By Alan on Apr 11 in Blog tagged Alan Osmond, Annette Funicello, dies, Endure To The End, ETTE, lives, M.S., multiple sclerosis | 1 Comment

Annette Funicello – 1942 – 2013

Her death, from complications of the disease, was announced on the Disney Web site.

As an adult Ms. Funicello described herself as “the queen of teen,” and millions around her age agreed. Young audiences appreciated her sweet, forthright appeal, and parents saw her as the perfect daughter.

She was the last of the 24 original Mouseketeers chosen for “The Mickey Mouse Club,” the immensely popular children’s television show that began in 1955, when fewer than two-thirds of households had television sets. Walt Disney personally discovered her at a ballet performance.

Before long, she was getting more than 6,000 fan letters a week, and was known by just her first name in a manner that later defined celebrities like Cher, Madonna and Prince.

Sometimes called “America’s girl next door,” she nonetheless managed to be at the center of the action during rock ’n’ roll’s exuberant emergence. She was the youngest member of Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars tour, which included LaVern Baker, the Drifters, Bobby Rydell, the Coasters and Paul Anka. Mr. Anka, her boyfriend, wrote “Puppy Love” for her in her parents’ living room.

As a Mouseketeer, she received a steady stream of wristwatches, school rings and even engagement rings from young men, all of which she returned. She wrote in her 1994 autobiography, “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” that irate mothers often wrote back to say “how hard Johnny or Tommy had worked to save the money for the gift and how dare I return it?”

She said that if she had charm (she undeniably had modesty), it was partly a result of her shyness. Mr. Disney begged her to call him Uncle Walt, but she could manage only “Mr. Disney.” (She could handle “Uncle Makeup” and “Aunt Hairdresser.”)

At the height of her stardom, she said her ambition was to quit show business and have nine children.

With minor exceptions, like her commercials for Skippy peanut butter, Ms. Funicello did become a homemaker after marrying at 22. One reason, she said, was her reluctance to take parts at odds with her squeaky-clean image. She had three children.

Her cheerfulness was legendary. Her response to learning she had multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease of the central nervous system, was to start a charity to find a cure.

There was no irony, only warm good feeling, in her oft-repeated remark about the world’s pre-eminent rodent: “Mickey is more than a mouse to me. I am honored to call him a friend.”

Annette Joanne Funicello was born on Oct. 22, 1942, in Utica, N.Y., and as the first grandchild on either side of the family was indulged to the point of being, in her own words, a “spoiled brat.” At age 2, she learned the words to every song on the hit parade, her favorite being “Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive.”

In 1946, her parents decided to move to Southern California in the hope of doing better economically. They lived in a trailer park until her father, a mechanic, found work. They settled in Studio City and later moved to Encino.

Annette took dancing lessons, learned to play drums and, at 9, was named Miss Willow Lake at a poolside beauty contest. She did some modeling. Mr. Disney, who wanted amateurs and not professional child actors, discovered her when she danced in “Swan Lake” at a local recital.

“The Mickey Mouse Club” was instantly popular, generating orders for 24,000 mouse-eared beanies a day. Annette quickly became the most popular Mouseketeer, and Disney marketed everything from Annette lunchboxes and dolls to mystery novels about her fictionalized adventures.

But she did not receive special treatment. When she lost a pair of felt mouse ears, she was charged $55. It was deducted from her $185 weekly paycheck.

She once decided she wanted to change her last name to something more typically American. She chose Turner. But Mr. Disney, whom she considered a second father, convinced her that her own name would be more memorable once people learned it.

In 1958, as “The Mickey Mouse Club” was ending its run, Mr. Disney summoned Ms. Funicello to his office. She feared she was going to be fired for growing too tall, but instead he offered her a studio contract — the only one given to a Mouseketeer.

Annette Funicello, who was part of the original cast of the 1950′s Disney television program, The Mickey Mouse Club, died Monday. She was 70 and had had multiple sclerosis for decades. Funicello also co-starred in several Disney beach party movies in the 1960′s along with Frankie Avalon.

Fans are laying flowers on Annette Funicello’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star. When she received it 10 years ago, she said she owed her career to her mentor Walt Disney, who she called Uncle Walt, and his famous cartoon rodent.

“I used to always watch the Mickey Mouse Club with Annette Funicello when I was young”, says Alan Osmond of the performing Osmond Family, who also has Multiple Sclerosis for the past 26 years.

