April 2001 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

T H E E N S I G N O F T H E C H U R C H O F J E S U S C H R I S T O F L A T T E R - D A Y S A I N T S • A P R I L 2 0 0 1

SpecialWitnessesof Christ, p. 2

Delightingin theSabbath, p. 46

Christ at Emmaus, by Walter Rane

“And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyeswere opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn

within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:30–32).

COURTESY OF MUSEUM OF CHURCH HISTORY AND ART

T H E E N S I G N O F T H E C H U R C H O F J E S U S C H R I S T O F L A T T E R - D A Y S A I N T S • A P R I L 2 0 0 1

EARLY LESSONSON FOLLOWINGTHE PROPHET, P. 28

WELCOME TOWWW.LDS.ORG, P. 54

VOLUME 31 NUMBER 4

ON THE COVERS: Front: The Christus, by Bertel Thorvaldsen;photo by Craig Dimond. Back: Photo by Acey Harper, fromThe Mission. Inside front: Christ at Emmaus, by WalterRane, oil on panel, 28” x 32”, 1999. Inside back: Rescue of the Lost Lamb, by Minerva K. Teichert, oil on canvas,40” x 40”, 1940. Both art pieces courtesy of the Museum of Church History and Art.

THE FIRST PRESIDENCY: Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, James E. FaustQUORUM OF THE TWELVE: Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, David B.Haight, Neal A. Maxwell, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks,M. Russell Ballard, Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard G. Scott,Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, Henry B. EyringEDITOR: Dennis B. NeuenschwanderADVISERS: L. Lionel Kendrick, Yoshihiko Kikuchi, John M. Madsen

CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATORSMANAGING DIRECTOR: Ronald L. KnightonEDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Richard M. RomneyGRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Allan R. Loyborg

EDITORIAL STAFFMANAGING EDITOR: Jay M. ToddASSISTANT MANAGING EDITORS: Don L. Searle, Jonathan H. StephensonASSOCIATE EDITORS: Judith M. Paller, LaRene Porter Gaunt, Devan Jensen, Garrett H. GarffASSISTANT EDITORS: Rebecca M. Taylor, Kerry G. Smith, Barbara Jean JonesTEXT PROGRAMMER: Sally J. Odekirk

DESIGN STAFFMAGAZINE GRAPHICS MANAGER: M. M. KawasakiART DIRECTOR: J. Scott KnudsenSENIOR DESIGNERS: C. Kimball Bott, Fay P. Andrus, Tadd R. PetersonDESIGNER: Thomas S. Child

PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTIONPRINTING DIRECTOR: Kay W. BriggsDISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR (SUBSCRIPTIONS): Kris T. Christensen

© 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. The Ensign (ISSN 0884-1136) is published monthly by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 50 EastNorth Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150-3224,United States of America. Periodicals Postage Paid at Salt Lake City, Utah, and at additional mailing offices. All materials may be copied for incidental, noncommercialchurch or home use unless otherwise indicated. Other usesrequire permission of the copyright owner.The Ensign (preferred pronunciation: N’sign, not N’sun) will consider unsolicited manuscripts and art, but submis-sions must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope if return delivery is desired. Unsolicited manu-scripts and comments may also be submitted via e-mail at [email protected]. We encourage inter-ested authors to see “Call for Articles,” printed from time totime in “Comment.”Unless identified in captions, some persons photographed are models representing the situations portrayed.TO SUBSCRIBE: Send $10.00 U.S. check or money order to Church Magazines (see address below). Subscription help line:1-800-537-5971. Credit card orders (American Express,MasterCard, Visa) may be taken by phone. Audiocassettes: Individuals with visual impairment or physi-cal disability may obtain half-speed, four-track audiocassettes of the magazine. These are available monthly free of charge orthrough donations. Write to: Ensign Talking Book (see addressbelow) or call 1-800-537-5971.Regular issues are to reach U.S. and Canadian subscribers bythe first of the month, May and November general conferenceissues about two weeks later.NOTICE OF ADDRESS CHANGES: Sixty days’ noticerequired. Include address label from a recent issue; old address,as well as new address, is needed.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Salt Lake Distribution Center, Church Magazines, P.O. Box 26368, Salt Lake City, Utah 84126-0368, United States of America.CANADA POST INFORMATION: Publication Agreement
#1604791
2 SPECIAL WITNESSES OF CHRIST22 FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

James O. Mason28 EARLY LESSONS ON FOLLOWING THE PROPHET

Guy L. Dorius35 STANDING UP TO PROFANITY Paula K.Boothe38 ZACHARY AND SEAN Elizabeth Stoddard43 LOOKING FOR WILLIAM MOULTON

Michele M. Meservy46 “CALL THE SABBATH A DELIGHT” (ISA. 58:13) 53 VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE

INCREASING OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST54 WELCOME TO WWW.LDS.ORG58 HEALING THE SPIRITUAL WOUNDS

OF SEXUAL ABUSE Ann F. Pritt64 LATTER-DAY SAINT VOICES

DAVID LED THE WAY Sergio ArroyoCOLD CEREAL OR HOT SOUP?

Chris WrightI ASKED GOD TO TOUCH MY MOTHER’S HEART

Adilson José HortaWHY WAS IT SO HARD TO LEARN ITALIAN?

Wendy McLeod SmithTHE MEMORY OF MY FATHER’S FAITH

Ricardo EnohiTHE SHADOW OF DEATH WAS ON HER FACE

Victoria Ekong70 RANDOM SAMPLER73 LATTER-DAY COUNSEL74 NEWS OF THE CHURCH

2

Special Witnesses of Christ

Following is the text from a video presentation by

the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The presentation was broadcast by satellite between general conference

sessions on 1–2 April 2000.

The First Presidency, front row, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the North Visitors’ Center on Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

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PRESIDENTGORDON B. HINCKLEY

This great andancient city ofJerusalem—it

has always been an inspiration to me. It isso because this placebears the imprint ofthe Son of God. Twothousand years ago,the Savior of man-kind was born inBethlehem, a short distance to the south. He wasbrought here to the temple when He was an infant.Here Mary and Joseph heard the wonderful prophe-cies spoken by Simeon and Anna about this tiny babewho was destined to become the Savior of the world.

He spent His boyhood in Nazareth of Galilee to the north of us. When 12 years of age, He wasbrought back here to Jerusalem. Here He was foundby His mother conversing with the doctors in thetemple, “and they were hearing him, and asking himquestions” (JST, Luke 2:46, footnote c).

It was near here that He gazed out over this cityand said with sorrow, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thouthat killest the prophets, and stonest them which aresent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thychildren together, . . . and ye would not!” (Matt. 23:37).

Jerusalem was the scene of the final days of themortal life of the Son of God. Here He suffered the

President Gordon B. Hinckley speakin

. . . . . . . . . .P R E M O R T A

ELDER NEAOf the Quorum o

agony of Gethsemane,His arrest, His trials,His condemnation, theunspeakable pain ofHis death on the cross,His burial in Joseph’stomb, and the tri-umphant coming forthin the Resurrection.

None can fully com-prehend the splendorof His life, the majestyof His death, the uni-versality of His gift

to mankind. We declare with the centurion, who saidat His death, “Truly this man was the Son of God”(Mark 15:39).

Now, 2,000 years have come and gone since Hisbirth in Bethlehem. Surely this is a time for remem-brance and recommitment. In our day the Lord hascalled 15 special witnesses to testify of His divinity before all the world. Theirs is a unique calling; theyare Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, chosen andcommissioned by Him. They have been commandedto bear witness of His living reality by the power andauthority of the holy apostleship in them vested.

I invite you to listen to the testimonies of these spe-cial witnesses. They will speak to us from various loca-tions around the earth, testifying of His premortal,mortal, and postmortal ministry. God be thanked for thegift of His Son, the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, the Prince of Life and Peace, the Holy One.

g in Jerusalem.

. . . . . . . . . . .L M I N I S T R Y

L A. MAXWELLf the Twelve Apostles

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This magnificent, far-reaching telescope is delib-erately situated above the smog, so this power-ful instrument can better probe the galaxies. So

it is with life, and seeing by the lens of faith. If we areto see things more clearly, we too must lift ourselves

ahwpT

bove the secular smog. Then, in the words of theymn, we can “in awesome wonder consider all theorlds [God’s] hands have made . . . [and see God’s]ow’r thru-out the universe displayed” (“How Greathou Art,” Hymns, no. 86). Otherwise, we will be kept

“By viewing the stretching cosmos,

we can humbly contemplate the vastnessof divine handiwork.”

THE ENSIGN/APRIL 2001 5

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Elder Neal A. Maxwell speaking from the Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, located outsideSan Jose, California.

from probing Jesus’ universal gospel and from seeing “things as they really are” (Jacob 4:13).

Nevertheless, by viewing the stretching cosmos, we can humbly contemplate the vast-ness of divine handiwork. Long before He was born at Bethlehem and became known as Jesus ofNazareth, our Savior was Jehovah. Way back then,under the direction of the Father, Christ was theLord of the universe, who created worlds withoutnumber—of which ours is only one (see Eph. 3:9;Heb. 1:2).

How many planets are there in the universe withpeople on them? We don’t know, but we are notalone in the universe! God is not the God of only oneplanet!

I testify that Jesus is truly the Lord of the universe,“that by [Christ], and through him, and of him, theworlds are and were created, and the inhabitantsthereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God”(D&C 76:24).

Having purchased us (see 1 Cor. 7:23) with Hisatoning blood (see Acts 20:28) in the great and mar-velous Atonement, Jesus thereby became our Law-giver (see Isa. 33:22). It is by obedience to His laws

and His commandments that we may return one day to His presence and that of our Heavenly Father.

The foregoing cosmic facts should bring us to our knees even now—long before that laterJudgment Day, when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. I testify that Jesus fulfilled these great roles as Creator and Lawgiver out of His desire to im-mortalize all of Heavenly Father ’s children, with the most valiant to live in His Father ’s house, whichhas many mansions.

When Christ comes again, it will not be to themeekness of the manger; it will be as the recognizedRedeemer and the Lord of the universe! Then, in agreat solar display, stars will fall from their places in a witnessing way (see D&C 133:49), with muchmore drama than at His birth, when “the stars in theheavens looked down where he lay” (“Away in aManger,” Hymns, no. 206).

Yet in the vastness of His creations, the Lord of the universe, who notices the fall of every sparrow, is our personal Savior, of which I give apostolic testimony in the holy name of Jesus Christ,amen!

ELDER RUSSELL M. NELSONOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Elder Russell M. Nelson speaking from the grounds of Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

Whenever I look at stars in the sky, I am re-minded that about 4,000 years ago Jesus theChrist (then speaking as Jehovah—God of

the Old Testament) made a covenant with FatherAbraham. Included was the promise that the Saviorof the world would come through Abraham’s lineageand that his seed would be multiplied “as the stars of the heaven.” In addition, Abraham was told thatthrough his seed, “all the nations of the earth [shall]be blessed” (Gen. 22:17–18). This covenant was to beeverlasting—even through “a thousand generations”(1 Chr. 16:15). Abraham was promised “that this rightshall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee . . .even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are theblessings of salvation, even of life eternal” (Abr. 2:11).

From scriptures we learn that this covenant “shouldbe fulfilled in the latter days” (1 Ne. 15:18). Then thefulness of His gospel would be preached and manywould truly believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

In 1836, keys of “the gospel of Abraham” were con-ferred (D&C 110:12). In 1843 the Lord declared to theProphet Joseph Smith that “Abraham received promises

concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins—fromwhose loins ye are. . . . This promise is yours also, be-cause ye are of Abraham” (D&C 132:30–31).

Brothers and sisters, you may also claim the super-nal blessings promised to the faithful lineage ofAbraham. The Lord explained that blessings and re-sponsibilities of His priesthood are yours because ofyour faith, works, and lineage—the lineage declaredin your patriarchal blessings. You “are lawful heirs,”He said. “Your life and the priesthood have remained,and must needs remain through you and your line-age” (D&C 86:9–10).

The ultimate blessings of the Abrahamic covenantare conferred in holy temples. These blessings allow us to come forth in the First Resurrection and inheritthrones, kingdoms, powers, principalities, and domin-ions, to our “exaltation and glory in all things” (D&C132:19). The fulfillment of the ancient Abrahamiccovenant is feasible only because of the Lord JesusChrist. It is He who has made it possible for us to dwellwith God, with Him, and with our families eternally.This is His work and His glory. I love Him; I testify ofHim and express my everlasting gratitude for Him nowand forevermore, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.


“No grief isso great,

no pain so profound, noburden so unbearable thatit is beyond the Lord’s healing touch.”

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M O R T A L M I N I S T R Y

ELDER JOSEPH B. WIRTHLINOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Two thousandyears ago, twotravelers—a

man and a woman—looked upon a smallcity, Bethlehem. Thewoman, heavy withchild, had been travel-ing from Nazareth.The long journey wasmost difficult and souncomfortable for her.

Due to a suddeninflux of visitors, everyinn, every room in thecity was occupied. Theonly place Joseph andMary could find shel-ter was in a place where cattle were kept.

And so He was born: Jesus the Christ, the Messiah,the Beloved Son of God. The Creator of suns andmoons and swirling seas lay wrapped in swaddlingclothes, His surroundings among the most humbleearth had to offer.

At a very early age and continuing throughoutmy life, I have marveled at the beautiful story of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Theinspiring part of it all was the announcementthrough the prophets in the Old Testament and theBook of Mormon. They knew the plan of salvationand the major part He would play in saving allmankind. The singing of the angels as the shepherdsin their field were informed of the greatest event of history, and the Wise Men from the Far East who followed the star of Bethlehem—these inspiredevents captured my love and understanding of ourbeloved Savior.

As His birth, so His life. “Despised and rejected, . . . a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3),

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Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin speaking from

He had no place to lay His head. In ourmodern age, whereglory and fame iswrapped aroundmedals and worldlywealth, it seems al-most inconceivable to us that a solitaryman, without home,without political in-fluence, could changethe course of historyand eternity.

But I testify to youthat He did. Jesus the Christ taught the words of life. He

howed the way to truth, the way to peace, the wayo happiness. I testify that when He walked the earth,housands looked into His eyes—yearning for an-wers, yearning for release from suffering and grief,earning that the burdens they carried would be

ightened. Everyone who looked into His eyes withaith found healing, peace, and happiness.

As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I testify toou this day that the time will come when every onef us will look into the Savior ’s loving eyes. And weill know then with a surety that a child was born toary who was indeed the Son of God, the Savior of

he world. We will know that no grief is so great, noain so profound, no burden so unbearable that it iseyond His healing touch.

He asks that we believe in Him, that we learn ofim, that we strive to follow His teachings. That each

ne of us may never forget the sacredness of thisvent and celebrate His birth by coming unto Himnd keeping His commandments is my prayer in theame of Jesus Christ, amen.

Salt Lake City.


10

ELDERRICHARD G. SCOTTOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

ELDER L. TOM PERRYOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

t of the baptismal font in the

We all have avivid mem-ory of our

baptism and receiptof the Holy Ghost. Aswe grow in under-standing of the fullmeaning of the life of Jesus Christ, of what He has done to bless every soul, that ordinance takes on increasing significance. We did live in the pres-ence of our Eternal Father and of His Beloved Son,our Savior. Every mortal that has or ever will come to earth chose that privilege after fully under-standing the plan of happiness that would guide our life here.

Only those who make and keep the covenant ofbaptism, diligently obey His commandments, and receive all of the other necessary ordinances will have a fulness of joy on earth and will live eternally in thecelestial kingdom. For the truly repentant, baptismprovides a remission of sins because of the Atone-ment of Jesus Christ.

The Savior said, “Except a man be born of waterand of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom ofGod” (John 3:5). That is an absolute requirement forevery soul that would receive a fulness of the bless-ings offered us. That is why we perform, in holy tem-ples, the ordinance ofbaptism vicariouslyfor our deceased an-cestors. The MasterHimself was baptized“to fulfil all righteous-ness” (Matt. 3:15). Heis our perfect examplein all things.

I testify that ourLord and Savior, JesusChrist, is a resurrectedbeing of perfect loveand compassion. I wit-ness that He gave Hislife that we might liveeternally with Himand our Father in Elder L. Tom Perry speaking from Salt

Elder Richard G. Scott speaking in fronSalt Lake Tabernacle.

Heaven and our lovedones who qualify,through obedience tothe commandmentsand receipt of all ofthe ordinances of sal-vation. I solemnly wit-ness that I know thatthe Savior lives.

There was an experience in my life which has often reminded me of the joy resulting fromasking the question “What would the Savior

do in this situation?”I was among the first wave of Marines to go

ashore in Japan after the signing of the peace treatyfollowing World War II. Entering the devastated cityof Nagasaki was one of the saddest experiences of my life. A large part of the city had been totally de-stroyed. Some of the dead had not yet been buried.As occupation troops, we set up headquarters andwent to work.

The situation was very bleak, and a few of uswanted to give more. We went to our division chap-lain and requested permission to help rebuild theChristian churches. Because of government restric-tions during the war, these churches had almost

ceased to function.Their few buildingswere badly damaged.A group of us volun-teered to repair andreplaster these chapelsduring our off-dutytime so they would be available for theholding of Christianservices again.

We had no com-mand of the language.All we could accom-plish was the physicallabor of repairing thebuildings. We foundthe ministers who had Lake City.

ELDER HENRY B. EYRINGOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

been unable to serve during the war years and en-couraged them to return to their pulpits. We had atremendous experience with these people as theyagain experienced the freedom to practice theirChristian beliefs.

An event occurred as we were leaving Nagasakito return home that I will always remember. As wewere boarding the train that would take us to ourships to return home, we were teased by a lot of theother Marines. They had their girlfriends with themsaying good-bye to them. They laughed at us and indicated that we had missed the fun of being inJapan. We had just wasted our time laboring andplastering walls.

Just as they were at the height of theirteasing, up over a littlerise near the train sta-tion came about 200 ofthese great JapaneseChristians from thechurches we had repaired, singing“Onward, ChristianSoldiers.” They camedown and showeredus with gifts. Thenthey all lined up alongthe railroad track, andas the train starteddown the tracks, wereached out and justtouched their fingers as we left. We couldn’t speak;our emotions were too strong. But we were gratefulthat we could help in some small way in reestablish-ing Christianity in a nation after the war.

I know that God lives. I know that we are all His children and that He loves us. I know that He sent His Son to the world to be an atoning sac-rifice for all mankind, and those who embrace Hisgospel and follow Him will enjoy eternal life, thegreatest of all gifts of God. I know that He directedthe Restoration of the gospel again here upon theearth through the ministry of the Prophet JosephSmith. I know that the only lasting joy and happi-ness we will ever find during our mortal experi-ence will come by following the Savior, obeying His law, and keeping His commandments. He lives. This is my witness to you in His holy name, evenJesus Christ, amen.

Elder Henry B. Eyring speaking from th

This building on its east facade has the words“The House of the Lord.” The first time I walkedjust a few feet into the temple I had the feeling

that I had been here before. In an instant, the thoughtcame to me that what I recognized was a sense ofpeace beyond anything I had felt before in this life,but that I seemed to recognize, and almost remember.

We knew our Heavenly Father and His BelovedSon before we came into this life. We felt peace withThem then, and we long to be with Them again, withour families and those we love.

Dedicated templesare sacred placeswhere the risen Saviormay come. In them wecan feel the peace ofour associations withHim in the life before.In them we can makethe covenants whichhelp us to come untoHim in this life andwhich will permitHim, if we keep ourpromises to Him, totake us home to theFather, with our fami-lies, in the world tocome.

Every part of these buildings and all that goes oninside them reflect the love of the Savior for us andour love for Him. I felt that one day, high in this tem-ple. I was in one of the towers, in a place few peoplewould have been since the building was dedicated. Ina small room that has rarely if ever been used, I sawexquisite pioneer era woodwork.

I remember the sense of awe that came over mewhen I imagined the workmen who had so carefullycarved and finished the detailed moldings. Theytoiled away without power tools in a place where, for the most part, only the Lord they loved and heav-enly beings would look upon it. They did it not forman or for recognition but for Him, for His house.They knew, as I do, that He lives and that He askedHis people to gather and to be worthy to build Him a house, that He might direct them and bless themand their families.

e east steps of the Salt Lake Temple.


12

I know that He lives. I know that Joseph Smithwas His prophet and saw in vision not only theshape of the windows for an early temple but thespread of temples across the earth. The Lord has inHis loving-kindness entrusted the keys of the priest-hood exercised in these temples to His servants, tobless us and our kindred dead and to finish the workfor His glorious return. I know that is true, and itbrings peace to myheart. In the name ofJesus Christ, amen.

ELDERROBERT D. HALESOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

ELDERDAVID B. HAIGHTOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I have a great lovefor the scriptures.I love reading

about the mortal lifeof Jesus Christ. Thereis so much in His lifethat can lift and in-spire and strengthenus in our times ofneed. To me, one of the most sacred chapters in all the scriptures is John chapter 17. The entire chapter is an intercessory prayer offered by Jesus Christ toHis Father. He says, in effect, “If only the world couldknow you as I know you.” He tells His Father that Hehas done everything He has been asked to do.

Sometimes we forget how remarkably obedientthe Savior was. Everything that He did, everythingthat He said was out of obedience to His Father. Hisseeking out and caring for the poor, the calling of Hisdisciples, His teachings both in the land of Palestineand in the Americas—all these things were done be-cause His Father had commanded Him to do them.He had no personal agenda. He said, “I do nothing ofmyself; but as my Father hath taught me” (John 8:28).What a perfect example of obedience!

In the choices we make in life, we need to knowthe Savior. His simple admonition “Come . . . followme” (Matt. 19:21) could transform human existence if we would let it. He has the power to make our bur-dens light if we will turn to Him.

As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have theopportunity to bear testimony as a sacred witness of

Elder Robert D. Hales speaking from th

the Savior. My greatest desire is that my testimonymight penetrate the hearts of those who hear it.

I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that He guidesand directs His Church by revelation through Hisprophet in this very day and time. If we will have faithin our Savior, He will see us through our trials and tribu-lations, and we will be able to endure to the end and re-turn to His presence after this mortal probation. He lives

and knows and loveseach one of us. He somuch wants to bless usif we will come untoHim. Of this I bearhumble testimony andwitness in the name ofJesus Christ, amen.

I often think of thetime PresidentSpencer W.

Kimball, a few yearsago, called me to the temple. I was busy as anAssistant to the Twelve at that time, and he tele-phoned me to meet him at the fourth floor of thetemple. He said, “David, can you come right now?”And I said, “Yes, President.” And he said, “Rightnow.” And as I walked to the temple, my heart wasbeating fast, not knowing, of course, what PresidentKimball was calling me there for.

But he took me into a room that I hadn’t been in before, and there President Kimball interviewedme regarding my worthiness. And, of course, I wasamazed because of his speaking to me that way, because I didn’t have any idea why I was there. And then he motioned for us to stand, and as I wasstanding with that wonderful man and he’s holdingmy hands, he said to me, “With all the love that Ipossess, I’m calling you to fill the vacancy in theQuorum of the Twelve Apostles.” And when he saidthat, I thought I would collapse with the shock, the astonishment that came into my mind!

And so, as I had sleepless nights after that call, Imulled that in my mind and I have thought of it timeand time again. He did not say, “As the President of

e Bountiful Utah Temple grounds.

the Church” or “As theprophet” or “By myauthority.” He said, inthat humble, humbleway of his, “With allthe love that I pos-sess.” He was teachingme that love is essen-tial—the love that theSavior hopes that wewill acquire—that wemust show, that we must demonstrate, we must feelin our hearts and souls in order to teach the gospelproperly.

As we meet with people out in the world and beartestimony of a living God, I have that warm, comfort-able feeling in my heart that He’s real, that God lives,that He is our Father in Heaven, and that Jesus is theChrist, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh. I knowthat that’s true. I so bear my witness and my testi-mony and my knowledge and the burning that is inmy heart that this is true, in the name of Jesus Christ,our Savior, amen.

Elder David B. Haight speaking from

ELDER DALLIN H. OAKSOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

ELDERJEFFREY R. HOLLANDOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

At the conclusion of His ministry, Jesus intro-duced the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. He

broke bread and blessed it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my body”(Matt. 26:26). “This doin remembrance ofme” (Luke 22:19). Hetook the cup and gavethanks and gave it tothem, saying, “This ismy blood of the newtestament, which isshed for many for theremission of sins”(Matt. 26:28).

The sacrament ofthe Lord’s Supper is a renewal of the cove-nants and blessings ofbaptism. We are com-manded to repent ofour sins and to cometo the Lord with a

Elder Dallin H. Oaks speaking from a chMemorial Building in Salt Lake City.

broken heart and acontrite spirit and par-take of the sacrament.In partaking of thebread, we witness thatwe are willing to takeupon us the name ofJesus Christ and al-ways remember Himand keep His com-mandments. When

we comply with this covenant, the Lord renews thecleansing effect of our baptism. We are made cleanand can always have His Spirit to be with us.

