people who don’t smoke, drink rarely, and see their doctors regularly. More important, people who make church a habit – and the same goes for people who worship at mosques and synagogues – are more socially integrated, which means they have more friends and acquaintances and a better support system to help them cope with stressful life events.

Many researchers also believe that at bottom there seems to be a strong connection between the mind, the spirit, and the body. Improve one, and you have an effect on the other. Praying, meditating, or attending religious services may not cure a disease, but those activities may make you feel better and contribute to a more positive outlook on life.

Received permission from my brother Jay Osmond - Thanks Jay!

The Bethlehem Innkeeper - Christmas 2008

Dear Greetings Reader:

The Bethlehem innkeeper never got a second chance to house the holy family but those who seek to follow the babe born in his stable will not only make room for Christ they will emulate his light his love and his care for others.

That is the message I desire to share with you at this time of this year 2008.

The innkeeper missed his greatest opportunity the night Christ was born. "Long years afterward it would not do any good for him to repeat over and over again the words'If only I had known who they wereI would have made room for them.'"

Today many enjoy homes with rooms for eating, sleeping, playing, sewing and TV "but no room for Christ". While many desire to make room in their hearts for the Savior"no matter how successful we have been thus far. . . .I am confident we would all wish to do better." This Christmas season is the time to do so.

Life's busyness requires a "conscious committed effort to bring Christ into our homes and lives." And while opportunities to give of self are limitless"they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved."

Someone told me of visiting a care center to see five elderly women he knew(Ka Noo) and after enjoying their company he noticed one woman looking out the window waiting for her son to come. "I wondered if he would for there had been other Christmas seasons when he had never even called."

Those who take the time to seek out those in need emulate Christ. "As we do serve him we will not forfeit our opportunity as did the innkeeper of old -- to make time for him in our lives and room for him in our hearts." said President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke of Christmas traditions including amateur family pageants that re-create the story of Christ's birth. After a few years they began a pageant with Samuel the Lamanite standing to testify on the American continent of Christ's birth in Bethlehem. (read about Samuel in the Book of Mormon)

Over time they added a "disbelieving crowd armed with foil balls to throw at him as he stood above them." As the members of the angry mob grew stronger and more accurate over the years"we had to remind them forcefully that Samuel could not be hit because he was God's protected servant" he said drawing laughter from thousands in the Conference Center in Salt Lake CityUtah.

He said he wished he'd taken time to explain to those who played lambs in the nativity that the lamb of God would be Christ himself who "volunteered to come down from royal courts on height to be born in a humble stable. By his life and sacrifice he gave us all the gift of resurrection after death the certainty that we would live again."

Those who wish to receive Christ's gift "must try with all our hearts and strength to do what he did. We cannot give the great gift he gave to others" in the atonement for sin"But we can try to do his works and help him serve others as he would serve them."

One bishop in RexburgIdahodid so many years ago as he and his family often fed sheltered and even clothed needy travelers who passed near their home because "they welcomed strangers in need." Family Christmas traditions vary but they will have some things in common" including drawing hearts to the Savior and acts of kindness.

As a child in GermanyPresident Dieter F. Uchtdorf recalled celebrating Advent the season of light and walking through the streets on Christmas Eve with a parent seeing "how the smallest light penetrated the dark night."

Upon returning home he found the other parent had decorated the tree and lit it with real candles. "Perhaps it is no wonder that I have always associated the Christmas season with light" said President Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency
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Modern Christmas celebrations with their focus on material gift scan "detract from the simple dignity of the season and distract us from celebrating the birth of our Savior in a meaningful way." The economic challenges that may cause some to scale back their gift giving this year may "be a blessing in disguise" he said. "I know from personal experience that the most memorable Christmases can be those that are the most humble."

Expensive gifts aren't required to make Christmas meaningful but giving to those in need creates memories for those who serve others as Christ did. He recounted a story from Elder Glen L. Ruddan emeritus general authority who told of taking his own children out on Christmas Eve to gather gifts for a mother and children in desperate need including a small boy who simply requested a bowl of oatmeal.

That night as the family gathered around their own dinner table"they gave thanks that the little boy had received his bowl of oatmeal."

God chose to "honor the birth of his son as Jesus was found in the simplicity of a lowly stable. On that holy night angels appeared not to the rich but to shepherds. The Christ child was born not in a mansion but in a manger" wrapped "not in silk but in swaddling clothes."

"May we remember the humble dignity of his birthhis gifts and his life. May we through our simple acts of kindness charity and compassion fill the world with the light of his love."

My Understanding Now Toward Wife!

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog.

Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door.

As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?' She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?' 'Yes,' was his incredulous reply?

She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.'

Importance of Keeping Sabbath Holy

Today is Sunday, only once a month that I am fasting.

So that my body can rest healthy. As for the daily food eating and liquid drinking body functions and it is time for resting. Especially good for the heart!

As I previously talked about fasting there is another reason so I can feel PEACE from God. It gives me relaxation to mind and my living soul.

I have its definition so you will understand, that FAITH.

Gospel: "To abstain from food and drink for the purpose of drawing closer to the Lord"

Then tomorrow Monday through Saturday you can eat all you want. Be careful to gain weight especially to heart.

Be sure to drink 8 glasses of water a day. So you can live longer and enjoy life!

In addition, it depends when I get the spirit then I stand and bear my testimony of the gospel during Christ's true church. It is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

This chruch was restored in 1830 from the original church during Christ's ministry long time ago. It organized the same as presently organization of restored church!

It gives you PEACE and Guidance and Direction for my family and to ALL those faithful members known as covenant people.

You may ask me some questions about this church. There are many ANSWERS to your questions. For that we have received modern revelations since the church was organized.

My mother I realled before she passed away at the health south hospital when I showed her the Mormon disk about Christ Church had made or provided.

And she said, "Church did a wonderful job!"