It wasn’t but 5 or 6 years after I got M.S. that a ‘rag magazine’ notified me saying that they were going to expose me and the fact that I had MS with a headline inferring that I was going to die!  It was almost embarrassed in letting anyone know that I had multiple sclerosis yet alone having a bad magazine tell the world that I was dying!  It wasn’t true!  I didn’t know what to do so, I contacted Annette Funicello and we had a wonderful visit.  We talked about the business and how Walt Disney was responsible in launching Annette’s and me and my brothers careers into show business.  I then explained to Annette that I had recently been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and we shared our stories with each other.  I told Annette about the magazine article that was scheduled to come out and she said, “Alan, the best thing to do is to just come open with it and announce it to the world.”  Well, that’s exactly what I did!

The next morning I was scheduled to appear on Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight and with People Magazine.  I shared my story and what I had and gave thanks to Annette for encouraging me to open up and talk about it.   Actually, I felt much better by getting it out in the open and in dealing with it!  Being the third son of eight boys and one girl, my father who had been an army sergeant and in teaching us to be tough would say, “You can do it!” when we had a challenge.  My mother would spiritually strengthen us children when challenged with her, “This too shall pass”, encouragements.  So from that day I announced it until today I say,  ”I may have M.S., but, M.S. does NOT have me!”

I stayed in touch with Annette over the next years and we noted others like Anne Romney, Teri Garr and others who got M.S. as we tried to figure out how to help others who faced the same ‘TEST‘ in life.  Annette’s husband Glenn Holt and I talked many times together and especially when Annette couldn’t talk well because the M.S. affected her voice.  Glenn always put Annette first and would meet her every need. They had horses and rode them trying every thing they could to stop this disabling disease.  They even started The Annette Funicello Research Fund to help others with M.S. and encouraged all to join in by donating.

When I heard that Annette had passed away, I wrote to Glen Holt and sent my condolences and sympathies letting him know that he will Annette would one day be together again:

“Glenn my friend,
Suzanne and I and our families send our condolences and love along with our prayers this day.

Bless you Glen. You were the best husband Annette could have had and you gave her everyting she needed and you were most loving and caring in her every need!
I am a better person for having known you both and we had many great laughs and conversations together.

I know that Annette is in a better place, where my parents are also, and you will be with Annette some day again.

Please know of of love and everlasting friendship,
Alan & Suzanne Osmond”

Glenn was with Annette and so he had his son Philip Holt text me this message:

“Philip Holt here (Glen’s son). Dad has received your email and wants no time to pass by without replying to you. Of course I have heard many of the stories and of the great friendship you all have shared with Dad and Annette through the years. I have just sat down with dad and he has asked me to share the following with you:

Thank you and your entire family so much for your prayers, thoughts and sincere words at this time of our deep loss! I can tell you without any hesitation what so ever that the shared times we have had with you and your family have mutually been a blessing for both Annette and me! Please give thanks to everyone in your family for always being such an incredible example to both of us through the years! Annie had such an incredible and genuine respect for your entire family! This includes you mother too. She was a TRUE fan of your mother! She respected her so much!! It meant so much to Annie that the relationship we shared with all of you had nothing to do with show business and was always truly about the love and respect we all have for our families and each other.

Additionally, Dad mentioned to me that you sometimes post items on your website about “Annie and our friendship”. He is incredibly proud of your shared friendship and therefore wants you to feel free to continue with these posts as you wish.

Respectfully and with Sincere Thanks,
Philip Holt on behalf of my Dad Glen Holt and of course Annette Funicello Holt”

I share our comments with Philip and Glen’s blessings because we all will face these moments in life.  May we always remember that family and friends are forever; and so are we!  As God’s children, because of Jesus Christ’s atonement, we all will return to Him once again.

As I paused and looked at Annette’s name, it dawned on me that her name ends with ‘ETTE’.  This has been one of our family’s slogans which means, “Endure To The End”.  Endure means to remain firm in a commitment and to be true to the commandments of God despite temptation, opposition, and adversity.  We have always tried to live this and so did Annette as the article above reminds us of ‘her modesty’!  We would always express “ETTE” or “Endure To The End” when hard challenges came when we were growing up in show business and even made rings with ETTE to remind us because as scripture says:  ”

The Annette Funicello Research Fund
PO Box 599
Shafter, California 93263

or online at:
www.annetteconnection.com

By Alan on Jun 21 in Blog tagged against MS, Alan Osmond, all-natural treatments, alternative medicines, blender, daily battle, David Osmond, diagnosis, dibilitation, disease, essential, Family, Father and Son, fighting spirit, golf cart, greatest act, homeopathic, hydro-exercise, lean meat, leg brace, Mormon faith, multiple sclerosis, never complained, no caffinated beverages, no casein, no drinking, no gluten, no smoking, nutrition, osmonds second generation, protein, refined flour, spouse, steroids, sugar, Suzanne Osmond, symptons, The Osmond Family, the show must go on, the whole family, unconditional love, viris, wheelchair, Winning | 2 Comments

Alan and David Osmond

Courtesy of David Osmond

Growing up Osmond comes with certain expectations: You sing, you dance and no matter what, the show must go on.

