Rescuing Lost
lack of lamb-herding experience that
Lambs
the frightened lamb would be glad
to see me; after all, I had the best of
By Elder Donald J. Keyes
intentions. I was there to save its life!
Area Seventy, Utah North Area
But to my disappointment, the lamb
Years ago in the was afraid and totally unappreciative of early spring, my
my efforts to save it. As I approached
an unappreciative, less-active neigh-
wife and I had occa-
it, the little soul ran away from me as
bor. I hope so! “How much then is a
sion to drive through
fast as it could along the fence. Seeing
man better than a sheep?” the Savior
beautiful Star Valley,
my plight, Jackie got out of the car to
asked (Matthew 12:12). In every
Wyoming, USA. It
help. But even together we could not
branch, ward, and stake are lost and
was a wonderful spring morning,
outmaneuver the quick little lamb.
endangered lambs.
and the landscapes and scenery were
At this point the couple in the
Replacing the word work with
inspiring.
backseat, who had been thoroughly
rescue in the hymn “Have I Done Any
As Jackie and I drove into Star
enjoying the rodeo, piled out of the
Good?” I invite you to consider its
Valley, we enjoyed seeing an occa-
car and joined in the rescue attempt.
application in saving lost lambs:
sional flock of sheep sprinkled with
With all of our efforts we finally
There are chances for rescue all
dozens of baby lambs. Few things are corralled the frightened little lamb around just now,
more endearing than a baby lamb.
against the fence. As I reached down
Opportunities right in our way.
As we drove down the busy road,
to pick him up in my clean traveling
Do not let them pass by, saying,
we saw a small lamb outside the
clothes, I quickly noticed that he had
“Sometime I’ll try,”
fence near the roadside. It was franti-
the distinct aroma of the barnyard. It
But go and do something today. 1
cally running back and forth against
was then that I began to wonder, is
the fence, trying to get back to the
this effort really worth it?
Our neighbors may seem un-
flock. I surmised that this little lamb
As we picked up the lamb and
appreciative, frightened, or unin-
was small enough to have pressed
lifted him over the fence to safety, he
terested in being rescued. And our
through an opening in the fence but
fought and kicked with all his might.
efforts to rescue them may take time,
was now unable to return.
But within moments he had found his
effort, energy, and the support and
I was confident that if we didn’t
mother and was pressed tightly and
help of others. But this effort will be
stop to rescue the lamb, it would even-
safely against her side. With our cloth-
rewarded with eternal blessings. As
tually wander into the nearby road
ing a little disheveled but with great sat-
the Lord has promised, if we bring
and be injured or killed. I stopped the
isfaction and peace that we had made
“save it be one soul unto [Him], how
car and said to Jackie and our travel-
the right choice, we went on our way.
great shall be [our] joy with him in the
ing companions in the backseat, “Wait
I have reflected on that experience
kingdom of [our] Father” (D&C 18:15).
here; this will take just a moment.”
several times since. I wonder if we
NotE
I naturally assumed with my total
would give that kind of effort to save
1. See “Have I Done Any Good?” Hymns, no. 223.
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
47
SHE WoulDn’t GivE up
on ME
By Sonya Konstans
When I joined the Church in 1990,
I was friendshipped by great
families, was given a calling, and felt that
I belonged. But a year later, after moving
to a new ward, I began to drift away. I
stopped attending meetings and started
dating a man who was not a member of
the Church.
I still believed the Church was true. I
just didn’t think I was good enough for it
anymore. Then Kathy was assigned as my
visiting teacher.
Kathy called every month for the
first few months to try to schedule an
appointment. Because I always dodged her
visits, she started mailing me the Visiting
Teaching Message instead. Every month
the message would arrive like clockwork.
This went on for four years, even after I
married my boyfriend and we had two
children.
Exercising
Compassion
By Elder Robert D. Hales
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
In the parable of the
lost sheep, the shep-
herd went after the lost
sheep and searched
until he found it. He
then returned, rejoic-
K richards
ing (see Luke 15:4–7).
by J. Kir
In the parable of the lost coin, the
widow lit a candle, which gave light,
Lost Coin,
Some months I would throw the
to come to church anymore, that my
message away unread; other months I
sins had been too great. I felt bad that
would read it and then throw it away.
Kathy had to convey this message to
When my marriage failed, I found
me, but I knew it was true. I had no
myself with a toddler and an infant to
place among the righteous. I couldn’t
raise alone. I suddenly needed answers.
call her back, but the next evening she
When my monthly Visiting Teaching
called me again.
Message arrived again, I decided to
“I want to apologize,” she said.
attend church for the first time in ages.
Why would Kathy possibly need to
I felt so awkward, as if all my sins
apologize to me?
were written upon my sleeve. A sister
“I didn’t recognize you when I saw
I had known in the young single adult
you at church on Sunday,” she said.
a better mother, a better member of the
program welcomed me, and we sat
“After sacrament meeting, I asked the
Church, and a better visiting teacher.
down together. Suddenly here came
sister you were sitting by who you
She always listened patiently, without
Kathy. I looked away, embarrassed that
were. By then you had already left.
judging, just as I feel the Savior would.
I had not answered any of her kind
It was so good to see you.”
Kathy sat beside me the day I
notes. She smiled at me, chatted with
I was dumbfounded.
received my endowment and the
my neighbor for a moment, and then
“I hope we can sit together the next
day I married my new husband in
sat with her husband.
time you come to church,” Kathy added.
the temple. She remained my visiting
When I got home from work the
“I’d like that,” I said, suddenly feel-
teacher until we moved from the area.
next day, there was a message from
ing overcome with emotion.
Her service blessed my family in ways
Kathy on the answering machine. I
We did sit together the next
I’m sure she never could have imagined
couldn’t call her back. I just knew she
Sunday—and for many Sundays after
—all because she wouldn’t give up
wanted to tell me that I wasn’t allowed
that. She served as my inspiration to be
on me.
and swept every corner to find the
in activating members. For 80 years
SoulS
coin. She rejoiced upon finding it
Swindon had been a branch with
to Save
(see Luke 15:8–10).
a faithful few and with many good
“Along your
Both of these parables are exam-
members becoming less active.
pathway of life
ples of action taken to search, light up
Don and Marian wrote: “Our first
you wil observe
that you are not
the darkness, and sweep until a trea-
visit to Swindon Branch was a bit dis-
the only traveler.
sured possession or lost soul is found
heartening as we met with the Saints
There are others who need your
and returned to a rejoicing home.
in a cold, rented hall. The congrega-
help. There are feet to steady,
A good example of compassion
tion numbered 17, including President
hands to grasp, minds to encour-
and service making a difference is
and Sister Hales and 4 missionaries.
age, hearts to inspire, and souls
the example of Don and Marian
Still wearing our winter coats, we all
to save.”
Summers. While serving in England,
huddled around a small, inadequate
President Thomas S. Monson, “How Firm
a Foundation,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov.
they were asked to serve the last
heater while we listened to a Sunday
2006, 68.
six months of their mission in the
School lesson.”
Swindon Branch to teach and assist
The letter continued: “A branch
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
49
beautiful plant of chrysanthemums
that “wickedness never was happi-
and had it delivered to the young
ness” [Alma 41:10], and he “came to
couple. It was a simple note: ‘We love
himself” (Luke 15:17). He eventually
you; we miss you; we need you. Please realized whose son he was, and he come back.’ Signed, Swindon Ward.
yearned to be reunited with his father.
“The next Sunday was fast and tes-
His arrogant, selfish disposition
timony meeting and our last Sunday
gave way to humility and a broken
in Swindon. There were 103 members heart and contrite spirit as he con-in attendance, compared to 17 six
fessed to his father: “I have sinned
member approached me one day:
months before. The young couple was against heaven, and in thy sight, and
‘Elder Summers, can I give you a bit
there, and in bearing his testimony,
am no more worthy to be called thy
of advice? Never mention the word
the husband thanked the Swindon
son” (Luke 15:21). Gone were the
tithing to the Swindon members; they Ward for not giving up on them.”
adolescent rebellion, immature selfish-
really don’t believe in it, and all you
Each of us can have similar
ness, and relentless pleasure seeking,
will do is upset them.’”
experiences in our local wards and
and in their place was an embryonic
Brother Summers said: “We did
branches by working with and loving
disposition to do good continually.
teach tithing and all the other gospel
those who are less active. What a joy
Now, if we are completely honest with
principles. With example and the
it is to give “compassion, making a
ourselves, we will each confess that
encouragement of a branch president, difference” ( Jude 1:22) to those who there is or has been a bit of the prodi-there was a change of heart, and faith may be ready to find themselves and gal son in every one of us.
and activity started to increase. The
then want to come back.
Then there is the father. Some may
membership records were completely From “Some Have Compassion, Making a criticize him for having been overly
updated as we visited every member’s Difference,” Ensign, May 1987, 77; spelling indulgent in granting the younger
standardized.
home. When the leaders started car-
son’s request to “give me the portion
ing, the members began to respond,
of goods that falleth to me” (Luke
and a whole new spirit pervaded the
Welcoming
15:12). The father in the parable was
branch. The members became excited the Prodigal undoubtedly sensitive to the divine
again about the gospel and helping
principle of moral agency and free-
one another. . . .
By Elder Spencer J.
dom of choice, a principle over which
“One young couple had a difficult
Condie
the premortal War in Heaven had
Served as a member of
adjustment to make as their customs,
the Seventy from 1989
been waged. He was not inclined to
manners, and dress were different.
to 2010
compel his son to be obedient.
They became offended at suggestions
The parable of But this loving father never gave iir for changes. The couple twice wrote
the prodigal
up on his wayward son, and his un-
e © C
to the bishop [since by then it was a
son illustrates in bold relief a wide
relenting vigilance is confirmed in the kelley Pri ward] and asked to have their names
variety of human dispositions. First,
poignant narration that when the son
removed from the Church records.
there is the self-centered prodigal son “was yet a great way off, his father . . . by Clark In the last letter they forbade any of
unconcerned with anyone or any-
had compassion, and ran, and fell on
the members to visit them, so [we]
thing but himself. But, alas, after riot-
his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).
went to the florist and purchased a
ous living he discovered for himself
Not only was there an open display of The Prodigal Son, 50 E n s i g n
out the hope to each one of us that a
loving Father in Heaven stands in the
roadway, as it were, anxiously await-
ing the arrival of each of His prodigal
children back home.