The administration of the sacrament and the re-newal of covenants and cleansing that take place inthe partaking of the sacrament are the most importantacts in the Sabbath worship of Latter-day Saints. Wedo this in remembrance of the blood of the OnlyBegotten Son, Jesus Christ. He is at the center of ourfaith. He is our Savior and our Redeemer.

In this year in which we celebrate the 2,000th anniversary of His birth, I add my testimony to thatof His other Apostles. I testify that He lives and lovesus. I testify that as the Light and Life of the World, He has provided the way for us to return to ourheavenly home to enjoy the associations and highestblessings of God our Eternal Father, even eternal life,the greatest of all the gifts of God. In the name ofJesus Christ, amen.

the Church Office Building.

Few places onearth are as sa-cred and impor-

tant as this small groveof olive trees here onthe Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. It washere in the Garden ofGethsemane, on thatlast night in mortality,that Jesus left HisApostles and de-scended alone into thedepth of agony that

apel located in the Joseph Smith


1

PRESIDENT GORDON B. HINCKLEY

would be His atoningsacrifice for the sins ofall mankind.

Moving slowly,kneeling, falling for-ward on His face, Hecried, “Abba, Father,all things are possibleunto thee; take awaythis cup from me:nevertheless not whatI will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36).

To the thoughtful follower of Christ, it is a matter of surpassing wonder that the voluntary and mercifulsacrifice of a single being could satisfy the infinite andeternal demands of justice; atone for every humanmisdeed; bear every mortal infirmity; feel every per-sonal heartache, sorrow, and loss. But I testify that is ex-actly what Christ did for every one of us. I bear solemnwitness that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the com-passionate foundation and central fact in God’s eternalplan for our salvation and our happiness.

Is it any wonder that we walk quietly and reverentlyhere? Is it any wonder that we make sacred covenants

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland speaking from

4

President Gordon B. Hinckley speaking from the Garden Tomb.

because of the love thatwas demonstratedhere? Is it any wonderthat Christ, the greatestof all, partook of thebitter cup and did notshrink here, that wemight not suffer if wewould repent and comeunto Him?

I declare my wonderand awe, my adoration and apostolic witness of Him inHis redeeming name, the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

the Garden of Gethsemane.

Just outside the walls of Jerusalem, in this place or somewhere nearby, was the tomb of Joseph ofArimathea where the body of the Lord was interred.

On the third day following His burial “came MaryMagdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

“And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for theangel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came androlled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. . . .

“And the angel . . .said unto the women,Fear not ye: for I knowthat ye seek Jesus,which was crucified.

“He is not here: forhe is risen, as he said.Come, see the placewhere the Lord lay”(Matt. 28:1–2, 5–6).

These are the mostreassuring words in all of human history. Death—universal and final—had now been conquered. “O death, where is thysting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Cor. 15:55).

To Mary the Risen Lord first appeared. He spoketo her, and she replied. He was real. He was alive, Hewhose body had been laid in death. Small wonderthat when Thomas later saw Him with His woundedhands and side, he exclaimed in wonder, “My Lordand my God” (John 20:28).

Never had this occurred before. There had beenonly death without hope. Now there was life eternal.Only a God could have done this. The Resurrection ofJesus Christ was the great crowning event of His life andmission. It was the capstone of the Atonement. The sac-rifice of His life for all mankind was not complete with-out His coming forth from the grave, with the certaintyof the Resurrection for all who have walked the earth.

Of all the victories in the chronicles of humanity,none is so great, none so universal in its effects, noneso everlasting in its consequences as the victory ofthe crucified Lord, who came forth from the tombthat first Easter morning.

Those who were witnesses of that event, all whosaw and heard and spoke with the Risen Lord, testi-fied of the reality of this greatest of all miracles. Hisfollowers through the centuries lived and died inproclamation of the truth of this supernal act.

To all of these we add our testimony that He whodied on Calvary’s cross arose again in wondrous splen-dor as the Son of God, the Master of life and death.

Elder M. Russell Ballard in front of the Teach All Nations.”

ELDER M. RUSSELL BALLARDOf the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

When the Savior originally charged HisApostles, “Go ye into all the world” (Mark16:15), His Church was very small, with mem-

bers scattered in the geographic region now known

as the Middle East. Hisdynamic Apostles, likePeter, James, John, andPaul, traveling mostlyby foot or by ship, dideverything they couldto keep the little flocktogether.

But the distanceand the lack of com-munication made theirwork very difficult.They themselves knew

that the future would bring “a falling away” from theteachings of the gospel (2 Thes. 2:3); they also knewthat eventually there would come to the world arestoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I testify that the Restoration of the gospel was accom-plished, beginning with the appearance of HeavenlyFather and the Lord Jesus Christ to the Prophet JosephSmith in the spring of 1820.

Since that glorious day, more than 90 men havebeen called to serve as Apostles with the same com-mission as the Apostles of old, to teach all nations thatJesus is the Christ, the Son of God our Eternal Father.Today, our labors are greatly enhanced by jet airplanesand remarkable technology that stretch the reach ofour ministry to the furthest parts of the world. Since1820, over 750,000 full-time missionaries have served in the world, teaching and testifying of Christ in over100 languages and in 137 nations and territories.

I testify to you that it is the will of our Father inHeaven, through His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ,that this mighty work moves forward. It is by Him andthrough Him that our missionaries bear humble andsincere testimony. I’m a witness of that. I came to knowfor myself the truth of this work and of the Savior ’s di-vinity while serving as a full-time missionary in England50 years ago. I know it more surely today, through ex-periences too numerous and too sacred to discuss.

This is His gospel. He stands at the head—holy, divine, supreme, full of power, majesty, grace, andtruth. He lived for us, and He died for us, because Heloves us. I love Him more deeply and powerfully thanI can find words to express. He is my Lord, my Savior,my Redeemer, and my friend. I know that Jesus Christis the Son of God our Eternal Father. He lives and di-rects His Church today through His prophet and HisApostles. His great work will continue to roll forth un-til it fills the whole earth. This is my testimony in thename of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

painting “Go Ye Therefore, and


“The youngprophet

Joseph Smithsaw in visionGod the Fatherand His Son,Jesus Christ, in the SacredGrove inPalmyra, New York.”

PRESIDENT JAMES E. FAUSTSecond Counselor in the First Presidency

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

P O S T M O R T A L M I N I S T R Y

PRESIDENT BOYD K. PACKERActing President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

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In this room onApril the 3rd, in1836, there was

fulfilled a prophecywhich had been givenmore than 2,000 yearsbefore. The closingwords of the OldTestament, given bythe prophet Malachi,prophesied that,“Behold, I will sendyou Elijah the prophetbefore the coming ofthe great and dreadfulday of the Lord:

“And He shall turnthe heart of the fathersto the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse”(Mal. 4:5–6).

When the angel Moroni appeared to the ProphetJoseph Smith, he quoted many scriptures; amongthem, this one was separated out and appears as the second section of the Doctrine and Covenants.Then on that day in 1836, Joseph Smith and OliverCowdery in this room knelt in solemn and silentprayer, and after rising from prayer Joseph said: “The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened.

“[And] we saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit” (D&C 110:1–2).

The Lord spoke to them, and then Moses appeared and committed to them the keys of thegathering of Israel. Elias committed to them the keysof the gospel of Abraham. And then it happened:Elijah the prophet came, giving that same statement,the turning of the hearts of the fathers to the childrenand the hearts of the children to the fathers, and hesaid, “By this [you] may know that the great anddreadful day of the Lord is . . . at the [gates]” (D&C110:16).

President Boyd K. Packer speaking fr

Now, in our day,the marvelous workis moving forward—the family historywork, the templework in which fami-lies are being unitedfor all eternity. Andin a world that is de-grading itself withthe dissolution offamilies, this workgoes forward across the world. It is a su-pernal work. It is awork designed bythe Lord and intro-duced by Himself as

He came to this spot and introduced the prophetElijah, who gave the keys of this work.

I bear testimony that Jesus is the Christ. This is asupernal work; the mind of man could not have con-ceived it. It is true. Jesus is the Christ. He lives. He directs and leads this Church. Of this I bear solemntestimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

om the Kirtland Temple.

I am humbled to stand on this sacred ground in his-toric Nauvoo. This city was also known as the Cityof Joseph, named after Joseph Smith, its founder.

He it was who saw in vision God the Father and HisSon, Jesus Christ, in the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York. His life is a testament that he communedwith the Christ to bring more spiritual truth, keys, andauthority to the earth than any other prophet.

So much of the important history of the early daysof our Church took place here. A magnificent templewas erected here. It was the second temple built inthis dispensation. The Nauvoo Temple was built sothat the members of the Church could receive the


PRESIDENT THOMAS S. MONSONFirst Counselor in the First Presidency

highest blessingswhich God has for His people.

As I walk overthese hallowed foun-dation stones of theNauvoo Temple, mysoul is subdued. Onthe last day before thetemple was closed andthe Saints left, manyvirtually lived in the temple. My great-grandparentsJohn and Jane Akerley were among the last to receivetheir temple blessings in this magnificent building, onFebruary 3, 1846. This was providential, because JohnAkerley died at Winter Quarters. In time, this magnif-icent temple will be rebuilt to the glory of the Lord.

This is where the temple baptismal font was lo-cated. Said the Savior to Nicodemus, “Except a manbe born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enterinto the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Salvation forboth the living and the dead depends upon this andother ordinances, all of which is a powerful confirma-tion of my belief that Jesus is the Christ.

In the Gethsemanes of life which we all have, andoften in my present calling, I have gone to my kneeswith a humble spirit to the only place I could for help.I often went in agony of spirit, earnestly pleadingwith God to sustain me in the work I have come toappreciate more than life itself. I have, on occasion,felt a terrible aloneness of the wounds of the heart, of the sweet agony,the buffetings ofSatan, and the encir-cling warm comfort of the Spirit of the Master.

I have also felt thecrushing burden, theself-doubts of inade-quacy and unworthi-ness, the fleetingfeeling of being for-saken, then of be-ing reinforced an hundredfold. I haveclimbed a spiritualMount Sinai dozens of times, seeking to communicate and to

President James E. Faust speaking from N

President Thomas S. Monson speakingPalmyra, New York.

18

receive instructions. It has been as though I have struggled up an almost real Mount of Transfiguration and, upon occasion, felt great strength and power in the pres-ence of the Divine. Aspecial, sacred feelinghas been a sustaining

influence and often a close companion.As I serve in the calling of the holy apostleship,

I recognize that I am a very ordinary man. Yet I gratefully acknowledge one special gift. I have a certain knowledge that Jesus of Nazareth is our Divine Savior. I know that He lives. I know that through the unspeakable agony of theAtonement, men and women, if they repent, can be forgiven of their sins. Because of the miracle of the Resurrection, all will rise from thedead. I feel His love and marvel at the price He paid for each of us. I wonder how many drops of blood were spilled for me. This is the testimony I give of Him, even in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

auvoo, Illinois—the City of Joseph.

We see todaythe beautifullyand authenti-

cally restored GrandinBuilding situated inPalmyra, New York.The restoration of the Grandin Buildinghad as its objective “to maintain the his-torical integrity of thebuilding, while allow-ing the visitor to be enveloped in the history of the time.”

This is where thefirst edition of the Book of Mormon was printed, with the

from the Grandin Building in

PRESIDENT MONSONSPEAKS AT THEHILL CUMORAH

number of copies in this first edition totaling 5,000, anunusually large order for the rural printing business.Mr. E. B. Grandin had acquired a Smith PatentedImproved Press from New York. The press featurednew technology over the common presses of the dayand offered the Prophet Joseph Smith the prospectsof printing the Book of Mormon closer to his home.

Let’s turn back the pages of history that we mightmore fully appreciate one of civilization’s greatest wonders, namely the advent of movable type. BeforeGutenberg discoveredthe possibilities of mov-able type, everythingwas printed with aquill pen, letter by let-ter, line by line, page bypage. It was movabletype from which Mr.Grandin printed theBook of Mormon. Itwas tediously com-posed by the hands ofa skilled compositor,who learned frommemory and experi-ence every typeface,font, and size available.After the page wasformed, it was inkedand printed and then was available for binding.

The Lord brought forth the Book of Mormon at a period of time when printing methods would enhance its distribution far and wide. Modern-dayprinting presses now enable the Church to print and distribute millions of copies of the Book ofMormon each year.

May I share with you an experience I had manyyears ago in the southern area of the United Stateswhen, after a stake conference, a woman came for-ward and asked, “Do you know Elder Delbert L.Stapley?” I replied that he and I were Apostles of the Lord, serving together in the Master ’s work. She then handed me a copy of the Book of Mormonwhich contained an inscription and the signature of Delbert L. Stapley. She indicated the volume had been given to her grandmother when ElderStapley was a young missionary. She added, “Couldyou present this book to Elder Stapley and tell him hundreds of my grandmother ’s descendantshave been converted by this volume; and they, in

President Monson speaking from the H

turn, conveyed the message of the Book of Mormonto others.”

I presented that signed copy of the Book ofMormon to Elder Stapley. He listened attentivelywhen I explained where and how it had been givento me. Quietly he examined his signature and said,“This is one of the happiest days of my life.”

It is my personal testimony that the Book ofMormon changes human lives. It is indeed anothertestament of Jesus Christ.

What a privilege to be here

at the Hill Cumorahand to reflect on themomentous eventsthat unfolded onSeptember 22, 1827,when a plowboyprophet took a horseand wagon and, inthe dark of night,rode to this hill, where he received

an ancient record from the angel Moroni. In a remarkably short time, this untutored young mantranslated a record detailing 1,000 years of historyand then prepared the Book of Mormon for publicdistribution.

The way of Joseph Smith was not without mean-spirited criticism or monumental effort. Joseph didnot wilt, nor did he waver. He later declared: “By thewisdom of God, [the plates] remained safe in myhands, until I had accomplished by them what wasrequired. . . . When, according to arrangements, themessenger called for them, I delivered them up tohim” (JS—H 1:60).

This beautiful area of God’s garden attracts liter-ally millions of visitors, most of whom come to seethe Hill Cumorah Pageant. The visitor often comeswith an attitude of curiosity. He or she departs with a soul touched by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Book of Mormon is a new witness of JesusChrist. Its message spans the entire earth and bringsits readers to a knowledge of truth. It answers that

ill Cumorah.


PRESIDENTGORDON B. HINCKLEY

piercing and universalquestion best phrasedby Job of old: “If a man die, shall he liveagain?” (Job 14:14).

Many years ago I was called to the bedside of RobertWilliams, a young man who lay dying.His wife and their two children stoodnearby. We were alltrying to be brave, buttears were in our eyes. Robert asked me, “Wheredoes my spirit go when I die?” I offered a silentprayer. I noticed on his bedside table a copy of thetriple combination. I reached for the book andfanned the pages.

Suddenly I discovered that I had, with no efforton my part, stopped at the 40th chapter of Alma in the Book of Mormon. I read these words to Robert: “Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

“And . . . the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is calledparadise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where theyshall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow” (Alma 40:11–12).

As I continued to read about the Resurrection, a glow came to Robert’s face, a smile graced his lips, and his tired and ill body slept. I said good-bye to his wife and children. I next saw them at RobertWilliams’s funeral. In those precious corridors ofmemory, I think back to that night when a youngman pleaded for truth and, from the Book ofMormon, heard the answer to his question.

I read the words, but God turned the pages. Yes, our Heavenly Father does answer prayers, in His own time and in His own way. I bear an apostolic witness that Jesus is the Savior of the world and that He and His Father appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith to usher in this dispensation of the fulness of times, and so declare in His holy name, the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

President Hinckley speaking from the

20

This is the SacredGrove. This hallowed

ground is reverencedby Latter-day Saintsthroughout the world.Here is where it all began, the miracle ofthis great work whichhas spread over theearth. This is the scene

of the First Vision. It was here that God, the EternalFather, appeared with His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ,the resurrected Lord. The Father, pointing to His Son,said, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (JS—H 1:17).

Do you realize the import of that declaration? Here was God, the Eternal Father, the Almighty, bear-ing testimony in words plainly spoken. No more important or compelling testimony has been given ofthe Risen Lord than this testimony of His own Father.

The curtains that had been closed for centurieswere now parted. A new and glorious gospel dispen-sation was opened, introducing yet other marvelousrevelations. Another testament of Jesus Christ wasbrought forth to speak as a voice from the dust. Theholy priesthood, originally bestowed by the Master onHis living Apostles, was restored upon living men bythese same Apostles, now resurrected. There followeda veritable “cloud of witnesses” with keys and powersto complete the restoration of the Church establishedby Jesus when He walked the earth, now to be knownas The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Here in this very place the long night of apostasyblossomed into the glorious dawn of a new age. GodHimself was both seen and heard. Here, where westand in the quiet of these trees, in this most sacredof places, the nature of Deity was again revealed.

The uncluttered and receptive mind of a boy be-came the instrument of the revelation here given andof many more yet to follow. Standing as the 15th in linefrom Joseph Smith and bearing the prophetic mantlewhich came upon him, I solemnly declare my testi-mony that the Prophet Joseph’s account of these eventsis true, that the Father here bore witness of the divinityof His Son, that the Son instructed the boy prophet,and that there followed a train of events which led tothe organization of “the only true and living church

Sacred Grove.

upon the face of the whole earth, with which,” He declared, “I, the Lord, am well pleased” (D&C 1:30).

Of the reality and personality of the living Godand of His Son, our Redeemer, I stand as a solemnand reverent witness, speaking these words by thepower of the Holy Ghost, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

PRESIDENT HINCKLEY’S CONCLUDING STATEMENT

amen. �Gospel topics: Jesus Christ, Atonement, Church history

How I love my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!His stirring commission and His divine lovemotivate all of us in this work. I love my

brethren. To a man they are loyal. Without hesitation

BESI

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“Jesus Christ . . .stands at the head

of this Church which bears His sacred name. He iswatching over it. He is guiding it.Standing at the righthand of His Father,He directs this work.”

they respond to every call. They are true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is He, Jesus Christ, who stands at the head of this Church which bears His sacred name. He is watching over it. He is guiding it. Standing at the right hand of His Father, He directs this work.Unitedly, as His Apostles, authorized and commis-sioned by Him to do so, we bear our witness that Helives and that He will come again to claim His king-dom and rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Of this we are certain and bear apostolic testimony in His holy name, even the name of Jesus Christ,


Faith in Jesus Christ takes us beyondmere acceptance of the Savior’s identity and existence. It includeshaving complete confidence in Hisinfinite and eternal redemptive power.

B Y J A M E S O. M A S O N

manifestation, as I previously had one.”

in JesusChrist

2

FAITHin JesusChrist

Great faith in Jesus Christ led to abundantblessings for those who associated with theSavior during His mortal ministry. For exam-

ple, a centurion begged Jesus to heal his servant whowas sick. The Savior observed, “I have not found sogreat faith, no, not in Israel,” and the servant “washealed in the selfsame hour” because of the centu-rion’s faith.1

When the resurrected Lord appeared on theAmerican continent, He told the assembled multi-tude, “So great faith have I never seen among all theJews; wherefore I could not show unto them so greatmiracles, because of their unbelief.”2 As a conse-quence of the multitude’s great faith, their little chil-dren experienced the ministering of angels, healing,and other marvelous blessings.

The Savior was disappointed when His disciplesand others demonstrated little or no faith in Him. Onone occasion, Jesus boarded a small ship to cross theSea of Galilee. There arose a great storm of wind, andthe waves beat into the ship. The Savior slept, obliviousto the danger and weary from the day’s labors. TheApostles, fearing that the ship would sink, awoke Him,crying,

“Master, carest thou not that we perish?“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said

unto the sea, Peace be still. And the wind ceased, andthere was a great calm.”

2

Jesus then asked, “Why are ye so fearful? how is itthat ye have no faith?”3

Matthew wrote that Jesus did not do many mightyworks in Nazareth, his home village, “because of theirunbelief.”4 How often do we go without intended bless-ings because of our little faith?5 No wonder the earlyApostles pleaded to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”6

Increased faith is as vital and necessary today as itwas when Jesus walked the earth. Our modern worldstruggles with insufficient faith. President Gordon B.Hinckley said in a conference talk: “This is my prayerfor all of us. . . . Increase our faith to bridge the chasmsof uncertainty and doubt. . . . Grant us faith to look be-yond the problems of the moment to the miracles ofthe future. . . . Give us faith to do what is right and letthe consequences follow.”7

In fact, the Restoration of the gospel occurred as theresult of great faith on the part of the Prophet JosephSmith while he was yet a boy in his early teens. Thecoming forth of the Book of Mormon was an act offaith in Jesus Christ on the part of ancient Americanprophets who wrote their revelations and spiritual ex-periences upon metal plates. They had faith that theirrecord would be a significant part of a glorious restora-tion of the gospel in latter days. The angel Moroni ap-peared to Joseph Smith on a September night in 1823when he approached the Lord in faith. He later wrote,“For I had full confidence [faith] in obtaining a divine

8

WHAT IS FAITH?The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that faith is “the

first principle in revealed religion, and the foundationof all righteousness.”9 The Apostle Paul defined faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence ofthings not seen.”10 The Prophet Joseph Smith furtherrevealed through his inspired revision of the Bible (the


After rebuking the wind and waves,

the Savior asked Hisdisciples, “Why areye so fearful? how isit that ye have nofaith?” (Mark 4:40).

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After one interview, my bishop asked if I was going to live my entire life

without knowing if the gospel was true.

JST) that faith was the “assurance of things hoped for”(substituting assurance for substance). He explained thatfaith “is the assurance we have of the existence of un-seen things. And being the assurance, . . . [faith] mustbe the principle of action in all intelligent beings.”11

A song that Primary children sing teaches the nature of faith:

Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day.

Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray.

Faith is like a little seed: If planted it will grow.

Faith is a swelling within my heart. When I do right, I know.12

President Hinckley observed, “When I discussfaith, I do not mean it in an abstract sense. I mean it as a living, vital force with recognition of God as ourFather and Jesus Christ as our Savior. When we acceptthis basic premise, there will come an acceptance oftheir teachings and an obedience which will bringpeace and joy in this life and exaltation in thelife to come.”13

Faith, belief, and hope are oftenused interchangeably, and it may bedifficult to distinguish betweenthese words. There is a differ-ence, however. Although wecannot have faith withoutbelief and hope, we can be-lieve without havingfaith. Elder James E.Talmage (1862–1933) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained, “Belief, inone of its acceptedsenses, may consist in a merely intellectual as-sent, while faith impliessuch confidence andconviction as will impelto action.”14 The Saviortaught, “Not every one that saith unto me,Lord, Lord, shall enterinto the kingdom ofheaven; but he thatdoeth the will of myFather which is inheaven.”15 The ApostleJames said it anotherway: “Even so faith, if it

4

hath not works, is dead, being alone.”16 So-called faithwithout works is not faith at all!

Faith is interwoven with other gospel attributes,especially hope and charity.17 All three help bring usto Christ. Feelings of doubt, fear, despair, or discour-agement are the opposite of faith, hope, and charity.Faith requires action, and action is inhibited by fearand doubt. Doubt and fear diminish as one’s faith in-creases. In the parable of the talents, the slothful ser-vant’s underlying problem was lack of faith. On theday of reckoning, he rationalized, “And I was afraid,and went and hid thy talent in the earth.”18 The twoservants who were given five and two talents, respec-tively, multiplied them through faith and personal ef-fort. They were rewarded, while the faithless, fearingservant lost what he had received. Shakespeare de-scribed the negative effects of little faith, “Our doubtsare traitors, and make us lose the good we oft mightwin by fearing to attempt.”19

FAITH IS IN THE LORD AND HIS PROMISES

Our faith is in our Heavenly Father and His OnlyBegotten Son, Jesus Christ. Although we talk of hav-ing faith in people, in principles, or in things, real faithfocuses on eternal life through knowing “the only trueGod, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent.”20 Faithtakes us beyond mere acceptance of the Savior ’s iden-tity and existence. It includes having complete confi-dence in His infinite and eternal redemptivepower to save us from sin and death.Faith permits us to acknowledgeChrist’s divine attributes, including infi-nite love for both the innocent and thesinner. It acknowledges the Lord’s limit-less capacity to forgive and heal when wecast our burdens upon Him. Faith also in-cludes certitude that His promises in thescriptures and the words of latter-dayprophets will be kept. Thus, integrity andobedience to the law of tithing, Word ofWisdom, and law of chastity are matters of faith. Those who pay tithing are able toenthusiastically testify that the Lord does“open you the windows of heaven, andpour you out a blessing, that there shall notbe room enough to receive it.”21

Faith in Jesusstrengthened and praying aof Mormon.