This has never been a problem for David Osmond, one of eight sons of Alan Osmond, the oldest of the famous brothers who shot to fame in the 1960s and ’70s. David, 32, continued the family’s pop legacy as the lead singer for Osmonds Second Generation, competed on American Idol in 2009 and released a solo album in 2010.

But just seven years ago David’s career — and life — were suddenly in jeopardy: He could not sing, play guitar or even walk because of pain in his chest and paralysis stretching from his toes to his diaphragm. Multiple sclerosis was soon diagnosed, just as it had been in his father 20 years earlier when he was in his late 30s. (Siblings or children of people with MS have a 1 in 40 risk of also contracting the disease, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.)

“When I originally received the diagnosis,” David tells me, “I had already tested positive for West Nile virus, but some of the symptoms did not match up. So they tested me for MS and found I had the disease. My doctors believe it may have been dormant in my system, but was triggered by the virus.”

Affecting 2.5 million people worldwide, MS is an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system. It interferes with the transmission of signals to the brain and spinal cord, triggering unpredictable and often debilitating symptoms. MS can cause numbness, tingling and searing pain in the extremities; periods of partial or full blindness; loss of sensory function, like taste or smell; and even paralysis. The cause is not clear and there is no cure, but the effectiveness of long-term drug treatments has improved.

MS affects every patient differently. Most, like David, experience flare-ups that can vary in length and severity, followed by periods of remission with few or no symptoms. “It’s like a roller coaster,” David has said. His father, however, is among the 15 percent of MS patients who have the progressive form of the disease, marked by a slow degeneration of the body’s functions.

At first, David was devastated by the diagnosis. “I was in complete denial,” he admits. Sitting in a wheelchair in 2005, watching his brother’s children playing with their dad, he wondered, “Will I ever have that?”

But now, David says, “I’m almost embarrassed to admit that is how I felt, because when I looked from my brother and my nieces and nephews to my dad, I realized, here is this man who has lived with MS for 20 years — and he has never complained. I realized that life can go on and you can find ways around this disease, just like my dad did.”

(MORE: Multiple Sclerosis: Increasing Quality of Life)

Both father and son have learned to live with MS and deal with its inherent obstacles and dire prognosis. Powerful steroid shots helped David get out of his wheelchair four years ago, enabling him to walk down the aisle with his bride, Valerie, at their wedding. (They began dating before his diagnosis.) “I proposed to her from my wheelchair and she said yes,” he says, “so being able to walk down the aisle with her was something I just knew I had to do.”

David still experiences some pain in his legs, but he has not been back in his wheelchair. He and Valerie now have two daughters, ages 1 and 3.

“I know it’s crazy to say, but it is actually a great time to have MS,” says David, who sits on the board of the Nancy Davis Foundation for MS. (See footage of David and other stars at the foundation’s Race to Erase MS gala.) “The numerous choices we now have to attack this disease that is attacking our bodies are encouraging. I truly think MS is one of the chronic illnesses that may be cured in my lifetime.”

Counting on Nutrition and Family

Part of the Osmonds’ approach to battling MS is an embrace of homeopathic remedies, like aromatherapy. “I was given a cortisone shot when I was first diagnosed in 1987,” Alan says, “and it just about killed me. It was right then that I decided there has to be a better way and I started investigating alternative medicines.”

The Osmonds do not take traditional MS drugs but they do support research into better treatments for the disease. For themselves, though, they believe all-natural treatments and diet choices represent their best chance to keep the disease at bay. Both men follow healthy, all-natural diets that include no gluten (which is found in wheat-based products), no casein (milk protein), no sugar and no refined flour; Alan combines fruits and vegetables in his blender for most meals. They occasionally eat lean meat but prefer to get their protein from omega-3-rich fish. Further, Alan takes a variety of all-natural dietary supplements, including Vitamin D, each day; David takes up to 50 daily supplements. In keeping with the tenets of their Mormon faith, neither man smokes or drinks coffee or caffeinated beverages.

Overall, each man says he has worked to educate himself about MS and has tried various approaches to discover what works best for his own body. Each encourages other MS patients to do the same.

Alan credits his wife, Suzanne, with pointing him toward the alternative treatments that have allowed him, so far, to defy the odds of his grim prognosis. His doctors expected he’d be in a wheelchair by now, but he generally walks without assistance, only occasionally employing a leg brace or golf cart. Alan also participates in hydro-exercise; the buoyancy of the water, he says, takes the pressure off his often-painful joints and helps him maintain balance while going through his exercises.

Both Osmonds believe the unconditional love of a spouse is essential for anyone facing a chronic illness. “It is not just one person who gets MS,” Alan says. “It is the whole family. You have to have the drive and desire to keep living and keep fighting for yourself and those around you.”