And now to the older, obedient son
who protested to his forgiving father:
“Lo, these many years do I serve thee,
neither transgressed I at any time thy
commandment: and yet thou never
gavest me a kid, that I might make
merry with my friends:
“But as soon as this thy
son was come, which hath
devoured thy living with har-
lots, thou hast killed for him
the fatted calf” (Luke 15:29–30).
Just as there may be an
element of the prodigal son in
each of us, it may also be the case
Care for
that every one of us is tainted with
the floCk
traits of the older son. The Apostle
“Ours is the
Paul described the fruit of the Spirit as
responsibility
“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gen-
to care for the
tleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
flock, for the
precious sheep,
[and] temperance” (Galatians 5:22–
these tender lambs, are every-
23). While it may well be that the
where to be found—at home
physical affection toward his son,
older son had, indeed, been obedient
in our families, in the homes of
but the father requested his servants
to his father, beneath the obedient
our extended families, and wait-
to give him a robe, shoes for his feet,
surface was seething subterranean
ing for us in our Church callings.
and a ring for his hand and instructed
self-righteousness and a disposition to
Jesus is our Exemplar. Said He,
‘I am the good shepherd, and
them to kill the fatted calf, joyfully
be judgmental, covetous, and totally
know my sheep’ (John 10:14).
declaring, “He was lost, and is found”
lacking in compassion. His life did
We have a shepherding respon-
(Luke 15:24).
not reflect the fruit of the Spirit, for
sibility. May we each step up to
Throughout the years, this father
he was not at peace but rather greatly
serve.”
had developed such a compassionate, distressed at what he perceived to be President Thomas S. Monson, “Heavenly
forgiving, loving disposition that he
a gross inequity of treatment. ◼
Homes, Forever Families,” Liahona, June 2006, 70; Ensign, June 2006, 102.
could do nothing else but love and
From a Brigham Young University devotional
forgive. This parable is a universal
address given on February 9, 2010; punctuation standardized. For the full text of the address in favorite for all of us because it holds
English, visit speeches.byu.edu.
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
51
Lost and Found: Me
By Matthew Allen Bland
I was young
and adrift
As the rising sun gradually brightened the passing landscape, it faded my own reflection in the bus
window—a rough character looking back at me. I
until a
was glad to see it go.
Latter-day
I’d spent another long night trying to sleep while yet Saint family
another bus carried me to another unknown place. For provided me
months this had been my life, stopping whenever my money with an
ran out, continuing on as soon as I’d pulled together enough anchor.
cash for a few burgers and a bus ticket. I had been drifting across the country like a lost soul.
When I stepped off the bus in West Yellowstone, Montana, USA, I had $12 and an empty stomach. I hadn’t seen a bar of soap or a razor for days, and every stitch of clothing I owned was as filthy as I was. Wishing for a hot shower, I tipped the brim of my hat against the wind and lit a cigarette. I must have looked distinctly disreputable.
52 E n s i g n
Lost and Found: Me
The Question
“Do you believe in God?” The
question came from the other side of
a king-sized bed where Dale was bend-
ing down to tuck in the drooping edge of
a fitted sheet.
I finished my side of the bed as I thought
about his query. “I guess so.”
“You go to church anywhere?”
“Not right now. God and I, we like to leave each
other alone.” I meant it as a wisecrack, but instead of laughing, Dale’s eyes looked a little sad behind his glasses.
“What about you?” I asked, feeling a little awkward.
“I’m LDS,” he answered.
Somehow, by the end of my second day in town, I
We were moving slowly around the room, cleaning as found a place to live and a job cleaning rooms at the we spoke. “Never heard of it,” I said. “What’s ‘LDS’ stand Branding Iron Motel. I was assigned to “shadow” another for?”
housekeeper for a couple of days while I learned the
“Latter-day Saints,” he answered. “The full name of the ropes. He was a clean-shaven, unassuming young man, church is actually The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day small in stature, with a kind heart and quiet nature. His Saints. You know, the Mormons.”
name was Dale Belnap. We seemed to have little in com-
“Isn’t that a kind of horse?” I asked.
mon besides our age, but we quickly became friends
“No,” he laughed, “you’re thinking of ‘Morgans.’”
regardless.
“Sorry,” I said, a little embarrassed.
Once I learned the ropes, housekeeping tasks became
“No problem.” He smiled. “You believe in God. Mind if I routine, so as we changed sheets and vacuumed floors, ask what you believe, exactly?”
russell
we talked to pass the time. I’m not sure how the conver-chard
sation found its way to the topic of religion, but about A New Frame of Reference
rI
halfway through our first day, Dale found courage to ask That’s how it began. Before the month was over, I had tIons by
me what turned out to be the most important question of taken the missionary discussions and was baptized. I remember standing waist-deep in the warm waters of the Illustra
my life.
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
53
I sat on a fallen
tree near the
river’s bank as I
was confirmed
a member of
the Church. All
around me were
the smiling faces
of the members
of the local
Fire Hole River, dressed all in
Ellen already had a more accurate notion of who I was branch.
white and nervously eyeing the
than I did. She understood I was a child of our Father in small herd of buffalo grazing on Heaven. The missionaries had taught me this truth, but the far bank. Dale lowered me
childhood experience had obscured the full beauty of this into the water’s liquid embrace and raised me back into principle, keeping it from my realization until years later.
the living world.
Time passed, and even though Dale had left for his A few minutes later, dried and dressed in my best
mission, I became friends with several other members of clothes, I sat on a weathered fallen tree near the river’s Ellen’s family. Quick to love, they treated me more like a bank as I was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus brother than a friend. They seemed genuinely interested in Christ of Latter-day Saints. All around me were the smiling who I was. During the holidays, when I was most accus-faces of the members of the local branch. I’d only known tomed to feeling the poignant absence of family, Ellen and them for a little while, but already they’d given me accep-her children took care to help me feel as though I was part tance, fellowship, and friendship.
of theirs. They actually seemed rather fond of me, and at Also in attendance were several members of Dale’s fam-some point an odd notion occurred to me. Maybe—just ily, including his mother, Ellen. My own mother abandoned maybe—I wasn’t quite as worthless as I supposed.
me as a young child, and I possessed no frame of reference for Ellen’s selfless compassion. I found it confusing. Had Ellen
Dale led her to believe I was someone who deserved such More time passed, and Ellen became a powerful source kindness? After that first awkward hug, I decided I would of wisdom and love. When I found myself in need of tolerate my discomfort until she chose to have nothing counsel or a kind word, I could always find a stool in her more to do with me. I knew it wouldn’t take long.
kitchen, where she patiently listened while I poured out I was wrong.
the sadness and fear I carried. She washed dishes or rolled 54 E n s i g n
bread dough, and I sat on a stool, forearms resting on the counter.
“Are you excited”? she asked speaking of my mission call as she washed another plate and deposited it in the drainer beside the sink.
“I guess so,” I responded a little doubtfully.
In retrospect, I probably should have offered to finish She turned to look over her right shoulder at me. “You the dishes.
don’t sound very excited.”
“It’s not that I’m not excited, because I really am. I’m Harvest
not worried at all about my mission. God will take care of When I received my mission call to San Antonio, Texas, things. It’s just—”
USA, Ellen Belnap took me shopping and even bought me Ellen waited patiently, and I continued: “I’ve told you the shoes I would wear out over the course of the next how I drifted around for awhile before I met Dale. Well, I two years. Once I left, she wrote me consistently, offering don’t really want to return to that. When I come back from insight and encouragement that contributed a great deal to my mission, I won’t have a job or any money. Even if I had the wonderful experience that my mission became.
the cab fare to leave the airport, I wouldn’t have anywhere Because of the Belnaps, I had a place to return to to go. There’s no home to return to. No family. Nothing.” I and a family who welcomed me home. Their love gave shook my head in frustration. “I want to go, Ellen. I think me permission to stop punishing myself with loneliness.
I’d be a good missionary. But if I just walk away from my It no longer seemed necessary to keep running from job and my apartment, then what am I going to do when place to place. My eyes were open to a dizzying array of I get back? I’ll just end up homeless until I find something, possibilities.
and I don’t want that.” I looked up at her, hoping she’d Our Savior’s love blessed the Belnaps, and rather than understand.
keep that love to themselves, they chose to share it with I was apparently the one who didn’t get it.
me. Because of their love, strange ideas like college, mar-She turned off the water and began to dry her hands riage, and happiness began to creep into my mind. Before, as she turned to face me. “Matthew, that’s just silly.” There such notions had only existed as dreamy elements of other was something sad and a little incredulous in her expres-people’s lives, but now they actually seemed possible.
sion. “You have to know by now that we would never let Their love carried me into the Church, encouraged me as that happen. We will be here.”
a missionary, and taught me to believe in what I could be.
“You will?” I felt a little foolish. I was trying to figure Without their encouragement, I may never have served a out how this whole family thing worked. “Um, thanks,” I mission. Because I did, 40 other families were welcomed managed a little sheepishly. Ellen laughed and turned back into the warm embrace of the Savior’s Church, including the to the sink.
family that my wife and I are now raising in the gospel. ◼
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
55
G o s p e l C l a s s i C s
Strengthening
the Less Active
presidency, for the high council, for the bish-
All of us who lead in the wards
opric, for the patriarch, for the auxiliary lead-
and stakes must open the door to
ers. Indeed, we sometimes go to great lengths
the lost sheep; stand aside to let
to import speakers and participants—to the
them through.
loss of our hungry ones.
