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Healing through the Atonement of Jesus Christ

Summary: During a meeting with young Church members, a young woman named Carol shared her lifelong struggle with anxiety. Recent seminary lessons on the Atonement helped her feel comfort, knowing Jesus Christ has felt what she feels and that she is not alone. President Oaks affirmed that Christ suffered for pains and anxieties as well as sins.
“During my recent meeting with some young members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a young woman asked for advice about dealing with emotional challenges while being engaged in the Lord’s work.
“I am grateful to my new friend Carol, who shared how her understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ has given her comfort through her anxiety.”
Video:
Carol: “I’ve experienced a lot of anxiety throughout my life. And so I feel like this has been a question that I’ve had on my mind a lot and I’ve struggled with a lot too. But these last few weeks in seminary, we’ve really been focusing on learning about the Atonement. And as I learned about Jesus Christ, and that he suffered every single thing I’ve felt, I felt so much comfort, knowing that any mental instability I may feel, for whatever reason, he’s felt that too. And I was able to find great comfort in that and just knowing that I’m not alone.”
President Oaks: “That’s a wonderful description of a part of the Atonement that many people overlook. He didn’t just suffer for our sins. He suffered for our pains, our inadequacies, including our depressions and anxieties. He’s felt it all.”
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👤 Youth 👤 General Authorities (Modern)
Adversity Atonement of Jesus Christ Mental Health Peace

Sauniatu:Preparing to Go Forth

Summary: After marrying, Puao and Ataliga left Sauniatu to study at BYU–Hawaii, applying leadership and diligence learned at Sauniatu. Despite financial struggles, they experienced small miracles, like finding just enough money in a temple-adjacent pool for laundry.
Puao and Ataliga Ah Hoy met while they were both single teachers at Sauniatu. After they were married, they decided to go to BYU—Hawaii Campus and get additional schooling. Ataliga said she learned about being a good mother and teaching a family from watching the young people work on the various projects.
“I also learned that you need to check after a project is done. If it isn’t right, do it over,” she said.
Her husband, Puao, said that he learned leadership skills, and once he caught the vision of doing the impossible, he felt he could go away for additional schooling so he could become a better teacher. “I learned that sometimes when the work is very hard, if you make a joke and smile, it seems easier.”
Puao and Ataliga struggled at BYU—Hawaii because they didn’t have much money. “We had learned to sacrifice while at Sauniatu, and the Lord blessed us for it. When we needed money to do our washing, we would visit a pool near the temple. Every time we needed a quarter for the washing machine, it was waiting for us in the pool. Sometimes more was there, but we only took enough to do our washing. When we didn’t need money, we never saw money in the pool. This is one way the Lord helped us,” Puao said.
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👤 Young Adults 👤 Church Members (General)
Education Employment Faith Family Miracles Parenting Sacrifice

Your Fascinating History

Summary: Elsie Ann, a six-year-old orphan, lost her parents by age five at Winter Quarters. Left with Peter and Selina Robison, she crossed the plains in 1849, longing for her mother and asking where she was. The narrator reveals that Elsie Ann is his great-grandmother.
Picture with me a little six-year-old orphan girl traveling across the plains of America. Her name is Elsie Ann. Her mother died when she was two. Her father remarried, and so for a time she had a stepmother. Then her father died at Winter Quarters when she was five. Her stepmother remarried and moved away, leaving this little orphan behind with Peter and Selina Robison, who were related to her stepmother. Elsie Ann left Winter Quarters with the Robisons in July of 1849 to come west. She no doubt ached for the love of her own mother. Sometimes she would even ask, “Where is my mother?” Elsie Ann was my great-grandmother.
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👤 Pioneers 👤 Early Saints 👤 Children
Adversity Children Death Family Family History Grief

“You Already Know It Is True”

