Michael Ballam: The Healing Power of Music

Today in Sunday School we talked about Emma Smith and section 25 which was a revelation for her.  We talked about marital relationship, being aware of pride and finding joy.  We did not talk about her assignments to gather hymns, and what the Lord said about music.

 11 And it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church.

 12 For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.

I came across this movie on BYUTV of Michael Ballam.  This is one in which he talks about the power of music--the healing power of music for the most part.  I pray that I will be singing until the day I die and beyond. Music brings light to my life.
The link and presentation are available from BYUTV on You Tube  It is well worth listening to.  Michael Ballam went to high school with my sister.  He is an opera singer.  He now teaches at Utah tState University.

Village Program for Teenage Youth in San Jose

This is an advertisement for a teen housing, and social service program in San Jose.  I noticed this at a bus stop.  The Village has a drop-in center at 25 East Hedding Street in San Jose.  This puts it across the street from the Civic Center.  Times are on the ad.

Trastorno Obsesivo Compulsive OCD (Spanish)

This is a pamphlet produced by National Institute of Mental Health.  It is in Spanish and covers OCD, and anxiety disorder.  Provided are symptoms, and possible next moves.  The most poignant thing of this pamphlet is the subtitle: When undesirable thoughts take control.  That is a good description in a nut shell. 


Hay ayudas por esta enfermedad.  Lo mejor seria hacer contacto con el departamento de salud mental en el condado donde ud vive.

Firefighters: Suicide Prevention

The Firefighters Mind Shield, Social Work Matters magazine, The University of Utah, College of Social Work, 2017-2018. 
Fire fighting is the profession with the highest rate of suicide attempts, suicide thoughts and suicide completions.  In fact, more firefighters die from suicide each year than from the job.  The rate of suicidal thoughts among firefighters approaches fifty percent, while the general public is five to fifteen percent.  (This must be incident of suicidal thoughts in the past year.)  Accidental mishaps are also very high among fire fighters. 
A firefighter is provided with protective equipment; however that equipment does not often include how to protect the mind.  Mind Shield is a cognitively based, mindfulness approach.  They have been training Salt Lake City firefighters in how to protect the mind with cognitive skills.  This includes a 90-minute educational session on Brain Burn (Post Traumatic Stress.)   The second part focuses on specific tools to protect the mind.  It is geared to keeping the mind at a higher level processing and problem solving, rather than a primitive level where we react to fear.  the third part focusing on strained relationships firefighters may have.  this session involves family members so they too can be aware of the struggles. 
Results of the study have not yet been published, but about half of the firefighters of Salt Lake have received the training.