GAINING FAITH THAT SAVES

Jacob, Nephi’s younger brother, wrote that hisfaith and his people’s faith became “unshaken, in-somuch that we truly can command in the name ofJesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.”22 Our goal today should bethe same, to have unshakable faith.

Some seem to acquire strong faith almost naturallyas they grow up. For me, gaining strong faith wassomewhat of a struggle. I was born of goodly parentsand raised in a home where I grew up under the in-fluence of the gospel. However, when I reached mis-sionary age, my faith was not strong enough toenable me to feel comfortable teaching and testifyingto others not of our faith. This unbelief led me to turndown my bishop’s urging that I serve a mission.

After one of our interviews, the bishop pointedlyasked if I was going to live my entire life withoutknowing whether the gospel was true. He made itquite clear that it was up to me to do somethingabout my lack of faith and encouraged me to makethis a matter of urgent study and prayer.

Unfortunately, my desire was weak and I was un-willing to give the needed time and effort. As a univer-sity student, however, I found myself increasinglyconfronted with choices relating to gospel standards.

This helped me understand that I did need to know if the Church was true and, if it was, the necessity ofleading a life consistent with its teachings. Therefore, I did not register for the next quarter ’s universityclasses. I devoted several months to a careful readingof the Book of Mormon, the New Testament, andmany chapters of the Old Testament. I knelt down fre-quently to ask God to help me understand the things Iwas reading and to give me a testimony of the Book of

Mormon.The fulfillment of the promise in the

Book of Mormon that the Lord would“manifest the truth of it . . . by the power of the Holy Ghost”23 did not happen im-mediately. One Sunday, not long after I finished reading the Book of Mormon, I attended fast and testimony meeting inmy ward. A sister gave a beautiful testi-mony of the Savior and the gospel. I re-member wishing I had such a testimony.As she sat down, I found myself gettingto my feet. At that moment I experi-enced something indescribable in myheart and mind. The impressions wereso powerful I felt like my hair wasstanding on end. I testified with certi-tude that the Book of Mormon wastrue and that Jesus, the living Christ,

was my Redeemer. I gladly received a call to serve amission soon after that marvelous experience. My mis-sion turned out to be one of the most important andfulfilling experiences of my life. My faith, to this day,continues to increase.

Those seeking faith in Jesus Christ, which moti-vates us to action, may not realize there is a price topay. Many, like leprous Naaman,24 expect some greatthing without obedience and hard work.

Desire is the foundation of faith. Alma taught theZoramites how to begin the process of gaining faith.He encouraged, “Arouse your faculties, even to an ex-periment upon my words, and exercise a particle offaith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe,let this desire work in you.”25 Desire may be either aug-mented or quenched by circumstances. For example,the riches of the world, the honors of men, popularity,peer pressure, or keeping up with the Joneses may diminish our desire for faith, whereas pain, suffering,loneliness, or loss of loved ones often create deepemotions and a yearning for hope and faith.

Christ can beby studyingbout the Book

INCREASING OUR FAITH

Four steps, when coupled with desire, help usgain faith in Jesus Christ. They are study, prayer, serviceand sacrifice, and personal righteousness.


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The home is the best placeto plant and nourish the

seeds of faith.

Study. We gain faith like any other attribute. TheProphet Joseph Smith instructed, “Faith comes byhearing the word of God, through the testimony ofthe servants of God.”26 Thus, we see the importanceof attending Church, studying the scriptures, viewingor listening to general conference where possible, andreading the reports of general conference.

Prayer. The Apostle Paul counseled that throughour prayers we “might perfect that which is lacking in[our] faith.”27

Service and sacrifice. The Prophet Joseph Smithtaught, “Let us here observe, that a religion that doesnot require the sacrifice of all things never has powersufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life andsalvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faithnecessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvationnever could be obtained without the sacrifice of allearthly things.”28 We must be willing to pass the sametests of faith and devotion as did Abraham.29

Personal righteousness. The Savior taught, “If anyman will do [God’s] will, he shall know of thedoctrine, whether it be of God, or whether Ispeak of myself.”30 Sin is the greatest of allfaith destroyers. Pride, anger, selfishness,greed, or any other form of disobediencediminishes faith, while righteousnessleads to greater faith.

What if we apply the four stepsand the reward of faith is not forth-coming? We may need to evaluateour efforts. Moroni, for example,stipulated that in a quest for a tes-timony of the Book of Mormon,one shall ask with a sincereheart and with real intent.31

He taught us, “Wherefore,dispute not because ye seenot, for ye receive no wit-ness until after the trial ofyour faith.”32 Ultimately,unshakable faith in JesusChrist is a gift of the HolyGhost.33

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NOURISHING ANDMAINTAINING FAITH

Faith, if lost, is difficult toregain. Acquiring faith is not a one-time thing. It, like muchelse in The Church of JesusChrist of Latter-day Saints, is acquired “line upon line,precept upon precept.”34

Faith must be continually

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nourished by repentance, partaking of the sacrament,and keeping sacred temple covenants and marriagevows. Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of theTwelve Apostles observed:

“If we cease nurturing our faith in any of thesefour specific ways [serving, studying, praying, andworshiping], we are vulnerable.

“Failure to study, for instance, is to be intellectuallyand spiritually malnourished. . . .

“A lack of deep personal prayer and deep genuineworship also erodes our faith.”35

We nourish faith by recounting examples of faith.That is why histories and journals are important. Weall have had experiences that promote and build faith.They should be remembered and passed down to fu-ture generations.

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FAITH IS DEVELOPED IN THE HOMEThe home is the best place to plant and nourish the

seeds of faith. Elder A. Theodore Tuttle (1919–86) ofthe Seventy testified:

“I am a product of a household of faith. I learnedfaith in my home. I was taught it. It was drilled intome. . . .

“We’re not going to survive in this world, tempo-rally or spiritually, without increased faith in theLord—and I don’t mean positivemental attitude—I mean down-right solid faith in the Lord JesusChrist.”36

Parents are held accountable bythe Lord to teach their children “tounderstand the doctrine of repen-tance, faith in Christ the Son of theliving God, and of baptism and thegift of the Holy Ghost by the lay-ing on of hands, when eight yearsold.” When parents neglect thiscommandment, the Lord states,“the sin be upon the heads of theparents.”37 Family home evening,family scripture study, and familyprayer provide settings where parents can carry out this God-given responsibility to teach theirchildren.

Unfortunately, some of us grow to adulthoodwithout the wonderful opportunity to develop faithas a child. Lack of opportunity in the home, however,does not excuse anyone from gaining faith or beingfaithful. It is never too late; we are never too old to be-gin the steps leading to faith in Jesus Christ, whichleads to action.

Family home evening, fstudy, and family prayewhere parents can carrygiven responsibility to t

THE BLESSINGS OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

Many go without the matchless blessings that flowfrom God when we have abiding faith in Him andHis Only Begotten Son. Elder Bruce R. McConkie(1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles ob-served: “As an abstract principle faith is nothing; it isof no more worth than an abstract principle of mathe-matics. But faith in the heart of a man—a living, vi-brant faith—can raise the dead, create worlds, andsave souls.”38 Faith is the motivating power for the 11 million members of the Church living in more than160 countries. It is the force behind the 60,000 full-time missionaries who leave home and loved ones tobuild up the kingdom by preaching the gospel andmagnifying special assignments. It is faith that leads,in our days, to the building of an unprecedentednumber of temples. Faith motivates members to

become and remain worthy to enter these templesand to perform ordinances in behalf of themselvesand their kindred dead. Faith compels members ofthe restored Church to labor with might and strengthto move the latter-day work forward to prepare forthe return of our resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Thomas exclaimed, after he felt thewounds in the hands, feet, and side of the resur-rected Lord, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus gently re-

buked His doubting disciple and,in so doing, left us a marvelouspromise: “Thomas, because thouhast seen me, thou hast believed:blessed are they that have not seen,and yet have believed.”39

May we be eager to merit thepriceless gift of faith. May we havefaith like Nephi of old, who was un-equivocally able to say, “I will go anddo the things which the Lord hathcommanded.”40 I bear my personalwitness that whoever desires and iswilling to take the necessary stepswill receive the joy and promisedblessings of saving faith, which isfaith in Jesus Christ. �James O. Mason, a former member of theSecond Quorum of the Seventy, is currently

serving as president of the Bountiful Utah Temple.

Gospel topics: faith in Jesus Christ, prayer, service, sacrifice, righteousness

amily scripturer provide settings out the God-each their children.

NOTES1. Matt. 8:10, 13.2. 3 Ne. 19:35.3. Mark 4:38–40; emphasis

added.4. Matt. 13:58.5. See Matt. 9:29.6. Luke 17:5.7. “Lord, Increase Our

Faith,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 52–53.8. JS—H 1:29.9. Lectures on Faith (1985), 1.

10. Heb. 11:1; see alsoJoseph Smith Translation infootnote b.

11. Lectures on Faith, 7.12. “Faith,” Children’s

Songbook, 96–97.13. “‘With All Thy Getting

Get Understanding,’” Ensign,Aug. 1988, 5.

14. The Articles of Faith,12th ed. (1924), 96.

15. Matt. 7:21.16. James 2:17.17. See Moro. 7:42–47.18. Matt. 25:25.19. Measure for Measure,

1.4. 77–79.20. John 17:3.

21. Mal. 3:10.22. Jacob 4:6.23. Moro. 10:4.24. See 2 Kgs. 5:10–13.25. Alma 32:27, see also

vv. 21–43.26. History of the Church,

3:379.27. 1 Thes. 3:10.28. Lectures on Faith, 69.29. See Heb. 11:17–19;

D&C 101:1–5.30. John 7:17.31. See Moro. 10:4.32. Ether 12:6.33. 1 Cor. 12:3; Moro. 10:5.34. D&C 98:12.35. “‘Lest Ye Be Wearied and

Faint in Your Minds,’” Ensign,May 1991, 88.

36. “Developing Faith,”Ensign, Nov. 1986, 73.

37. D&C 68:25.38. The Mortal Messiah:

From Bethlehem to Calvary, 4 vols.(1979–81), 2:405.

39. John 20:28–29; emphasisadded.

40. 1 Ne. 3:7.


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EARLY LESSONS ON

FOLLOWING THEPROPHET

RStories from early Church history show that following a living prophet

requires a willingness to sacrifice, confidence in his prophetic call, and a testimony from the Holy Ghost.

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At the first organizational meeting of His Church the Lord restored an important doctrine: He

uses living prophets to reveal His will to HisSaints. Anciently the Lord stated: “Surely the LordGod will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret untohis servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). Then in April1830 the Lord again reminded His Saints to receiveHis word through the Prophet Joseph Smith:

“Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt giveheed unto all his words and commandments whichhe shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walkingin all holiness before me;

“For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine ownmouth, in all patience and faith” (D&C 21:4–5).

In the early years of the Church those who cameto understand and live this doctrine found safety. Thenames of Newel Knight, Brigham Young, Heber C.Kimball, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Eliza R.Snow are held in honored remembrance.

Others found it more difficult to follow theProphet, and their names have quickly faded fromChurch history. They gave heed, but only to a point,then something happened in their association withJoseph or he asked of them something they thoughtwas beyond his purview. Their lukewarm obedienceled to their separation from the kingdom of God.Many of these early members faced immense chal-lenges, and we should be cautious not to make harsh

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judgments, yet the examples of these individuals whofell away from the gospel in the New York (1829–30)and Kirtland (1831–37) periods provide insights onfollowing living prophets.

A WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE

Many of the early challenges faced by the Saintsappear to be linked with property and the cares of theworld. They struggled like the rich young man whomthe Savior taught: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sellthat thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalthave treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

“But when the young man heard that saying, hewent away sorrowful: for he had great possessions”(Matt. 19:21–22).

The move to Kirtland provided one of the earliesttests for following the call of a living prophet. InDecember 1830 the Lord commanded the Saintsthrough His prophet to leave their comfortable NewYork homes and settle in “the Ohio” (see D&C 37:3).The Lord counseled: “And they that have farms thatcannot be sold, let them be left or rented as seemeththem good” (D&C 38:37).

Newel Knight, an early convert in the Colesville,New York, branch, went to the 2 January 1831 confer-ence of the Church at Fayette, where he learned ofthe commandment to gather in Ohio. He stated: “It

In April 1830 the Lordinstructed His Saints:

“Thou shalt give heedunto all his [the ProphetJoseph Smith’s] wordsand commandments. . . .For his word ye shall receive, as if from mineown mouth” (D&C 21:4–5).

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The Saints’ move to Kirtland provided one of the earliesttests for following the call of a living prophet. Many

arrived in Kirtland having left behind beautiful homesand farms, while others found the sacrifice too great.

was at this conference that we were instructed as apeople, to begin the gathering of Israel, and a revela-tion was given to the prophet on this subject. Havingreturned home from the conference, in obedience tothe commandment which had been given, I, togetherwith the Colesville Branch, began to make prepara-tions to go to Ohio. . . . As might be expected, we wereobliged to make great sacrifices of our property.”1 Neweland his family followed the prophet and left behind abeautiful farm. Many others did as well. Others, how-ever, found the sacrifice of property and comfort toogreat and stayed in New York.

One such person was Philip Burroughs, a gentryfarmer from Fayette. There is no record of his bap-tism into the Church, but the Lord referred to him in a September 1830 revelation as “brother PhilipBurroughs” (D&C 30:10). An article in the 9 March1831 edition of the Reflector, a Palmyra newspaper, justtwo months after the call to go to Ohio, gives some evidence of Philip’s reasons for separating from theChurch: “Our Waterloo correspondent informs us,that two of the most responsible Mormonites, as it

0

respects property, in that vicinity, have demurred tothe divine command, through Jo Smith, requiringthem to sell their property and put it into the commonfund, and repair with all convenient speed to the NewJerusalem, lately located by Cowdery somewhere inthe western region. A requisition of twelve hundreddollars, in cash it is said, was made upon one of thesegentlemen, (Mr. B.)—‘the Lord having need of it.’ Thisrequest was promptly refused by the gentleman, who,at the same time informed the prophet that he wouldrather risk his soul as it was, (having been dipped)than trust his money or property in the hands of suchagents as were applying for it.”2

When Samuel H. Smith and Orson Hyde traveledthrough Seneca County, New York, on a mission fromKirtland in 1832, they went to Philip Burroughs’shouse. Samuel reported, “He was glad to see us andSister Burroughs was strong in the faith.”3 A meetingwas held at the schoolhouse, which a number of peo-ple attended, but Philip could never bring himself tofollow the Saints to Ohio.

Another example is James Covill. James “had been a Baptist minister for about forty years, [and]covenanted with the Lord that he would obey anycommand that the Lord would give to him throughJoseph the Prophet” (D&C 39, section heading). TheLord was pleased because James’s heart was “right

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before me at this time,” but reminded him that hehad rejected the Lord “many times because of prideand the cares of the world” (D&C 39:8–9). James wasthen instructed to go to Ohio (D&C 39:14), a com-mand he received through the Prophet “with glad-ness” (D&C 40:2), and evidence suggests that he did unite himself to the Church.4 Sadly his heartchanged, and as the Lord noted, “straightway Satantempted him; and the fear of persecution and thecares of the world caused him to reject the word.
“Wherefore, he broke my covenant, and it re-maineth with me to do with him as seemeth megood” (D&C 40:2–3). James Covill faded from promi-nence in Church history.

The cares of the world are very real to those who accept the message of a living prophet. Prophetic teach-ings often run counter to the popular notions and ideasof the day. As James Covill accepteddivine teachings, it seems that healso began to fear losing social statusand position with friends or per-haps even losing family associations.And although we do not have spe-cific knowledge of what cares of theworld the Lord was referring to, it islikely that the move to Ohio wouldhave also necessitated the sacrifice ofmaterial comforts for the kingdom.

Examples like those of NewelKnight, Philip Burroughs, and JamesCovill help us understand that bless-ings accompany the sacrifice of per-sonal property and comfort in orderto follow a prophet. The Lord contin-ues to give Latter-day Saints com-mandments through a livingprophet. Many of these sometimesseem as difficult for us as it musthave been for the early Saints whenthey were told to pack up and moveto “the Ohio.” Yet the Lord honorsour agency just as He did with theNew York Saints, when He spokethrough the Prophet Joseph Smithregarding the move to Ohio: “Behold, here is wisdom,and let every man choose for himself until I come. Evenso. Amen” (D&C 37:4). If we use our agency wisely, asdid Newel Knight and his family, we will find fellow-ship with the Saints. Or we may at tremendous costchoose to stay behind as the Church moves forward.

JolethVanchlegantith

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OUR GREATEST

“TsemTof

of Latter-day Saifrom learning to land obey the worcommandments tLord has given thrprophets. I wouldthe world would the importance ofliving prophet onElder Robert D. Hales othe Twelve Apostles, “HVoice and Obey,” Ensign

CONFIDENCE IN THE DIVINE CALL OF A PROPHET

As the faithful New York Saints converged onKirtland, Ohio, the necessity of following the Prophet

inwthsp

seph Smith only intensified. Great chal-nges came as the Restoration continuedrough a period of spiritual outpouring.

aliant members stayed true to the caused the Prophet, but there were those whoose not to follow. Many physical chal-

nges and sacrifices provided a testinground for the members of the Church,

d other challenges caused some to ques-on the appropriateness of everything done by e President of the Church.Two such examples are Ezra Booth and Symonds

yder. Ezra was a Methodist minister who became ac-uainted with the Church in 1831 through reading andiscussing the Book of Mormon with John Johnson ofiram, Ohio. They traveled to Kirtland and met withe Prophet, and on this occasion they witnessed a

miraculous healing of JohnJohnson’s wife, Elsa.5 She hadbeen plagued with chronicrheumatism in her shoulder thatprevented her from using herarm. When Joseph took her by the hand and said, “I commandthee to be whole,” she was imme-diately healed.6 Booth was bap-tized in May 1831 and served ashort mission in the Hiram region.

While in Hiram, Ezra taughtSymonds Ryder of his newfoundfaith. Symonds visited withJoseph and witnessed what heperceived to be a miracle when in June 1831 he read of a destruc-tive earthquake in China and “re-membered that six weeks before,a young ‘Mormon’ girl had pre-dicted the destruction.”7 He wasbaptized that same month, buthis enthusiasm was short-lived.He soon received a ministerialcall signed by the Prophet JosephSmith and Sidney Rigdon thatstated that it had been given

em by the Spirit and that it was the Lord’s will hee called to preach the gospel. In both the informaltter he received and in the official commission toreach, his last name was misspelled Rider, instead ofyder. He left the Church, claiming that if the “‘Spirit’rough which he had been called to preach could err

in the matter of spelling his name, it might have erred calling him to the ministry as well; or, in otherords, he was led to doubt if he were called at all bye Spirit of God, because of the [scribal] error in theelling of his name!”8 This error appears to have

SECURITY

he greatestcurity ofembers ofhe Church Jesus Christ

nts comesisten to ds andhat the ough living hope thatunderstand having a earth today.”f the Quorum ofear the Prophet’s, May 1995, 17.

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Ezra Booth’s confidence in the Prophet’s divine call was largely based on his witnessing the miraculous

healing of Elsa Johnson’s rheumatic shoulder. He laterrejected Joseph Smith’s prophetic call, saying that the role of a prophet was too authoritarian.

resulted in his rejection of the prophetic mantle ofJoseph Smith.

Having one’s name spelled in various ways wasnot unusual in that time. Symonds, who is mentionedin D&C 52:37, had his name spelled in a variety ofways in original texts, as did many others who did nottake offense.9 His lack of understanding of and faith inthe role of a prophet led him to quickly return to hisreligious affiliation with the Campbellite movement.

Ezra Booth served a mission to Missouri, but whenhe returned to Ohio he had his own doubts about theliving Prophet. Ezra argued that before he left forMissouri Joseph told him that he had seen in visionthat the Church would be large in the wilderness.Ezra was disillusioned when he arrived in Missouriand found only a small number of converts, for hemisunderstood when this prophecy was to be ful-filled. It also bothered him that the Prophet redirectedmission assignments given by revelation when somedeclined their calls to serve. Ezra did not understand

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what the Lord had taught the Prophet: “Wherefore I, the Lord, command and revoke, as it seemeth megood; and all this to be answered upon the heads of the rebellious, saith the Lord” (D&C 56:4). Ezra also rejected the Prophet Joseph Smith’s claim as theonly one to receive revelation for the Church. He feltthis was an authoritarian type of leadership. Further,he questioned the Prophet’s call because he consid-ered Joseph’s personality inappropriate. He felt theProphet’s jovial nature and levity with people wereinconsistent with proper prophetic demeanor.10

These concerns and others led Symonds Ryder andEzra Booth to leave the Church and persecute theProphet. They rejected the divinity of Joseph’s propheticcall because of what they regarded as his mistakes.

A TESTIMONY FROM THE HOLY GHOST

Many early members had conversions tied to the witnessing of miraculous events, and when chal-lenges came their testimonies of the living prophetseemed to suffer. Those early members who had testi-monies rooted in the power of the Holy Ghost stoodby the Prophet. Brigham Young and John Taylor areexamples of this. They were not disturbed in their tes-timonies of a living prophet by every wind that blewbecause they were firmly anchored with a testimony

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of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Ghost.
As members completed the construction of theKirtland Temple in 1836, there was a season of greattemporal growth and prosperity. The Lord revealed tothe Prophet Joseph Smith a master plan for the growthof Kirtland. Elder Wilford Woodruff of the Quorum ofthe Twelve Apostles stated: “Joseph presented us insome degree the plot of the city of Kirtland (which isthe stronghold of the daughter of Zion) as it was givenhim by vision. It was great, marvelous, and glorious.The city extended to the east, west, north, and south.Steamboats will come puffing into the city. Our goodswill be conveyed upon railroads from Kirtland to manyplaces and probably to Zion. Houses of worship wouldbe reared unto the Most High. Beautiful streets [were]to be made for the Saints to walk in. Kings of the earthwould come to behold the glory thereof, and manyglorious things not now to benamed would be bestowed uponthe Saints. But all these thing[s] arebetter imagined than spoken by thechildren of Jacob.”11

Land was purchased and moniesaccumulated to bring about thisplan. Inflation and property valuessoared. The cost of building the tem-ple put the Church in deep debt,and many members sacrificed much.Some Church leaders decided to en-ter the banking business in an at-tempt to resolve some of theseproblems and create an equitablemedium for exchange. A local cur-rency was to be exchanged only inthe immediate area, which was acommon practice in those times.Many historians have debated thewisdom of such a tactic, but inJanuary 1837 Elder Woodruff gavesome insight into the Prophet’s per-spective in this matter: “I visited the office of theKirtland Safety Society and saw the first money thatwas issued by the treasurer or society. It was given to Brother Bump (in exchange for other notes), whowas the first to circulate it. I also heard President Joseph Smith Jr. declare in the presence of F. Williams, D. Whitmer, S. Smith, W. Parrish, and others in the de-posit office that he had received that morning the wordof the Lord upon the subject of the Kirtland SafetySociety. He was alone in the room by himself and hehad not only the voice of the Spirit upon the subject buteven an audible voice. He did not tell us at that timewhat the Lord said upon the subject but remarked that if we would give heed to the commandments the Lord had given this morning all would be well.

LOOK TO THE P

“Omshoufir

the captain, the prand revelator, andThe Church of JesuLatter-day Saints.the man who stanthe fountain of livPresident Ezra Taft Bens“Jesus Christ—Gifts and New Era, May 1975, 16.

May the Lord bless Brother Joseph with allthe Saints and support the above-namedinstitution and protect it so that everyweapon formed against it may be brokenand come to naught while the KirtlandSafety Society shall become the greatest ofall institutions on earth.”12

The Lord had a hand in the establish-ment of the Kirtland Safety Society, butthe success of the economic plan for Kirtland de-pended on the brethren keeping the word of theLord as given them by the living prophet. Later, asthe economy of Kirtland and other areas of Ohio be-gan to collapse, Elder Woodruff noted: “President S. Rigdon addressed the congregation and laid be-fore them their situation as to temporal things as theGentiles are striving to besiege the Saints in Kirtland

and would be glad to starve theSaints to death. He also stated thatthe Presidency had used everymeans for the deliverance of theChurch but many of the Church re-fused Kirtland currency, which wastheir temporal salvation. In conse-quence of this they put strength inthe hands of their enemies, andthose that had done this thing mustsuffer by it.”13

By April 1837 it was obvious to the Prophet Joseph Smith andPresident Sidney Rigdon that thedisobedience of some would causethe suffering of many. By the sum-mer of 1837 the Prophet and Presi-dent Rigdon had withdrawn fromthe Kirtland Safety Society. The failure of the members to followprophetic instructions led to a“great apostasy” of many promi-nent members. It is estimated that

between 200 and 300 persons left the Church duringthis period.14 Warren Parrish, John F. Boynton, LukeJohnson, and Lyman Johnson were among many inhigh positions who left in late 1837 and early 1838and turned against the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Even Elder Parley P. Pratt of the Quorum of theTwelve Apostles faltered in his testimony and in theexcitement of the time questioned the Prophet’s han-dling of the financial affairs. He quickly repented ofthis and sought forgiveness of the Church.15 When heshared his feelings of apostasy with Elder John Taylor,Elder Taylor replied: “I am surprised to hear youspeak so, Brother Parley. Before you left Canada you bore strong testimony of Joseph Smith being aProphet of God, and to the truth of the work he has

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f all mortalen, weould keepr eyes mostmly fixed onophet, seer, president ofs Christ of . . . This isds closest toing waters.” on (1899–1994),Expectations,”

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As we follow the teachings of President Gordon B. Hinckley, we will discover by the Holy Spirit that

this is the Lord’s work and that His guidance is given us through His chosen servant.