Summary: A youth completed a goal to read the Book of Mormon and prayed for a witness but initially felt nothing, even after rephrasing the prayer. The following Sunday, she heard a sister share a related experience. She realized that God was answering her through the testimony. This confirmed to her that God cares and answers sincere prayers.
While working on my Personal Progress, I came across a goal that required me to read the Book of Mormon (Virtue value project) and invited me to pray afterward to know if it’s true.
Over several months I read the Book of Mormon. When I finished, I eagerly went to my room, kneeled at my bed, and asked God to let me know if it’s true.
Nothing happened.
I rephrased the question several times and still felt nothing.
The next Sunday during fast and testimony meeting, a sister told a story about when she’d followed Moroni’s invitation to pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true. She didn’t receive an answer, so she prayed again and again. As the days passed, she worried about whether the Church was really true. Finally, she felt the Spirit speak to her mind: “You already know it is true.”
As I listened, I realized that God was answering my prayer through this woman’s testimony.
I learned that day that He does care. I have a testimony now that God answers our prayers, if we pray sincerely, because He answered mine.
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👤 Youth 👤 Church Members (General)
Book of Mormon Fasting and Fast Offerings Holy Ghost Prayer Revelation Testimony Virtue Young Women

President Spencer W. Kimball

Summary: Spencer W. Kimball underwent surgery for cancer that left him with a raspy voice. While being wheeled back from the operation, he rebuked an orderly for profaning the Lord’s name, saying he loved Him more than anything in the world. The orderly responded apologetically, and the story concludes with that exchange.
In the spring of 1950, he began to worry more about an annoying hoarseness. Cancer was diagnosed, and he was operated on. Doctors removed all of one and part of the other vocal cord, which would leave him with a raspy voice.
Under total anesthesia after having been operated on, he was being wheeled back to his room. Still drugged, Spencer sensed his table stop by an elevator and heard the orderly, angry at something, profaning the Lord’s name. Half-conscious, he managed to say, “Please don’t say that. I love Him more than anything in this world.” The orderly answered softly, “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”
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👤 General Authorities (Modern) 👤 Other
Adversity Faith Health Reverence Testimony

Truth Will Prevail

Summary: After submitting mission papers and receiving his call, he went to the temple for his endowment. There he met two former missionaries from his home ward, who revealed they had arranged the “Truth Will Prevail” rocks on a preparation day. They wept together, recognizing this as confirmation that the Lord had answered his earlier prayer.
Trusting the Lord, I turned in my mission papers. On my 21st birthday, along with my birthday post, came my call to serve in the England London South Mission. Due to my years of inactivity, I still felt weak and inadequate. Only later would I understand what that early missionary understood: the Lord may choose the weak things of this world to preach His gospel, but truth will prevail and will prosper.
I went in faith to the temple to be endowed. When I came out of the temple, I met two missionaries who had served in my home ward. As we talked, I described my experience out on the moors. One of the elders smiled broadly and explained that on a particular preparation day, he and his companion had hiked up on the moors and at a certain point felt impressed to place some rocks across the hillside spelling out the familiar phrase “Truth Will Prevail.”
Tears streamed down our faces as we realized what had happened. Those familiar with the area know there are miles and miles of trails amongst the moors. Yet I happened to choose the very spot where the missionaries had placed those rocks. I knew there and then that the Lord had answered my prayer in the hills that day.
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👤 Missionaries 👤 Other
Faith Missionary Work Prayer Revelation Temples Truth

Feedback

Summary: After reading a Missionary Focus article, a missionary recounts choosing to serve despite his father's desire that he finish dental school first. Sixteen months into his mission, his father passed away, but during that time they grew closer and his father learned of the Restoration through letters. He finds comfort in the plan of salvation and looks forward to doing his father's temple work.
As I was reading the April New Era, the Missionary Focus “A Question of Service” caught my eye. My father wanted me to finish my work toward dental school rather than serve a mission. Nevertheless, I too felt the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and I chose to fulfill a mission.
I am grateful for having made that decision, because my father passed away recently when I had been in the mission field for 16 months. During those 16 months we grew closer together, and he gained a knowledge of the restoration of the gospel through my letters. I am grateful for my knowledge of the plan of salvation and await anxiously my opportunity to do his work in the temple. Thanks for the wonderful articles. They make rainy preparation days in Virginia a joy!
Elder Gordon WallinVirginia Roanoke Mission
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👤 Missionaries 👤 Parents
Agency and Accountability Baptisms for the Dead Conversion Death Family Gratitude Grief Holy Ghost Missionary Work Plan of Salvation Revelation Temples Testimony

