When members of the LDS Church serve in the Temple, they all wear white pants, shirts, jackets, ties and temple dresses.  The reason for this is a representation of purity and cleanliness.  It also seems to be a great equalizer.  Everyone around you is wearing white.  There is nobody trying to impress others with flashy clothes and there is nobody looking shabby.  Everyone looks clean and bright and equal.  It’s a reflection of how the Lord loves us all the same.  But even though everyone is all dressed in white, each woman there is dressed a little different.  Some women prefer to wear a skirt and a blouse, while others like a nice simple dress.  The dresses differ as well.  Some dresses are made of satin, some of polyester and others of cotton.  Some dresses have lace and others have none.  Each outfit is unique to the woman who wears it.  I like to think that’s how the Lord looks at us.

Each of us trying to be pure like him, but not forgetting the individuality that makes us who we are.  The Lord made us different because we are meant to be different.  The world can not be made a better place if everyone is the same.  Each gift we have that makes us who we are also makes us different from the very gifted person sitting next to us.  The problem most of us have is to look at the person sitting next to us and punish ourselves because we aren’t as good as they are at certain things.   Beauty is beauty and strength is strength no matter what unique package it comes in.

Just as we look around a sea of women dressed in white LDS Temple dresses, but each one and individual and possessing their own sense of who they are,  we should look at ourselves and remember that being ourselves is a gift that we give to those around us.  We need to feel comfortable in our own skin, or we will never be able to fulfill the great mission we’ve been called to do in this life.

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For so long the term lds historical fiction meant adventures in the west as saints lived through persicution only to be pushed out to the Salt Lake Valley.  As the LDS Church has become a world wide church, the history of the world has effected many members of the LDS Church.  “The Silence of God” is a book based on true events taken place during the revolution in Russia.  Most LDS Bookstores have it on their shelves.  Hopefully in time more books like this one will help us to understand the struggles endured by all saints worldwide. 

The Silence of God

At the turn of the twentieth century, St. Petersburg offers the best of Imperial Russia. The vast country is filled with grand cathedrals, a faithful populace, and many people who love and revere Tsar Nicholas II and the Romanov family. But as Russia becomes further entrenched in the Great War, a revolution begins brewing within her own borders.

For the wealthy Lindlof family, the only Latter-day Saints living in St. Petersburg at the time, the glitz and glamour of the Silver Age soon dissolves into mass rebellion, dividing their family and testing their faith. Life for Agnes Lindlof will never be the same—changed forever by an ideology that forces equality and demands the silence of God.

Agnes’s lifelong friend, Natasha Ivanovna Gavrilova, is the daughter of a professor and a firm supporter of Bolshevik ideals; she doesn’t believe in God at all. Yet, when the waves of the revolution wash over her family and her friends, Natasha must examine her own heart and decide for herself what to believe and what voice to listen to.

Based on an amazing true story of the only Latter-day Saint family living in St. Petersburg during the Bolshevik Revolution, The Silence of God is a rare glimpse into a fascinating period of history and a powerful, extraordinary novel of devotion and loyalty.

One reviewer said:

Johan and Alma Lindlof and their eight children were the first members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia. Their story of faith during the Bolshevik Revolution is brought to life in the historical novel “The Silence of God.”

Granted, several of the characters surrounding the family are fictional as Gale Sears gives readers a front-row seat to the uproar of revolution (think of LDS Church history and “The Work and the Glory” series). One of those fictional characters is a neighbor and friend to the Lindlof family who has a hard time understanding the family’s faith in God.

Readers learn of the miracles surrounding Johan and Alma’s baptism, the dedicatory prayers in Russia, life at the Lindlof home and the struggles the family experienced during the revolution, when many churches were converted to offices. The Lindlofs are considered suspicious because of Johan’s occupation as a merchant and because the family doesn’t publicly align itself with the Russian Orthodox Church or any of the political factions.

Sears provides explanatory notes at the end of each chapter that help clarify fact from fiction and give background on many of the political groups and other historical figures. The notes also include a few historical tidbits that have present-day relevance. For example, according to the notes in the first chapter, when Christianity was first introduced nearly a millennia before the revolution by Prince Vladimir, the Church of the Tithes was established in Kiev on a mount that was sacred to a pagan god. In the last note of the last chapter, Sears points out that the LDS temple site in the Ukraine is only 6 miles from where the Church of the Tithes was established.