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Gospel topics: prophets, Joseph Smith, apostasy, Church history
inaugurated; and you said you knew these things byrevelation, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. You gave tome a strict charge to the effect that though you or anyangel from heaven was to declare anything else I wasnot to believe it. Now Brother Parley, it is not manthat I am following, but the Lord. The principles youtaught me led me to Him, and I now have the sametestimony that you then rejoiced in, if the work wastrue six months ago, it is true today; if Joseph wasthen a Prophet, he is now a Prophet.”16
Elder John Taylor ’s testimony of the Prophet wasechoed by many faithful Saints who stood by JosephSmith during these hard times. Apostates threatenedto destroy Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and oth-ers. Brigham Young said it was because he proclaimedin public and in private that he knew “by the power of the Holy Ghost that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of the Most High God, and had not transgressed andfallen as apostates declared.”17 These two brethrennever strayed from their belief that the work of theLord was being administered by a living prophet.

(1968), 23.
LESSONS FOR OUR TIME
Lessons can be learned from the stories of individu-als who struggled to follow a living prophet. Thosewho chose to stand by the Prophet Joseph Smith, evenin physically and spiritually demanding times, wereblessed and are honored today. Those who were dis-obedient and disloyal soon fell into spiritual obscurity.

We live in an age of tremendous change and social pressure. Prophets and apostles continue to give us counsel and teach us the Lord’s will as we live through this great period of the last days. If we individually give heed to the lessons of the past, we will find ourselves ready to sacrifice whenthe Lord requires it, because we will have chosen

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to align ourselves with His servants.Living prophets often give us counsel in areas that af-

fect our social and economic well-being. Yet we must beable to receive their teachings without limiting the realmsin which they may teach. In doing so, we can claim thepromise made to all who obey a prophet when the Lordsaid that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against you;yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of dark-ness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake foryour good, and his name’s glory” (D&C 21:6).

To receive such a blessing we must have a testimonyof the living prophet that is from the Holy Ghost. Aswe follow their inspired teachings, we will discover bythe Holy Spirit that this is the Lord’s work and that Hisguidance is given us through His chosen servants. �Guy L. Dorius is a member of the Battle Creek Third Ward, PleasantGrove Utah East Stake.

NOTES1. Scraps of Biography—Tenth Book of the Faith Promoting Series

(1883), 68; emphasis added.2. Reflector, 9 Mar. 1831, 116–17; spelling corrected.3. Samuel H. Smith Journal, 1831–33, microfilm copy located in

the Historical Department Archives. See also Larry C. Porter, “AStudy of the Origins of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daySaints in the States of New York and Pennsylvania, 1816–1831”(Ph.D. diss., Brigham Young University, Aug. 1971), 262–63.

4. Porter, “A Study of Origins,” 266–67.5. Although many records refer to John Johnson’s wife as Elsa,

her headstone in the Walnut Hill Cemetery in Council Bluffs,Iowa, has her name as Alice Johnson.

6. History of the Church, 1:215–16.7. History of the Church, 1:158 footnotes.8. History of the Church, 1:260–61 footnotes.9. Robert J. Woodford, “The Historical Development of the

Doctrine and Covenants” (Ph.D. diss., Brigham Young University,Apr. 1974), 2:678.

10. Milton V. Backman Jr., The Heavens Resound: A History of theLatter-day Saints in Ohio 1830–1838 (1983), 94–96.

11. Journal of Wilford Woodruff, 6 Apr. 1837; capitalization,punctuation, and spelling modernized in all entries.

12. Journal of Wilford Woodruff, 6 Jan. 1837.13. Journal of Wilford Woodruff, 9 Apr. 1837.14. Backman, The Heavens Resound, 327–29.15. Backman, The Heavens Resound, 326.16. B. H. Roberts, The Life of John Taylor (1963), 40.17. Manuscript History of Brigham Young, ed. Elden Jay Watson

LET’S TALK ABOUT ITMost Ensign articles can be used for family home

evening discussions. The following questions are for thatpurpose or for personal reflection:

1. What sacrifices of personal property or comforthave I or my family made to follow a living prophet?

2. How well do I or my family understand the role ofa living prophet?

3. Why is a testimony from the Holy Ghost needed to
help us follow a living prophet?

B Y PA U L A K . B O O T H E

We can be an influence for good inspeaking out for clean, respectful language.

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When my brother Markinstalled a trampolinein his backyard, the

neighborhood children weredrawn to it like a magnet. Thefamily hastily formulated somerestrictions regarding its use andposted a list of rules in the yard.

I was reviewing the list withseven-year-old Kelsie: “No play-ing under the trampoline. . . . Nofood on the trampoline. . . . Nojumping with shoes.” Kelsie seri-ously confided to me, “We havethe most trouble with numberthree, ‘No swearing.’”

“What do you do when some-one breaks that rule?” I asked her.

“I say, ‘We don’t allow thatkind of language on our property.’”

Even in first grade, Kelsie had encoun-tered profanity. But she had been taught theimportance of appropriate language, andher parents were good examples in theirhome.

We may know the use of profaneand vulgar language is wrong. We maybe free of this habit ourselves, and per-haps swearing is never heard in ourhomes. Yet it is likely that we and our chil-dren are frequently “vexed with the filthyconversation” (2 Pet. 2:7) of others in school,in business settings, or during leisure activi-ties. Certainly we can avoid entertainmentthat relies on the use of profanity, but oftenwe are placed in situations where we havelittle control over what others say. Yeteven in those situations, we can be an in-fluence for good in speaking out forclean, respectful language.

A common form of profanity is thedesecration of the name of Deity. Even

many who rarely use other bad language have foundthis to be an acceptable form of self-expression. Oftenthis is connected with violent feelings and with otherharsh and profane words, further degrading the sa-cred terms for Deity.

Many members have heard of President Spencer W.Kimball’s request to a hospitalattendant who swore in his pres-ence: “Please! Please! That is myLord whose names you revile”(“President Kimball Speaks Outon Profanity,” Ensign, Feb. 1981, 3).Are we as courageous and kindin speaking out for right whenwe hear profanity? Or are wesilent because we feel we will offend our friends and coworkers?

AN INFLUENCE FOR GOOD

Just as an outspoken publichas brought about sweepingchanges in laws regulating thesmoking of cigarettes, individual

Church members can be an influence for goodin reducing the flood of profanity.

Gary worked with many salespeople whoprofaned the name of Deity. He was troubled

by this but wondered how to mention itwithout damaging his friendship with his

associates. When he heard a sacramentmeeting speaker tell of his success inconfronting the same problem, Gary

felt encouraged to try a similar ap-proach. He took each friend aside confi-dentially and told them how much heappreciated their friendship, adding, “Butyou know, when you use the name of theLord like you do, it makes me uncom-fortable. His name is sacred to me.”

Spoken in kindness, this remark with-out exception received a response similar

to, “I know you’re right, and I’m sorry. Ishouldn’t do it; it’s just become a habit.”

In no case was anyone offended. In fact,some opportunities arose for sharing Latter-

day Saint standards and beliefs. Speaking up


3

required courage on Gary’s part,but he knew these men and womenhad “known better” at some time intheir lives and simply needed a gen-tle reminder.

After hearing Gary relate his ex-perience, I took courage when a sim-ilar situation occurred in my ownlife. For many years I was a memberof a 120-voice women’s barbershopchorus. I enjoyed my friendshipwith the other singers, none ofwhom were Church members.

On one occasion, a new piece ofmusic—a medley of songs from aBroadway musical—was introduced.One part of the medley called for agroup to speak some phrases while the chorus sang in thebackground. In these spoken phrases, the name of Deitywas used several times in a common or profane way.

Although I would not be required to say thesewords, I was upset that they would be used at all. Ispoke to the director and others of her staff. When nochange was made, I personally boycotted participa-tion in the music to a certain degree.

The music remained part of the chorus repertoirefor a time. But I noticed a subtle change. The director,who had used these irreverent terms frequently in herown speech, seemed to be making an ef-fort not to do so. When she slipped dur-ing rehearsals, she looked at meapologetically, and once she evenmouthed the words “Sorry, Paula.”My concerns about profanity be-came known to others in the group,and the frequency of its use dimin-ished in my presence. I receivedencouragement from others in thechorus, and one friend told meshe had spoken to the directorin support of my position.

The Lord’s counsel to “bepatient in afflictions, revilenot against those that re-vile” (D&C 31:9) reminds usthat our defense of what isright must be based on friend-ship and consideration foroffenders that will out-shine the momentarycriticism. They mustknow that we dislikethe bad language we hear but that we value theirfriendship.

DO NOT INDULIN SWEARING

“insWb

profanity; we canin impure thoughand acts and havof the Lord with President Gordon B. Hiand Young Men,” Ensig

6

“A BRIGHT LIGHTIN THE DARKNESS”

Is the fear of being shunned rea-son enough for us to tolerate a pro-fane world without speaking out infavor of wholesome speech? Whilesome may choose to avoid us be-cause of our standards, it has beenmy experience that many who donot live those standards themselvesare attracted to us and will speakup for us or shield us from the pro-fane language of others. “Languagehas its own ethics, and one whocommunicates truth is like a brightlight in the darkness,” said Elder

Ted E. Brewerton, now an emeritus member of theQuorum of the Seventy (“Profanity and Swearing,”Ensign, May 1983, 73).

Even when we say noth-ing publicly about our beliefs, our righteous

GE

We cannotdulge in

wearing. e cannot

e guilty ofnot indulgets, words,e the Spirit us.” nckley, “Convertsn, May 1997, 49.

habits can cast a “light of truth” into the lives of oth-ers, reminding them of wholesome values they knowto be right. However, a good example alone is oftennot a cure for profanity. If “the Lord will not hold himguiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Ex. 20:7), howdoes He view those who, by their continued silence,condone such actions by others?

President Kimball described a drama he attendedthat had been a long-running success on Broadway.“The actors . . . were blaspheming [the Lord’s] sacredname in their common, vulgar talk. They repeatedwords of a playwright, words profaning the holyname of their Creator. The people laughed and ap-plauded, and as I thought of the writer, the players,and the audience, the feeling came to me that allwere party to the crime” (Ensign, Feb. 1981, 4). He re-called the castigation in the book of Proverbs of thosewho condone evil: “Whoso is partner with a thiefhateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and be-wrayeth it not” (Prov. 29:24).

It may seem that our efforts to curtailprofanity have little influence beyondour circle of acquaintance. Yet ElderNeal A. Maxwell of the Quorum ofthe Twelve Apostles notes, “Ifwe knew how often the obe-dience of others is affected

by our own and how often our stepping forth soonbrings forth a whole platoon of helpers and how oftenour speaking forth soon creates a chorus—we wouldbe even more ashamed of our slackness and our si-lence” (Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward [1977], 41).

“Slackness and silence” will do little to stop thepollution of profanity that seems to have seeped intoevery corner of our world. Those who have thecourage not only to live their beliefs but to speak intheir favor may find unexpected results. As an un-known poet wrote:

You never know when someoneMay catch a dream from you.You never know when a little wordOr something you may doMay open up the windowsOf a mind that seeks the light.The way you live may not matter at all . . .But then again—it might. �Paula K. Boothe is a member of the Damascus Ward, Gresham OregonSouth Stake.

Gospel topics: profanity, integrity

More on this topic: See John S. Gholdston, “Words of Darkness,Words of Light,” Ensign, Jan. 1992, 56–59; Dallin H. Oaks,

“Reverent and Clean,” Ensign, May 1986, 49–52; Spencer W.Kimball, “President Kimball Speaks Out on Profanity,”

Ensign, Feb. 1981, 3–5.

Visit www.lds.org or see Church magazines on CD.


evening discussions. The following questions are for thatpurpose or for personal reflection:

1. What prevents us at times from tactfullyspeaking out against profanity?

2. How can we politely let others know weare offended by their language?

3. What are the potential benefits of tact-fully making known our views on profanity?Do these benefits outweigh the risks?

4. If we struggle with profanity ourselves,what are some ways we can overcomethis habit?

Those who have thecourage to speak out

for clean speech may findthat their lone voice hasbeen joined by a chorus.


Those who have thecourage to speak out

for clean speech may findthat their lone voice hasbeen joined by a chorus.

3

B Y E L I Z A B E T H S T O D D A R D

ZACHARY&SEAN

My two youngestsons taught me thatsome of the Lord’schoicest blessingscome imperfectlywrapped.

Spring of 1983was full of an-ticipation for

our young family.Not only were weexpecting the ar-rival of our fifthchild, but a new job opportunitywould be taking usto Virginia. As myhusband, Mark, andI looked for a newhome, we prayed to be guided to livenear a family thatwas looking for thegospel. Little did we know about the

challenges that lay ahead—as well as the opportuni-ties to learn and grow from those challenges.

Because my previous baby had been so big, ourdoctor was concerned that I would have difficulty de-livering another large child. Consequently, during thelatter part of the pregnancy I had a sonogram everymonth, and with each test I was assured that ourbaby boy was developing normally.

Despite his disability, Zacharyseemed to be a relatively healthy baby.

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ZACHARY
On August 16th, when I delivered Zachary, hesquealed heartily. My joy on hearing his cry soonturned to confusion, however, when the doctor in-formed me that my new son had a disability calleddwarfism.

The nurses whisked Zachary away to the inten-sive care unit, where he was to be given oxygen

8

until his lungs began to compensate for his under-sized chest. As I lay in the recovery room and tried to come to terms with this new reality, I wondered if Heavenly Father was going to take Zachary home.Perhaps it would be easier to part now, rather than af-ter we became too attached. Yet as I held him in myarms, I knew I was already attached to him.

The next day Mark and I gathered our childrenaround us in the hospital room and explained theirnew brother ’s disability. Eight-year-old Rebecca Jo exclaimed, “It’s just a test, a test for him and for us.We’ll just cut his pants shorter.”

Life can be wonderfully simple for children. ForMark and me, our son’s condition was harder to ac-cept. We loved him deeply, yet we went through aperiod of mourning as we replaced our expectationsof a healthy baby with the reality of a child with se-vere disabilities. Then we remembered friends of ourswho, although they had physical disabilities, facedtheir lives with faith and humor. As we reflected ontheir lives, Mark and I came to realize that Zacharycould likewise be a positive example for others. Weprayed often that we would be the kind of parentsHeavenly Father wanted us to be—parents whocould help Zachary realize his potential.

When Zachary was 10 days old, he was releasedfrom the hospital. That same day we boarded an air-plane for our new home in Chantilly, Virginia. In onlya few days we learned of a local couple, Ken and PatsySwinson, who had a four-year-old boy with the samerare form of dwarfism our son had. They were eagerto share their insights with us, and we wondered ifthis was the family we had prayed to be led to.

We discovered that having a child with disabilitiesmade us reach deep inside to discover what is reallyimportant. We soon found the joy our small sonbrought, and we began to look forward to growing

The nurses whiskedZachary away as I

tried to come to termswith his condition.


4

with him in the coming years. His quick smile andlarge, expressive eyes captivated our hearts. His oldersiblings adored him, particularly two-year-old Alex,who showered him with brotherly affection.

Zachary had many of the problems incident to hisparticular form of dwarfism, including a small cleftpalate, poor vision, and a twisted foot. He was notgaining weight, which was a concern, but still thedoctors deemed him a relatively healthy baby.

SOMETHING WAS WRONG

In January, while at the doctor ’s office, I noticedthat five-month-old Zachary’s muscle tone waschanging. The doctor said, “Well, we’ll check it nextmonth,” but I had an uneasy feeling that somethingwas wrong. Later, as I was feeding Zachary, I said asilent prayer, asking what Heavenly Father had inmind for him.

Then came an understanding to me in the deepestpart of my soul that Zachary would not be on earthmuch longer. Although I did not tell Mark about thisexperience, he later told me he had a similar impression.

0

Sean’s father andgrandfather gave

him a priesthoodblessing in the hospi-tal. Afterward, wefelt we were giventhe gift of see-ing him, for afew briefmoments,without hisdisability.

Several days later, Zachary’s cry awoke me earlyin the morning. I got up and changed his diaper andfed him a bottle. As I looked at our sweet son nestledin my arms, my heart welled with love. “Oh, you’reso precious, I want to hold you a little longer,” I whis-pered as I shared a few more minutes with him. ThenI tucked him into his bassinet and went back to bed.

After two or three hours, Mark and I woke up. Ithad snowed recently, and the children were home because the schools were closed. Mark went to thebassinet at the foot of the bed and started blowing onZachary’s face.

I stretched lazily. “Mark, don’t wake him up; I want to get ready for the day first.”

Mark looked at me. “I think he’s dead.” I scrambled to the end of the bed. When I saw

Zachary’s face, I immediately knew he was gone.Almost like a reflex action, I cried out in prayer, “Oh please, please; don’t make me go through this,Father! I can’t do it!”

In an instant I will never forget, a feeling of peaceswept through my very core. It was as if HeavenlyFather was right there with His arms around me.Mark felt it too, and we wept. As we looked at thesweet expression on Zachary’s face, we each felt awitness that Heavenly Father had called this sonhome.

This was a moment in my life when much was atstake. I then realized we could bear this unthinkableloss—if we wanted to. I knew I could be heartbroken,but if I allowed myself to become bitter, it could de-stroy my testimony, my marriage, and all I held dear.Perhaps the decision was not even atotally conscious one, but it was made.

As soon as we turned our heartsto heaven, strength poured out uponus more than I could have imagined.With that strength came an over-whelming feeling of gratitude—gratitude that in spite of my initialthoughts in the hospital recoveryroom we had been given time to holdand love our little boy, gratitude forthe gospel of Jesus Christ that gave usknowledge that Zachary’s spirit wasnot dead and that one day we wouldbe reunited with him.

Once again, as we had done fivemonths before, we gathered our chil-dren around us to share in the pow-erful and sweet spirit that filled theroom. We talked of tests and ofgospel truths. We spent several hours in the roomthat morning—it was a spiritual feast for us—and we sensed the presence of Zachary’s spirit nearby.

During that time our thoughts turned to the nextfew days and to the arrangements that needed to be made. At first we thought we would have only asmall graveside service instead of a funeral—after all, we were new to the area and did not know many people. We thought that the spirit we felt wasall we needed.

Then we remembered that we had prayed for opportunities to share our testimonies with others.There might not be a time when others would listen to our words as they would now. We remembered theSwinson family and our prayers to find a way to sharethe good news of the gospel with them. We thoughtof Zachary and what he would want us to do. Whatbetter use of his time on earth than to allow him to bean instrument in bringing the gospel to others?

We decided to have a funeral with speakers whowould explain the beauties of the restored gospel and songs that would invite the witness of the Spirit.Mark and I would bear our testimonies, and our three

Each time Sean smilI tried to capture themy heart.

daughters, ages 10, 8, and 6, would sing “I Am a Childof God.”

SHARING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

The day of the funeral, the chapel was filled withnew friends from church as well as Mark’s co-workersand our kind neighbors. We hardly knew many ofthose who came to support us that day, but we feltthe gospel message that was heard was of great valueto all. Words cannot express the joy I felt at the fu-neral service and throughout that sacred day as we

were given the opportunity to bearour witness of a divine plan.

After that event, life settled backto normal—at least, as normal as lifecan be after a child dies. Yet we feltcontinually nourished and sustained.My two-year-old, Alex, filled myaching arms with hugs. It seemedthat when my heart felt the heaviest,one of my neighbors would stop byor call to offer support, curious toknow how we could face death withsuch peace. My previously shytongue was loosened, and I sharedmy testimony. At the request offriends, family, and neighbors whowere not able to attend, we sharedtape recordings of the service, and itamazed us to see the far-reaching ef-fects as these copies were then passed

on to others who did not know us.Several weeks after the funeral, Ken and Patsy

Swinson called. “Could we come and talk to you?”they asked. “We felt something at the funeral, and wewant to feel it again. Would you mind telling us aboutyour religion?”

The next week we were called as stake missionar-ies and were told to teach our friends. I will alwaysremember bearing witness of gospel principles andbeing thrilled by the Spirit that flowed so freely at ourweekly visits with the Swinsons. The joy we still feltoutweighed our grief.

On 6 April 1984, Ken and Patsy entered the watersof baptism. A year later they knelt with their childrenat the altar of the Washington D.C. Temple to besealed, and near that time we were blessed with asweet little girl we named Betsy.

ed or laughed, moment in

SEAN

In 1987 we welcomed another son, Sean, into ourfamily. He was beautiful, and everything seemed fineuntil we learned, on the night of his birth, that he had


4

Down syndrome and something was wrong with hisheart.

Mark brought the children into my room the fol-lowing day and told them, “We may not have thisbaby very long because of his heart problem, so weneed to love him, appreciate him, and enjoy him.” I was grief stricken. I wanted our little boy, Alex, tohave the baby brother he had missed before.

But just as we had accepted Zachary ’s condition,within days we accepted Sean’s infirmities. Againwe learned afresh what is of true worth in this life:to love and be loved as our Savior taught. In yearspast, Mark and I had said a commonly utteredphrase, “It doesn’t matter if we get a boy or a girl,just as long as it is a healthy baby.” Those wordsnow seemed shallow as we realized that some ofthe Lord’s choicest blessings come imperfectlywrapped.

Although doctors reassured us thatan operation would solve Sean’s heartproblem, we recognized a deep feelingthat had haunted us from the begin-ning of his life in embryo. We tried toconvince ourselves we were just nerv-ous because Zachary had died.

When he was nine months old, Seanhad open-heart surgery. The week before the proce-dure was excruciating. Each time Sean smiled orlaughed, I tried to capture the moment in my heart. I tried to hold him closer and savor each moment. Inthe process I nearly drove myself crazy with the painof anticipating his loss.

The night before surgery, Mark and his fathergave Sean a priesthood blessing in the hospital. After that, Sean seemed to be a different baby. His responses were quicker, his smile brighter, and heseemed extra happy. We felt we were given the gift of seeing him, for a few brief moments, without hisdisability.

The following day, we waited anxiously for hours,having been told things were not going well. Finallythe surgeon entered the private waiting room, ex-hausted. One of Sean’s valves was deformed andcould not be replaced, he said. Sean’s heart wouldnot start up again. The surgeon would do what he could.

I pleaded with Heavenly Father, Please let us keepSean. How ironic it was—I had feared having a babywith a mental disability, and now I was begging forthe chance to raise him. A lifetime with him wouldhave been a priceless gift. Yet in that short period after the doctor left, I realized I must yield my will to Heavenly Father ’s. The moment the surgeon returned, I knew Sean had been released from this earth.

I am grateful fohad with Zach

and for the lessonme. I have learneprecious, no mattit comes in.

2

LETTING GOThis time, however, I felt we were expected to ad-

vance in our capacity. We were not led in the sameway we had been with Zachary. No overwhelmingpower of the Comforter swept through Mark and meas it had that morning in Virginia. This time we felt aquiet calm and knew what to do. The Lord let us takethose steps ourselves, but once again we felt ourSavior ’s love at the funeral. Once again we felt joy aswe stood together to testify of our faith in the Lordand of our love for Sean. Once again we discoveredthe strength that comes from friends and family.

On occasion people have said, “Just think of it as a blessing that those two children don’t have to sufferin this life.” Yet we had been looking forward to lifewith each one of them and to seeing our other chil-dren grow up alongside brothers with disabilities.

The love we felt for these two sons wasundiminished by their challenges.

I am grateful for the short time I hadwith each of them and for the lessonsthey taught me. I have learned that life is precious, no matter what form it comesin. I saw the beauty in Zachary’s andSean’s lives, as well as the beauty that accompanied their deaths. The resulting

opportunities for sharing the gospel have strengthenedour own testimonies and made us closer as a family.

It has been more than 12 years since Sean passedaway. We have come to realize that happiness is notjust the result of things going right; in spite of theburdens we carry, it is up to us to choose to be happy.We learned that we progress in overcoming the chal-lenges inherent in our earthly experience. We learnedthat our family progressed much more quickly afterwe decided that we were going to grow from life’sdifficulties. And we have also learned that HeavenlyFather helps us in ways we cannot imagine. �Elizabeth Stoddard is a member of the Canyon Ward, Spanish ForkUtah East Stake.