Jesus Loves Us

Summary: While listening to a hymn at home, a parent reflected on Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and felt the Spirit testify of His love. The parent's two-year-old son, looking at pictures of Jesus, then spontaneously said, “Mommy, Jesus loves you!” The experience affirmed the family's sense that the Savior is present in their lives.
One day I was sitting on the sofa listening to a CD. When the hymn “Teach Me to Walk in the Light” (Hymns, no. 304) came on, I thought about Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for each of us. I remembered His love, humility, and compassion, and I felt my heart fill with gratitude. The Lord’s Spirit testified to me that the Savior loves us.
My two-year-old son was sitting beside me, looking at pictures of Jesus Christ. He must have felt something as well because he looked up at me and said, “Mommy, Jesus loves you!”
Jesus Christ is a part of my and my family’s lives. He is in my thoughts and heart. His gospel has changed my life.
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👤 Jesus Christ 👤 Parents 👤 Children
Atonement of Jesus Christ Children Conversion Family Gratitude Holy Ghost Jesus Christ Love Music Revelation Testimony

Girl’s Best Friend

Summary: Tawnya wanted to compete in the 150-mile Junior Iditarod and requested information. She learned the race was held on Saturday and Sunday, asked organizers to change it, and they declined. After inner struggle, she decided not to participate because it conflicted with her Sabbath observance.
Although Tawnya loves competition, the weight pulls are the only contests Tawnya has entered. What she’d really like to do is enter her team in the 150-mile Junior Iditarod, held each year in Alaska.
“I thought that would be the most awesome thing in the whole world, since I can’t compete in the real Iditarod until I’m 18,” she says. “So I wrote for the information on it, and they sent me a packet. I was so disappointed when I learned it was held over a weekend, on Saturday and Sunday. I asked them if they could change it, but they wouldn’t.
“That was a big hang-up. I wanted to run it so bad. I really had to fight with myself. But I finally got to the point where I realized that this would go against everything I’d ever been taught. It wasn’t worth it.”
So instead of training for the big races, Tawnya is content spending a couple of hours each day after school with her dogs. In the summer, when there’s no snow on the ground and her sled is useless, she hitches the dogs to a three-wheel cart. On Saturdays she cleans the dog runs, but Sundays she reserves for church.
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👤 Youth
Obedience Sabbath Day Sacrifice Young Women

Participatory Journalism:Adventure in Greece

Summary: The narrator recounts how a group of LDS young people on a trip to the Holy Land and Greece showed kindness, service, and maturity in many situations. Even when war broke out in Greece and the group faced delays and hardship, the youth helped others, served in the hotel, and sustained everyone spiritually. The story concludes that these young people demonstrated the influence of the gospel and served as an ensign to the world.
We found Athens hot and humid when our group arrived there. Without air conditioning, the bus trip left us tired and bedraggled. But it didn’t take long before the light-hearted quips and personal concern of the young people had the rest of us forgetting our discomfort. It was Carolyn who decided we needed some singing, and Virnell, Shelley, Bonnie, and Diane soon joined in.
As usual, Melvin was the first to help with the luggage when we reached our hotel, checking the number of pieces and helping the ladies with their heavier bags.
“How do you control them?” the lady had asked.
It was just past noon when we returned from a spectacular tour of the Acropolis and Mars’ hill where Paul preached to the Athenians. The young people had assisted their not-so-young associates along the rugged terrain among the ancient ruins, not only giving their physical strength, but sharing their excitement and wonder as well. When we returned to the hotel, we were stunned by the news that Greece was at war with Turkey. Cyprus had been invaded by Turkish troops. All of the Greek men between the ages of 18 and 45 were to be mobilized within the next few hours. Suddenly the streets were filled with people. Young men carried small tote bags; neighbors gathered for brief farewells; a woman stood in her doorway weeping as she saw the men leave. She told us her children were too young to go, but she had five brothers who would have to fight.
This was not just a disruption of the afternoon-scheduled tour to Corinth. This was not just the temporary inconvenience of having no other bus at our disposal. Greece was at war! Greece’s borders were sealed. Her harbors were closed. Her airports were shut off. No commercial transportation was allowed in or out of the country. With the shortage of help in the hotel, we were informed that we would receive no further clean linen, there would be no room service, and the waiters from the dining room were gone. Making our own beds would be no problem. Hanging our towels to dry was no inconvenience. But what kind of chaos would the dining room be in without anyone there to help?
Dinner time arrived, and we walked into the dining room. To our delight there seemed to be plenty of help. John seated me at our table, and Jerome filled our water glasses. Carolyn was serving the rolls to other hotel guests, while Virnell followed up with butter. Bonnie was laughing and joking with some of the tourists as she and Diane served them cool beverages. Shelly was clearing dirty dishes from the tables and refilling glasses with ice. Melvin did anything that might have been overlooked—clearing tables, bringing a salad where one was forgotten, or resetting tables for the next group. They had not been asked; they had volunteered. For the duration of our stay in Athens, their service made the dinner hour something to look forward to.
With the tension of the war mounting, rumors of a military coup circulated throughout the city. Tanks were brought in, and armed police platoons became numerous on the streets. The U.S. Embassy warned us to remain in our hotel until further notice. Thus confined, we were threatened with boredom. But again our young people came to the rescue; they would have nothing to do with boredom. At our sacrament meetings our priests, Melvin and Jerome, prepared the sacrament and were assisted by John in passing it. Virnell and Carolyn served as chorister and organist. By recalling our experiences of the previous week in the Holy Land, our sacrament hymns were even more meaningful to each of us. We followed the admonition that “the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me.” (D&C 25:12.)
In the days that followed, the strain of being in war-inflicted Greece, our evacuation from Athens, and many long delays between planes were all made lighter by the humorous good nature and thoughtful consideration of the young travelers in our group. The lives of all those who traveled with them were made richer by their influence. Our LDS youth serve as an ensign, proclaiming the spirit of the gospel to all the world.
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👤 Youth 👤 Church Members (General)
Friendship Kindness Music Service Young Women