Their thriving marriages defy the odds: According to a National Health Institute Survey conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 75 percent of marriages in which one spouse has a chronic illness end in divorce — a rate 50 percent higher than for other marriages.

“Sometimes dealing with something like multiple sclerosis can make your marriage better,” David says. “I know both my wife and I have learned more patience with each other through this journey and I absolutely would not be where I am at today in conquering MS without her.”

As we wound up our interview, David’s girls were calling to him from the next room, eager to get back to playing Legos and watching Disney movies with their dad, experiences that, a few years ago, he was not sure he would ever be able to share. Later, I saw this tweet from David: “Going to make t-shirts for my girls that say ‘Having MS gets on my dad’s nerves.’”

Sherri Snelling’s book on celebrity caregivers, A Cast of Caregivers, will be published by Balboa Press in January 2013.

By Alan on Apr 10 in Blog tagged Alan Osmond, diligence, fear God, fear man, fight, focus, FREE Newsletter, Get NoiZ, hearing impaired, heavenly parents, in charge, intelligence, Jesus Christ, Life is T.U.F.F., M.S., military, multiple sclerosis, noisy, Osmond Brothers, patience, Plan of Life, Power to choose, real challenge, say my prayers, scriptorian, scriptures, sin, Target, the resurrection, trophies, understand, Vietnam, Weakness, write it down, you can do it | 3 Comments

TheFamily.com publishes a FREE Newsletter Monthly Newsletter called, “GET NOIZ” (Noisy).

You can get these Free Newsletters by Signing up HERE!

We offer a FREE NEWSLETTER to help “Strengthen The Family” in several ways: Physically, Mentally, Socially, Spiritually, and Financially.

Here is a sample of one of our Newsletters from Last Month:

Subject: GET NOI-Z (Noisy) NEWSLETTER
Date: Saturday, March 31, 2012 11:15 

‘LET’S TURN THE WORLD AROUND’

Life is T.U.F.F. but, So Are YOU!

By:  Alan Osmond

Life is T.U.F.F.!  But remember, when the going gets tough, the T.U.F.F. get going!  You must be motivated and see the steps that need to be taken in order to accomplish your goals in life.   You must believe in whatever you choose to do and to always remind yourself that “You can do it!”  You must be strong with a positive mental attitude.  If you think you can’t, you won’t!  If you have the desire to achieve, you will!  Where there’s a will, there’s a way. 

Whenever I face challenges, I remember this slogan that I created as the way to accomplish it and overcome it.  See if it works for you!  This is the way:

T = Target – What is it you are trying to accomplish?  If there is one thing that you wished to do, to accomplish or become in life, what would it be?  Write it down and make that your TARGET!

U = Understand – To achieve your target, you need to UNDERSTAND all you can about it.  Identify what it is and what the various factors that are involved; what needs to be done to affectively put it into your grasp so that you can achieve it?  Figure out those steps that you need to take in order to win the challenge and write them down.  Study the positive and the negative aspects of that which you are targeting so that you totally understand it and know what to do in order to take it on! 

F = Focus – Don’t just go at your target without first establishing a FOCUS point on what you are aiming to achieve.  Make a plan and a checklist of the do’s and don’ts and study it each and every day.  Besides just thinking of it, keep your eye on it and really be sure to “Rifle In” on your Target!  Do not just go at it with a “shotgun” approach.  You may only get one shot at it so never lose site or what you must do and keep your FOCUS!

F = Fight – Nothing good comes easy or without effort.  If you want something that is worth having, it will usually take a lot of effort and will be hard work to accomplish it.  So, you must FIGHT for it!

What is it that you wish to target?

-A health challenge?

-An education?

-A career or a job?

-A marriage partner?

-A great idea that you have?

Write it down!  Seeing believing!  You will then be able to visualize the steps that you have to take.  Start by following the T.U.F.F. format and fill in the details for each step.  Set goals and make in a daily effort.  Visualize it. Think about it.  Study it. Keep it in your mind!  Little by little you will accomplish those steps and with the best shot you’ve got, your Target will be accomplished with a bull’s-eye!   

It is very simple but, with patience and effort, it works!

Where in the world did I get this idea of being T.U.F.F.?  It came experiences I had in life but especially when I was told that I had Multiple Sclerosis or M.S..  I didn’t know what M.S. was and the first thing I thought it might mean, “Many Sons”!  My wife Suzanne and I were blessed to have eight sons. 

Yes, raising sons in today’s world is a real challenge but this challenge called “Multiple Sclerosis” was a physical one and the doctors didn’t know what to do to fix it!  I was in the prime of my life with a wonderful marriage and a family started plus my entertainment career was at its peak. I didn’t want this! So, instead of looking at it negatively, I asked myself,  “What is it that I am to learn?”