Gospel topics: adversity, disabilities, family, sanctity of life

r the time Iary and Seans they taughtd that life iser what form


evening discussions. The following questions are forthat purpose or for personal reflection:

1. In what ways can we receive Heavenly Father’shelp when we experience trials?

2. Why do challenges seem to make some people bitter and others stronger?

3. In what ways does an eternal perspective influence our view of death?

B Y M I C H E L E M . M E S E R V Y

Looking for William MoultonOur search for our English ancestor led us to records

in an old vault—and much more.

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Our family had been searchingfor records on our ancestorWilliam Moulton since before

I was born. Everyone calculated thatWilliam had been born about 1780

in or near Irchester, England, and mygrandfather and great-grandfather had spent

considerable energy trying to find his name inthe parish records. They had also hired an English re-search specialist who had searched 132 Englishparishes but to no avail.

Shortly after my grandfather died, my dad, HeberMoulton, dreamed that Grandpa came to him andcautioned him not to “drop the ball” on family historyresearch. My dad and his cousins didn’t drop the ball.As a small child, I remember overhearing them talkabout how to find William Moulton, and their talksalways ended with an expression of trust in the Lord.They spent years organizing the family, holding re-unions, creating the Moulton Research Foundation,raising money for research, and doing temple work.About 7,000 descendants of William Moulton hadbeen identified, and all of them could trace them-selves back to William. But who was William?Identifying William, the father of Thomas Moulton (inset), hadbeen the goal of research for decades.


4

AN UNSELFISH WORK

A CALL TO FAST TOGETHER

Despite these diligent efforts,there were no new clues onWilliam. The family decided to havea day of fasting and prayer. Familyleaders mailed letters to all descen-dants for whom they had ad-dresses. The letter said in part:“We’ve made good progress onsome of the other lines, but not onthe Moulton line. It seems right forus now to come to the family andask for a day of special fasting andprayer. Open your fast with a spe-cial prayer to our Heavenly Fatherthat He will bless those researcherswho are working with us that wemay come to know the parents of William Moulton.”

Many of William’s descendants did as requested.Days and months passed.

Nothing new on William. Finally, Dad decided to putan ad in the Irchester area newspaper requesting contactwith any Moulton. He received an answer from thenewspaper editor asking for more information. Hopeful,Dad sent the requested information, but he did not re-ceive a reply. More time passed. Disappointment.

“gpthth

have gone on befoaspect of temple wunselfish work. Ywe do temple worpeople, there is a comes back to us.President Howard W. H“A Temple-Motivated PeFeb. 1995, 5.

A TRIP TO ENGLAND

Shortly after that, my husband, Rayman, and Ihad the occasion to go to England. Before we left, Ifelt strongly we should look for William Moulton. Mypatriarchal blessing promised that if I pursued familyhistory, my ancestors would petition our HeavenlyFather for a blessing for me. I felt also that the fastingand prayers by William’s now-distant offspringwould help prepare the way for us.

As we prepared for our trip, I tried to live close tothe Lord so He could guide me. I read and studied. Igot a list of several parish graveyards to check. Andone day, I went to the temple with the express pur-pose of gaining insight on how we could find WilliamMoulton. I left the temple feeling we would findWilliam or the clues we needed to find his parents.There was no doubt in my mind.

We arrived in Irchester, England, one afternoonand promptly asked for directions to the historicparish church. Walking down picturesque streets andpassing homes with thatched roofs was like a stepback in time. We arrived at the parish church, but, tomy dismay, we saw that many gravestones had beenused to create a fence around the perimeter of theparish lawn. Windblown and worn, these stoneswere undecipherable. As if to reflect my emotions,

4

clouds gathered and gentle raindescended.

We quickened our pace until wereached the rear of the old churchand proceeded to examine the re-maining gravestones. Thorns,weeds, and bushes stood in theway. We knew we must workquickly because there were no mo-tels or guest houses in the village.We had to finish our search beforethe final bus departed.

I took out a clean cloth andused it to scrub the gravestones.Soon a man, curious about our ac-tivity, came over and expresseddismay about the disarray of theparish church grounds. Then, in a

compensating tone, he asked if we would like to viewthe parish records. My heart began to pound. He saidhe would go with us to fetch Mr. Bailey, who, if hewasn’t too busy, would likely let us see the records.

We gathered our belongings and headed up thestreet to Mr. Bailey’s home.

Upon our arrival, Mr. Bailey stopped painting hishouse and immediately went with us to the parishchurch. He said the vicar wasn’t around, but that if wewere careful, he would show us the records himself.

Curious and reverent, we entered the ancientchurch. I was immediately awed by its splendidbeauty. Here our ancestors had worshiped. My eyesgazed from massive ceilings to marble floors, fromwooden pews to stained-glass windows. They finallyrested on a very old vault near a window.

We followed Mr. Bailey to the vault, where pre-cious vital records had been preserved. Mr. Bailey unlocked the vault and began taking out book afterbook. The search began as we gently but excitedly examined parched pages. Soon we found records ofWilliam’s children, marriage records, and so forth.This energized us, and while Mr. Bailey and Raymansearched some books, I searched others.

Then we found it—the clue! Rayman found an entry for Wm. Moulton, age 60, 1812. Age 60!Researchers had assumed that William had died as a young man. After recalculating his birth, I wentback in the birth records but did not find him listed.However, I did find a record listing him as a bachelor,eliminating the possibility of an earlier marriage andfamily. We took photographs of the evidence.

What aloriousrivilege to doe work forose whore us. Thisork is an

et wheneverk for otherblessing that”unter (1907–95),ople,” Ensign,

MEETING ENGLISH COUSINS

The story doesn’t end here. The man who hadfetched Mr. Bailey returned and informed us that he

had just talked to people at his work. One of themhad worked with a Charlie Moulton years ago—theonly Moulton they knew of in Irchester. Our frienddid not know Charlie’s address, but knew he lived in a narrow house opposite Bradshaw Street. Withfull hearts, we expressed our gratitude and carefullyplaced the books back in the rustic vault. The cloudsparted and the rain lifted. The sun warmed us.

Our next challenge was to find cousin Charlie. We had just left the parish property when up strode a Scotsman. He was very interested in what we weredoing and inquired where we were going. Upon ouranswering the Scotsman remarked, “Well, I am goingthat way myself. I don’t know Mr. Moulton, but comealong. Let’s go.”

Trying to keep pace with the Scotsman, Rayman andI trotted briskly up the hill. After a while, he paused,commenting, “Now, a narrow house opposite BradshawStreet. It must be that one there. Yes. That one rightthere.” We thanked him, and he walked away.

I knocked on the door, but no one answered. Wewent next door and knocked. An 80-year-old manopened the door. It was Charlie Moulton, who wasthere caring for his sick elderly neighbor. I ex-plained that I was from America and had cometo find some information about the Moultonfamily. Since the sick neighbor was resting,Charlie took us over to his house. He said hehad been expecting us to come and that hehad set out for us some information
and addresses. He chatted about
A typical street in Irchester, England.Charlie Moulton, a distant cousin,chatted about his relatives andshared information and addresses.

his relatives and of their leav-ing England to make newhomes in America.

How did Charlie Moultonknow we were coming? Whyhad he decided to gather in-formation and set it out?Why was he expecting us?Trying to piece these unusualoccurrences together madelittle sense until Charlie mentioned something about a recent newspaper article. A newspaper article? Mymind raced back to Dad’s efforts in submitting an ad to the newspaper months ago and the disappointmentwhen nothing had come from it. Could it be that theinformation had been published? Indeed! That was thefirst evidence we found that it had been published, butwhat timing—only the week before we arrived.

Charlie gave us addresses of his relatives and toldus of a cousin Ada living on Thrift Street. We had nosooner started in search of Thrift Street when we metthe same Scotsman, who immediately directed us toThrift Street. When we entered the home, the

woman who had answered the door called intothe other room, “Your friends from America arehere.” Then she said to us, “We’ve just been talk-

ing about you.” I tried to say something like “Idon’t think she was expecting us,” but by nowit was evident the way had been prepared and

the Lord’s hand had been involved. Aftersharing Moulton family history with us,Ada’s friends insisted we spend thenight with them.

Searching the records fromthe parish vault.

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RETURNING HOME

Researchers took the informationto which we had been led and lateridentified William, his parents,brothers, and sisters. The family hadlived a few miles from Irchester.Their temple work has now beendone, as well as another generationlocated, along with their children.

After arriving home, we sentcopies of the Book of Mormon as“thanks” to those who helped us.We have heard from some of them,

thanking us, finding much interest inthe book. Seeds have been planted and

influence spread. The story, I think, willnever end. �Michele M. Meservy is a member of the Sharon FifthWard, Orem Utah Sharon Stake.Gospel topics: family history, fasting, unity


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The Sunday that my friends and I gathered to read the scrip-tures, express gratitude, and talk about the things of our souls

helped me understand the spirit of Sabbath peace and worship.

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Ideas that help us keepthe spirit of the Sabbath.“T he sabbath was made for

man, and not man for thesabbath” (Mark 2:27).

These words of the Savior remindus that the Sabbath day was meantto be a blessing rather than a bur-den to those who observe it. Itsblessings flow not only from at-tending Church meetings but alsofrom engaging in activities appro-priate to the spirit of this sacredday. Because circumstances differamong Church members, thekinds of Sunday activities each of us may choose in order to gain spiritual strength and draw closer to theLord will vary. Following are some experiences sharedby Ensign readers on this important topic.

OBSERVING THE SPIRIT OF THE SABBATH

My parents grew up as nonbelievers in Russia, so when we were baptized in 1992, we were convertsnot only to the Church but also to Christianity. Weunderstood that joining the Church would changeour beliefs as well as our attitudes and our very lives.One source of that change was the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy, which was totally newto us.

At the time of my family’s conversion, someChurch members in Moscow were from other coun-tries and were living in the city as employees of theirgovernments or of private businesses. These mem-bers were our walking manuals; it was by beingaround them that I learned what Church membersshould do to please the Lord. My best friend thenwas a Latter-day Saint named David Matthews, whowas a teenager like me. Whenever I visited his fam-ily on Sundays, I could tell it was a special day. I remember how quiet their house was on that day. They had many children in their family, and dur-ing the week all kinds of sounds could usually be heard in their home. But not on Sunday. The chil-dren behaved differently, and not because they had to but because they wanted to. I felt the same

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spirit in David’s home that I felt when priesthood holders administered the sacrament in church.

A few years later I finally learned where this spirit of Sabbath peace and worship came from. During a trip to St. Petersburg that I took with some otherChurch members, I was discussing with one of myfriends, Rebekah Nielson, our plans for the comingday, which was Sunday. Of course our plan wouldinclude going to the local branch to participate inSunday meetings. “Then,” Rebekah said, “we willcome back to the place we are staying and willhave a quiet and peaceful Sabbath.” She said thiswith reverence and devotion, and I could feel herlove for our Father in Heaven and His Son, JesusChrist. Sabbath observance was a commandment thatwas written on the tables of her heart (see 2 Cor. 3:3).

And so it happened. After returning from thebranch meetings, the group of us sat together andtalked about the things of our souls. We read the scriptures together; we talked about things we weregrateful for. We spent the day with “thanksgiving,with cheerful hearts and countenances” (D&C 59:15). I felt the same spirit I had felt in thehome of the Matthews family. It wasthe Spirit of the Lord, which spokepeace to our minds (see D&C 6:23).

I shall never forget that spe-cial Sabbath day when I learnedthat it is not only the letter of thelaw but also the spirit that makesthe day holy. It changed mywhole view of that day of theweek. Now I knew that the onlytrue source of rest was Jesus Christ Himself. Only inHim could I find enough strength for the week ahead.Since then the Sabbath has become a day of my Lord,or, in other words, a day when my joy can be full (seeD&C 59:13).—Ivan Makarov, Severo-ZamoskvoretskyBranch, Moscow Russia North District

C L E A R I N G A S P A C EAs a desire grew in me to keep the Sabbath

day holy, the first thing I realized was that beforeI could fill my Sundays with spiritually nourish-

ing activities, I had to free them of all the things thatdrained me. Over time I have learned to let Sunday bethe focus of my week and to spend time during theother days preparing for it. I have my own personalchecklist of things that are to be done before I go tobed Saturday night: have the house clean, have my lesson prepared, make sure there is gas in the car, plandinner and prepare as much of it as possible ahead oftime, wash and lay out church clothes, and pack mychurch bag.

At first it was a struggle to plan ahead and makesure all of these things were done and still go to bed at

a decent hour on Saturday night. Now Ithink of such preparation as a gift that

I give myself each week. It is such a joy towake up on Sunday morning and be able to focus

calmly on the things of the Spirit. The renewal I feel after a peaceful Sunday more than makes up for the extra effort I spend during the week preparing for it.

In addition to the temporal preparations I do onSaturday, I have begun using it as a day to prepare spiritually. I begin praying on Saturday for the blessings I want to receive on the Sabbath day: an increased un-derstanding of the Atonement, a greater appreciation forthe sacrament, the ability to learn by the Spirit from thetalks and lessons, and strength and inspiration for the coming week.—Sharli Turner, Littlerock Ward,Palmdale California Stake


(Isa. 58:13)

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One Sunday a neighborboy came by to talk to

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“CLOSED ON SUNDAY”The example of a neighbor not of my faith—whose

dedication to keeping the Sabbath day holy was an im-portant part of her own faith—prompted our familyto reexamine our approach to Sunday. After a familydiscussion we decided to do some things that wouldset this day apart from other days of the week.

1. We selected special music for use on Sunday—classical music, Mormon Tabernacle Choir recordings,and recordings of the hymns and Primary songs.When we put this music on as we were getting readyfor church, we found that we went to our meetingswith a calmer, more receptive spirit.

2. We began opting for simpler Sunday meals thatcould be cooked slowly in the oven while we were at church. In addition, we tried to prepare desserts aday ahead.

3. We refrained from changing into “grubbies” af-ter meetings. Instead, we changed into comfortableclothing that would be appropriate to greet companyin. We began to notice that everyone modified theirbehavior to conform to this better dress.

4. For our Sunday activities we played quiet gamestogether; had parent-child interviews; wrote letters to missionaries and to grandparents; read scriptures,Church magazines, and other good books; listened to inspirational talk tapes; and occasionally took a nature walk together. Sometimes we had our familyhome evening lesson on Sunday, leaving Mondayfree for another family activity.

The effects on our family were readily apparentone Sunday when a neighbor boy came by to talk toour 10-year-old son about some items our son sold as a money-making venture. Our son replied simply to his friend, “We’re closed on Sunday.”—Betty JanMurphy, Pine Ward, Payson Arizona Stake

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MAKING SUNDAY A FAMILY DAY

Some think of the Sabbath as a day of prohibi-tions—a day you can’t do this or that. But it’s actually a day of privileges, a day of celebration, a day to re-flect, a day to restore our souls. When we observe the Sabbath, we don’t miss out on things; we learn to appreciate life and our families.

Over the years, for us the Sabbath day was first and foremost a family day. Among other things, we invented several games we could play on Sunday that helped both young and old focus on the gospel.

For one such game we divided into two teamsand then took turns trying to guess gospel-relatedwords and phrases that we had previously writtenon slips of paper. For another activity we wrote dif-ferent gospel topics on pieces of paper and put themin a bowl. Each person would draw a paper and then have about 10 minutes to prepare a talk on that subject. My husband and I helped the youngerchildren prepare theirs, and when everyone wasready we would take turns giving our talks. We dis-covered that we have very imaginative and creativechildren, and this activity turned out to be a greatsource of fun.

When our middle daughter, Julie, was 17 and had many nonmember friends, I asked her if it was hard to say no to them when they asked her to go to a movie, go swimming, or participate in asimilar activity on Sunday. She said: “No. In fact, bySunday I am grateful to get away from the outsideworld. I really need that time to just be with my own family. It’s great to be able to say no, I can’t gowith you because I spend Sundays with my family.”—Sharlene T. Barber, Farragut Ward, KnoxvilleTennessee Stake

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HAVING A THEME

To make Sundays more meaningful,our family sometimes has a theme for theday. The theme becomes the basis for ourchoices of the day’s activities. Here aresome examples:

Blue Ribbon Sunday. On this day we re-member and acknowledge gratefully peo-ple who have made a positive differencein our lives. The children each create two

Focusing on service as a theme is one way our family observes the

Sabbath, which might include visitingsomeone who needs a boost.

decorative ribbons to give to someone oftheir choice: one ribbon is for the chosenrecipient to keep; the other is for that per-

son to pass on to someone of his or herchoice. Our children write notes expres-

sing their feelings of gratitude to the personthey’ve chosen and encouraging them to honor

another person with the second ribbon.P.I.E. Sunday. This is a Sunday on which Dad has

a “priesthood interview for everyone,” and Mommakes a favorite pie to be eaten afterwards. This is agreat day for self-evaluation, setting goals, and work-ing on journals and scrapbooks.

Missionary Sunday. Activities for this day might include inviting the full-time missionaries over fordinner and having them talk about missionary work,writing to and making things for family and wardmissionaries currently serving in the field, holding a meeting in our home with missionaries and neigh-bors, attending missionary open houses and firesideswith our friends who aren’t members, and so forth.

Service Sunday. On this day we focus on servingothers, doing such things as home teaching or visitingteaching or making appointments for future visits,presenting an appropriate and short musical programat a local nursing home, inviting others over for fam-ily home evening, taking a loaf of homemade breadto someone who needs a boost, or collecting somefood and supplies from our pantry for a charity drive.

S U N D A Y A C T I V I T Y B O XWhen our children were

young we found a way to helpthem enjoy the Sabbath day andat the same time maintain a de-gree of reverence: a Sundayactivity box. We usedthis special box foryears, and I was always onthe lookout for additional items sowe could rotate what was included. Withour children’s help, we filled it with such things ascopies of the Friend magazine; pencils; crayons; color-ing books with gospel themes; Church-related books,tapes, and games; puppets; a flannel-board kit; and evensome small toys the little ones could play with quietly.

One idea we came up with was to cut out small pictures from past Friend magazines, organize the pic-tures by topic (such as the sacrament, the ProphetJoseph Smith, the Book of Mormon), and put them insmall photo albums that could be looked at on Sundays.We also put in the box a small flip chart that we used towrite some scriptures we wanted to memorize. Whenthe Primary children’s sacrament meeting presentationwas coming up, the words to the songs went on thepages of the flip chart so we could learn and sing thesongs together.

In this way our family was able to observe theSabbath and create priceless memories of good timestogether.—Connie Jameson, Anderson Ward,Greenville South Carolina Stake


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IS IT WORTHY OF THE SABBATH?

“Peoplefrequentlywonder whereto draw theline: what is

worthy and what is unworthy to

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This thematic approach toSabbath observance gives our fam-ily something to look forward toand allows us to regularly focus ourattention on important areas of thegospel.—Shalynn Sedgwick,Bridgeport Branch, New HavenConnecticut Stake

do upon the Sabbaloves the Lord withmight, mind, and scan put away selficurb desire; if one
each Sabbath a
mball (1895–1985),er W. Kimball

Fast Sunday can be a time for special

family experiences, suchas receiving father’sblessings and sharingtestimonies.

BOOK OF MORMON TIME

Several years ago my wife and Ishared a common concern that ourchildren were reading the Book ofMormon but were not necessarilygaining personal testimonies of it.After praying and counseling to-gether, we decided to establish inour home what we called “Book ofMormon time.” Each family mem-ber committed to personally readfrom the Book of Mormon dailywhenever possible. My wife offered to read with theyounger children so they could participate. Each ofus agreed to select something from the week’s read-ing to share with the family on Sunday.

Book of Mormon time has become a highlight ofour Sabbath day experience. We gather and take turnssharing the chosen passages. Each family member fol-lows along in his or her personal copy of the Book ofMormon as the reader reads the selection aloud andtells the family why it was chosen.

Book of Mormon time has had such a profoundimpact on our family that our three sons who haveserved missions faithfully continued to share theirverses each week in their letters home. I, in turn,recorded the references and thoughts from each fam-ily member to send to the missionaries in my weeklyletters to them. We all love the Book of Mormon, andwe know that the Holy Ghost teaches us eternalprinciples through it.—Dale S. Bills, Spanish Fork12th Ward, Spanish Fork Utah South Stake

yardstick of worshone is honest withwith himself; if on‘broken heart and spirit,’ it is quite uthere will be Sabbathat person’s life.”President Spencer W. KiThe Teachings of Spenc(1982), 219.

IDEAS FOR FAST SUNDAY

In the last few years we have tried to do a lot bet-ter at using fast Sunday as a means for enhancing

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our family ’s Sabbath day worship.Here is what has worked for us:

We begin our fast together onSaturday afternoon following afamily meal. While we eat we dis-cuss with the children commonpurposes for the upcoming fast andask each child if there is a specificpurpose he or she would like toadd. After the dishes are done wereview the purposes for which weare fasting and then kneel togetherin prayer, asking for divine help tomake the fast day meaningful forus and our children. Throughoutthe fast day we remind each otherof our family’s purposes in fasting.

th. But if one all his heart,trength; if oneshness andcan measure

ctivity by theipfulness; if his Lord ande offers aa contritenlikely thatth breaking in

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Immediately after returning home from ourChurch meetings, and before closing our fast, wehave a family gathering in which we bear our testi-monies and express our feelings. As our young chil-dren have observed their parents and older siblingsbear testimony, we have seen their testimony of thegospel grow and their ability to bear pure testimonyincrease. We have had many joyous experiences thathave bound us together spiritually during this familytestimony meeting.

One of our family traditions is to have each childreceive a father ’s blessing on the fast Sunday follow-ing that child’s birthday. We do this following thefamily testimony meeting because it seems that thenour spirits are more receptive to the Spirit.

We close the fast by kneeling together and pray-ing sincerely about the purposes of the fast. We haveknelt in a circle and asked each family member to offer a prayer. Afterward we ask our children whatthey have felt prompted to do as a result of their fasting.—Jeff and Juanita Hill, Canyon View ThirdWard, Orem Utah Canyon View Stake

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LIVING AWAY FROM HOME

Sunday had always been a family-oriented day for me. When I left home to attend college, however,that changed. Sunday was no longer a family day, but it remained a special day. In many ways I think I learned to appreciate and honor the Sabbath daymore while I was on my own, for it was no longerMom and Dad’s responsibility to make Sundayunique but mine.

One of the major things I did to set the Sabbathday apart from the rest of the week was to setaside my homework. When I did so, I foundthat Sunday brought needed physical andmental renewal and a welcome freedom fromstress and worry. It allowed me to concen-trate more fully on the Savior and the gospel.

Besides participating in such Sunday activities as listening to uplifting music, read-

ing Church magazines and good books,writing letters to family and friends,

and attending firesides, I found ithelped me to get up a little earlier than

my roommates and use the quiet morning hours tostudy my scriptures, write in my journal, review mypatriarchal blessing, or read from the Relief Societylesson manual.

Sunday also provided the opportunity for“roommate bonding.” Since our schedules duringthe week were so different and so busy, my room-mates and I rarely had time when we could all betogether. On Sunday, however, we set a time togather in the kitchen and pooled resources to make a respectable dinner. We talked and laughed as we prepared and then enjoyed the meal together.Afterward everyone helped clean up and do the

A G R E AT D A Y F O R F A M I L Y H I S T O R YThe Sabbath is a great day to get people involved in

various forms of family history. For example, sometimeduring Sunday each member of our family goes to his orher room for about an hour of personal time. During thistime the children might write in their journals. SometimesI will go in their rooms and give them ideas of what towrite about. This has been our children’s first experiencein recording their personal histories. Even the childrenwho can’t write still record their experiences by dictatingtheir stories to their older siblings. Setting aside a spe-cific time for journal writing on Sunday makes it more

likely that family members will actually do it.

Viewing home video recordings is an especially exciting way to involve

everyone in family history.Children are usually thrilled

to see themselves on the TVscreen. This activity strengthens

family relationships as we relivesome of our happiest moments to-

gether.—Shannon Stahura, OrchardFirst Ward, Orem Utah East Stake


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Reenacting a favorite scripture story is only one of many possible Sabbath activities

for children.

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dishes. Although we were all away from our fami-lies, our Sunday dinners together helped us feel notso far from home.

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Going away to college gave me the opportunity to learn to value the day the Lord set apart for us to rest from our labors and cares. I came to realize that no matter where you are or what your situation, you can make Sunday

a special day.—Lesley Taylor, Italy Padova Mission �Gospel topics: Sabbath observance, parenthood, Ten Commandments

“ W H AT C A N W E D O O N S U N D A Y, M O M ? ”Children sometimes ask what they can do on the Sabbath, and with a little thought we can provide a variety of answers. As

you and your family consider the ideas below and generate some of your own, you will likely come to feel that there are manymore things to do than not do on the Sabbath day.