Living a Christ-Centered Life

Summary: A returning missionary from Mexico confessed he had taught without his own witness and committed to read and pray for an answer. After weeks without a response, he taught Joseph Smith’s First Vision to a large family and felt an overwhelming spiritual confirmation as did the family. The experience transformed his teaching and solidified his conviction.
The importance of this process as a foundation for developing a Christ-centered life was impressed upon me many times when, as a stake president, I interviewed returning missionaries. One interview in particular left an indelible impression on me as a young man shared an experience that had changed his life. This elder had spent two years serving a mission in Mexico. Like many others, his gospel foundation had been somewhat shaky before he entered the missionary training center. But as the interview progressed, I could tell that significant changes had occurred within him.

After a few weeks in the field, this elder had become concerned that he was telling people the Book of Mormon was true and Joseph Smith was a prophet when he didn’t know for himself. How could he assure others when he did not have his own assurance? In discussing the problem with him, his companion challenged him to follow the counsel he was giving investigators: read the Book of Mormon and pray with a sincere heart, with real intent, even if he could only desire to believe.

A month went by and my friend’s feelings did not change. He read parts of the Book of Mormon and prayed daily that he would know the truthfulness of the message, but nothing happened. Two or three more weeks passed. He was obedient in his scripture study, prayers, tracting, and teaching, but he still lacked conviction.

As this missionary and his companion were tracting, they made an appointment to teach a family the next evening. When they arrived home that night, the elder, who, at his companion’s request, had agreed to teach the Joseph Smith story to the new investigators, began reading the Book of Mormon again. He read and prayed and then read some more. He was determined to have an answer before teaching the family. Through most of the night he repeated the pattern of reading and praying. As morning came he was disappointed; no swelling motions, no particular enlightenment or feeling had been received.

He dutifully followed his companion during the day but worried about the evening appointment. When the hour came, they knocked on the door. The husband answered and ushered them into a small home. Sitting on the dirt floor were nine children, and the father joined the mother behind them. Soon it was time for the struggling elder to teach his part of the lesson. He began by describing rather methodically young Joseph’s confusion regarding which church to join and his subsequent prayer on a beautiful spring day in 1820 in a secluded wooded area near his father’s farm.