I first noticed that when I would walk and trip up on something, I’d look down for something like a nail or what ever it was in the floor but, nothing was there!  I also soon realized that when I played my trumpet, I couldn’t move my fingers as fast as before.  With time, my right side began to fail and would not respond as it should and it caused me to drag my right food and arm. 

With several doctors telling me “they didn’t know what it was but thought it might be M.S.”, and telling me that “nothing they knew could reverse it”, I realized I was facing this challenge alone with my wife and my family.  That’s when after many sincere prayers and fasting that I came up with the idea of being T.U.F.F. with a plan to achieve my goal of getting better.  I first started a positive approach by establishing an attitude in my mind and my heart by saying, “I may have M.S. but, M.S. does NOT have me!”  Other ways of dealing with it came with time.

What took place over the next while was in realizing that besides having a positive outlook on this health challenge, I needed a plan of attack, and I needed to be tough!  That is when the idea of T.U.F.F. came into my mind as I analyzed the steps that I needed to take in order to overcome my health weakness.  Over time with determination and a positive attitude It seemed to be working!  I changed my style of eating to mostly organic and healthy foods.  I worked at walking with a focus on picking my leg up and I “talked to those muscles” that wouldn’t respond.  I kept an open mind with a prayer in y heart and promised that I would do anything my Lord would ask of me to be able to live happily with my wife Suzanne and my eight sons and family who love me.

I was the oldest of our singing group, The Osmond Brothers, when my brothers Wayne, Merrill, and Jay, and I, and then Donny, were growing up.  We were at a very young age to be on stage with a weekly national television show called The Andy Williams Show.   Later on, my sister Marie and youngest brother Jimmy also joined the group.  Our father said to us boys when we were rehearsing, that there needed to be one person in charge of the group and that I was the leader and the “boss”.  I hated being call the boss and to have to be in charge of my brothers.  They didn’t like it either but, it taught me many things about being responsible and in making sure that we all accomplished what we were sipposed to do while getting along with each other and making it fun.  There had to be order and I was in charge.  It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was also pretty tough!  Besides that, my two oldest brothers, Virl and Tom were hearing impaired or deaf and often I would hear my parents say, “Alan, go get your brothers!”

I remembered when I turned nineteen and I got my orders to  report to Fort Ord, California for active infantry training or boot camp, and to be trained as a soldier in the army during the time of the Vietnam War.  I knew then that if I was going to succeed and become the best soldier I could, that I had better learn and remember all that I was taught and to do what I was supposed to do as it may someday save my life.  It was hard work and it was almost was like they were brain washing us with what was expected of us during the war.  It was so different from my civilian life and some of my fellow soldiers couldn’t take it.  Staying positive was most important while always remaining tough myself.  

I had never been away from my family like this before and for the first time I was on my own.  You know it reality hits you hard when you don’t have that support system around you of loving parents and family members who stand by your side.   Everything I did while I was in the military I tried to do well and to be the very best at it as I knew I was on my own.

The first day I was there in the army barracks, I heard more foul language and stories that I wish I had never heard.  I realized that I needed to fit in with the other guys but to always be who I was.  That night, I had a moment to prove it.  The lights in the barracks were turned off, I laid in my bunk bed in a room filled with strangers that I had never known before.  It was then that I realized that I hadn’t said my prayers of thanks to my Heavenly Father as I always do.  I always knelt down beside my bed at night and offered my prayers.  I hesitated thinking that these guys would all make fun of me and I didn’t want to stand out but to “fit in”.  Just then, it was almost like a voice within me that said, “Do you fear man. . . or do you fear God?”  I knew what I had to do and so I jumped out of my bunk and knelt down on the floor and said my prayers.  It was probably the shortest prayer I have ever said but I said it!  Before I could get back into my bunk bed I heard someone say, “Hey Osmond, say one for me!” 

The next morning I was approached by several of those “tough talking” guys that asked me what I believed and what happens to someone if they died.  With us facing this war, it was definitely on everyone’s mind and in their hearts.  It was then that I had the opportunity to teach them some gospel principles of faith in Jesus Christ and His ‘Plan of Life’ with life for all after death.  It brought several of us much closer together.