At a ward sacrament meeting I attended
By President Boyd K. Packer
recently, a sister had been invited to sing whose
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
husband was not active in the Church. He was,
however, at the meeting. The bishop wanted a
A
very special program for this occasion. His first
ctivity—the opportunity to serve and
announcement was: “Brother X, my first coun-
bear testimony—is like medicine. It
selor, will give the opening prayer.” His second
will heal the spiritually sick. It will
counselor gave the closing prayer.
strengthen the spiritually weak. It is a most
How unfortunate, I thought. The three men
necessary ingredient in the redemption of the
in the bishopric struggle with such concern over
lost sheep. Yet there is a tendency, almost a
the spiritually sick, then take the very
programmed tendency, to give opportunities
medicine that would make those people
for growth to those who are already over-
well—activity, participation—and consume
surfeited with activity. This kind of pattern,
it themselves in front of the needy!
evident in our stakes and wards, may keep
Some will say: “We must be careful with
the lost sheep out.
the weak among us. It is better not to call
When a home teacher brings a lost sheep
on them to pray or to bear testimony, for
to meetings, it is only a beginning of his being they will be frightened and repelled and found. Where can he be used for his spiritual
will leave us.” That is a myth! A commonly
benefit? Actually, there aren’t many places
accepted one, but a myth nevertheless! I
in which a leader can use a person who is
have asked bishops—hundreds of them—
struggling for worthiness. Unfortunately, it
whether they could certify to such a happen-
seems that those few situations in which we
ing in their personal experience. I have had
could use them—to offer prayers, to make
very few affirmative responses—in fact, all
brief responses, to bear testimony—are almost those bishops produced only one or two invariably reserved for the active: for the stake instances. So the risk is very small, whereas 56 E n s i g n
such an invitation may result in
a lost sheep being reclaimed.
Several years ago I visited a
stake presided over by a man
of unusual efficiency and ability.
Every detail of the stake con-
ference had been scheduled.
He had done the usual thing
in assigning prayers from the
selected circle of the stake
presidency, the high council,
the bishops, and the stake
patriarch. Those brethren
had not been notified, so
we changed the assignment
from those who deserved the
honor to those who needed
—desperately needed—the
experience.
The president had a detailed
agenda for the general ses-
sions, and he mentioned that
there were 20 minutes in one
session that were not scheduled.
I told him that we could call on
some to respond who otherwise
would not have the opportunity
and needed the strengthening
experience. He countered with
the suggestion that he alert
several able, prominent leaders
to prepare for possible speaking
assignments. “There will be many
nonmembers present,” he said.
“We are used to having an orga-
thorkelson
nized and very polished con-
ference performance. We have
bjorn
very able people in the stake.
tIons by
They will leave an excellent
Illustra
impression.”
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
57
Twice again during our meeting he men-
“Have you had any inspiration?” I asked. He
tioned the schedule and pressed to have the
said that he kept thinking of the mayor. (The
stake’s “best performers” called. “Why don’t
voters in that large city had elected a mem-
we save this time for those who need it most?” ber of the Church to be mayor, and he was in I said. His reaction was a disappointed, “Well, attendance.) When I told him we could have you are the General Authority.”
a greeting from the mayor, he whispered that
Early Sunday morning he reminded me that the man was not active in the Church. When there was still time to alert someone and thus
I suggested that he call upon him anyway, he
leave the best impression.
resisted, saying flatly that he was not worthy to
The morning session was opened by the
speak in that meeting. At my insistence, how-
president with a polished and stirring address. ever, he called the man to the stand.
Next we called on his second counselor. He
The mayor’s father had been a pioneer of
was obviously flustered. . . . (We had previ-
the Church in that region. He had served as
ously indicated that both counselors would
bishop of one of the wards and had been
probably speak in the afternoon session. We
succeeded by one of his sons—a twin to the
were to go to his home for the noon meal. He mayor, as I recall. The mayor was the lost had known there would be time to go over his sheep. He came to the pulpit and spoke, to notes, so he had left them at home.)
my surprise, with bitterness and with hostility.
For want of his notes, he turned to testimony, His talk began something like this: “I don’t giving an inspiring account of an administration know why you called on me. I don’t know he had performed during the week. A brother,
why I am in church today. I don’t belong in
given up by his doctors, had been called from
church. I have never fit in. I don’t agree with
the very shadows of death by the power of the
the way the Church does things.”
priesthood. I do not know what was on his
I confess that I began to worry, but he then
notes, but surely it could not have compared
paused and lowered his eyes to the pulpit.
in inspiration to the testimony he bore.
From then until his talk was over, he did not
An elderly woman sat on the front row,
look up. After hesitating, he continued: “I guess
holding hands with a weathered-looking man. I just as well tell you. I quit smoking six weeks She looked a bit out of place in the fashion-ago.” Then, shaking his fist in a gesture over his ably dressed congregation—rather homespun
head towards the congregation, he said, “If any
by comparison. She looked as if she ought to
of you think that’s easy, you have never suffered
talk in conference, and given the privilege, she the hell I have suffered in the last few weeks.”
reported her mission. Fifty-two years before,
Then he just melted. “I know the gospel is
she had returned from the mission field, and
true,” he said. “I’ve always known it was true.
since then she had never been invited to
I learned that from my mother as a boy.
speak in church. It was a touching and mov-
“I know the Church isn’t out of order,” he
ing witness that she bore.
confessed. “It’s me that’s out of order, and I’ve
Others were called upon to speak, and
always known that too.”
near the close of the meeting, the president
Then he spoke perhaps for all of the lost
suggested that I take the remainder of the time.
sheep when he pleaded: “I know it’s me that is
58 E n s i g n
G o s p e l C l a s s i C s
He nodded in affirmation and said: “Either
of them, given 5 minutes, would have pre-
sented a stirring 15- or 20-minute sermon to
the approval of all in attendance. But no lost
sheep would have been reclaimed.”
All of us who lead in the wards and stakes
must open the door to the lost sheep; stand
aside to let them through. We must learn not
to block the entrance. It is a narrow way.
Sometimes we assume the clumsy posture
of trying to pull them through the gate that
we ourselves are blocking. Only when we
have the spirit of lifting them, pushing them
before us, seeing them elevated above us,
do we have that spirit that will engender
testimony.
I wonder if that is what the Lord meant when
He said, “They that be whole need not a physi-
cian, but they that are sick” (Matthew 9:12).
I do not appeal for the lowering of stan-
dards. Just the opposite. More lost sheep will
We must learn not to block the entrance. It is a respond quicker to high standards than they
narrow way. Sometimes we assume the clumsy
will to low ones. There is therapeutic value in
spiritual discipline.
posture of trying to pull them through the gate Discipline is a form of love, an expression of
that we ourselves are blocking.
it. It is necessary and powerful in people’s lives.
When a toddler is playing near the road, we
wrong, and I want to come back. I have been
steer carefully around him. Few will stop and
trying to come back, but you won’t let me!”
see him to safety [and,] if necessary, discipline
Of course we would let him come back, but
him. That is, unless it is our own child or
somehow we hadn’t let him know that. After
grandchild. If we love them enough, we will
the meeting the congregation flooded up—not
do it. To withhold discipline when it would
to us but to him to say, “Welcome home!”
contribute to spiritual growth is evidence of
On the way to the airport after conference,
lack of love and concern.
the stake president said to me, “I’ve learned a
Spiritual discipline framed in love and
lesson today.”
confirmed with testimony will help redeem
Hoping to confirm it, I said, “If we had
souls. ◼
done what you wanted to do, you would have
Excerpt from an address given at a meeting for priesthood called on this man’s father, wouldn’t you, or
leaders on February 19, 1969. The full text can be found in Boyd K. Packer, Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled (1991), perhaps his brother, the bishop?”
12–21. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization standardized.
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
59
From Rescued
to Rescuer
My life was a downward spiral until I met a man who claimed to have the solution to my troubles.
By Betsy Doane
One evening in 1978, I was at On my most recent trip I climbed take away my family? I told the man the Logan Airport in Boston,
a pyramid in Tikal, Guatemala. There,
as much, and he responded that the
Massachusetts, USA, wait-
even though I was physically on a
God he believed in had made a way
ing for some friends to arrive. A man
high place, I remember feeling the
for me to be with my family again.
struck up a conversation with me, and lowest I’d felt in a long time. I couldn’t Now he had my attention.
we talked a little about our lives. I told live the way I’d been living anymore.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
him I had returned three months ear-
“God,” I said, “if You’re there, I need
“Have you heard of the Mormons?”
lier from a trip to Central America.
You to change my life.” I stood there
I didn’t know much about them, but
I had gone to escape the painful
for several minutes, silently pleading
the man proceeded to explain the
realities of my life, I told him. Nine years for help from a being I wasn’t sure was plan of salvation to me. And despite earlier my brother had died. The fol-real. When I climbed back down the
my initial disbelief, something about
lowing year my parents were killed in a
pyramid, I felt at peace. Nothing had
what he was sharing rang true.
car accident. A year later to the day, my
changed in my life, but somehow I felt
My new acquaintance and I
grandmother died. Within a short time,
that things were going to be all right.
exchanged phone numbers, and over
I had lost several of the most important
And so it was that three months later the next several months, we dated a people in my life. I was devastated.
I found myself telling all of this to the
bit. We also talked about the gospel.
I inherited a large sum of money
man at the airport. He listened patiently He gave me a copy of the Book of upon my parents’ death, and I used
and then asked if I knew that Jesus
Mormon, and we discussed it and other
it to try to escape my grief. I spent it
Christ had appeared in the Americas.
roger Motzkus
scriptures for hours over the phone. He
on expensive clothes, cars, drugs, and
At that time I still didn’t think much told me about Joseph Smith restoring tIon by
trips to faraway places.
of God. What kind of God would
the Church of Jesus Christ. It was an
Illustra
60 E n s i g n
amazing time of hope and growth.
given up so much in embracing the
but I felt as though I were gone too.
Our friendship waned a little bit,
gospel—including several friends who
After their deaths I no longer knew
but after several more weeks, my
thought I was crazy for showing inter-
who I was. Now I have found my iden-
friend told me he’d like to send some
est in the Mormon Church. I had per-
tity. I know that I am a child of God
friends to talk with me. The friends he sisted because I felt that the gospel was and that He knows me and loves me.
sent were, of course, the missionaries. true. But could I completely abandon As I was sealed to my parents, grand-And with the full-time elders came
long-standing addictions?
mother, and brother, my grief turned to
Bruce Doane, a stake missionary who
The missionaries offered to give
joy with the assurance that we can be
would later become my husband.
me a priesthood blessing to help me.
together forever.
After several weeks of formal
Immediately afterward, I threw away
The gospel of Jesus Christ also
discussions, the missionaries asked if
all the drugs and alcohol I had. And
rescued me from my addictions. For
I would be willing to be baptized. I
that night the desire to partake of
the past few years my husband and
told them sure. Then they told me that anything that was against the Word of I have served as LDS Family Services before I could be baptized, I needed
Wisdom left me. It was a true miracle.
addiction-recovery missionaries, work-
to be living the Word of Wisdom.