As the elder reached the point in the story where the Father introduced the Son, saying, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (JS—H 1:17), a warm feeling began to envelop him, starting in the deep recesses of his soul. Within moments, it had filled his entire being, and he began to cry. He dropped his head in embarrassment. Why was he crying? What were these feelings? He had never felt them before. The feelings were sweet and penetrated his very being. As thoughts rushed through his mind, he realized he knew that the Father and the Son had appeared to the boy Joseph, that the Book of Mormon was true, and that the gospel had been restored. Regaining control of his emotions, he looked up at the father and mother. Tears were streaming down their faces! They were feeling the same powerful influence of the Spirit he was feeling. He looked at the children. They, too, had tears in their eyes. The Spirit had borne witness to them of the truthfulness of his words. He continued the story and finished with a humble witness that the Father and the Son had appeared to the boy Joseph.

As this elder concluded telling me his story, he said, “President, I never had a problem teaching people after that. I knew the gospel was true, for I knew the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith. I knew why I was in the mission field.”

As I listened, the Holy Spirit bore witness of the extraordinary missionary the young elder had become. I thought of how efficient Heavenly Father is. The father, the mother, the nine children, and the young missionary were all converted that evening. Twelve were converted that night, whereas only one would have been converted the night before. Moreover, the test required for a witness had been completed. The missionary had been obedient to his companion and to his mission president. He had exerted his desire to believe, and he had acted on that belief. And he now had a more sure hope through the witness of the Spirit!
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👤 Missionaries 👤 Other
Book of Mormon Conversion Faith Holy Ghost Joseph Smith Missionary Work Obedience Prayer Teaching the Gospel Testimony The Restoration

To Higher Heights

Summary: Tom Brown was in line to start at quarterback but chose to serve a mission in Canada instead. After returning, he filled in for an injured starter and led an upset over BYU, helping the team share the 1995 conference title. He affirms that mission lessons outweigh athletic achievements.
Football player Tom Brown was in line to be the starting quarterback, but went to the Canada Winnipeg Mission instead. After returning from the mission field, he filled in when the starter was injured, and led the Falcons to an upset against Brigham Young University, earning a share of the 1995 conference championship.
“Before my mission, I tried to justify all the good I could do as a football star,” Tom says. “But I had always planned on a mission. I finally told [the coach] I’d love to start, but it would have to be when I returned. It’s been good to come back and play again. But no athletic experience could ever overshadow what you learn on a mission.”
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👤 Young Adults 👤 Missionaries
Faith Missionary Work Sacrifice Young Men

Special Helper

Summary: Ramon hopes to be chosen as a classroom helper but is passed over. Despite this, he helps a crying girl pick up crayons and later assists a classmate who drops papers. When a new student arrives, the teacher recognizes Ramon's kindness and asks him to be a special helper to show the newcomer around. Ramon joyfully tells his mother about the special day.
Ramon ran, skipped, and jogged on the way to school. All at once he slowed to a walk.
Today was Monday. New helpers would be chosen in his class at school.
Ramon wanted very much to be a classroom helper. Every changeover day he smiled hopefully at his teacher, Mrs. Martin. Mrs. Martin always smiled back at him, but she had never chosen him to be a classroom helper.
The warning bell was ringing as Ramon hurried into the school building. He had almost reached his classroom when he saw a little girl sitting on the floor, crying as she tried to pick up crayons she had dropped.
Ramon bent down beside her. “I’ll help you.”
Soon all the crayons were picked up, and the little girl hurried on her way.
Mrs. Martin stood at the door of the classroom. Ramon smiled at her. “I’m sorry I’m late,” he said. He sat at his desk and waited for Mrs. Martin to announce this week’s helpers.
She chose Alise to keep the library books put away, Matt to pass out the seatwork, Maria to take care of the art supplies, and Robert to feed the fish.
Ramon was sad that he was not chosen for any of the jobs. He took his pencil out of his desk and got ready to start work. Just then Matt, who was passing out the seatwork pages, dropped the whole pile.
Ramon jumped up. He helped Matt pick up the papers. Matt didn’t say thank you, but Ramon smiled at him anyway.
The classroom door opened, and the principal walked in. With him was a boy Ramon had never seen before. Mrs. Martin spoke to them for a moment.
When the principal left, Mrs. Martin said, “Class, this is Steven, who will now be in our class. I want you to welcome him.”
Then Mrs. Martin said, “Ramon, you are always friendly and smiling and helpful. Will you be my very special helper today and show Steven all around our school? He needs to know where the gym, the cafeteria, and the washrooms are.”
Ramon smiled at his teacher and nodded. He smiled at Steven too.
On the way home from school that day, Ramon ran and skipped and jogged. He was too happy to walk.
“This was a very special day,” he told his mother, “because I got to be a very special helper.”
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👤 Children 👤 Parents 👤 Other
Children Friendship Happiness Kindness Service