Some readers rated the book as follows:

Excellent read and I highly recommend it., August 24, 2010
By LaDeana

Gale Sears captured my interest from the beginning. She did an excellent job weaving fictional characters into true historical events in Russia. I learned so much from what it must of have been like to be LDS in the early 20th Century Russia. This is a book I will read more than once.

Rating:

Incredible!, June 23, 2010
By Allison

This book was a true eye-opener for me. I had no idea what it was like in Russia during the Bolshevik revolution. This book made history come alive and made it more realistic. I will never forget this book. It makes me want to learn more!

Rating:

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Modern robotic massage chairs and other high-tech personal therapy solutions are gaining traction in contemporary households, because they are becoming more effective and more affordable with improved engineering and computerized systems. But before you go ahead and get one for yourself, think about what a new massage chair can do for you.

Massage is believed to have several benefits, but perhaps the most noticeable ones are its ability to bolster the immune system and improve blood circulation. An in-depth understanding of how and why this is so would require quite a lengthy discussion, but understanding the basics is relatively simple.

First and foremost, in order for your immune system to function properly, your lymphatic system must be functioning properly because it’s the lymphatic system which is responsible for distributing white blood cells and antibodies throughout your body. Generally speaking, this process requires a number of pumps, and massage focuses on stimulating both these systems.

Of course the heart is the circulatory system’s primary pump which provides fresh oxygenated blood to the entire body. Interestingly enough, it is known that massage is capable of improving cardiac efficiency in a number of ways, and of course the more efficient your heart is, the more you stand to benefit from a health point of view. Basically, massage helps to inhibit the overall performance of your sympathetic nervous system, and this in turn helps to lower your heart rate as well as your blood pressure.

A lesser known blood pump responsible for distributing chemicals throughout the body is the musculoskeletal pump, or in layman’s terms, the pressure applied to the bones by your muscles. If you have problems trying to picture this, just imagine grabbing hold of a balloon filled with water with both your hands.

Now, apply pressure to the balloon with one hand only. This is basically how the musculoskeletal pump manages to pump blood through your body, and this is also the reason why leather massage chair has the ability to improve circulation. An experienced therapist will always stroke towards the heart when performing a massage and it’s through this movement that they’re able to encourage de-oxygenated blood to be returned to the heart for redistribution.

The firm kneading motions also act to break up certain waste products and toxins, and of course this provides the body with an additional opportunity to remove them. Also, causes the blood vessels become dilated and this in turn means they’re capable of transporting an increased volume of blood.

As mentioned in the beginning of this article, a person’s immune system depends largely on their lymphatic system. Unlike the circulatory system, the lymphatic system has no heart with which to pump lymphatic fluid. Here again, a proper massage can benefit the lymphatic system in the same way it benefits the circulatory system.

One should bear in mind that toxins and other impurities often remain in the body even after they break free from the circulatory system, and it’s the white blood cells which are primarily responsible for destroying this waste matter. With that said, this process can only begin once the impurities and toxins are expelled from the muscles and into the body’s lymph vessels. Massage therapists will focus on channeling these waste products towards the stomach, at which point your body’s digestive system will take over.

Basically massage techniques, such as those commonly found in modern robotic massage chairs, aim at preventing the body from responding to allergens which are for the most part harmless, and when this goal is achieved, the body has more resources available with which to combat those pathogens which really do need to be dealt with.

Now, go out there and find a great massage chair for you! For best results, check out some of the many available online massage chair reviews and compare them on your own. Enjoy!

Tags: robotic massage chairs | robotic massage chairs | leather massage chair | leather massage chair | massage chair reviews | massage chair reviews | massage therapy | massage therapy

While outdoor fountains have been quite popular for many years, it hasn’t been until recently that indoor floor fountains and other types have become so popular in home interiors as well. In the past, the water fountain was very expensive, so they were not easily affordable. However, today they are more affordable than ever, and this has made indoor fountains, such as a wall fountain, become popular and a common part of indoor modern decor.

A New Trend

A new trend in home decor in the past few years has been adding fountains to the home. Of course, it is the wall fountain that has been one of the most popular options. This new trend of decorating with various indoor fountains is somewhat unexplained; however, they seem to someone bring together indoor and outdoor decor. Using these fountains within the home also provides a way that the beauty and grand history of fountains can be brought into our homes today in a way that is manageable and downscaled. These water fountains help to get rid of boredom in interior design and definitely add beauty and many other benefits to your home decor.