That period of time was really challenging for me

 but I was successful and ended up receiving three basic training award trophies as a soldier.  After completing my active infantry training,  I received the highest grade on the overall testing, the highest scoring on the rifle marksmanship shooting skills test, and I was voted by all of the military training staff as The Outstanding Trainee.  I had no idea they gave trophies for doing what I did, but I got them.  The best thing that happened though was when the loudest and foulest mouth guy who became our platoon sergeant came to me before we got our orders to go to Viet Nam.  He said, “Osmond, can I talk to you?  … Alone?”  I said, “Yes”, and we went int the empty barracks. He said to me, “You really believe that there is someone up there don’t you? (Meaning that therer is a God.) I said, “Yes”.  He said, “Oh I wish I knew somebody loved me.  When I was five years old, my Dad made me go out and steal money and stuff just so I could stay at home.” (I listened and just let him talk.)  He said, “Would you teach me to pray?” I said, “Sure”, and explained a simple way to approach prayer. I then told him I would say one first to show him how, and then he could say one.  I did and then it was his turn.  He said a simple yet touching prayer and became somewhat emotional.  We stood up and he gave me a bear hug and said, “Now, I can go to “Nam”!   These were some of the experiences that I related to when I came up with a way to achieve my new challenges and goals and in being T.U.F.F.!

I come from a family heritage of school teachers and educators on my Mother’s side of the family (Olive May Davis), and a strong, driving, hard working and a ‘never give up’ style from my Father, George V. Osmond, and his side of the family whose life had always been one of hard work but with a “you can do it” attitude.  In fact, when I was doing my physical test in the army to see if we could run a mile in full battle gear in under 6:00 minutes. I was running as hard as I could and I felt like I was going to die.  I kept pushing hard and came in second place just behind a fast running athlete soldier.  You see, it was then that I had remembered my Father’s slogan “You Can Do It!” . .  … and I did!

My Mother, Olive Osmond,  who was also a theologian and knew the scriptures very well,
taught us about God’s plan of life.  She taught us much about gospel truths and about the beliefs of various other religions.  In knowing and understanding this, and as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Mormons) I studied and developed a burning testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.  My mother also instilled into me her positive attitude and desire to gain as much truth and knowledge as I could by reading from the best books.  She love to read and taught us the scripture that supported her thinking like this scripture says, “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.  And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.” D&C 130: 18-19 

She explained to us that knowledge is more about the information of many things but that intelligence is the knowledge of those spiritual things that are eternal and that are good yesterday, today and forever.   This understanding became a guide for me to follow in deciding which books I chose to read and which movies and entertainment I would go and see and for those choices that I targeted to understand and know.  

So, when you think of something that you want to accomplish and “Target” to achieve, I hope you will ask yourself if it is a worthy goal and worth your time.  Is it something that will be long lasting and become significant enough in that it makes you a better person and which fulfills your life long dreams and ambitions as well as sets the course for your eternal existence?

One thing we all have is the “Power To Choose” ; to make decisions and choices of our own free will and choice.  Those choices that we make in life, we will be held responsible and held accountable.  This is why good principles are important in one’s life.  When lived, they will influence you in the kinds of choices and decisions you will make in your life.

Your good choices will probably take a definite amount of time and effort on your part and will  require some extensive work as well.  But that is okay!  This is why we are here in this life; to learn and to grow.  We are told that the Glory of God is intelligence and if we attain more truth and knowledge in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.  So it’s an investment in you and your future!

To summarize:

 ”As Spirit children of God, we all left our Heavenly Parents to come to this world to prove ourselves. A veil covered our momories which was necessary so we could exercise our agency to choose good or evil without our Heavenly Parents influence.  Our earthly parents gave us a body of flesh and bones and we learned the purpose for us to progress in order to have a fulness of joy. We learned that we would be deceived, choose other paths, and lose our way; that we would have trials in our lives like sickness, disappointment, pain, sorrow and death. We understood that these would be given to us for our experience and for our good and that these trials would purify us rather than defeat us. They would teach us to have endurance, patience, and charity.  (To be T.U.F.F.)

We also learned that because of our weakness, all of us except little children would sin.  We learned that a Savior would be provided for us so we could overcome our sins and overcome death with resurrection.  We learned that by placing our faith in Him, obeying His word and following His example, we would be resurrected, exalted, and become more like our Heavenly parents and live forever!   That’s when we receive a fulness of joy!  

That is God’s Plan of Life.

So… “Let’s Be T.U.F.F.” and ‘GET NOI-Z’ (Noisy) FOR GOOD because it is WORTH IT!

We hope you, your family and friends will enjoy these Newsletters!

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By Alan on Mar 27 in Blog tagged David Lander, doterratory.com, FREE Newsletter, multiple sclerosis, other health issues | 4 Comments

LIKE FATHER – LIKE SON

Alan & David Osmond – M.S. Does Not Have Me!

Alan Osmond has dealt with Multiple Sclerosis for about twenty five years.  Here is a video of Alan receiving The Spirit Award from David Lander:

Alan Osmond Receives The Spirit Of Life Award

Alan and his wife Suzanne have eight sons.

David Osmond, their fourth son, also deals with Multiple Sclerosis.  He too, received the Spirit Of Life Award and had it presented to him by his father, Alan Osmond.