I was baptized in June 1978. A little
ing with members of our stake who
I hadn’t been drinking or abusing
more than a year later, Bruce and I were are struggling with different types of drugs as much as in the past. Things
married in the Washington D.C. Temple.
addictions. I am so grateful to be able
were changing in my life; I felt more
The gospel literally rescued me from to help these brothers and sisters. I feel hopeful than I had in ages—but surely
despair. Before, I was lost in every
blessed that I can share my story with
those habits would be impossible to
sense of the word. My parents and
them to help them understand how
break completely. Besides, I had already brother and grandmother were gone, we can all be rescued by the gospel. ◼
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
61
By Breanna Sampson
S
As I later reflected on
atan is not to be
her comments and my
underestimated. He
reaction in turn, the Spirit
can make a rich man
gave me a very profound
miserable and a poor man
insight: I was no different
proud. Money and material
from my friend whom
possessions should have
I so strongly envied. We
little bearing on our hap-
had been blessed to
piness and attitudes, yet
purchase a beautiful
Satan can often convince
house that many, many
us otherwise. I realized this
people would be over-
was a problem for me after
joyed to live in. The
my husband and I pur-
problem was not with the
chased our first home.
house—it was with me.
A short time after we
Instead of focusing on
moved in, the initial
what I had, I could only
excitement faded from
see what I lacked. Instead
my perspective as I
of gratitude for blessings,
began to see the flaws
I chose jealousy and
of our home and feel
greed. From the moment
discontented. Many of
that I realized whose
my friends had much
influence had been
larger homes decorated in
tainting my perspective, I
Learning to be
such appealing styles as
made the choice to never
to make our home seem
let Satan sway me in such
Content
small, plain, and wanting.
a worldly direction again.
I found myself making
I realized then, as I do
comparisons and feeling that I came up short.
now, that if we cannot be contented with our current lives During one of my more intense periods of disgruntle-and possessions, then we are feeding an appetite that no ment, a couple in our ward invited us to join them for amount of money will ever satiate. Jacob addressed this family home evening. When we arrived at their home I felt desire for wealth in his day by counseling us to seek first the anticipated pang of jealousy at the sight of their large, the kingdom of God and a hope in Christ; then if we are new home in which little had been forgone. What I had not blessed with riches we will use them to “do good—to anticipated was the conversation I had with the wife that clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liber-evening. She mentioned their unhappiness with their home ate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the and their desire to find something a little bigger to better afflicted” ( Jacob 2:18–19). I know that as we keep our suit their needs. I was astounded! How could someone hearts full of gratitude and our desires turned to God, we who had so much not realize how lucky she was? I would will be blessed with a sense of peace and contentment give anything to live in this gorgeous home—and she was unknown to those of the world.
unhappy! How could she not appreciate what she had?
And that is something money can never buy. ◼
photography by John rees
62 E n s i g n
How We Broke tHe
Chains of Debt
W
By Kate Strongin
e rejoiced the day my husband finished graduate
school. Student life was all we had known for eight years of marriage, and we couldn’t wait to move on to the next chapter of our lives. One of the most exciting things was that we could stop taking out student loans and start paying them back. We prayed and worked daily for my husband to obtain a wonderful career that would help us get out of debt.
We were confident the Lord would quickly bless us with a job because of our efforts and righteous desires.
But the Lord had a different plan. My husband struggled for 18 months to find a job. During that time, we were schooled intensely in financial and spiritual matters. Our hearts were being prepared to truly follow the Lord’s counsel to stay out of debt. Three important principles were ingrained into us at this time: avoid credit card debt, live by a budget, and tithe and trust in the Lord.
Ins
Igg
Ick W
tIons by M
Illustra
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
63
by a budget. Previously, when my husband
had pressed for a budget, I refused. I was over-
whelmed with school and work and thought bud-
geting would just be one more burden. I thought
simply trying to live frugally was enough. Now I
saw how wrong I was and we immediately set up
a budget to identify needs and track our spend-
ing. I was surprised at how much freedom and
peace of mind it gave me. My stress level actually decreased! It was easier to live within our means
when I knew exactly how much was coming in
and how much was going out.
Tithe and Trust in the Lord
A huge test came eight months later when
our financial reserves ran out. My husband had
obtained temporary employment, but our expenses
were not completely covered. We were already in
Avoid Credit Card Debt
survival mode and could not lower our expenses
When we sat down and calculated the minimum
any further. We had two small children to nurture, income we could accept, I was shocked to discover
clothe, and feed. We spent many more hours pray-
that our debt payments almost doubled the amount of ing and working to find other sources of income.
income we needed. This spurred us to calculate all our debt. I felt sick as I looked at the figures. We knew we would have some student debt, but this was unreal.
What had happened? We had thought we were fol-
lowing prophetic counsel to avoid unnecessary debt.
We worked part-time while attending college, applied for grants, and used student loans as a last resort. Our mistake was in using our credit cards for emergencies as defined by a materialistic world. Those “emergencies” added up to thousands of dollars.
When we saw the consequences of our mistakes,
we spent much time in prayer asking for the Lord’s help to do better. One thing we realized was that
without an income, we couldn’t pay off debt, but we could stop using credit cards. It was an easy decision as we looked at the debt and interest we owed. Our financial reserves would last a few more months, and we were confident that my husband would have a
well-paying job by then.
Live by a Budget
Another startling realization was that much of
our debt could have been avoided if we had lived
64 E n s i g n
Finally, we decided to use our credit cards to buy debt in about a year and a half. If we had continued groceries and asked the Lord to intervene if we were to rely on credit cards, we would have been thou-not doing His will. A short time later, my parents told sands more dollars in debt.
us of a time when my dad had been unemployed
We used the debt payoff methods in the pam-
and they had also decided to supplement with credit phlet, One for the Money by Elder Marvin J. Ashton.
cards, rationalizing that employment would come
We paid off the highest interest debt first, mak-
soon and they would pay off the credit cards. They ing minimum payments on all other debts. After
soon realized they were not putting their trust in the the highest interest debt was paid off, that pay-Lord, but rather putting their trust in plastic. They ment money went
had stopped using their credit cards.
My parents’ counsel felt right for us in our situation.
There may be appropriate uses for credit cards, but this was not one. The thought of giving up my credit cards brought worries: What if the car breaks down and my husband can’t get to an interview? What if
one of the kids has to go to the emergency
room? What would we do? However,
when we acted on the promptings to
stop using our credit cards, I felt hap-
pier than I had in months. Our financial
situation had not changed and yet I felt
strangely peaceful. I had put my trust in
Credit Cards: We
the Lord, not knowing what would happen,
stopped using
them so that we
and He had assured me that all would be well.
wouldn’t incur
Additional comfort came from knowing we paid
more debt.
our tithing faithfully and the Lord would open
A Budget: It was
the windows of heaven for us (see Malachi 3:10).
easier to live
During the following months there were
within our means
when we knew
still moments of frustration and worry, but as I
exacty how much
towards the debt with the next highest
turned my heart to the Lord, the overwhelming
was coming in
interest rate. And so on.
feeling was one of peace and security. Miracles
and going out.
Each month, the Lord provided miracles,
abounded. My husband was offered overtime
Trust in the Lord:
and we were able to set aside more money
work. Family, friends, and neighbors would
We trusted in the
than anticipated to pay off debt. Eight
Lord, not knowing
drop off food or leave envelopes with money or
what would hap-
months later we were free of credit card
gift cards on our doorstep.
pen, but feeling
debt. It was truly liberating.
A year and a half after graduating, my hus-
His assurance that
We are still on our journey to becoming
all would be well.
band accepted a job offer. The pay was lower
We found comfort
completely debt free. But we know that
than we had anticipated, but we were thrilled to
in knowing we
by following correct principles and being
paid our tithing
pay all our bills and still have money for gro-
patient it is possible to succeed and meet
faithfully.
ceries. There would even be a small amount for
our goal. As we have prayerfully followed
paying down credit card debt. We made a new
His servants’ counsel regarding debt, the
budget with a plan to do just that. I remembered
Lord has guided us. We can testify with Nephi that reading in the Ensign about financial calculators that through obedience, the Lord prepares a way for us
were available on providentliving.org. I used those to accomplish the things He has commanded us to
and determined that we could be free of credit card do (see 1 Nephi 3:7). ◼
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
65
L a t t e r - d ay S a i n t V o i c e S
Please send someone
someone to invite me to church.”
The next day the doorbell rang. I
During a difficult pregnancy with one, was bedridden, and had to care was lying on the couch in my pajamas my second child, I needed to
for a toddler. I felt scared and alone.
in a messy living room and feeling
take medicine to keep me from mis-
In this state I turned to the One
nauseated, so I didn’t get up to answer
carrying. The medicine amplified my
I knew wouldn’t let me down—my
the door. A few minutes later it hit me:
feelings of fatigue and nausea.
Heavenly Father. I knelt by my bed
what if that doorbell was the answer
To make matters worse, my hus-
and prayed, “Heavenly Father, I
to my prayers and someone had come
band was working 15-hour days,
know that I have been promising
over to invite me to church?
trying to keep up with his successful
for years that I would go back to
I went back to my room, knelt
new business; we had recently moved church, and I think I’m ready now.
again, and prayed, “Heavenly Father,
to a new town; and my parents lived
But I don’t have the courage to do
I am really sorry for not answering
400 miles (640 km) away. I knew no
it alone. Could Thou please send
the door. If Thou sent someone to
M y husband
was working
15-hour days, and
my parents lived
far away. I knew
no one, was
bedridden, and
had to care for
a toddler. I felt
scared and alone.
66 E n s i g n
talk to me, I promise I will be ready
Offended by
for them tomorrow if Thou will send
them again.”
My friend
The next day I got up, showered,
dressed for company, and spent
the day cleaning my house. Then I
I had a friend in my branch of the
Church in Russia with whom I
waited patiently for the doorbell to
socialized at all Church activities. We
ring again. It did. When I opened it,
had a lot in common, I had a lot of
I saw two women standing on my
fun with him, and I was glad to have
doorstep.
such a good friend.