Three Basic Styles to Choose From

Indoor fountains come in many different styles, sizes, and prize ranges. Today they are definitely more affordable and easily available. However, you will find that you have three basic choices if you want to add a water fountain to your home. Here is a look at three types you can choose from, depending on your own particular decor.

• Tabletop Fountains – The water fountains that are often the easiest to use indoors happen to be tabletop fountains. They can easily be put on any table in your home and they are easy to set up. You can find them in various sizes, from very small desk size fountains to larger fountains for tables. They come in different designs and themes too, so you are sure to find the perfect one to match your home’s decor.

• Wall Fountains – Wall fountains are another basic style of water fountains that is quite popular. In fact, these types of fountains are becoming more and more popular. They come in various price ranges and many styles. They are space efficient as well, which is a big advantage. Because of the way they are used and designed, these fountains really influence the decor surrounding them.

• Floor Fountains – floor fountains are expensive, but very dramatic. You’ll spend quite a bit of money on these fountains, but they definitely provide an incredible look in the home. Various materials are used for these fountains, from slate, to glass, copper, and even steel.

Benefits of Indoor Fountains

There are a variety of benefits that you can enjoy when you decide to use these water fountains in your home. Of course one of the main benefits is the style and beauty that they can add to your home. There is just something to the movement of water that is extremely beautiful, and it provides great tranquility within your home. These fountains also provide white noise within a home, reducing all the other sounds and allowing you to relax and enjoy the soothing sound of water. Many people find that indoor fountains provide an environment that is soothing and encourages relaxation as well. A water fountain even provides the benefit of humidifying the air. This makes the air healthier for you and it also releases negative ions into the air, making the quality of your air better.

Decorating with Water Fountains

There are a variety of ways that you can decorate with water fountains. They are perfect for about any room in your home. These fountains can be used in your home office to provide relaxation and to spawn creativity. tabletop fountains will fit just perfectly on your desk. You can subtly use these fountains on dining room tables, coffee tables, or perhaps on a table in the bedroom. Wall fountains are great for decorating indoor great rooms or a room where you really want to make the decor center around the fountain. Then for rooms where you want to make a huge impression, floor fountains are incredible ways to add to your decor.

While adding water fountains to your indoor decor definitely adds beauty and elegance, they add far more than that, making them well worth the purchase. So many options are available, so you are sure to find a great water fountain to suit your own needs.

that is quite popular. In fact, these types of fountains are becoming more and more popular. They come in various price ranges and many styles. They are space efficient as well, which is a big advantage. Because of the way they are used and designed, these fountains really influence the decor surrounding them.

• Floor Fountains – floor fountains are expensive, but very dramatic. You’ll spend quite a bit of money on these fountains, but they definitely provide an incredible look in the home. Various materials are used for these fountains, from slate, to glass, copper, and even steel.

Benefits of Indoor Fountains

There are a variety of benefits that you can enjoy when you decide to use these water fountains in your home. Of course one of the main benefits is the style and beauty that they can add to your home. There is just something to the movement of water that is extremely beautiful, and it provides great tranquility within your home. These fountains also provide white noise within a home, reducing all the other sounds and allowing you to relax and enjoy the soothing sound of water. Many people find that indoor fountains provide an environment that is soothing and encourages relaxation as well. A water fountain even provides the benefit of humidifying the air. This makes the air healthier for you and it also releases negative ions into the air, making the quality of your air better.

Decorating with Water Fountains

There are a variety of ways that you can decorate with water fountains. They are perfect for about any room in your home. These fountains can be used in your home office to provide relaxation and to spawn creativity. tabletop fountains will fit just perfectly on your desk. You can subtly use these fountains on dining room tables, coffee tables, or perhaps on a table in the bedroom. Wall fountains are great for decorating indoor great rooms or a room where you really want to make the decor center around the fountain. Then for rooms where you want to make a huge impression, floor fountains are incredible ways to add to your decor.

While adding water fountains to your indoor decor definitely adds beauty and elegance, they add far more than that, making them well worth the purchase. So many options are available, so you are sure to find a great water fountain to suit your own needs.

Tags: tabletop fountains | floor fountains | indoor fountain | indoor fountain