T= TARGET, U=UNDERSTAND, F=FOCUS, F=FIGHT!

Besides always keeping a positive attitude, being T.U.F.F., exercising what they can, and in NEVER GIVING UP, they both find they do better by using all natural foods and 100% pure essential oils.

Many other health issues can be helped naturally without side effects!

CLICK on the A – Z  Usage Guide at http://doterratory.com and SELECT WHICH ISSUE you wish to address.  Click it and you will be shown which Oils are recommended and how to use them!  Example: Multiple Sclerosis

    

Strengthening The Family

Have you SIGNED UP For the FREE NEWSLETTER from The Family?

By Alan on Jan 03 in Blog tagged Alan Osmond, daily prevention, Frankincense, MS, multiple sclerosis, Osmond doTERRA Team, preventative, pro-inflammatory, resolve symptoms | Comments Off

Frankincense Is Helping Me With My Battle Against Multiple Sclerosis!

Frankincense is probably my favorite and one of the BEST essential oils that I have ever used.  It has so many wonderful uses and has been very successful helping many users with various health issues.

Frankincense has helped me improve my condition with M.S.! I recently went to my neurologist doctor for my semi-annual checkup and after examining me he said, “Alan, what are you doing?”  I said, what do you mean? He said, “Instead of getting worse, you are getting better.”

I shared with him the things I have been doing.  He then said, “Keep doing it!”

What am I doing?

One of the things I am doing is taking Frankincense Essential Oil.  NOT just ANY Frankincense, but doTERRA’s Frankincense oil which is the MOST PURE oils my wife, Suzanne, and I have ever found!  I have a Video that you really need to watch. Whether you or someone you know that has M.S., Cancer or other problems, Frankincense will help you keep from getting many of the health issues!

Frankincense has been shown to Inhibit the production of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators in the body.  Use Frankincense for daily for prevention. It resolves symptoms and is preventative!

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Please watch this podcast of Dr. David Hill and Justin Harrison as they explore doTERRA’s Frankincense essential oil.  You will learn what Frankincense does, why it will help you prevent many health issues, plus why doTERRA is the best Frankincense to use.

Frankincense, Liquid Gold from doTERRAtory.com

The video cannot be shown at the moment. Please try again later.

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I hope that you will try this marvelous oil and see how it helps you.  If you wish to join our OSMOND doTERRA Team, you pay a ONE TIME fee of $35.00 and you can get these oils from then of at WHOLESALE PRICES, please CLICK HERE.

If you wish to purchase some Frankincense without joining the OSMOND doTERRA Team,  CLICK HERE.

(NOTE: This video offer for Free Frankincense has timed out and is NOT available.)

Alan Osmond
‘Strengthening The Family‘

By Alan on Dec 14 in Blog tagged macular degeneration, malaria, male hormone imbalance, mastitis, mct, measles, menopause, menstrual pain, mental fatigue, migrane, mold, moles, molescum, mood swings, morning sickness, mouth ulcers, MRSA, multiple sclerosis, mumps, muscle pain, muscle spasms, muscle stiffness, muscle strains | Comments Off

M – ESSENTIAL OIL USAGE GUIDE

[ HOME ]  [ PURCHASE ] [ WHOLESALE ]

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MACULAR DEGENERATION – Try: Clove
USAGE: take internally in a capsule.

MALARIA – Try: TerraShield, Lemon, Thyme
USAGE: use TerraShield to avoid mosquito bites, take internally in a cpsule OR sup in water mixture regularly to help with symptoms.

MALE HORMONE IMBALANCE – Try: Rosemary, Sage, Yling Ylang
USAGE: take internally in a capsule daily.

MASTITIS – Try: Citrus Bliss, Clove, Thyme
USAGE: massage over breast and apply to bottom of feet.

MCT - Try: Rosemary, Clove Lemongrass
USAGE: massage into affected area several times daily.

MEASLES - Try: Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Melaleuca
USAGE: apply on spots several times daily OR add to bath and soak for at least 30 minutes daily.

MENOPAUSE – Try: Clary Sage, Frankincense, Roman Chamomile
USAGE: apply topically to abdomen, bottoms of feet and back of neck.

MENSTRUAL PAIN - Try: Clary Sage, Rosemary, Peppermint
USAGE: massage into abdomen, lower back and shoulders OR apply a warm compress over uterus area OR take internally in a capsule.

MENTAL FATIGUE – Try: Serenity, Lemongrass, Peppermint
USAGE: diffuse into the air and inhale OR inhale directly OR apply topically to temples and back of neck as needed OR take internally in a capsule.

MIGRANE – Try: Frankincense, PastTense, Breathe
USAGE: apply topically to forehead, temples, base of skull and behind the ears OR inhale directly as needed.