❑ Read the scriptures, Church magazines, and good stories and books.

❑ Research a gospel question or word, perhaps using the Topical Guide in the Bible.

❑ Dramatize and videotape scripture stories.

❑ Hold a spelling bee using scripture words or other gospel terms.

❑ Create crossword puzzles that feature items from the Book of Mormon, names of Primary

songs, or facts about your family.

❑ Listen to or read talks given by General Authorities.

❑ Listen to appropriate music.

❑ Learn a Church hymn in sign language or another language.

❑ Record your testimony, special events, and memories in a journal.

❑ Watch a Church video (usually available for checkout from the ward library).

❑ Work on family history, books of remembrance, or scrapbooks.

❑ For dinnertime, create a table centerpiece that features an ancestor and his or her time period, then read about that ancestor during or after the meal.

❑ Using a gospel or family theme, write a poem or song or make a simple poster together.

❑ Create a newsletter to send to family or friends.

❑ Make a card, draw a picture, or write a thank-you note, letter, poem, or story for a specific person (such as a shut-in, newcomer, bishop, teacher, relative, missionary, or someone in military service).

❑ Attend a fireside or hold an extended-family fireside that features a newly returned missionary, a newly married couple, an elderly family member, or someone else you’d like to hear from.—Carol Hansen, Huntington Beach Sixth Ward, HuntingtonBeach California North Stake

V I S I T I N G T E A C H I N GM E S S A G E

Increasing OurFaith in Jesus Christ

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While serving as a memberof the Seventy, ElderStephen D. Nadauld

related the following experience: “A stake president and I took theopportunity to visit a youngwoman. . . . Her husband had beenkilled in a car accident; she was living in a modest apartment withher two young children. I supposewe expected to find her upset anddiscouraged. . . . On the contrary,she was cheerful; she was calm; she was very gracious. She thankedus for coming and then said, . . .‘Brethren, I want you to know I believe in the plan of redemption. I am grateful to my Savior for thepromise of a glorious resurrectionwith my husband. I am grateful for His redeeming sacrifice.’ Then,putting her arms around her twochildren, she said, ‘Our faith inJesus Christ will see us through’”(“Faith and Good Works,” Ensign,May 1992, 82–83).

This sister ’s humble declarationdemonstrates how faith in theSavior can replace fear and doubtwith hope and courage.

Ayoung widow testified of Jesus Christ and

the Resurrection and then said, after huggingher children, “Our faithin Jesus Christ willsee us through.”

FAITH IS NECESSARY

In today’s uncertain world, wemay not know what tomorrowwill bring, but faith in Jesus Christcan give us spiritual peace, even in the face of calamity and heart-break. As President Ezra TaftBenson explained while serving as President of the Quorum of theTwelve Apostles, “Faith in [JesusChrist] means believing that eventhough we do not understand all things, He does” (“Jesus Christ:Our Savior and Redeemer,” Ensign,Nov. 1983, 8).

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel(see A of F 1:4). By exercising faithwe receive strength to face difficul-ties and overcome temptations. As we put our faith in Him, repent,and are obedient, He will forgiveour sins and help us return toHim. “If ye will have faith in me,”He has promised, “ye shall havepower to do whatsoever thing isexpedient in me” (Moro. 7:33).

NURTURING OUR FAITHWe study and practice to de-

velop the skills we need in anyearthly endeavor. So also do wedevelop faith. “Faith cometh byhearing, and hearing by the word

of God,” the Apostle Paul explains(Rom. 10:17). Elder Henry B.Eyring of the Quorum of theTwelve Apostles observes that“simply hearing the words of doc-trine can plant the seed of faith inthe heart. And even a tiny seed of faith in Jesus Christ invites theSpirit” (“The Power of TeachingDoctrine,” Ensign, May 1999, 74).

Once the seed of faith has beenplanted in our hearts, it must benourished. Our faith in JesusChrist is nourished as we study,search, and ponder the scriptures;fast and pray; participate in sacredordinances; keep our covenants;serve the Lord and others; sustainour Church leaders; and obey thecommandments.

As our faith in Jesus Christgrows stronger, we learn to walkwith faith in Him. “To have faith in Christ,” says Sister Sheri L. Dew,second counselor in the ReliefSociety general presidency, “is tobelieve in Him, follow Him, andrely on Him. And it is to be blessedwith the peace of conscience andmind that the Apostle Paul spoke of when he said, ‘I can do all thingsthrough Christ which strength-eneth me’” (Philip. 4:13) (“Our OnlyChance,” Ensign, May 1999, 67). �Gospel topics: faith in Jesus Christ, peace


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WELCOME TOwww.lds.org

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Let’s say you need

a copy of PresidentGordon B.Hinckley’sSunday morn-ing conferencetalk at the lastgeneral con-ference—inItalian. Whereare you goingto find that?

Or let’s sayyou’d like tosearch for yourgreat-grand-father in the Church’s family history records, but thenearest Family History Center is miles away. Will youhave to wait until another day?

Or let’s say you need a copy of that brochure To the Home Teachers of the Church to use in your quo-rum presidency meeting. How can you get one?

The answers are as close as your computer. You can find these things, and much more, by logging on to www.lds.org, the Church’s official Internet site.You’ll be joining some 30,000 other people who use iteach day. They find everything from information aboutbasic teachings of the Church to a conference talk in theMay 1982 Ensign or this month’s Primary Sharing Timeresources from the Friend. They find the latest newsfrom Church headquarters as well as what media in areas around the world are saying about Latter-day Saints.

Visitors who log on to the Church’s Web site are

Feast on the word. If you click Gospel Libraryou will get this screen that allows you to searFirst Presidency and visiting teaching messag(upper right corner), past conference talks, and

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greeted by ascreen that of-fers direct linksto the scripturesonline, theChurch maga-zines database,feature articles,news items, andrecently broad-cast programs.There is also amenu that lists:

• BasicBeliefs—a link to infor-mation aboutthe gospel.

• The Scriptures—the four standard works.• Gospel Library—a database that includes Church

magazines since 1971 and also Church curriculummaterials.

• Family Resources—materials to help in teachingand strengthening families.

• Family History—a link to the Church’s FamilyHistory Library site with all its resources and helps.

• News Media Resources—news, including releases and photos provided for journalists.

• Order Church Materials—a link for orderingChurch curriculum materials on line.

Printed materials necessary for gospel study and ba-sic administration of Church programs are still availableto members who need them, regardless of whetherthey have a computer. But if you know your wayaround the World Wide Web or are willing to learn, a library of materials is now as close as your keyboard.

y on the home page menu (right), ch the scriptures, Church magazines,

es and Primary Sharing Time materials other gospel related resources.

Help a friend. By clicking Basic Beliefs on the home page menu(above), you can find information to help explain the basics of thegospel to a friend or loved one. Those interested in learning morecan request a free copy of the Book of Mormon or a Church video.


On

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Find a conference talk. Clicking GeneralConference Archive on the Gospel Librarypage leads to a screen that allows you tosearch out a particular conference talk(left). The latest talks are available inmore than 30 languages (below).

Search the scriptures. Selecting The Scriptures onthe Gospel Library page leads to a screen (above) thatallows you to search for particular words or refer-ences. The result (right) also provides study helps.

Review a lesson. In the online GospelLibrary, you can find Church curriculum materials like this Primary lesson (left).


Strengthen your family. Ideas for activi-ties (left) are only part of what is avail-able online. Other resources include helpsfor strengthening marriages, strengthen-ing parent-child relationships, andstrengthening individuals.

Find an ancestor. Clicking on the homepage’s Family History link leads to theFamilySearch™ page that invites you tosearch for a particular ancestor (below) or use other family history resources.

Order Church materials. Through theOnline Distribution Center (right),you can order materials for ward orbranch use or for your family and have them shipped to you.

5

B Y A N N F. P R I T T

HEALINGTHE SPIRITUAL WOUNDSOF SEXUAL ABUSE

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A correct understanding of theAtonement and of gospel principlescan replenish the faith and hope ofthose who have been sexually abused.

Today Julia* is secure in her faith in HeavenlyFather and in her belief that He cares about her and answers her prayers. But she did not

always feel this way. Having suffered from sexualabuse as a child, she struggled to reconcile her experiences with what she had been taught aboutHeavenly Father. She could not understand why He,being all-powerful, didn’t stop the abuse. She won-dered why it was so difficult for her to feel HeavenlyFather ’s love and to recognize His answers to herprayers.

She found no easy answers to these questions.However, Julia began working through her painfulpast with the help of her bishop and a professionalcounselor. As she studied and prayed for a better understanding of gospel principles and acted uponthe knowledge she received, she was able to feel

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Priesthoodblessings can

help individualsfind peace andhealing.

Heavenly Father ’s love for her and find the peaceand healing that had eluded her.

This pattern is common among those who havebeen abused. They often grow in confidence as theygain a better understanding of the Atonement,agency, and the Lord’s mercy and as they develop a closer relationship to Heavenly Father. Many havefound comfort through prayer, forgiveness, keepingsacred covenants, and service.

POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF ABUSE

Many who have been abused have experiences like Julia’s and find it difficult to feel the influence of the Holy Ghost as well as to feel answers to prayer. Although they may interpret this as a lack ofHeavenly Father ’s love, there is another explanation.A basic defense children use against sexual abuse is to shut down their feelings, helping them to getthrough the trauma. Yet this response also cuts themoff from positive feelings. As a result, those who havebeen sexually abused may have difficulty feeling thelove of Heavenly Father, His servants, and other nur-turing people in their lives.

Sexual abuse can lead to deep spiritual woundingin other ways. People who have experienced suchabuse may develop erroneous ideas about HeavenlyFather, doctrines of the gospel, and their own worth.No wonder President Gordon B. Hinckley has condemned the sexual abuse of children in strongterms:

“The terrible, vicious practice of sexual abuse . . . is beyond understanding. It is an affront to the de-cency that ought to exist in every man and woman. It is a violation of that which is sacred and divine. It isdestructive in the lives of children. It is reprehensibleand worthy of the most severe condemnation. . . .*All names have been changed.


Those who have been abused often grow in confidence as they gain

a better understanding of the Atonement,agency, and the Lord’s mercy.

Those who have been abused often grow in confidence as they gain

a better understanding of the Atonement,agency, and the Lord’s mercy.

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THE CHURCH CONDEMNSABUSIVE BEHAVIOR

“Shame on any man or womanwho would sexually abuse a child.In doing so, the abuser not onlydoes the most serious kind of injury.He or she also stands condemnedbefore the Lord.”1

“mab

HEALING PRINCIPLES

Those who seek spiritual healingafter sexual abuse can become wholeagain and feel peace in their lives asthey come to correctly understandand apply principles of the gospel:

Finding hope in the Atonement. Nospiritual healing can take place with-out the healing balm of the Atone-ment. Not only can its sanctifyingpower assuage our hurts, but it cantransform our very souls. Wherethere was once anguish, there can bepeace; where there was despair, hope;where there was sorrow, joy. Weread in the Doctrine and Covenants:

“And this is the gospel, the gladtidings, which the voice out of the heavens borerecord unto us—

“That he came into the world, even Jesus, to becrucified for the world, and to bear the sins of theworld, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse itfrom all unrighteousness;

“That through him all might be saved” (D&C76:40–42).

Through the Atonement the Savior took “uponhim the pains and the sicknesses of his people . . . thathis bowels [would] be filled with mercy, according tothe flesh, that he [would] know according to the fleshhow to succor his people according to their infirmi-ties” (Alma 7:11–12). He understands and knows howto heal us if we will turn our hearts to Him and allowHim to carry our burdens.

Carrie felt alone and misunderstood, isolated inthe shame, humiliation, and pain of the abuse shehad experienced. In one illuminating moment, sheread that the agony of the Atonement caused theSavior, “even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and tosuffer both body and spirit” (D&C 19:18). Carrie real-ized that she was not alone in her suffering and thatthe Lord had suffered far more. And she realized thatHe had been sent “to heal the broken-hearted” (Luke4:18) and that through His Atonement He could healher wounded soul.

One author wrote: “There is a miraculous rebirth,a spiritual phoenix that emerges with our acceptance

there is recognitiobetween the husbawhen there is acknthat each child boworld is a child othere will follow aof responsibility thelp, to love withlove those for whoresponsible.” President Gordon B. HiPeople Asking about U1998, 72.

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of the Savior and His Atonement.His spirit heals; it refines; it com-forts; it breathes new life into hopeless hearts. It has the power to transform all that is ugly and vicious and worthless in life into something of supreme andglorious splendor. He has thepower to convert the ashes of mortality to the beauties of eternity.”2

Improving our relationship withHeavenly Father. The scriptures re-veal the true nature of God as ourloving Father and underscore ourimportance to Him as His children.We learn that “God is love” (1 Jn.4:8) and that “the worth of souls isgreat in the sight of God” (D&C18:10). This includes all souls, eachand every one.

Dale had been sexually abusedby a neighbor and physically abusedby his father, and as a result, he be-lieved most authority figures were

stern, demanding, and punitive. He couldn’t imagine aloving Heavenly Father who valued him despite whathad occurred.

As two Latter-day Saint missionaries taught himthe gospel, he was surprised that these former footballplayers were gentle and understanding. They knew ofhis challenges and still accepted him fully. With theirencouragement, Dale engaged in pleading prayer andcame to feel Heavenly Father ’s acceptance and under-standing, which brought deep peace to his spirit.

To those who have been abused, Elder Richard G.Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said:

“Recognize that you are a beloved child of yourHeavenly Father. He loves you perfectly and canhelp you as no earthly parent, spouse, or devotedfriend can. His Son gave his life so that by faith inhim and obedience to his teachings you can be madewhole. He is the consummate healer.”3

Learning about agency. Moral agency is an integralpart of our mortal experience—indeed, it is a centralfeature of our Heavenly Father ’s plan. Our purpose inmortality is to exercise our agency in ways that lead usback to Christ. Yet some individuals use their agency tomake evil choices, and others suffer deeply as a result.

In most cases Heavenly Father does not prevent in-dividuals from accomplishing evil; to do so wouldcompromise the agency of all of His children. Heknows that moral agency is a precious gift that must beprotected, for the proper and best use of it will result inthe greatest gift of all: exaltation and eternal life.

We condemnost strongly

busiveehavior in any

form. . . . Whenn of equalitynd and wife,owledgment

rn into thef God, then greater sense

o nurture, to an enduringm we are

nckley, “What Ares?” Ensign, Nov.

Through prayer, individuals can

feel Heavenly Father’s acceptance and understanding.

An experience of Alma and Amulek illustrates theimportance of agency. Amulek was horrified whenfaithful women and children were thrown into thefire, and he implored Alma to exercise the power ofGod to save them. Alma replied:

“The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretchforth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth themup unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer . . . thatthe people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgmentswhich he shall exercise upon them in his wrath maybe just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as awitness against them, yea, and cry mightily againstthem at the last day” (Alma 14:11).

The gospel teaches that when bad things happento people, this does not make them bad. No one candestroy another ’s possibilities for eternity. We arejudged only for our own desires, intentions, and actions, not for the actions of others against us.

Understanding repentance. When people are sexu-ally abused, they often develop incorrect ideas aboutthemselves and their relationships with others, andthey may treat people inappropriately. The goodnews of the gospel is that through faith, diligent ef-fort, and the help of the Lord, they can change theirbehavior and repent of their own harmful actions.

Such was Rachel’s experience. As a result of thesexual abuse she had suffered as a child, she feltconsumed by shame and anger. She turned heranger on others, lashing out at those who were clos-est to her. However, as she learned to separate thehurtful things that had been done to her from thewrong things she had done in her life, she was ableto give her perpetrators responsibility for their actswhile accepting responsibility for her own wrongs.There was no need for her to re-pent for bad things done to her—they were not under her control,were not her choice, and had evenstarted when she was too youngto understand what was happen-ing. But she could repent of herown acts of agency that had hurtothers. In doing so, she began toexperience a sense of peace andforgiveness that she had notdreamed possible.

Remembering the Lord’s mercy.Sexual abuse often results in feel-ings of shame and in an excessivefear of judgment by others. This, in turn, may lead to an obsessionwith perfection. Yet the Lordknows we experience different lev-els of difficulty in this life, and He

asks that we do the best we can with what we have.Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the TwelveApostles said, “God thus takes into merciful accountnot only our desires and our performance, but alsothe degrees of difficulty which our varied circum-stances impose upon us.”4

The Lord wants each of us to return to live withHim again and will help us do so. He proclaimed,“For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man”(Moses 1:39). Only He is capable of pronouncing finaljudgment on anyone, for He alone fully knows ourchallenges, our choices, and the desires of our hearts.

In the premortal existence we knew that makingmistakes would be part of the mortal experience.Aileen Clyde, a former counselor in the Relief Societygeneral presidency, wrote: “We live by choices andcan work toward becoming perfect by choosing well.This perfecting does not have flawless living as itsaim; rather, perfecting is the exercise of agency amidstdifficult choices that yields growth and progress.”5

Naomi’s life was spinning out of control. Likemany others who have been sexually abused, she be-lieved that even her smallest mistakes were proof ofher lack of worth. Paralyzed by her fear, she did notdare cook, clean, balance her checkbook, or teach herchildren. But she realized that not doing these thingswas also a mistake. Caught in this double bind, shefelt almost unable to function.

When she finally realized that mistakes were aninevitable part of the plan of salvation and that theycould not diminish the Savior ’s love for her, shefound the courage to face the things she had sofeared. She learned that the Lord Jesus Christ felt theweight of our infirmities as well as our sins through


6

the Atonement (see Alma 7:11–12), and she was ableto lean on Him for strength and guidance.

Seeking peace through prayer. Whether or not we feelHeavenly Father ’s influence in our lives at any giventime, we can still pray to Him and receive His help.He loves us and wants us to communicate with Him.President Ezra Taft Benson said of prayer: “Prayer willbring solace and comfort. It has healed sickness [and]comforted those distressed. . . . Truly there is powerin prayer.”6

Naomi echoed the feelings of many when she said,“Prayer has always been an outlet for my emotions. Icould tell Heavenly Father my hurts and needs that Icouldn’t tell anyone else. When the time was right forme to begin the healing process, Heavenly Father ledmy life in significant ways to bring me into contactwith the people who could help me the most.”

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HOW TO HELP THOSE W

Understand righteous use of the priesthood. If abusecame at the hands of a priesthood holder, there maybe confusion about what the priesthood is and howthe Lord intends it to be exercised.

The scriptures clearly teach that priesthood poweris lost when it is used unrighteously:

“The rights of the priesthood are inseparably con-nected with the powers of heaven, and . . . the pow-ers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled onlyupon the principles of righteousness.

“That they may be conferred upon us, it is true;but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to grat-ify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise con-trol or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of thechildren of men, in any degree of unrighteousness,behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spiritof the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn,

HO HAVE BEEN ABUSED

� Be a friend. Many people who have been abused feel dis-tant from others. Don’t feel that you have to solve their prob-lems; just be willing to listen empathetically.

� Be trustworthy and dependable. Many abusers held a posi-tion of trust and then violated that trust. It can help survivors im-measurably when they are able to consistently count on others.

� Facilitate their activity in the Church. Be sensitive to thepossibility that survivors of abuse may feel unworthy and uncomfortable in Church settings. Let them know that thescriptures which describe God’s love for His children apply tothem. Provide opportunities for them to serve others, and showthem that righteous living can bring joy and happiness.

� Withhold judgment. Unfortunately, some people who havebeen abused may turn to questionable activities to dull theirpain. Without condoning their behavior, realize that as theywork through their pain they will be better able to keep theirbodies and minds free of things that are harmful to them.

� Don’t expect them to quickly “forgive and forget” or “justget over it.” Until the issues have been worked through, the ef-fects of the abuse may still be an ongoing and painful part ofthe person’s everyday life. Genuine forgiveness may take time,and it does not happen by merely denying one’s feelings andavoiding the issues.

� Be sensitive to the needs and feelings of the abused whenteaching, speaking in sacrament meeting, or giving comments

in Church classes. For example, when talking about families,be aware that not every person has a family he or she wantsto be with. Holidays may be especially difficult for those whohave been abused, particularly Mother’s Day and Father’sDay.

When talking about enduring trials, recognize that the Lordnever intended anyone to experience abuse so that they couldlearn lessons from it. Abuse is always wrong and is con-demned in the strongest terms by the Lord’s prophets and bythe Savior.

� Help survivors of abuse understand that they are not badbecause bad things were done to them. Appropriately placeresponsibility on the perpetrator. Don’t imply that being abusedwas the victim’s fault. People do not have to repent of evil thatwas done to them; in fact, they cannot do so.

It can be painful for abused children to hear about divine intervention for the righteous. Although Daniel was saved from the lions, does that occur all the time for all of us? Clarify the truth so that any who have been abusedand not rescued will understand that they are still worthy individuals.

� Teach the importance of respecting others’ bodies.Emphasize that all have the right to keep their bodies private,regardless of another person’s status or authority.

� Never give up in bearing testimony of the power of theSavior. Lovingly testify that we can access His marvelouspower and love again and again.

The scriptures help us draw closer to

the Savior and thus find peace.

Amen to the priesthood or the au-thority of that man. . . .

“No power or influence can orought to be maintained by virtueof the priesthood, only by persua-sion, by long-suffering, by gentle-ness and meekness, and by loveunfeigned” (D&C 121:36–37, 41).

As a child, Jeanette had beenphysically and emotionally abusedby her father and sexually abusedby her brother, both of whomwere outwardly active in theChurch. As a result, it was difficultfor her to trust priesthood leadersand even attend church. Her atti-tudes about the priesthood beganto change, however, as truly honorable priesthoodholders showed caring and concern, doing much tohelp her heal.

One such person was her bishop, who listenednonjudgmentally and with deep concern as Jeanettehaltingly told of her past experiences. He met withher regularly to offer support and inspired counsel.He shared scriptures and explained gospel principles,and he gave Jeanette priesthood blessings that helpedher understand she was loved by Heavenly Fatherand was important to Him. The bishop also extendedto her a Church calling that enabled her to buildneeded friendships in the ward. His example helpedJeanette understand the essential role of priesthoodholders in the healing process.

Extending forgiveness. Forgiveness is a crucial partof healing. It may not be a single event; rather, it is of-ten a difficult process requiring much soul-searching,earnest prayer, and often the guidance of a bishop orstake president.

Forgiveness does not imply that an individual has“forgotten” all memories of the abuse, that he or shecondones the behavior or absolves the perpetrator ofresponsibility, or that he or she must become recon-ciled with the perpetrator, particularly if there is thepossibility of further abuse. What forgiveness doesimply is that an individual has relinquished feelingsof hate or bitterness toward another, has placed thematter in the Lord’s hands, and has enabled Him tooperate more fully in his or her life. In forgiving, anindividual frees himself from the perpetrator and istherefore better able to progress.

Raised in a home where his mother did not protecthim from his father ’s abuse, Stephen struggled withbitter feelings toward both of his parents. Realizing he would never fully understand his parents’ behav-ior, he eventually was able to leave the matter in theLord’s hands and let go of his rancor. In time, the

self-condemnation he had felt because of his own short-comings was replaced by self-acceptance and peace.

THE GOSPEL: A MESSAGE OF HOPE

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of hopeand of eternal possibilities. Through it, even in ourdarkest hours, we can receive spiritual strength and aheightened understanding of the Savior ’s love for us.

Brandon said, “I have realized that the Lord keptme going when all else failed and no one was there. I have a stronger love for Him now, and that love isincomprehensible. He is my best friend, and one dayI know all the other questions will be sorted out andanswered.”

Let us put our faith in Jesus Christ and trust thatHe will heal. He wants each of us to come to Him,and He will help us do so, for He has said:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavyladen, and I will give you rest.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for Iam meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find restunto your souls.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”(Matt. 11:28–30). �

Ann F. Pritt, a therapist, is a member of the Kaysville Ninth Ward,Kaysville Utah East Stake.

Gospel topics: abuse, repentance, Atonement, prayer, priesthood, forgiveness

NOTES1. “Save the Children,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 54.2. Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement (2000), 206–7.3. “Healing the Tragic Scars of Abuse,” Ensign, May 1992, 32.4. “‘According to the Desire of [Our] Hearts,’” Ensign, Nov.

1996, 21.5. “We Must Cherish One Another,” in Hearts Knit Together, ed.

Susette Fletcher Green, Dawn Hall Anderson, and Dlora HallDalton (1996), 176.

6. The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson (1988), 422.


L A T T E R-D A Y S A I N TV O I C E S

David Led the WayBy Sergio Arroyo

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As missionaries in the Chile Antofagasta Mission, my

companion and I wereteaching a young lady and herbrother, who was eight years old.