“We’re your visiting teachers,”
But then something strange
they said. “Do you know what visit-
happened. For no reason
ing teaching is?”
that I could determine, he
“Yes, I do,” I replied, excited that
offended me badly. He did
they had returned. “Come on in.”
not ask for forgiveness, and
One of those visiting teachers, the
I stopped associating with
Primary president, began stopping
him. I did not even greet
by regularly to make sure I was all
him on Sundays. That went
right. She even offered to take my
on for two months. I was hurt and
toddler to church and to arrange for
unhappy, but he said nothing.
visits from the full-time missionaries.
Then I found out he was leaving
The visits strengthened my testi-
our city. I didn’t think our relationship
mony and gave me the courage to
should stay the way it was; I thought
return to church.
we should reconcile. About then I
I can’t believe I lived so many
remembered a scripture from the
years without praying to Heavenly
Book of Mormon: “Go thy way unto
all, I remember one sentence that he
Father and receiving His security
thy brother, and first be reconciled to
repeated three times: “Natal’ya, thanks
and guidance. It is such a blessing
thy brother, and then come unto me
for calling!”
to have the Savior help bear my
with full purpose of heart, and I will
I was so happy! He moved a short
burdens with His love and mercy. I
receive you” (3 Nephi 12:24).
time later, but we separated the best
am a better person because of His
It was difficult for me to humble
of friends.
love, and I feel more and more like
myself and take the first step, but I
Learning to love and forgive each
the person I was when I attended
prayed and then called him. I didn’t
other is one of our most difficult
church in my youth.
know what his reaction would be,
tasks. Forgiveness—especially when
Heavenly Father has proven to me
and I was ready for the worst. What
we are not at fault—requires that we
arker
s. P
that all things are possible in Him.
I heard shocked me.
be humble and overcome our pride.
Ichael
All He asks of us is that we have
He sincerely asked me for forgive-
I learned that taking the first step to
faith in His ability to answer our
ness, and I could tell by his voice
forgive and reconcile is worth it. ◼
tIons by M
prayers. ◼
that he had suffered a lot because
Natal’ya Fyodorovna Frolova,
Illustra
Wendy Walkowiak, Utah, USA
of his action—just as I had. Most of
Netherlands
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
67
I Don’t Want to KnoW You!
of Mormon and a book of geneal-
ogy on the table. I felt a different
With a sincere prayer in my
“I think you can see that we’re
spirit in his home; something was
heart and my 14-year-old
having dinner and don’t have time
different about Andy too. He spoke
companion at my side, I knocked on
for you,” he said.
softly of his love for his mother and
Andy’s door. This was our first visit to
“Perhaps we could come back
his sister, who had compiled the
his home as his new home teachers.
some other time?” I asked.
genealogy.
We had recently accepted the respon-
“Why?”
For the first time, he talked
sibility to visit him despite his rep-
“So we can get to know you,” I
openly with me. He told me about
utation for being difficult. The door
responded.
pain he’d been feeling in his back,
opened, and there he stood, dressed
“Why do you want to get to know
adding that he was going to the
in a Japanese kimono.
me?” he asked. “I don’t want to get to
March Air Force Base hospital in
“Yes?”
know you!”
nearby Riverside, California, the next
“Hi, I’m Irvin, and this is my com-
I suppose we could have resigned
day. I asked him if he would like a
panion. We are your home teachers
as their home teachers right then,
priesthood blessing. Without hesi-
and would like to visit with you.”
but we didn’t. When we returned the
tation he answered in a quiet voice,
His wife was sitting at a table
next month, Andy actually let us in.
“I’ll take it.” I called our elders quo-
behind him, dressed in the same fash-
We sat facing a wall lined with empty
rum president, who came to help
ion. They were having a Japanese-
beer bottles that were arranged in the
give the blessing.
style dinner.
shape of antique cars. Our meeting
The next day doctors told Andy
with Andy was short, but we learned
he had inoperable lung cancer. After
that he was a retired air force colonel. receiving the news, he went to see Our subsequent visits were also short
the bishop. Within a few months, he
and yielded little results.
was confined to his bed.
One night as I was leaving a Church
One evening when I arrived at his
meeting, I heard a voice within me
home for another visit, his wife ush-
telling me to visit Andy. “No, thank
ered me to his room, where he lay
you,” I thought. “Not tonight.”
in a frail condition. I knelt beside his
When I stopped at a red light, the
bed and cradled him in my arms. I
prompting to visit Andy came again. I whispered, “I love you, Andy.” With all thought, “Please, I’m in no mood for
of his strength, he put his arm on my
Andy tonight.”
shoulder and, with great effort, told me
As I made my last turn for home,
that he loved me too. Two days later
however, the same prompting came
he died.
a third time, leaving me sure of what
His wife invited me to the funeral.
I needed to do.
Besides the four members of his fam-
I drove to his home and parked,
ily, I was the only one in attendance.
praying for guidance. Then I
I’m so grateful I listened to the
approached his door and knocked.
Spirit’s promptings to visit Andy. ◼
When Andy let me in, I saw a Book
Irvin Fager, Utah, USA
I quickly
realized that
my paycheck
would not cover
my expenses and
My TiThing
allow me to pay
Couldn’T WaiT
the balance of
what I owed the
Lord in tithing.
In my late teens, as I started spend-
ing time with the full-time mission-
aries, I realized how crucial it was to
have a testimony of the principles I
would soon be teaching as a mission-
ary. I decided that one of the princi-
ples I wanted to understand better
was tithing.
Many people gain a testimony
of tithing during times of financial
hardship. But growing up, I always
had more than enough. If I ever had
a financial need, my parents took
care of it. I was grateful for that,
but while I knew that they would
pay for my mission, I decided that
I wanted to finance half of my mis-
sion myself through my work as a
part-time teacher.
thought, “I’ll just have to catch up
teacher. I would be able to work right
About the same time, I realized
on tithing next month.” But then
up until I left for my mission, and
that I hadn’t paid a full 10 percent
I remembered an institute of reli-
the money I would earn would be
tithing from my last paycheck. I
gion lesson on tithing. I particularly
more than I needed to pay half of my
decided that with my next paycheck,
remembered what the Lord says in
mission expenses. This blessing dra-
I would make up the difference so
the Old Testament: “Prove me now
matically increased my testimony of
that I could be a full-tithe payer.
herewith” (Malachi 3:10). This was an
tithing. That testimony was bolstered
When I was paid for the month,
opportunity for me to put the princi-
again and again as I shared it with
however, the amount was less than
ple to the test and to gain a stronger
the people I served in the Germany
I had expected. The work I did was
testimony of what I would soon be
Munich/Austria Mission over the next
somewhat irregular, so my salary var-
teaching others.
two years.
ied from month to month. I quickly
When I paid my tithing, I felt
I know that the principle of tithing
realized that the paycheck would not
good about being caught up. But the
is true and that the Lord does “open
cover my expenses and allow me
opportunity to “prove” the Lord came
[us] the windows of heaven” and pour
to pay the balance of what I owed
the very next day—much sooner and
out a blessing so great “that there
the Lord in tithing from my previous
in a greater way than I could have
shall not be room enough to receive
paycheck.
ever expected—when I was offered
it” (Malachi 3:10). ◼
I considered my options and then
a full-time job as a kindergarten
David Erland Isaksen, Norway
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
69
Small & Simple Things
“By small and simple things are
great things brought to pass” ( Alma 37:6 ).
C H U R C H H I S T O R Y A R O U N D T H E W O R L D
Brazil
THE CHURCH IN BRAZIL
When Max Richard Zapf emigrated from Germany
Membership
1,102,428
to Brazil in 1913, he had been a member for
Missions
27
fi ve years and became the fi rst known Church member Stakes
230
in Brazil. After a Brazilian family requested materials from Church headquarters, the mission president of the Wards and
1,884
South American Mission visited Brazil in 1927 and sent Branches
Temples
7, including the
missionaries in 1928. The fi rst mission was created in Manaus and Fortaleza
São Paulo in 1935, and by 1939 the Book of Mormon
Brazil Temples, cur-
had been published in Portuguese.
rently announced or
The fi rst temple in South America was dedicated
under construction
in São Paulo in 1978, shortly after the revelation on the priesthood extended the priesthood to all worthy males. The Church’s second-largest missionary training center, located in São Paulo, was dedicated in 1997.
Brazil was the third country (following the United States and Mexico) to reach one million members.
Why Sing?
BY JOSEPH BRICKEY
AN,
Singing hymns can invite the Spirit into our Church directly on the Web site, which could be especially useful for meetings, our homes, and our everyday lives. President members who do not have a piano or keyboard.
J. Reuben Clark Jr. (1871–1961) of the First Presidency taught, Music can be used at home as well as at church. The First THE GOOD SAMARIT
“We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps Presidency has counseled: “Teach your children to love the through any other thing except prayer.” 1
hymns. Sing them on the Sabbath, in [family] home evening, TTHEW REIER;
The Church has provided a Web site for accessing the during scripture study, at prayer time. Sing as you work, as hymns (available in English, French, Portuguese, and you play, and as you travel together.” 2 Hymns can bring a Spanish). Music.lds.org includes instructions for leading music spirit of love and unity into the home.
and for playing hymns using keyboards and also suggestions
AULO BRAZIL TEMPLE BY MA
for choosing appropriate hymns for sacrament meeting.
NOTES
1. J. Reuben Clark Jr., in Conference Report, Oct. 1936, 111.
Music and lyrics can be read, downloaded, or played 2. Hymns, x.
PHOTOGRAPH OF SÃO P
70 E n s i g n
Strengthened by a Hymn
I decided to compete in a mar- doing well. But when I was about Over and over the words of the athon with work colleagues
10 kilometers from the fi nish line,
hymn fl ooded my mind and lifted
in Western Cape, South Africa. I
the race became very hard for me.
my feet, and I fi nished the race in
trained and worked very hard in
I had muscle pulls in one leg, and I the strength of the Lord’s hymn.
preparation for the race.
had some blisters. I wanted to quit.
This experience taught me that
On the day of the race, I woke
Then I began singing a hymn:
the gospel of Jesus Christ is about
up, read my scriptures, and prayed.
Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be
endurance. It is like walking or
I was nervous, but I also felt that I
not dismayed,
running in a race. We get tired
needed to trust in the Lord. I knew
For I am thy God and will still
sometimes, rest, and walk again.
that if I did, He would provide
give thee aid.
