Meridian Magazine : : Circle of Sisters: Archive

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Serving in a Covenant Church
This is not an all volunteer Church, but a covenant one, and Meridian readers have much to say about serving in their callings.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

To Serve or Not to Serve
Readers respond to a lament from “Overworked,” who wondered what to do about ward members who refuse to take callings — or, worse, refuse to perform callings they have accepted.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Being Unequally Yoked with Church Members
“What do you about “retired Christians”? So many people claim they are “too tired” or “too busy” to serve. What is a leader to do?”
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Standing for Truth in Word and Deed
How do you stand up for truth and not give offense?
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Trying Not to Give Offense
How do you correct someone for whom you are responsible without being offensive, critical, and hurtful? How do you speak up for what is right without being critical of those who espouse evil practices?
By Kathryn H. Kidd

The Art of Brushing Off Offenses
Meridian readers show us how to turn the other cheek.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Tackling an Offensive Topic
Meridian readers are warming to the topic of hotheaded behavior at church. Many of us have been the victims of unintended slurs (or even intended ones), but never fear! There’s a wealth of advice here.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Turning the Other Cheek
If there’s anyplace we shouldn’t feud, it’s at church. If there are any people we shouldn’t despise, it’s our brothers and sisters in the gospel. But sometimes the best of intentions go horribly awry. Here's how to deal with unfortunate situations in our wards and stakes.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Church as a Boxing Match
How do you handle contention with another Church member? What do you do when someone at Church offends you?
By Kathryn H. Kidd

The Games that have Faces
Readers bare their hearts and share a few diamonds in this discussion on face cards.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Playing with Face Cards—A Raw Deal?
A reader has written with a question—how should we feel about playing with face cards?
By Kathryn H. Kidd

“Be Prepared” for Boorish Behavior
Bullying at Church is something leaders cannot just stand by and watch passively.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Bullies and Victims ― A Life-Altering Phenomenon
We’re exploring bullying and bullies from all sides today. Is bullying a normal part of life that children should just learn to accept and ignore, or is it more than that?
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Stopping Bullies in Their Tracks
A reader writes in, “ I’d like to hear from readers about bullying that sometimes goes on in Young Men and Young Women. How does the parent of a victim deal with it, especially if the leaders seem to turn a blind eye or are just plain tired of dealing with it and have given up?”
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Last Words on Sunday Sports
Time out. Parents took to their email to tell us how they handle Sunday sports for their children.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

A Sporting Controversy
There have been so many pro and con letters in my email box about sports for kids that I’m tempted to buy a pair of boxing gloves and have readers square off.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Sunday Soccer and Other Horrors
There’s never just an innocent topic here at Circle of Sisters. We’ve have apparently jumped from a Can O’ Worms to a Mountain O’ Millipedes — and all by answering what church members think about their kids playing sports.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

The Conflict of Sports and Church on Sundays
Does a parent risk alienating a child by forbidding sports on Sunday? How do you deal with the pressures?
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Is Your Attire Stocking-Worthy?
Our readers seem to be really excited about what is and isn’t appropriate for Sunday.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Stockinged Feet and Other Church Attire Issues
Nothing riles up a woman — pro or con — more than to be told what she should be wearing. And when you add virtue to the mix by suggesting an appropriate attire for church, the very idea gets people (people on both sides, mind you!) hopping agitated.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Modesty and Appropriate Dress for Larger Sizes
If you would like several specific suggestions about where to find those larger, modest clothes, our readers deliver.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Clothing the Big, the Small, and the In-Between
If you’re having trouble finding modest clothes, we have some more links for you this week. Most of them are for larger women, although some of the sites have clothes for small, tall ones — and some of the links are for people who can just buy clothes off the rack in regular stores.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Modest Clothes for Big and Small
From suggestions for do-it-yourselfers to actual websites for ready-made attire, Meridian readers have ideas where large and small women can acquire modest clothing.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Modestly Dressing Large and Small
If it is tough to find modest clothes for people of average size, you can only imagine how tough it is for people who are smaller or larger. Readers ask for help.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Bishops Counsel Reader on Confidentiality
Bishops and former bishops share some valuable leadership insight with Meridian reader.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Learning the Needs of a Ward
How can a Relief Society president have better communications with her bishop? Our readers have some of the best leadership ideas we’ve seen.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Out of the Loop
A Relief Society president can’t get the information she needs to do her calling effectively. Your advice needed.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Reaching Out to Relatives with Love
Just when you think readers have said everything they have to say on the topic of hostile nonmember relatives, here come some letters with important additional thoughts.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Finding Excuses for Hostility
Some of our writers are asking if hostility toward the Church from non-member relatives is really hostility toward the Church, or if it is hostility about something else that is masquerading as anti-LDS prejudice.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Turning the Other Cheek to Hostile Relatives
Readers have plenty of advice for those who are maligned because they are members.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Enduring Hostility from Nonmember Relatives
A new topic for the Circle. We need to know how a good Latter-day Saint should withstand the storms of hostility that may come from family members and other loved ones who are not members of the Church.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Three Secrets of Successful Marriages
There are lots of great ideas in this week’s Circle, including one Sleepless in Seattle, who says that intimacy in marriage, and a lot of it, is the best way to keep the zip in your marriage.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