4

For the second discussion, herbrother invited David Marín, afriend his age, to attend. Davidwas a small boy, and he did notyet know how to read. But helooked at us attentively, listenedenthusiastically, and asked for acopy of the Book of Mormon. Mycompanion and I glanced at eachother. Since David didn’t read, we

silently decided against givinghim a Book of Mormon.

Later that same day, we hap-pened to meet David again in the street. He said, “Elders, whenare you going to give me myBook of Mormon?” Still thinkinghe would have no use for thebook, we let the opportunity goby a second time. After all, he was

When we metDavid again,

he said, “Elders,when are you go-ing to give me myBook of Mormon?”

Cold Cereal orHot Soup?By Chris Wright

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just an eight-year-old boy.When we taught the third

discussion to the young lady and her brother, little David wasthere again. After the discussion,he asked us again, this time a littleannoyed, “And where is my Bookof Mormon?”

I looked at him and felt some-thing special. Smiling, I tried to explain why we hadn’t given himthe book, saying, “You cannot readit, David.” His face fell. But at thatmoment, the thought came intomy mind, His parents can read it. SoI continued, “But your parents can.Let’s go to your house and talkwith them.”

David smiled, jumped for joy,and took us to his home. There we met his father, Don Astemio;his mother, María; his sisters,Macarena and Valeska, both age11; and his one-year-old brother.

The Maríns were a humble andloving family. The father had oncebeen a fine athlete, but he hadbeen afflicted with Parkinson’s dis-ease for about seven years; for thepast two years, he had been con-fined to bed.

After listening to the discus-sions, David, Macarena, andValeska were baptized but not Don Astemio because of his ill-ness. His wife, María, was not baptized either.

We continued to visit the family,and one day Don Astemio said,“Tomorrow I am going to be bap-tized,” adding, “and afterward I will be healed.” When I heardthese words, I felt great joy, but I was also afraid. I knew his faithhad grown, but what would hap-pen if he could not walk after hisbaptism? I tried to explain to himthat baptism would heal him spiri-tually—but a physical healing was in the hands of our Father inHeaven. In spite of everything mycompanion and I said, he remainedcertain that after his baptism

he was going to walk.On the night before his bap-

tism, I knelt and prayed with allmy heart, asking Heavenly Fatherfor His will to be done. After myprayer, I felt a special peace.

The next day, Don Astemiostood with great difficulty. Hecould not take a single step with-out help. When we got to themeetinghouse, we had to go up along staircase to the second floor.We were all moved by the great ef-fort and pain it took Don Astemioto go up those stairs, step by step.When we finally walked into thebuilding, the members therelooked at us with surprise.

When Don Astemio came outof the water, I saw he had greatfaith, but his body was the same.He could not stand by himself.

We left him at his home afterthe service. He did not want to goto bed but remained sitting calmlyin an armchair.

The next day, we dropped by to visit him. As we approached his home, we could see little Davidplaying outside with a ball—andthere was Don Astemio, runningand playing with his son! I couldhardly believe what I was seeing.My eyes filled with tears, and inmy heart I thanked HeavenlyFather for His great love. Twoweeks later, María was baptized.

While Don Astemio’s healingwas unusual, I am grateful that the Lord blessed this family in a remarkable way. Left to our own intelligence, my companion and Iwould have continued to ignore lit-tle David, but the Lord knew some-thing we didn’t. He knew that thischild would be the means by whichan entire family would come intoHis Church and be helped in wayswe could not have foreseen. �Sergio Arroyo is a member of the LosPresidentes Ward, Santiago Chile Ñuñoa Stake.

Gospel topics: faith, miracles, conversion,missionary work, children

I could tell it was going to be adifficult day. After a restlessnight I woke up to the full

assault of influenza—headache,nausea, fever, and chills. The daybefore, my husband had kissedme good-bye before boarding aplane for a business trip to theEast Coast of the United States.

How am I going to take care of myself, let alone four children? I won-dered. I called Ben, my seven-year-old, to my room and charged himwith the task of watching hisyounger brother and sisters.

That afternoon my visitingteacher called on the phone. Sheperceived I wasn’t feeling welland offered to help, but I declinedthe offer. “We’re fine,” I insisted.

Ben did the best job a seven-year-old could do. The childrenate cold cereal for breakfast,lunch, and dinner. But the diaperrash, dirty dishes, and disarraytold me I should have allowedmy visiting teacher to help. Whyhad I not accepted her offer?

Months later I attended aRelief Society lesson that focusedon occasions recorded in thescriptures when the Savior re-ceived service. For example:

•While journeying throughSamaria on His way to Galilee,Jesus stopped at a well to rest.When a Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water, He en-treated her: “Give me to drink.” Anopportunity for Him to teach thewoman followed, and ultimatelymany Samaritans came to believein Christ because of this woman’stestimony (see John 4:7–42).

•While dining in the house of Simon the Pharisee, Jesus


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I Asked God to Touch MyMother’s HeartBy Adilson José Horta

After praying, I went to talk

with my mother,who before hadsaid she wouldnot permit me tobe baptized.

graciously allowed a woman towipe His feet with her hair and toanoint them with ointment. Jesusperceived the Pharisee’s disap-proval, yet He not only permittedbut praised the woman’s humbleact of service. “Her sins, which aremany, are forgiven,” He declared;“for she loved much: but to whomlittle is forgiven, the same lovethlittle” (see Luke 7:36–50).

•Jesus asked two of His disci-ples to bring Him a donkey to rideinto Jerusalem, and when He en-tered the city the crowd cast theirgarments and palm leaves in Hispath. “Hosanna to the Son ofDavid,” the people shouted. He ac-cepted their worshipful jubilationfit for a king (see Matt. 21:1–9).

The Savior ’s invitation “Followme” was apparently more inclu-sive than I had previously under-stood. These scriptural examplessuggested that we should followHis example not only in givingcompassionate service but also in receiving service graciously.

Another year the flu seasonfound me again. Five childrennow graced our home, and theEast Coast still beckoned my hus-band for weeklong business trips.However, this time when a dearfriend called and asked how Iwas, I told her I felt terrible.

She responded, “I’ll be rightover.” She took my little ones forthe day, providing for their careand allowing me the rest I so desperately needed. When shebrought the children home thatnight she also brought homemadechicken noodle soup. How mychildren feasted on that soup! Thenext morning she called again,and because I was still feeling ill I allowed her to take my childrenthe second day. Another friendtook care of them the third dayuntil I got back on my feet. Thesedear sisters were as ministeringangels to me and my children.

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How grateful I am for theSavior ’s admonition to followHim in all things! �Chris Wright is a member of the LibertyThird Ward, Huntsville Utah Stake.

Gospel topics: service, Jesus Christ, love

One day in October 1992 as I was coming home frommy school in Cape Verde,

I noticed two young men dressedin white shirts and ties. I decidedto speak to them. As we talked, I could feel great love emanatingfrom them. They told me theirnames and the name of theirchurch: The Church of Jesus Christof Latter-day Saints. Then they invited me to become acquainted

with their families by showing mephotographs. They also expressedan interest in coming to my houseand meeting my family.

When they came to my house,my mother was courteous, but shewas not interested in their mes-sage. Still, I liked the discussionsimmensely; each one seemed bet-ter than the last. The testimony ofthe Prophet Joseph Smith and thenews of the restored gospel werethe most marvelous messages I hadever heard. They truly changed myheart. Eventually, the missionariesmentioned baptism. My motherwas not pleased with my desire tojoin the Church and would notpermit me to be baptized.

I continued to investigate theChurch and to attend every Churchmeeting and activity. But I was alsoobedient to my mother. Many timesthe elders explained to her the im-portance of my being baptized, butshe would not change her mind.

One day in sacrament meeting,a sister missionary spoke on thesubject of prayer. Her wordstouched my heart deeply, and

L A T T E R - D A Y S A I N T V O I C E S

later at home I meditated on whatshe had said. Prompted by theHoly Ghost, I decided to pray. Iwent up on the porch of our houseand prayed out loud, opening myheart to my Father in Heaven. Ifervently told Him of my desire to join His Church and asked Him to touch my mother ’s heart so shewould let me be baptized.

It was a prayer I will never forget. I went into the house andopened the subject of baptismwith my mother. Without a singleobjection, she responded, “If thisis your desire, you may be bap-tized.” My heart was filled with

happiness and praise to God. Iknew without a doubt He hadheard and answered my prayer.

I was baptized on 13 February1993 on the island of São Tiago,Cape Verde. A little over a yearlater, after many more ferventprayers, I baptized two membersof my family, my Aunt Edna andmy Aunt Ana. In June 1994 I re-ceived one of the greatest bless-ings of my life when I baptizedmy mother.

Our Father in Heaven is lovingand kind. And He always answersour prayers in the way He knowsis best for us. �Adilson José Horta is a member of the PraiaFirst Branch, Praia Cape Verde District.

Gospel topics: prayer, missionary work,
conversion
Why Was It So Hard to LearnItalian?By Wendy McLeod Smith

“And I bless you with the gift of tongues,” my stake

president said as he set meapart for my mission in Rome. Thewords still echoed through mymemory. Then why could I notlearn Italian?

My struggles began in whatwas then called the LanguageTraining Mission. While other missionaries were progressing inlearning Italian, I lagged behind.French had been easy for me tolearn in high school. Even withoutthe gift of tongues, it shouldn’t beso hard for me to learn Italian. Icould think of no good reason formy difficulty.

When we arrived in Italy, mystruggles continued. I decided I

must make myself more worthyto receive the promised gift oftongues, so I tried to be letter-perfect in keeping every com-mandment and every missionrule. This pursuit of perfectionturned me into a kind of robot,and robots do not make good missionaries! It was driving mypoor companion crazy. There wasnothing left for me to do but to ac-cept my inability to speak Italianwell and to be myself, not a robot.

To my amazement and relief, Idiscovered that being myself wasthe most effective way to do mis-sionary work. In spite of my bro-ken Italian, heart communicatedto heart, spirit communicated tospirit, and our beloved Saviorcould be served.

Gradually my speaking and understanding of Italian improved, but it remained a challenge—with one exception:the subject of food storage. As faras I could tell, a food storage pro-gram had not been introduced; or at least the members in Romewere not familiar with it. This was a topic especially close to myheart, since I had studied about it at Brigham Young University.Therefore, I worked with severalmembers of the branch in Rome to produce a booklet and present a fireside on food storage. I wasasked to be one of the speakers.When the fireside was over, one ofthe members exclaimed with sur-prise, “You spoke with perfectItalian!”

It wasn’t until years later that I discovered information that ex-plained why learning Italian hadbeen so difficult for me. Shortlybefore my mission I had been inan accident and suffered a near-fatal brain injury. The informationnoted that, among other side ef-fects, this kind of brain injurycould make learning another lan-guage nearly impossible.


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Impossible—unless, of course,one is blessed with the gift oftongues. I am grateful to a lovingHeavenly Father who, as we seekHis help, blesses us in ways be-yond our realization. �Wendy McLeod Smith is a member of theElmwood Lane Ward, Westminster ColoradoStake.

Gospel topics: missionary work, priesthoodblessings

The Memory ofMy Father’s FaithBy Ricardo Enohi

Believing God wouldhelp him, my father

forced himself to startwalking again.

Both my parents were born inJapan. They came to Brazilbefore I was born, and I

grew up speaking Portuguese.When I was seven, they divorced.

Like many young people, I hadproblems as I entered adolescence.I frequently argued with my fa-ther, with whom I was living. I alsoacquired some bad habits. At age15, I started drinking alcohol andsmoking. At 17, I started usingdrugs. I was looking for fun, and I thought nothing I did made anydifference. But despite havingfriends, I felt alone. I wonderedwhat the purpose of life was.

It was my father who showedme the way out of my loneliness.He was a Christian with a strongbelief in God. One day he becameparalyzed by an illness, and doc-tors told him he would never walkagain. But he forced himself tostart walking one week later by us-ing a wall for support. And he didresume walking. He told me, “I be-lieve in God, and I know that withHis help I can overcome my prob-lems.” His words impressed me,but it would be some time before I realized how strongly rooted inmy heart they had become.

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Shortly after my father beganwalking again, I received a letterfrom my mother. She had returnedto Japan and was working in a fac-tory in the city of Fukui. “Come toJapan,” she wrote. “I can get you ajob.” I became excited about livingin the land of my ancestors anddecided to go.

When I arrived in 1992, I was intrigued by the technology andother conveniences available in the country. But I also faced manynew challenges. I had a job, and al-though I looked Japanese, I could-n’t speak Japanese. I struggled tolearn the language. My coworkerswere not always patient with me.

Despite my Christian back-ground, I had never attended

church or read the Bible regu-larly. But now, as I faced these obstacles, I remembered how my father ’s faith had given himstrength. My thoughts turned increasingly to God.

One day I was walking indowntown Fukui when twoyoung men walked up to me. One of them didn’t look Japan-ese, but he spoke Japanese whenhe introduced himself.

I said, “I’m sorry, but I don’tspeak Japanese. Do you speakEnglish?”

He answered, “Of course! I’mAmerican!”

The young man started speak-ing English, which I had learnedin school. He told me he and his

The Shadow of Death Was on Her FaceBy Victoria Ekong

L A T T E R - D A Y S A I N T V O I C E S

companion were missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They talkedbriefly about Jesus Christ and in-vited me to church. I hesitated but finally agreed to go.

The first meeting I attended was a fast and testimony meeting. I came late, and as I walked intothe chapel, a young woman wascrying and talking about how thegospel helped her with her prob-lems. After listening to her and tosome of the other members, I real-ized that all of them had prob-lems. They weren’t perfect, andthey knew it. But I could also seethey had something strong inside them. Their faith in God was helping them. With that kind of faith, I thought, maybe I could over-come my problems too.

I continued attending church,and I pondered often what Ilearned there. I also read the Bookof Mormon. One day I acceptedthe invitation to ask God if what I was learning was true. As Iprayed, something strong touchedmy heart, and I thought, This is the right way. I already believe inGod. It’s time to follow Him.

As I continued to pray and attend meetings, the Spirit con-tinued to guide me. Finally I toldthe elders I wanted to hear thediscussions. I wanted to followGod and return to His presencesomeday. I was baptized on 21 June 1993.

As a member of the Church, Ifound new strength in meeting the challenges of life in Japan. Andafter preparing earnestly, I wascalled on a mission. I was called to serve in São Paulo, Brazil. I wasvery excited about sharing thegospel in my homeland.

When I look back at my old life, I realize how blind I was. We can go through life the rightway or the wrong way. At first Ichose the wrong way. I knew

God existed, but I wasn’t ready to follow Him. Then the gospeltouched my life. Now I know that following Heavenly Fatherand our Savior is the only way to true happiness. �Ricardo Enohi is a member of the GuarujáWard, Guarujá Brazil Stake.

Gospel topics: faith in Jesus Christ, conver-sion, repentance

Some months after our bap-tism, my husband and I werefaced with unexpected ad-

versity. Some of our most distress-ing trials concerned our children.It seemed as though no weekpassed without one of them beingadmitted to the hospital.

These trials went on for almosttwo years. Our income as civil ser-vants went toward medical bills.The financial strain was so greatthat my husband and I had to sellmany of our belongings just to ob-tain food. I even had to sell some ofmy clothing. We lost everything wehad worked for. But none of thesetrials shook our faith. We remainedactive in our branch in Nigeria andtrue to our covenants. Even whenwe did not have money for trans-port, we walked to church onSunday mornings.

One December evening in 1997our daughter, Pricilia, fell ill. Shehad a high fever, and blood startedcoming out of her mouth. My hus-band was not home, and I was con-fused and afraid. I could see theshadow of death on her face.

As I prayed for help, the Spirit

prompted me to take her to ourbranch president, who lived farfrom us. Somehow I managed toget her down from our third-floorflat, carrying her on my back, andout to the main road. It was toolate to catch a bus, so I desperatelytried to get a taxi.

The first taxi driver who cameby refused to take us, saying, “Idon’t want to carry a dead personin my car.” However, a second taxidriver responded to my pleas andhelped us, even though I had nomoney. When we arrived, thebranch president carried Priciliaup to his flat, laid her on hiscouch, placed his hands on herhead, and gave her a blessing. Iheard him sigh and pause, thentell Pricilia that it was not yet timefor her to go home and that shemust fight to live.

Immediately after the bless-ing, Pricilia opened her eyes andgroaned. We took her to the hos-pital, where we learned she hadcerebral malaria, a deadly disease.For the next eight days she re-mained unconscious in the hos-pital, and the doctors did notbelieve she would survive.

The day Pricilia was dis-charged— healthy and normal—the doctor told me that fewpeople survived who were as sickas she had been. Those who livedwere left disabled. “Pricilia is alucky girl,” he said. But to me luckhad nothing to do with her recov-ery. My conviction was that shehad been saved by priesthoodpower.

Today, Pricilia is a healthy andhappy girl. She is everything a par-ent could want a daughter to be.Furthermore, the sicknesses that sobeset our family have passed. Wehave outlasted these trials and havetruly been blessed. �Victoria Ekong is a member of the VictoriaIsland Ward, Lagos Nigeria Stake.

Gospel topics: priesthood blessings, faith


R A N D O M S A M P L E R

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One Family’sApproach to TV-itis
Years ago, our family con-
sisted of seven addicts. We did not have a Word

of Wisdom problem—we had TV-itis. The TV disrupted meal-time and bedtime, spurred sillyarguments among our children,and stifled the communication in our family. But it was not until I heard a Relief Society lesson on the influence of television in the home that I finally pulled the plug and putthe TV in storage. Here are some steps we used to com-bat the “withdrawal symptoms”from TV and a discussion

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of the positive changes this decision has made in our lives.

First, we made it a family proj-ect to find worthwhile activities.One activity that resulted fromour brainstorming was to gather a series of interesting, inspiringbooks. In the evening we poppedpopcorn, huddled around thefire, and chose someone to readto everyone.

Second, I began the enjoyabletask of teaching my daughterscooking, embroidering, machinesewing, knitting, and crocheting. Itaught one daughter first-year typ-ing. Music lessons and gymnasticsbecame part of our lives. My hus-band taught whittling, drawing,and painting to our children. Dailypracticing was no problem be-cause the noise and enticement

of TV were nonexistent.After eliminating the TV we

quickly began to see the value of our decision. A real change occurred in a boy who had beenliving with us that year and wasstruggling in school. When I at-tended parent-teacher conferenceat midyear, the counselor showedme how the boy’s grades haddramatically improved beginningin November. “What happened in your family in the month ofNovember?” he asked. “We gotrid of the TV,” I replied.

While permanently elimin-ating television may not be theanswer for every family, our lives are definitely happier andricher without it. And the chil-dren are developing talents and abilities that will bless their

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“I’m Thankful for You”
lives and their children’s lives in the years to come.—Geraldine Bartholomew, Winder First Ward, Salt Lake Winder West Stake
Our New Easter Tradition
Ayear after my husband
and I were married, mymother-in-law died of can-

cer. We were expecting our firstchild and were saddened that ourchildren would not know theirGrandma Judy in this life. Thisexperience prompted us, yearsago, to create a new Easter familytradition to help our children un-derstand the blessings of theResurrection.

On the Saturday before EasterSunday, we take our children tovisit and decorate the graves ofour loved ones. Visiting thesegraves gives us a wonderful opportunity to discuss theResurrection of Jesus Christ andthe true meaning of Easter. Weteach them that because JesusChrist was resurrected, theirgreat-grandparents, GrandmaJudy, and all who have died willone day be resurrected. We haveeven gathered around a lovedone’s grave and sung the hymn“He Is Risen!” For families whodo not have relatives buriednearby, this tradition could workat any cemetery.

We hope that by continuingthis tradition, our children willdevelop a true understanding ofEaster and a testimony of theResurrection of our Savior. As wehave made new family traditionsthat focus on Jesus Christ, wehave felt the Holy Ghost illumi-nate our lives and bring us closerto our loved ones.—PamelaRichardson, Midvale Fifth Ward,Midvale Utah Stake

Mark Twain said a goodcompliment could carryhim for two months.

Likewise, family members can liftone another with a list of compli-ments in the “I’m Thankful forYou” activity. Here’s how you play:

1. Sit in a circle. Give each fam-ily member a sheet of paper andhave them write across the top: I am thankful that ____________.Mom or Dad can help those whoare unable to write.

2. Ask family members towrite their names on the line andpass the sheet of paper to theirleft. Then everyone should finishthe sentence by writing at thebottom of the paper one goodquality about that family member.One could write, “I am thankfulthat Sarah helps me with myhomework” or “is so thoughtful.”Other compliments could be “Iam thankful that Dad tickles me

when I am sad,” “helps me,” or“trusts me.”

3. After all have written thequality they are thankful for, havethem fold the paper up a line ortwo, covering the words just writ-ten, and pass it to the left.

4. Pass the sheet to the left until all have written what theyare thankful for on each piece ofpaper. If the family is small, thepapers can go around twice.

5. When you have finished ro-tating the papers, the person tothe right of the family membernamed at the top of the sheetreads the list of compliments.

This activity is simple and inexpensive, but the words arepriceless. Our family participatesin this about once a year to re-member how grateful we are foreach other.—Marlene Ellingson,Southern Estates Ward, MesaArizona Kimball Stake IL

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How to S-t-r-e-t-c-hOne Income

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I am a father, student, andpart-time employee witha wife and six chil-

dren. A friend ofmine, feeling finan-cially besieged afterthe birth of hisfirst child, askedhow we sup-ported a largefamily on lessthan one income.After contemplatinghis question, we deter-mined 10 ideas that haveworked for us:

1. Pay a full tithing. The mere10 percent of your income will berepaid to you in blessings, oppor-tunities, and assistance.

2. Pay fast offerings.3. Meet your important obliga-

tions first. Pay all your bills andknown expenditures (includingsavings, if possible) as soon as thepaycheck arrives, then live onwhatever is left. This helps keepvariable expenses such as gro-ceries, gas, and entertainment under control.

4. Save on groceries. It is easy tolet this expense get out of control.You can save a surprising amountby planning ahead. I suggest:

• avoiding prepared foods• limiting the times you eat out• taking advantage of sales

(stock up on sale items you coulduse in your year ’s supply)

• using coupons to save money5. Save a percentage of your in-

come in a place that is difficult toaccess. This makes it less tempt-ing to raid your funds.

6. Save for periodic expenses. This

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pertains to Christmas expenses,annual memberships, subscrip-tions, or anything that comes duequarterly, semiannually, or annu-ally. If you know your auto insur-ance is due twice a year, put asideone-sixth of the semiannual pay-ment every month.

7. Avoid debt. Try not to buy oninstallment. It may be necessaryfor a car, a home, or education,but it is not essential for furniture,a stereo system, TV, toys, andother wants. For unavoidabledebt, borrow only what is ab-solutely necessary. If you usecredit cards, pay off the balancein full every month if you can.

8. Save on new-baby expenditures.It is not necessary to buy a brandnew crib, dresser, play pen,changing table, car seat, swing, ornew clothing. These things are of-ten found, in good condition, atyard sales and thrift shops.

9. Have insurance. Health, auto,

life, and renter ’s or homeowner ’sinsurance are worthy investments.Getting a high deductible will saveyou substantially on premiums.

10. Avoid impulse buying. Waitat least a day before buying any-thing expensive. Keep a general-purpose, short-term savingsaccount and use it for specialsales or good deals. Knowinghow long it has taken you to savewill help temper rash impulses.

Our house is not likely to befeatured in a magazine, but asstudents, living within our meansis top priority. For today, it ismuch more important to live onless than we earn. A spacioushome full of expensive things is asmall comfort if you have crush-ing debt. We enjoy the peace thatcomes from following the counselof the prophets and living withinour means.—Chad Petty, ChapelHill Ward, Durham NorthCarolina Stake

Selections from Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley

L A T T E R - D A YC O U N S E L

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BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

“Believe in the Lord JesusChrist, the Savior and Redeemer ofthe world, He who left His Father’sthrone on high and condescendedto come to earth to be born in amanger among a hated people in a vassal state and who became theSavior and Redeemer of the world,the great Healer, the great Teacher,the King and Leader, He who hadbeen under His Father ’s direction,the Creator of the earth.

“Believe in Him. Worship Him.Hold His name sacred. Never pro-fane His Holy name. You boys andgirls who are here, every one ofyou, do not profane the name ofDeity, neither the Father nor theSon. Never let their names crossyour lips in profanity. Stay abovethat and look to Them in love and respect and great kindness”(regional conference, Oahu,Hawaii, 22 Jan. 2000).

PEACE, FRIENDSHIP, AND RESPECT

“I don’t like bigotry. I don’tlike hate. They are so incompati-ble with the spirit of the gospeland the teachings of the Lord. I like peace. I like friendship. Ilike mutual respect. As we havethese things, I don’t think that isgoing to slow down the growthof the Church—it may enhanceit. I believe that we can domuch, and I think we are doingmuch. I think we are makingvery substantial headway” (interview with Deseret News,25 Feb. 2000).