Heavenly Father does not give up
sustenance and support.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee,
on us no matter how many times
We were required to walk or
and cause thee to stand, . . .
we fall; to Him what counts is how
run 40 kilometers (25 miles). We
Upheld by my righteous, omni-
many times we stand up and walk
started at 8:00 a.m. The weather
potent hand.
again. His gospel is about fi nishing
was cool and slightly rainy, so at
(“How Firm a Foundation,”
the race.
fi rst I enjoyed the walk and was
Hymns, no. 85)
Khetiwe Ratsoma, South Africa
I N T H E W O R D S O F C H U R C H L E A D E R S
Care for the Poor
“Throughout history, the Lord
has measured societies and
individuals by how well they cared
for the poor. He has said:
“‘For the earth is full, and there is
enough and to spare; yea, I prepared
all things, and have given unto the
children of men to be agents unto themselves.
“‘Therefore, if any man shall take of the abun-
dance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment’ ( D&C 104:17–18 ; see also D&C 56:16–17 ).
“Furthermore, He declares, ‘In your temporal things you years, the suffering of millions has been alleviated, and count-shall be equal, and this not grudgingly, otherwise the abun-less others have been enabled to help themselves through the dance of the manifestations of the Spirit shall be withheld’
generosity of the Saints. Nevertheless, as we pursue the cause ( D&C 70:14 ; see also D&C 49:20 ; 78:5–7 ).
of Zion, each of us should prayerfully consider whether we
“We control the disposition of our means and resources, are doing what we should and all that we should in the Lord’s but we account to God for this stewardship over earthly eyes with respect to the poor and the needy.”
things. It is gratifying to witness your generosity as you con-Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Come tribute to fast offerings and humanitarian projects. Over the to Zion,” Liahona and Ensign , Nov. 2008, 39.
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
71
M i l e s t o n e s i n C h u r C h W e l f a r e s e r v i C e s The humanitarian outreach program of The Church of 1960: New cannery and milk processing plant is completed Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints strives to improve the at Welfare Square.
lives of those in need by providing food, clean water, vision care, wheelchairs, immunizations, and emergency response.
1970s: Church expands welfare projects and production to From simple beginnings, the program has expanded through Mexico, England, and the Pacific islands.
the years to help millions throughout the world.
1973: LDS Social Services (now LDS Family Services) is cre-late 1920s: Welfare
ated as an official Church corporation.
farms are established.
1976: Church begins expansion of storehouses into all Harvests are stored in
parts of Canada and the United States. Expansions of canner-storehouses.
ies and production facilities are also announced.
1932: First cannery is
1982: U.S. president Ronald
established.
Reagan visits Welfare Square.
1936: General Church
1985: Church begins to pro-
Welfare Committee is formed.
vide clean water wells in Africa,
Fourteen welfare regions are
marking the beginning of a
created to manage welfare activities around the world.
worldwide expansion of Church
1936: First official employment center is established.
humanitarian efforts.
1936–40: Production projects begin, including a sawmill, 1990s: Latter-day Saint
pena
a tannery, a pasta plant, salmon canning, peanut butter Humanitarian Center is estab-Dersen; rosa
n. a
canning, soap production, and milk bottling.
lished to sort surplus clothing and other goods, including c
medical supplies, for shipment throughout the world in Den
1937: First regional store-
response to poverty and disasters.
; photograph ©
house is erected in Salt Lake City.
ollett
2002: LDS Charities begins
. c
D m
; photograph by Wel ar
1938: Construction begins
wheelchair, clean water, and
Wo
tment h
on Welfare Square, including
neonatal resuscitation initiatives.
ar
a grain elevator and a central
2003: LDS Charities joins
Fare Dep
storehouse.
photograph by
worldwide measles initiative and
hurch Wel
1938: The first Deseret Industries
commits one million U.S. dollars
F c
thrift store opens in Salt Lake City.
each year in support of the campaign. Also, a worldwide tesy o , Deseret News;
vision treatment initiative begins.
avant
1940: Construction on Welfare
y
errg
Square is completed.
2010: LDS Charities starts a food initiative to increase food production and nutrition in some of the poor-1945: Church ships large amounts of food, clothing, and est nations of the world. Ground is broken for a new other supplies to struggling members in Europe at the end 600,000-square-foot (56,000 m2) Bishop’s Central Storehouse of World War II.
in Salt Lake City.
From top): three photographs cour
Ft ( From top): photograph by
Ft (
Far le le
72 E n s i g n
F A M I LY H O M E E V E N I N G I D E A S
Growing Testimonies—and Mission Funds
After hearing Church every coin he can fi nd; leaders encourage
both children save any
youth to save money for
money they receive
full-time missions, we held
from relatives. In three
a special family home
months Ulric has saved
evening with our two
enough to pay for the fi rst
children, 10-year-old
month of his mission, and
Allana, and 7-year-old
Allana is almost there.
Ulric. We discussed the
The children also make
AKER
importance of saving for a
sure to pay tithing on
full-time mission, then
the money they receive,
presented them with piggy
and our family has seen
TION BY BETH WHIT
banks to help them begin
great blessings as their
saving.
testimonies of serving and
ILLUSTRA
After that evening it
sacrifi cing have taken root
was incredible how the
and grown.
money has accumulated.
Luiz and Andreia Pereira,
São Paulo, Brazil
Ulric collects and saves
H E L P S F O R H O M E E V E N I N G
“The Power of Preparing Early,” page 18: After sharing
“Finding
the article with your family, reread the statement: “The Answers,” page 28:
secret [to success] is to start early, be consistent, plan for After reading the
life’s demands, focus on eternal truths, and study the article discuss how,
gospel—especially the Book of Mormon.” Discuss how with the help of the
these principles might benefi t your family and how you Lord, we should try
can implement them. Consider set ing a goal to regularly and solve our own
read the Book of Mormon together.
problems. Ask the fol owing questions: How does the
“Successful Family Home Evenings with Teens,”
Holy Ghost “reveal things to and through” us? How can we page 22: After sharing the ideas in this article, read either feel more confi dent that we are asking the right questions?
the quote from Elder Bednar or President Uchtdorf. If your Share additional insights from the article as needed.
family does not already have a family home evening chart, Questions & Answers, page 36: Share excerpts consider creating one. Assign each member of your family from this article that you feel apply to your family.
the responsibility of teaching a lesson during the coming Then consider making a list of what the “Lord requires months. You could display different available resources and of us,” and set a goal as a family to focus on the need-suggestions from this article to help with future lessons.
ful things fi rst.
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
73
News of the Church
Visit news.lds.org for more Church news and events.
Training Emphasizes
enhance the role of councils in the Church.”
Importance of Councils
Elder Cook discussed three fundamental coun-
cils at the ward level essential for the bishop to conduct the affairs of the Church and how these
By Adam C. Olson
councils are affected by the new handbooks.
Church Magazines
D
These include the bishopric, the priesthood exec-
uring the November 2010 worldwide
utive committee, and the ward council.
leadership training meeting, in which the
The bishopric will function mostly as it has
Church’s new handbooks were intro-
in the past. While the PEC will continue to meet
duced, Church leaders emphasized the impor-
regularly and will handle some of the items pre-
tance of effective ward 1 councils in supporting
viously handled by the ward welfare committee,
overburdened bishops and in carrying out the
Elder Cook suggested that PEC meetings will
work of salvation.
probably decrease in length because of a likely
“Handbook 2 seeks to reduce the work-
increase in the meeting frequency of the ward
load of the bishop by enhancing the role
“The primary effort
council.
of the ward council and its members,” said
of the ward council
The new handbook “elevates the role of the
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the
is the work of salva-
ward council in administering the ward under
Twelve Apostles. This includes assisting
tion in the ward.”
the keys of the bishop,” said Elder Cook.
the bishop “on matters of importance to
Elder Quentin L. Cook of
the whole ward” and “helping in the res-
the Quorum of the Twelve
Elevating the Ward Council
cue role of activation and retention.”
Apostles
The handbooks elevate the ward council
iri
by suggesting what the bishop can delegate
The Importance of Councils
and expanding the roles of council members
smith, ©
During the November training, Elder Quentin L.
to assist him.
Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
“The primary effort of the ward council is the
explained that “the Church is governed through
work of salvation in the ward,” Elder Cook said.
councils at the general, area, stake, and ward
“Many issues now come directly to the bishop.
photography by christina
levels” and that “the new handbooks significantly
Hopefully this will change as bishops delegate
more matters in ward council meetings and/or
privately to individuals, including such items as
welfare, retention, activation” and so forth.
Elder Cook explained that while the bishop
will continue to handle “problems that require a
common judge in Israel,” he can, with the con-
sent of the member seeking repentance, delegate
to others “the extensive counseling that may be
necessary” to assist members recovering from
addictions or who need help with financial issues, family matters, or other problems.
“Members of the ward council do most of their
74 E n s i g n
effeCtive Ward CouNCils
The following is specific counsel for running effective councils given during the worldwide leadership training meeting.
effective councils:
work outside of ward council meetings,” Elder
Cook said. “They work with their counselors and
• Spend minimal time during meetings on calendaring, activity with home teachers, visiting teachers, and others
planning, and other administrative business.
in reaching out and ministering to those . . . who
• Focus on matters that will strengthen individuals and families.
need assistance.”
• Invite full expression from all council members, who then He urged priesthood and auxiliary leaders to
unite behind the bishop’s decision.
identify and resolve concerns that can be appro-
priately handled within the quorum or organi-
• Unify organizational efforts to respond to individual, family, zation to alleviate the burden on the bishop and
and organizational needs.
ward council.
• Meet regularly, more often than under the previous handbooks, but typically no longer than 60 to 90 minutes.
every Member Counts
• Protect confidentiality.
During the broadcast, the importance of con-
tributions from every member on the council
was emphasized by a panel consisting of Elder
M. Russell Ballard, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, and
Elder Holland warned against a cultural
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the
disregard for the value of women in coun-
Twelve Apostles; Elder Walter F. González of the
cils. “We sometimes have not been as invit-
Presidency of the Seventy; and Julie B. Beck,
ing or as encouraging . . . to the women
Relief Society general president.
sitting in the council as we should be,” he
“I think we have the mistaken notion that
said. “We’ve got to have the help of the
every element of revelation coming to the
women.”
ward has to come through the bishop,” said
The panel emphasized that wise leaders
Elder Bednar. “By virtue of his keys, he has to
listen.
acknowledge it and affirm it, but he doesn’t
“The gift of discernment operates more
necessarily have to be the only vehicle through
effectively when we’re listening as opposed to
whom it comes.”
when we’re talking,” said Elder Bednar.