How Marriages Keep Their Zip
Some very happily married people tell you how they do it..
By Kathryn H. Kidd

How to Reignite the Spark in Your Marriage
Several of our readers, talking about the challenge of having the nest empty, hinted at another problem. When the kids were gone, the spouses no longer had much to talk about.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

The Joys of Letting Go
We have a lot of sage counsel from Meridian readers on the art of letting go of one period of our lives and jumping into the next one.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Empty Nesters are Open Books
According to Meridian readers, it can be fairly traumatic when the children fly the nest. Here's a sampling of Mom's advice.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Anticipating an Empty Nest
A reader says, I always thought an empty nest would be welcome, but my sister says it's like pushing the handcart with all your strength for decades across the bumpy plains and suddenly the handcart just goes and you are flat on your face — feeling useless. Is that how it feels?
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Drawing Nonmember Relatives into the Circle
Readers are full of good ideas about how to put on weddings that include our non-LDS friends and relatives.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Families Joined by Rings of Love
Spring is popping up around us, and just in time for June weddings, Meridian readers are popping up with ideas to save the tender feelings of nonmember relatives who are invited to celebrate temple marriages.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

How to Include non-LDS Relatives in Your Temple Wedding Celebrations
A Meridian reader wants to know how to make sure the temple wedding is a good experience for non-LDS relatives as well as for those who are able to attend the temple.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Reaching Out to the Friends across the Aisle
For several weeks we have heard from people all across the Church who have been friendless — or have seen others who were friendless — in a sea of worshippers. Today's letters show us that all of us may one day find ourselves on the outside looking in.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Taking the Friendship Initiative
Many Circle readers have moved into new wards and found themselves looking for friends. The ones who have stayed put have seen new people moving in, trying to find a place in the local LDS community. Here is their advice on how to make friendships in an unfamiliar ward.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Penetrating the Cliques
Advice on how to break in and find friends in your ward came from many sources.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Finding Friends in Unfamiliar Wards
Readers tell us it isn't always easy to “break in” to a new ward.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

When Ward Relationships Clique
Is it ever hard to form friendships in your ward because of cliques?
By Kathryn H. Kidd

A Primer on Dying
Preparing, so it is not hard on the ones left behind when you die, is actually a gift of love.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Notes from Survivors
Meridian readers who have lost a beloved spouse or family member share their stories, telling how they coped with bereavement.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Coping with the Death of a Spouse
Many readers share tender feelings about what they experienced in losing a spouse.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Thinking about the Unthinkable
Readers—answer this one. How do we ever prepare for the death of a spouse?
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Wearing Our Past on Our Sleeves
Meridian readers are still spilling ink about tattoos—and have much, much more to say.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Blessed are the Inked
Church members come to the defense of "Tattooed Sister," a young woman who has recently returned to church activity and who is regretting the body art she chose during her wild and crazy years.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Tattoos and the Latter-day Saint
A sister, who has not attended church for some time, feels rejected because of her tattoos. Your advice?
By Kathryn H. Kidd

More Life Lessons from Meridian Readers
Sometimes the most memorable lessons are the ones we learn from our mistakes. Several Meridian readers share times when they made mistakes and the heartfelt principles they learned about how to be better.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Lessons Shared by Meridian Readers
Some moments in life leave lessons on your soul that you never forget. Meridian readers share some of these moments.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Lessons Learned and, Now, Shared
What are the stories from your life, things you have experienced that have taught you valuable lessons? We share one and invite you to share yours.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Still More Christmas Gifts on a Budget
If you are still looking for Christmas presents you can give even though Santa has left your checkbook bare this year, here are some ideas from ingenious Meridian readers.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Making Christmas Meaningful without Money
Today's suggestions for a meaningful Christmas mention not just gifts, but at least one activity that will greatly enhance the Christmas season for families with children.
By Kathryn H. Kidd

Giving Gifts of Love — Not Money

Christmas on a Shoestring

Erring on the Side of Compassion

Is Silence Golden?

Church is Not a Social Club

Shocked and Appalled Over Ward Reverence

Equating Silence with Reverence

Silenced by the Reverence Police

Achievers and Overachievers

Marrying Overachievers

Finding Joy in Life and the Scriptures

What to Do If You're Missing Something