BE GOOD PARENTS“[The Lord] expects us to be

good parents, fathers and moth-ers, husbands and wives. He expects husbands to treat theirwives with deference and respect.He expects wives to treat theirhusbands with kindness andhelpfulness. He expects us to be

good parents to our children.“We have the great concept

that every one of us is a child ofGod. We sing

about it. We teach

it. We believe

it, butsometimes we

don’t act as if wedid. . . . Let us look

to our children withlove. They are ourFather ’s children,and ours is a custo-dial relationship to

them for their lives” (meeting,Guam, 31 Jan. 2000).

TITHING“I have never heard anyone

complain about the payment oftithing who paid his tithing be-cause he relies on the Lord. It was the Lord who promised thatHe would open the windows ofheaven and pour down blessingsupon us if we would keep thatcommandment. It is my beliefthat He has the power to keepHis promise, and it is my testi-mony that He does so” (meet-ing, Worcester, Massachusetts, 16 Oct. 1998).

RESTORATION“God spoke to His prophet in

parting the curtains on this, thedispensation of the fulness oftimes. He introduced His BelovedSon, our Savior, our Redeemer, of whom you have sung tonight,and told him to listen to Him.That marked the beginning ofthis work. That beginning is dif-ferent from the beginning of anyother church on the earth. It isunique and different and wenever need be ashamed of it. We have to be very, very gratefulfor it and acknowledge it and live up to its teachings” (meeting,Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 4 Aug. 1998).

PRAYER“Believe in prayer. My broth-

ers and sisters, I hope there isn’t a man or woman or child herewho does not believe in the effi-cacy of prayer. I remind you thatthe Church came out of an initialprayer offered by the boy, JosephSmith. . . . The Lord will hear theprayers of faithful people as cer-tainly as He heard the prayers ofthe boy Joseph. I believe that withall my heart” (meeting, Burlington,Vermont, 14 Oct. 1998). �


N E W S O F T H E C H U R C H

“You must continue to choose the harder right instead of the easierwrong,” President Monson urged young adults in the CES broadcast.

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Prepare, Perform, and Serve,President Monson Teaches

BYU Women’s Conference to Be Broadcast

“This is your time. Whatwill you do with it?

Are you where you wantto be with your life?”asked President Thomas S.Monson, First Counselor in the First Presidency, in a January Church Educa-tional System satellitebroadcast.

Speaking at RicksCollege, President Monsontold young people that inorder to be successful inlife, they must pass throughthree “gates”: the gate ofpreparation, the gate ofperformance, and the gateof service.

THE GATE OF PREPARATION

“The Lord has coun-seled, ‘If ye are preparedye shall not fear ’ (D&C38:30). Fear is the enemyof growth and accom-plishment,” said PresidentMonson. “It is necessaryto prepare, to plan, so thatwe don’t fritter away ourlives. Without a goal,

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there can be no real success.”

President Monson em-phasized the importanceof education in preparingfor one’s life. “Study some-thing you like and whichwill make it possible foryou to support a family,”he said. “While this coun-sel would apply almostcertainly to young men, it also has relevance toyoung women. There aresituations in life which wecannot predict which willrequire employable skills.”

THE GATE OF PERFORMANCE

President Monsonurged young members always to have courage to do what is right. “Youmust continue to refuse tocompromise. . . . You mustmaintain the courage todefy the consensus. Youmust continue to choosethe harder right, instead ofthe easier wrong,” he said.

In seeking to accomplish

one’s goals, PresidentMonson cautioned, somethings are more importantthan ambition. “It is a goodidea to be ambitious, tohave goals, to want to begood at what you do, but it is a terrible mistake to letdrive and ambition get inthe way of treating peoplewith kindness and de-cency,” he said. “The pointis not that they then willbe nice to you. It is thatyou will feel better aboutyourself.”

THE GATE OF SERVICE

Quoting Dr. AlbertSchweitzer (1875–1965),President Monson said, “I don’t know what yourdestiny will be, but onething I know: the onlyones among you who willbe really happy are thosewho have sought andfound how to serve.”

As we live our dailylives, we find countless

opportunities to follow theexample of Jesus Christ,said President Monson,and “when we are on theLord’s errand, we are enti-tled to the Lord’s help.”

He spoke of a paintingof the Savior that hangson the wall opposite hisdesk. “When confrontedwith a vexing problem ordifficult decision, I alwaysgaze at that picture of theMaster and silently askmyself the question:‘What would He have medo?’ No longer does doubtlinger, nor does indecisionprevail. The way to go isclear.”

In conclusion, Presi-dent Monson encouragedyoung people to likewiseseek heavenly help inknowing how to serve oth-ers. “There is no feeling sogratifying nor knowledgeso comforting as to knowthat our Father has an-swered the prayer of an-other through you.” �

Brigham YoungUniversity’s Women’s

Conference 2001 will beheld on 3–4 May. Eighthours of selected talks will be broadcast over theChurch satellite system tomeetinghouses throughoutthe United States andCanada. The same broad-cast can also be seen on thesame days on KBYU-TVand BYUTV (channel 9403on the Dish NetworkSystem, 500 series).

Church units in theCaribbean, Latin America,

Europe, and the BritishIsles can capture the broad-cast on 19 May for laterviewing. Local units havebeen authorized to recordand retain a set of thebroadcasts for Church useonly, and members mayrecord presentations forhome use only.

For more information,call 1-801-378-7692 or accessthe conference Web site atwomensconference.byu.edu.(Do not enter “www” at the beginning of the Webaddress.) �

A mudslide jarred loose by the quake in El Salvador destroyed homes in one area and claimed several lives.

Church Aids Quake Victims in El Salvador, India

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Missionaries helped dig in the rubble for survivors and helped recover items from partially buried homes in El Salvador.

After two major earthquakes struck El

Salvador in January andFebruary and another hitIndia in January, theChurch sent humanitarianaid to both countries, join-ing international efforts tohelp the hundreds of thou-sands of people who losthomes and loved ones.

In El Salvador, 15 Latter-day Saints died when aquake measuring 7.6 onthe Richter scale struck offthe Pacific coast of thisCentral American nation.Just four weeks later, a sec-ond quake of 6.6 magni-tude had its epicenter onland, near the nation’s cap-ital. Church humanitarianaid, including 500,000pounds of food, 3,200tents, 25,000 blankets,34,000 hygiene kits, 7,000school kits, 30,000 poundsof first-aid supplies, tools,and wheelbarrows, wassent to the area.

Hundreds of memberhomes were completelydestroyed or badly dam-aged. Church assistance in-cluded providing buildingmaterials as membershelped each other repairand rebuild homes.

Elder Lynn G. Robbinsof the Seventy, President ofthe Central America Area,

reported that all missionar-ies in the area were safe.Missionaries were allowedthrough police barricadesshortly after both quakesto help dig in the rubblefor survivors and to helprecover items from par-tially buried homes.

Local priesthood lead-ers assisted members in

need by using fast-offeringfunds and offering tempo-rary shelter in chapels tothose who lost theirhomes. None of the 86Church-owned meeting-houses in the area sus-tained structural damage,but some rented meeting-houses were destroyed.

Coincidentally, theChurch HumanitarianDepartment had sent an airplane loaded withgoods to El Salvador threedays before the first quakestruck, and a filming crewfrom the Church WelfareDepartment was en routeto Central America whenthe disaster occurred. Thecrew was soon on thescene to document howthe Church responds todisaster situations.

“Someday I hope themembers can look back onthis trial as a time of per-sonal growth and learning,a time to reach out to theneedy in loving service,and a time when theylearned how the Churchwelfare program works,”said Elder Robbins.

In northwestern India,tens of thousands lost theirlives or were injured whena 7.9-level quake struck.

No members, mission-aries, or Church propertywere directly affected.

The Church sent morethan 600,000 pounds offood, blankets, clothing,and medical supplies tothe areas most impactedby the disaster. Emergencysupplies were distributedby charitable organiza-tions. The Church also sentfunds to help with searchand rescue operations,temporary shelters, andpurchase of refugee campsupplies by local reliefagencies. �


In Washington, D.C., visitors learn about the Savior through a display that includes an interactive modelof Jerusalem. Similar high-tech exhibits are also in Mexico City and will soon be in Salt Lake City.

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Church Visitors’ Centers Put Technology to Work

With interactive exhibits, visitors can choose a gospel principlethey would like to learn about by touching a computer screen.Video segments then appear, showing Church members sharingtheir testimonies of that principle.

High technology is be-ing used in innova-

tive ways to help teach the gospel to members ofthe Church and those ofother faiths. In newly re-modeled visitors’ centersin Washington, D.C., andMexico City, Mexico, inter-active technology helpsguests learn about Churchteachings of their choice.The same type of high-tech teaching will also bein use on Temple Square inSalt Lake City beginningthis fall.

In the centers, visitorscan touch a computerscreen in an exhibit onprophets, for example, to choose one of severalgospel topics they’d like to learn about. A videosegment instantly appearsof a member of the FirstPresidency or Quorum ofthe Twelve Apostles teach-ing about that topic.

In a plan of salvation

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exhibit, guests can touch a computer screen tochoose video segments of children explaining ba-sic elements of the plan. By touching yet anotherscreen, visitors can viewfootage of Church mem-bers, some of whom livenear the visitors’ center,who share how various as-pects of the gospel, includ-ing the Book of Mormon,have blessed their lives.

The “Life of Christ” exhibit includes a large,three-dimensional replicaof Jerusalem. Around theperimeter of the map aresmall pictures of scenesfrom the life of Jesus Christ.When visitors push thebutton below each picture,the map lights up in the location where the corre-sponding event took place,such as at Gethsemane orGolgotha, and an audio account of the event isplayed.

David E. Salisbury, re-cently released director of the Washington D.C.Temple Visitors’ Center,

said both members andnonmembers have reactedpositively to the new ex-hibits. “These exhibits have been particularly effective in allowing thosewho choose not to take atour with the sister mis-sionaries to still personal-ize their visit,” said BrotherSalisbury. Guests can evenchoose to interact with theexhibits in English orSpanish.

“Visitors especially seemto like the fact that theycan be alone as they watchvideo segments of actualChurch members sharingtheir personal experienceson gospel topics of the visitor ’s choice,” BrotherSalisbury said. “Some people will stay at such an exhibit for a long time.”After interacting with ex-hibits on their own, manyguests then begin askingthe sister missionariesquestions about the gospel, he said.

Church members portray trumpeting angels in Jesus the Christ pageant in Mesa, Arizona.

Church Pageant/Musical Schedule for 2001

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Video on Doctrine and Covenants,Church History Released

The success of the high-tech exhibits inWashington, D.C., andMexico City will soonspread elsewhere. LastNovember and January,the South and NorthVisitors’ Centers on TempleSquare were closed forrenovations. The two cen-ters had not been substan-tially altered in more thantwo decades.

These remodeled visi-tors’ centers, scheduled toopen this fall, will incorpo-rate interactive technologysimilar to that used inWashington, D.C., andMexico. Other changes will also emphasize the Salt Lake City centers’ focus on the Savior, saysRichard Heaton of theChurch Missionary Depart-ment, who oversees all visi-tors’ centers exhibits andtours.

The Christus statue willremain on the top floor ofthe north center, but largemurals from the NewTestament currently on thetop floor will trade placeswith Old Testament muralson the ground floor. Thenew “Life of Christ” ex-hibit, with its large interac-tive replica of Jerusalem,will be placed in the centerof the ground floor. “Whenvisitors walk in, they’ll im-mediately see images ofthe Savior all aroundthem,” says BrotherHeaton.

Other new exhibits inSalt Lake City will focus on the family, temples, thescriptures, and principlesof the Church welfare pro-gram. The scriptures andwelfare exhibits includelarge dioramas featuringscenes from the Book ofMormon and the parableof the Good Samaritan. �

Anew Church video,Teachings from the

Doctrine and Covenants and Church History (item no. 53933, U.S. $3.00), isnow available for homeand classroom use. Thevideo presents accountsand stories of the Doc-trine and Covenants andChurch history that teach a theme or principle mem-bers can apply in their ownlives. Many episodes of the

video come from earlierChurch EducationalSystem videos pro-duced for seminaries and institutes.

To order the video, contact your local distri-bution center or visit offi-cial Church Web sites atwww.ldscatalog.comor www.lds.org. �Joseph Smith enters CarthageJail in a scene from the newChurch video.

Following is the Church’s pageant and musical schedule for 2001. For more informa-tion on the Savior of the World musical, call 1-801-240-0080, or for information on

Church pageants, call 1-801-240-7800.

Savior of the World Salt Lake City, Utah 13–17, 20–23, 27 March3–7, 10–14 April

Jesus the Christ Mesa, Arizona 5–7, 10–14 April

Mormon Miracle Manti, Utah 14–16, 19–23 June

America’s Witness for Christ Palmyra, New York 6–7, 10–14 July

And It Came to Pass Oakland, California 17–21, 24–28 July

Castle Valley Castle Dale, Utah 26–28, 31 July, 1–4 August

City of Joseph Nauvoo, Illinois 27–28, 31 July, 1–4 August

Martin Harris: The Man Who Knew Clarkston, Utah 10–11, 14–18, 21–25 August

Nativity Pageant Calgary, Alberta, Canada 18–24 December

Pageant/Musical Location Date


Twenty-five years ago Luis and Ruth Sánchez traveled 1,200 miles to be sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple.Today the Sánchezes and thousands of other members feel blessed to have a temple in their own city.

The Church in Oaxaca, Mexico

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In 1949 Arwell L. Pierce,then president of the

Mexico Mission, climbed a hill overlooking Oaxaca,capital city of the state ofOaxaca, and felt impressedthat the gospel of JesusChrist would flourishthere. The first LDS mis-sionaries began working in the city that year.

But President Pierce’simpression looked doubt-ful when, soon thereafter,severe persecution forcedmissionaries from the areaand member meetingsceased.

In 1951 young Elder Joe J. Christensen was sent with his companion to check on the handful of members in Oaxaca.Elder Christensen, now an emeritus member of the Seventy, particularlyremembers finding onemember, a young mothernamed María Real deAlcazar. “She greeted usvery warmly, then wentinto her hut and brought

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out a jar of clay. She put inher hand and pulled outher tithing, which she’dbeen faithfully keeping for months,” recalls ElderChristensen. “Her circum-stances were so humble, I hesitated to receive itfrom her.”

The faith of local mem-bers such as Sister Alcazarhas led to the fulfillment of President Pierce’s im-pression. Today, a house of the Lord and the MexicoOaxaca Mission headquar-ters stand in the city ofOaxaca. Nearly 9,000

A street market in the city ofOaxaca reflects the colorful local culture.

members live in the city, and a total of 24,000Latter-day Saints live inthe state of Oaxaca, whichincludes 67 wards andbranches.

Oaxaca is located on the relatively narrow neckof land in southeasternMexico, a region that wasonce a center of ancientMesoamerican cultures.Close to Oaxaca city arethe famed Monte Albánruins. The archaeologicallyrich area is often called“land of the temples” be-cause of its many ruins.

Modern Oaxaca mem-bers are characterized bytheir love of the temple ofthe Lord. Until the templein Mexico City was built

in 1983, Oaxaca Saints sacrificed greatly to travelmore than 1,200 miles tothe nearest temple inMesa, Arizona.

Last year ’s completionof the Oaxaca Mexico

Temple is considered agreat blessing by memberswho dreamed of the daythey would have a templenearby. Ruth SánchezVelasco, a member of theLa Noria Ward, OaxacaMexico Atoyac Stake, says,“In 1966, when my hus-band and I went to theMesa Arizona Temple to be sealed, I received mypatriarchal blessing. In it I was told, ‘You will see the day when you will not have to travel far to enter the house of theLord, . . . and you will enter there many times.’When they built the tem-ple in Mexico City, just five hours away, I thoughtthe promise of my bless-ing had been fulfilled. But now I realize that thatpromise has been fulfilledright here in my birthplaceof Oaxaca.”—KristineMiner, BYU 92nd Ward,BYU 9th Stake �

OAXACA STATE, MEXICO

Members: 24,000First branch organized: 1956Current wards and branches: 67Temple district: Oaxaca Mexico

Temple

English (5,435,327 member speakers)5.0 Million

4.5 Million

4.0 Million

3.5 Million

3.0 Million

2.5 Million

2.0 Million

1.5 Million

1.0 Million

.5 Million

Spanish (3,226,270)

Portuguese (780,016)

Tagalog* (146,294)

Japanese (108,709)

Cebuano* (100,853)

Samoan (93,512)

Ilokano* (86,722)

Korean (71,690)

Tongan (66,458)

*Spoken in the PhilippinesFigures as of year-end 1999

Top 10 Languages Spoken by MembersTop 10 Languages Spoken by Members

In the Spotlight

Elders in El Paso, Texas, givefree haircuts in a local homelessshelter.

Comment

HOMELESS LINE UP FORFREE HAIRCUTS FROM ELDERS

When missionariesshow up at an El Paso,Texas, homeless sheltereach week, long lines ofpeople are awaiting theirarrival. As part of theircommunity service pro-gram, elders serving in theEl Paso 9th and 13th Wardsspend two hours a weekgiving free haircuts to thehomeless.

“Whenever a new eldertransfers into one of thewards, members teach him how to cut hair,” saysLinda King, a local publicaffairs specialist. “We’ve

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equipped the elders withscissors, clippers, capes,and aprons.”

The program has been a success. Several days after having his hair cut,one man came back to tell the elders he hadlanded a job, thanking

them for their help. “It plants a lot of goodseeds,” says Elder NateAlsop. “It’s a humbling experience to see the light in their eyes when we tell them we’re help-ing for free.”

Shelter director RayTullius says he alwaysknows when the mission-aries have arrived becausethe atmosphere immedi-ately changes. “They bring a different feelingwhen they ’re here,” hesays. Lanny J. Nalder, president of the ArizonaTucson Mission, agrees.“They’re doing a wonder-ful service, bringing a spirit to the homeless they rarely feel anywhereelse.”

SIERRA LEONE MEMBERSHELP WAR VICTIMS

Members of theFreetown Sierra LeoneDistrict recently gave ser-vice at a facility for victimsof civil war atrocities, pa-tients whose hands wereamputated by rebels in this northwest Africancountry.

District memberscleaned the facility and donated clothing to the patients. W. S. Thompsonof the district presidencyoffered encouragement to the patients, tellingthem that the Lord wasmindful of their presentsituation and that physicalhealing will come in theResurrection.

COUPLE LISTED ASLONGEST MARRIEDIN WORLD

After celebrating their80th wedding anniversary,a member couple were

recently inducted into theGuinness Book of WorldRecords as the longest-living married pair in the world. Doc and Viola Colvin, members of the Pima Fourth Ward,Pima Arizona Stake, weremarried in 1920 and latersealed in the Mesa ArizonaTemple.

When asked howthey’ve maintained such a lasting, successful mar-riage, Sister Colvin replied,“We’ve just gotten alongwell—and lived a longtime!” Apparently, thisprinciple has worked well in the Colvin family:in recent years Brother and Sister Colvin have celebrated the 50th wedding anniversaries of each of their three children.

The Colvins have 14grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, and 16great-great-grandchildren. �

A Perspective on MuhammadThank you for the article

“A Latter-day Saint Perspective on Muhammad” (Sept. 2000). We are serving as senior mis-sionaries, teaching English in Roi Et, Thailand. Much that was said about Muhammad and Islam could also be said about Buddha and Buddhism. We came to serve and teach theThai people, but they are also serv-ing and teaching us. Most of themdon’t yet have the fulness of thegospel, but they have already beentaught the importance of kindness,charity, service, and reverence forlife. They are wonderful people,truly children of God and ourbrothers and sisters.Elder and Sister McBeeThailand Bangkok Mission

Touched by PaintingsI just want to tell you how

much I enjoy the paintings and poems included in the Ensign. Ispend time looking at them and


thinking about them and appreci-ating. A painting which comes tomy mind at the moment showedloved ones grieving and the un-seen departed spirits close by trying to give love and comfort

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to those mourning for them

(“Sanctify to Thee Thy DeepestDistress,” Ensign, Feb. 1999, 42).The painting said so much thatcouldn’t be expressed or describedwithout a lot of words.

The Ensign brings light, comfort, and goodness into

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our lives. I am grateful for it.Sharon LarsenEdmond, Oklahoma

Historic MilestonesYour article “Historic Milestone

Achieved: More Non-English-
Speaking Members Now Than
the Mosts Issue

2 0 0 1

English-Speaking” (Sept. 2000)could have included the first non-English-speaking stake, organized just 39 years ago! TheDutch-speaking Holland Stake was organized in 1961.J. Edwin Strobel
Rexburg, Idaho
GOSPEL TOPICS

The Testimony of “Special Witnesses”

Feel the true spirit ofEaster by reading inspiredtestimonies of the Saviorand His gospel from theFirst Presidency andQuorum of the TwelveApostles as they spoke from Jerusalem, Palmyra,Kirtland, Nauvoo, and Salt Lake City. See “SpecialWitnesses of Christ,” p. 2.

How to Find a Cure for TV-itisWant to pull the plug on

your family’s or a familymember ’s addiction to TV?Read how one family did it, p. 70.

Speaking Up for Clean Language

Are you ever troubledby profanity in yourworkplace or amongfriends? Learn howothers have beenan influence forgood. See p. 35.

Strengthening YourFaith in Jesus Christ

“Faith comes byhearing the word ofGod, through thetestimony of theservants of God.”James O. Mason

shares this andother ideas to nurture ourfaith in Jesus Christ, p. 22.

How Well Are You Following the Prophet?

Life is a test, and one of its questions is, Do you follow the livingprophet? Stories from thelives of Latter-day Saintsduring the days of theProphet Joseph Smith helpus understand what itmeans to follow prophetstoday. See p. 28.

What Can Adversity Teach Us?The mother of two

children with disabilitieslearned that blessings oftencome in unexpected ways.

See p. 38.

Honoring the Sabbath—and Enjoying It

Read how families can joyfully keep theSabbath. See “‘Callthe Sabbath aDelight,’” p. 46.

Teaching aboutthe Resurrection

Help children under-stand the power and signifi-cance of the Resurrectionby reading how one familyturned tragedy into testi-mony. See “Our New EasterTradition” on p. 71.

Healing from Sexual AbuseAn understanding of the

Atonement, power of thepriesthood, prayer, andagency can help heal thosewho have been sexuallyabused. See p. 58.

Ways to Stretch One IncomeLearn how a family of

eight stretched their mod-est income. See p. 72.

For Family Home Evenings• “I’m thankful for you.”

Do these words need to be spoken more often inyour family? For a familynight activity that can

help, see p. 71.• Most stories from

Latter-day SaintVoices can be

used for

athTawptifoinSsda“

family home evenings. Ifyou want to center a familynight on what it means notonly to give service but alsoto receive it graciously, readand discuss “Cold Cereal orHot Soup?” p. 65.

Home Teachers and Visiting Teachers

Home teach-ers are encour-aged to use“Special Wit-

nesses ofChrist,” p. 2. The visitingteaching mes-

sage is on p. 53.

Did You Know?Each Ensign feature

rticle has information ate end to help you use it.

he gospel topics for eachrticle suggest areas inhich it might be used forersonal study and reflec-on or as support materialr lessons in the home or Church classrooms.

ome articles also includeuggestions for possible iscussion (“Let’s Talkbout It”). See, for example,Zachary and Sean,” p. 38.

Abuse, 58Adversity, 38Apostasy, 28Atonement, 2, 58Children, 64Church history, 2, 28Conversion, 64, 66, 68Disabilities, 38Faith, 64, 69Faith in Jesus Christ,

22, 53, 68Family, 38Family history, 43Fasting, 43Forgiveness, 58Integrity, 35Jesus Christ, 2, 65Joseph Smith, 28Love, 65Miracles, 64

Missionary work, 64,66, 67

Parenthood, 46Peace, 53Prayer, 22, 58, 66Priesthood, 58Priesthood blessings,

67, 69Profanity, 35Prophets, 28Repentance, 58, 68Righteousness, 22Sabbath observance,

46Sacrifice, 22Sanctity of life, 38Service, 22, 65Ten Commandments,

46Unity, 43

Rescue of the Lost Lamb, by Minerva K. Teichert

“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? . . . And when he cometh home, he calleth together his

friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.” (Luke 15:4, 6).

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“In our day the Lord has called 15 special witnesses to testify of

His divinity before all the world. Theirs is a unique calling; they

are Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, chosen and commissioned by

Him. They have been commanded to bear witness of His living reality

by the power and authority of the holy apostleship in them vested.

I invite you to listen to the testimonies of these special witnesses.”

—President Gordon B. Hinckley

April 2001 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

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