MOLD - Try: Cinnamon, Oregano, Thyme
USAGE: diffuse into the air where mold is present.

MOLES - Try: Frankincense, Sandalwood, Geranium
USAGE: apply topically to mole.

MOLESCUM – Try: Lemongrass, Geranium, Melaleuca
USAGE: dilute all 3 in coconut oil and apply topically to affected area consistently 3 times daily.  If warts come to a head, pull out with tweezers and apply lavender.

MOOD SWINGS – Try: Clary Sage, Serenity, Lavender
USAGE: diffuse into the air and inhale.

MORNING SICKNESS – Try: Ginger, Lavender, Peppermint
USAGE: apply topically behind the ears and over navel hourly OR diffuse into the air and inhale.

MOTION SICKNESS – Try: Lavender, Peppermint, Ginger
USAGE: apply topically behind the ears and over navel OR diffuse into the air and inhale.

MOUTH ULCERS - Try: Myrth, Oregano, Melaleuca
USAGE: gargle several times daily OR apply topically to gums.

MRSA – Try: Oregano, Melaleuca, Cinnamon
USAGE: apply topically to bottom of feet OR take internally in a capsule OR diffuse into the air frequently each day until symptoms cease.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS – Try: Basil, Frankincense, Sandalwood
USAGE: diffuse into the air and inhale several times daily OR apply topically to forehead, temples and behind ears OR take internally in a capsule.

MUMPS - Try: Thyme, Myrrh, Melaleuca
USAGE: apply topically behind the ears several times daily OR use a warm compress around throat and jaw OR take internally in a capsule several times daily.

MUSCLE PAIN – Try: Peppermint, Deep Blue, Clove
USAGE: apply topically to affected muscles.

MUSCLE SPASMS – Try: Wintergreen, Peppermint, Basil
USAGE: massage gently on affected muscles.

MUSCLE STIFFNESS – Try: Eucalyptus, German Chamomile, Lemongrass
USAGE massage into affected muscles.

MUSCLE STRAINS – Try: Cypress, Frankincense, Deep Blue
USAGE: apply topically to strained muscle and massage gently.

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NOTE:  After all of the Pain and hurting, waiting until you need HELP,
Making a Doctor appointment, Going to the Doctor, Getting a Prescription,
Going to the Pharmacy, and NOW YOUR HEALTH ISSUE IS WORSE,
WHY NOT USE THESE IMMEDIATELY FROM YOUR HOME!

YOU WILL SAVE MONEY AND PAIN IN THE LONG RUN!

© COPYRIGHT – OSMOND NETWORK LLC

By Alan on Feb 23 in Blog tagged arthritis, asthma, autism, cancer, cholesterol, circulation, cure, death, depression, diabetes, fibromyalgia, headaches, kindness, lupus, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, natural causes, obesitiy, osteroporosis, scleroderma, skin problems, thyroid, water | 3 Comments

All the research money in the world will never cause us to be the kinder, more gentle people that would give 99% of all health and social problems no reason to exist. Kind people have no interest in profiting from human misery, but unkind people most certainly do. For millions of years we have been trying to punish unkind actions with unkindness; a guaranteed failure.  Obviously the ultimate cure for all problems is “Kindness which costs nothing and enriches us all.“

What could be dumber than this? Of course, did not God say that if we did not keep his commandments He’d make the wise foolish?

A few of these water-salt deficiency caused problems are: Arthritis, asthma, autism and other birth defects caused by the mother being dehydrated, most back problems (without enough water & salt the body cannot produce enough cartilage to prevent joint degeneration), cancer, high cholesterol which only appears when the body needs it to prevent water loss in cells, circulation problems, depression, diabetes, fibromyalgia, headaches, lupus, Multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, obesity, osteoporosis, scleroderma & most skin problems and thyroid problems.

Skeptical??? You should be, but prove it to yourself. Ask everyone with these problems how much water and salt they use. They are the key ingredients of the #1 and most profitable protocol in every hospital…..a saline IV which consists of a penny’s worth of salt water and sells for $525.  So why are doctors taught to tell patients that salt is bad for you?

The truth about the aforementioned problems and a whole lot more are they are really all the same problem because when the salt and/or water deficiency which caused the problem is corrected, the problem will often disappear. If you don’t like doing things the no-cost way, then ask your doctor to give you two saline IV’s day for at least four days while drinking no caffeine or alcohol and see what happens. You might consider jumping in the ocean for an hour a day & see the great benefit you receive from being immersed in salt water.

We die of a kindness deficiency!

Yes, otherwise we’d never value money & power more than people which has caused us to be blind to the secondary cause of almost all health problems, the shortage of the two most life essential nutrients, water and salt.

Be kind and share this with family and friends.

Bob Butts
Watercure2.org
For The Family

WATCH THE WATER CURE VIDEO