Elder Bednar emphasized the importance of
Elder Ballard added that the principle of
unity once the presiding authority has made a
listening applies to every member of the coun-
decision in order for the council to operate under cil and that no one member should dominate
the influence of the Holy Ghost.
the conversation.
“When [the] Spirit operates within the
A second worldwide leadership training meet-
council system of the Church, the work will go
ing will be held on February 12, 2011, to focus
forward, and we will rescue many more of our
on the responsibilities of stake presidents and
Father’s children,” Elder Ballard said. “It’s one
bishops, the work of quorums and auxiliaries,
grand work that we all put our shoulder to.” ◼
and the special challenges of units that lack
Note
1. The terms ward, bishop, and bishopric also apply to sufficient members and leaders to carry out
branch, branch president, and branch presidency.
The terms stake, stake president, and stake presidency the full programs of the Church.
also apply to district, district president, and district presidency.
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
75
N e w s o f t h e C h u r C h
for the Saints in California, and the 11 stakes were Early-Morning Seminary
approved to form 13 early-morning classes.
Celebrates 60 Years
Meeting Diverse Needs
By Breanna Olaveson
From the program’s official start during the
Church Magazines
e
1950–51 school year, early-morning seminary
arly-morning seminary can be challeng-
spread across the United States and throughout the ing, but over the past 60 years more than
world, helping youth everywhere to learn the scrip-a million teenage members of the Church
tures and apply gospel principles. Its official name have learned that rising before the sun and trying was recently changed to “daily seminary,” because
to focus not just their eyes but their minds on the not all such classes are held in the early morning.
scriptures is worth the effort.
Part of what makes daily seminary so suc-
“Spending a few minutes in the scriptures each
cessful is its flexibility. Programs are organized day, bearing testimony, and feeling the Spirit has at the stake and district level, and classes
not only a strengthening effect as students go to
can be organized in a single ward or branch
school, but it has a healing effect as the Atonement or with multiple wards or branches meeting
of Jesus Christ acts in their lives,” said Kelly Haws, together according to the needs and circum-assistant administrator for seminaries
stances of youth, parents, and priest-
and institutes of religion. “It’s a great
hood leaders.
opportunity for youth.”
While approximately 115,000
students still benefit each year
The Birth of Early-Morning Seminary
More than a
from released-time seminary held during school
The first seminary classes were held during reg- million young
hours in areas with a large concentration of Church ular school hours in 1912 in a seminary adjacent
Latter-day
members, nearly 217,000 seminary students through-
to Granite High School in Salt Lake City, Utah,
Saints have
out the world participate in daily seminary.
USA. However, as years passed, more and more
benefited from
Because some youth in the Church live too
early-morning
Church youth were enrolled in the growing public
far from other Church members to attend either
seminary since
school system that did not provide the opportu-
released-time or daily seminary classes, the
its beginnings 60
nity to study the scriptures on a daily basis.
years ago.
home-study seminary program was established.
As Church membership grew rapidly in
Home-study students spend four days each week
Southern California in the late 1940s, the need
studying assigned material independently, then
to educate young people in the gospel inspired
gather with other home-study students once a
a group of stake presidents to request the estab-
week to discuss what they’ve learned.
lishment of the Church’s seminary program in the
Southern California area.
A Stone Cut without Hands
During the 1948–49 school year, Marion D.
Today, seminary classes are held in every state
Hanks, who later served in the Presidency of the
in the United States and in 140 countries around
Seventy, had success teaching an early-morning
the world. In 1948 Canada became the first coun-
seminary class at West High School in Salt Lake City.
try outside the United States to hold seminary.
Holding similar classes seemed a logical solution
With the spread of early-morning seminary,
76 E n s i g n
PHOTOGRAPH BY ADAM C. OLSON
Mexico followed in 1958, Finland and Germany
Jennifer Probert
in 1962, Japan in 1963, Panama in 1964, and more rehearses with
countries over the years. Most recently, seminary
the Bells on
classes were established in 2008 in the countries
Temple Square.
of Benin, Georgia, and Morocco.
Bell ringing can
be similar to an
As seminary spreads around the world, a
intricate dance.
worldwide community of seminary students is
developing. No matter where seminary students
live, they memorize the same scripture-mastery
verses, study the same passages of scripture, feel the same Spirit as their testimonies grow, and
work to build the same kingdom.
The blessings they receive are as real today as
they were 60 years ago, and seminary in all its
forms continues to bless the lives of youth all over individual bells into harmony, especially with a
the world. ◼
group this big. Rehearsing can be difficult and
even frustrating, but, like living the gospel, the Bells Choir’s
result is worth the effort.
Testimonies Ring Clear
Trusting the Leader
By Natasia Garrett
During one rehearsal, within only a few mea-
Church Magazines
sures, conductor Tom Waldron stops to coax
more volume from the B notes. He has plenty of
technical experience, both from his 28 years as a
Twenty-eight pairs of eyes focus on the leader.
Muscles tense; fingers flex; attention sharp-
ens. At the signal, the group springs into
high school bell choir director and as the original a well-designed blur of color and sound. Their
conductor of the five-year-old Bells on Temple
work requires total concentration—the uniting of
Square, but he also recognizes the spiritual aspect many minds to a single effort. Their goal is lofty: to of what the bell choir does.
invite the Spirit of the Lord through the use of their Bell ringer Scott Hixson says that rehearsals
talents. For these performers, bells give voice to the led by Brother Waldron are similar to devotionals.
skills they’ve worked hard to develop.
“Tom stops and shares his testimony, he shares
Every Wednesday night, the members of
stories from the scriptures . . . . He really knows the Bells on Temple Square rehearse in the
the mission of this organization.”
Tabernacle on Temple Square. Their music repre-
The ringers respect their conductor and admire
sents a wide range of genres, and all of the pieces him for what he helps them accomplish.
are demanding. The visually thrilling “Holiday for Bell ringer Jennifer Probert says, “We
Strings” requires complex high-speed maneuvers,
rely heavily on following our conductor . . .
while the slower, more contemplative notes of
because the moment that clapper strikes, we
“Amazing Grace” need perfect timing.
get the sound of the bell.” The conductor
There’s a lot of work involved in bringing the
has to coordinate the ringers so that the bells
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
77
N e w s o f t h e C h u r C h
World BriEfs
sound at exactly the right time. The ringers
Elder Perry Creates
First YSA Conference
trust Brother Waldron to let them know what
First Stake in Guam
Held in Cyprus
they need to do.
Elder L. Tom Perry of
A first-ever young sin-
the Quorum of the Twelve
gle adult conference for the
Maintaining Good Relationships
Apostles visited Guam in
Nicosia Cyprus District was
The bell choir has a strong feeling of cama-
December 2010 to create the
held in the Troodos Mountains
raderie. Sister Probert describes the group as
Barrigada Guam Stake, the first on October 16, 2010. Attending a family. In some cases the sentiment is lit-stake in the Territory of Guam. the conference were 20
eral. The bell choir boasts two married cou-
While there, Elder Perry,
young adults and 15 leaders,
ples, an engaged couple (they met in the bell
who served in the United
representing seven different
choir), a set of fraternal twins, and a pair of
States Marine Corps in the
countries. Workshops taught
sisters.
area during World War II, also
tactics for conquering opposi-
The good relationships are necessary because
visited the Pacific War Museum tion, successful job interview the ringers, all volunteers, have a difficult job to and the neighboring island of
techniques, and how to con-
perform. They have to watch their conductor,
Saipan.
quer fear through faith. Other
the music, and their bells at the same time, while There are 1,971 members
activities included games, ser-
switching between bells. The music requires a
of the Church living in Guam.
vice projects, and a devotional
variety of playing techniques, such as plucking or The Territory of Guam is part
and testimony meeting.
malleting.
of the Asia North Area of the
Occasionally the ringers even have to ring a
Church.
Young Men in Bangalore
neighbor’s bell on a difficult part. Trust has to
Commit to Duty to God
exist between the ringers in order for them to
Triple Combinations
More than 30 young men
perform well.
Now Available
from the Bangalore India
Editions of the triple combi-
District gathered in the hills of
Focusing on the Savior
nation in Indonesian and Thai
Kanakapura to learn about the
In spite of the challenges, the ringers are able
are now available for the first
new Duty to God program and
to blend their individual parts into a whole that is time in print and online. New
to learn spiritual lessons from
not only cohesive, but beautiful.
editions of the Book of Mormon challenging physical activities.
Creating this harmony is only one part of the
are also available. The scriptures The young men used a rope bell choir’s purpose, but it is important to achiev-site includes footnotes, maps,
and pulley system to cross a
ing their main purpose—bearing testimony
and photographs, and allows
pond. They went for a morn-
of Jesus Christ and serving Him through their
readers to mark the scriptures
ing run, climbed a mountain,
music.
and perform key word searches. and learned to rappel. The Just as members of the Mormon Tabernacle
The Japanese triple combination activity was concluded with a Choir are set apart as musical missionaries, so are is also now online at scriptures
testimony meeting. ◼
members of the bell choir.
.lds.org. The scriptures site now
Brother Hixson calls performances opportu-
includes 21 languages.
nities to “bear our testimonies through the use of our talents,” explaining that performances are “all about the Savior.” ◼
78 E n s i g n
In Other
Comments
Church Magazines
Remember Single Fathers
As I read the Ensign
recently, I was enjoying
the comments and articles
about marriage and family
t h e n e w e r a
since I am eagerly awaiting
remarriage. That is until I
Mourning
Ballroom Dancing
came across the April 2010
How should a young person treat a
“Dancing Ballroom” on page 24 is
article with helpful hints for
friend who has had a death in the fam-
an uplifting report of a young lady
the single mother.
ily? The article entitled “When I Became
involved in teaching special needs
Single mothers are not the
Invisible,” on page 8 tells of one young
only ones who struggle. As a
teens to ballroom dance with the
girl’s experiences both as the one in need
newly divorced father, I have
help of volunteer dancers. Her con-
many struggles of my own
of comfort when her baby sister dies and cern expanded from her handicapped and I am sure I am not alone
then being in the position to comfort a
twin sisters to those who never had a
as it pertains to active, worthy
friend when her friend loses her mother.
chance to dance.
members of the Church. I was
By Loran Cook
not an abusive husband, and I
did not commit adultery. I am
Plague of Pornography
When I was young my school showed al the was something hidden in the dark You need to students a film titled Say NO to Strangers. In the corners of society. Nowadays, because prepare a film several young children were confronted by of the Internet, it seems that encoun-strangers and had to choose whether they should go with tering pornography is increasingly not battle plan the stranger or not when, for example, a stranger would a mat er of if but when. That is why now to avoid
a loving father who enjoys his
try to lure them away with candy or ice cream. If a child it is important that you decide now
or overcome
gave in, tragedy could result.
to prepare a way to flee from this evil
pornography.
“The Secret Enemy” on page 28
I thought of that movie recently when I read what the stranger.
Lord said through the Prophet Joseph Smith at a confer-Dr. Donald L. Hilton Jr., a specialist in
ence of the Church in 1831: “The enemy in the secret neurological surgery and a Church member, says that even time with his children.
chambers seeketh your lives” (D&C 38:28).
one viewing of pornography can be enough to sow the seeds of a future addiction. Its al ure and the accompanying A Hidden Enemy
act of self-stimulation may not seem horribly bad at first.
Pornography is like that evil stranger, that enemy oper-Excitement, fascination, and gratification al accompany the warns of the addictive nature of
ating in secret chambers. It targets children, teens, and viewing of pornography, and because of that, he warns, you adults—both male and female. Its purveyors often operate may not believe you are addicted until it is too late.
I struggle to find any
in secrecy and seek to deceive us by claiming to offer something normal and pleasurable that doesn’t harm anyone.
There Is Help
Pornography pretends that it is no evil stranger—that If you are tempted to view pornography, there are ways it is not a problem and is not addictive. That is a lie. One to resist. If you have developed a habit of viewing pornog-The enemy Can Be
pornography and the continuing
12-year-old boy recently wrote to the New Era, tel ing of raphy, there is help. Talking with your bishop about these DefeaTeD
his experience viewing pornography when he was alone things may seem scary, uncomfortable, or embarrassing,
“The father of lies and lust . . . wil
answers that will help me in
at home. While initial y it was exciting, he soon felt deep but he, along with your parents and your Heavenly Father, do anything he can to counter-despair. He wrote: “I have been trying my best to forget loves you and wants only the best for you.
feit true love, to profane and
those images. I would like to say to anyone reading the The best way to stay safe is surprisingly simple—talk to desecrate true love wherever and
Friend or New Era that while porn might be pleasurable, it your parents and ask for their help in avoiding pornogra-whenever he encounters it. . . . We
can reject the evil one. If we want
real y wrecks your soul and is hard to recover from.”
phy. Make a plan together so that they can support you.
it dearly and deeply enough, that
problem young people face with the
Pornography is more prevalent today than at any other The best way to escape if you need to repent is also my search to foster a loving
enemy can and wil be rebuked
time. For most people of earlier generations, pornography simple, though it may require courage: go to your bishop by the redeeming power of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, I
promise you that the light of His
everlasting gospel can and wil
again shine brightly where you
feared life had gone hopelessly,
pervasiveness of this modern-day
home with just my kids and
The Secret EnEmyhelplessly dark.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
“Place No More for the Enemy of My
Soul,” Ensign, May 2010, 46.
28 N e w E r a
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
29
plague.
me as wel as attempting to
integrate my future wife into
their lives.
t h e F r I e n D
When a divorce happens it
affects at least two people: the
Absent Parent
husband and wife. If there are
Children everywhere must deal with
Million” on page 7. Then go online to
children, they suffer as wel .
the extended absence of a parent from
friend.lds.org to download the music
The men who go through a
divorce struggle too. We hurt,
time to time, due to responsibilities such and check out the Friend’ s new “One we cry, we long for the days
as military service or business trips. Read in a Million” feature, which allows when the marriage was happy
“Sharing Love with Families Far Away”
children to learn about other Primary
before the divorce became
on page 24 to read about what families
children across the world.
final. We want our kids to be
do to stay close to one
happy. We do our best to meet
another, even when a
all of our financial obligations.
parent is far away.
By Lindsay Stevens
I am an active, temple wor-
ome children have a dad or mom who serves in
the military or has a job that takes them far away.
Ivy J., age 3, takes
A parent may be away from home for months, or even off a link of a
paper chain to
years! These families are experts at staying unifi ed.
count down the
thy, divorced father searching
Some even use a webcam to have family home eve-
days left until her
ning, family scripture study, and family prayer. With a dad comes home.
parent far away, it is more important than ever to remember that families are forever.
desperately for answers, guid-
One in a Million
Erin H., age 3,
e-mails her dad
special messages.
Samuel, Abigail, Madison, and Hailey
ance, and resources to help my
Did you know there
B., ages 9, 7, 7, and 2, sent their dad a
Make Your Own Family Paper Chain
special birthday present. Each family
Even if you don’t have a parent who works far away, you can help member recorded their voices saying,
3. Tape the ends of
your family stay uni� ed. Make your own paper chain to count down
“I love you,” and put the recordings in
one strip together so
to a fun family activity! [PICTURE OF A PIZZA PARTY OR ICE
a stuffed bear dressed like an army sol-
it makes a circle.
CREAM] For each day, tear of one of the paper links and do that family heal. Please be mindful
are about one million
dier. Whenever their dad got lonely, he
could squeeze the bear and know how
service. By the time your family celebrates, you wil already feel closer to much his family loved him!
one another!
1. To make your
Melanie and
chain, cut out some
Tommy P., ages 10
strips of paper.
of the men in the Church who
Primary children spread
and 8, had their
school classes draw
4. Take the second strip and loop it through the fi rst strip.
pictures for their
Kobe T., age 9, talked
Then tape it into a circle.
dad as a Christmas
to his dad over the
surprise. He got
webcam. He and his
more than 100
dad sent each other
need help.
silly things (like funny
across the world? Get
Christmas cards!
wigs) and took pictures
wearing them!
2. On each paper strip, write down something you can do Twins Justin and
for a member of your family.
Dasha P., age 6,
Name withheld
helped bake a cake
Oakley and Mya
5. Repeat until all the
the text and music for
for their dad’s birth-
T., ages 3 and 1,
loops are connected.
day. They showed it
watched videos of
to their dad on the
their dad reading
webcam. He liked it so
books to them every
much he even tried to
night before bed.
blow out the candles!
the song “One in a
24 F r i e n d
ILLUSTRATIONS BY KATIE MCDEE
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
25
F11F24-25.indd 24-25
12/8/10 2:51:53 PM
F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1
79
U n t i l W e m e e t A g A i n
A SeAt At the
Bridegroom’S FeASt
A feeling of relief and happiness washed
By Melissa Merrill
Church Magazines
over me. Whatever anyone else thought, in the
groom’s estimation, I belonged. I smiled as I
mirrored his gesture. I hoped my friend knew
how much I wanted to celebrate and share in his
G
and his wife’s joy. Whatever social awkward-
oing to a wedding reception alone
ness I had felt was gone in that 10-second
isn’t always comfortable. But when an
exchange, and I spent the rest of the evening
old friend invited me to his wedding
infused with confidence.
dinner, I knew I couldn’t miss the opportunity
Days later, in preparing to teach a Relief
to celebrate with him and his new bride.
Society lesson, I studied Matthew 22 and
The day of the wedding, I arrived just
read of a king preparing a marriage feast for
before dinner started. I spotted an empty
his son, who represents the Savior. About
seat and asked one of the women at the
these verses of scripture, the Prophet Joseph
table if it were taken.
Smith taught: “Those who keep the com-
“Are you supposed to be here?” she ques-
mandments of the Lord and walk in His
tioned, eyeing me suspiciously.
statutes to the end, are the only individuals
I had no idea what prompted the question—or
permitted to sit at this glorious feast. . . . Those A feeling of
the manner in which she asked it. There wasn’t
who have kept the faith will be crowned with a
relief and
someone checking a guest list. The seating wasn’t
crown of righteousness; be clothed in white rai-
happiness
prearranged. I was on time and dressed appropri-
ment; be admitted to the marriage feast; be free
washed over
ately. What could be the problem?
from every affliction, and reign with Christ on the I smiled nervously. “I’m a friend of the groom,”
me. Whatever earth.” 1 That promise is powerful anytime, but I assured her. She nodded, so I sat down and tried anyone else
it was especially so because of my experience
to strike up friendly conversation with the six
thought, in
earlier that week.
couples at the table. Whatever discomfort I had
the groom’s
As I taught the lesson, I realized that obedi-
felt before was magnified given the “welcome”
estimation,
ence is the only requirement for accepting an
I’d received. I desperately scanned the room for
I belonged.
invitation from Jesus Christ to rejoice with Him,
someone—anyone—I knew, but aside from the
to have a place at His feast. And that feast is one groom, there wasn’t a familiar face anywhere.
at which guests need never feel insecure because
But then it happened. My friend, seated next
they do belong. Although I am as yet far from to his bride at the front of the crowded hall,
perfect in my obedience, I hope one day to qual-
stood. As he did so, he saw me on the opposite
ify to meet the Bridegroom and with hand over
side of the room. He paused, smiled, and placed
heart—a heart submitted to His will—say, “I’m so
his hand over his heart as if to say, “Thank you
happy to be here.” ◼
Ph by John Luke
for coming. I know you sacrificed to be here. It
Note
means so much that you’re with us.”
1. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 165, 166.
Photogra
80 E n s i g n
W o r d s o f C h r i s t
Children Playing by a Wooden Fence,
by Anne Marie oborn
“And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither
“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which do they spin:
to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not
“And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in
much more clothe you?” (Matthew 6:28–30).
In the parables in Luke 15, the
sheep wanders, the piece of
silver is lost, and the prodigal
son wastes his inheritance. But
the shepherd searches the wil-
derness, the woman sweeps the
house, and the forgiving father
watches for his son’s return. We,
likewise, can heed the call from
President Thomas S. Monson
to “reach out and rescue those
who have fallen by the wayside,
that not one precious soul wil be
lost.” Read four stories of rescue
in “Parables of the Lost and
Found,” page 46.