A Dream Comes True

Summary: Hans debates the missionaries and rejects the Book of Mormon, even calling it a fake. Encouraged by the missionaries to follow Moroni’s admonition, he prays and receives a powerful spiritual witness that the Book of Mormon and the Church are true. His wife continues seeking and soon receives her own witness, and they set a baptismal date.
A few days later, I opened the door to see two fine-looking young men. They introduced themselves as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the conversation that followed, they asked, “Do you believe that the church of Jesus Christ is on the earth today?” My wife and I had already considered this question while studying the Bible. We concluded that if there were a true church, it would have to have all the doctrines Jesus taught. The churches we knew, including our own, were not complete. “If it exists,” I said, “it must have all the things Jesus taught. But it does not exist.”
The missionaries said that the church they represented was organized in the same way as the church at Christ’s time. They added that this church had continuing revelation from Jesus Christ.
I felt sorry for them; they had been so misled. I told them, “I’m sure that just as our church has errors in its doctrine, so does yours. Someone has added, changed, or taken something away.” Again they testified that their church was Christ’s own church, organized with his authority and directed by him.
Soon after, I told my mother about the missionaries. She smiled and went into her bedroom, then returned with a copy of the Book of Mormon. She told me I could have it.
I began reading the Book of Mormon with a curious, but negative attitude. As I read the first page, I thought angrily, this was written by a man with a vivid imagination who knew the Bible well. I read two more pages, slammed the book shut, threw it on the table, and exclaimed, “What a fake!” During the missionaries’ next visit, I told them that I thought the Book of Mormon was a hoax. It was like the Bible, I said, except it referred to the American continent. But, undeterred, the missionaries easily handled the questions my wife and I had then, and in subsequent visits. I could find nothing wrong with what they taught us, but I could not accept the Book of Mormon.
However, the missionaries testified that I could know that the Book of Mormon was true if I followed the admonition of Moroni and sincerely sought for divine guidance. (See Moro. 10:4.) Having prayed, and while reading the words of Moroni, I received a spiritual witness that I have never been able to describe. A realization that the Book of Mormon and the Church were true penetrated every fiber of my being. Happily I exclaimed to my wife, “Margrit, Margrit, I know that it is true!”
Margrit continued to seek her own witness, and within a few weeks she also knew the truth. We set our baptismal date.
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👤 Missionaries 👤 Parents
Baptism Book of Mormon Conversion Holy Ghost Missionary Work Prayer Revelation Scriptures Testimony The Restoration

A Special Friends Party

Summary: Marcia delivers invitations to several friends for a 'special friends' party, keeping the guest list a secret. She visits Lora, Barbara, Mary, Susan, and Connie, with her mother driving for the farther deliveries. On the day of the party, after everyone arrives, Marcia explains that her idea came from a family home evening lesson about every friend being special, and she thanks them for their friendship.
As Marcia finished making the last invitation she said “There now, this party’s going to be lots of fun. It’s always good to be with special friends.”
The first two invitations were easy for Marcia to deliver. They went to Lora and Barbara who lived just down the street. Lora lived in a big white house.
“Hi, Marcia,” she said happily, opening the door. “I’m making cookies. Come in and help me.”
“Thank you, Lora,” replied Marcia, “but I can’t today. I came to bring you an invitation to a party.”
Lora’s eyes sparkled as she read the invitation. “Who are your special friends?” she asked.
“That’s a secret,” replied Marcia. “You’ll have to come to the party and find out.” She smiled and waved good-bye to Lora, then ran down the steps on her way to Barbara’s home.
“Hello, Marcia,” Barbara’s mother said as she opened the door. “Come in. Barbara’s out in back playing with the kittens.”
Marcia went through the kitchen to the back door “Hi, Barbara,” she called. “I have something for you!” A small gray kitten brushed against Marcia’s leg and she stooped down to cuddle it while Barbara opened her invitation.
“This sounds like fun,” Barbara said. “Who are your special friends, anyway?”
“Come to my party and you’ll find out,” Marcia said with a smile. This party is beginning to be fun already, she thought.
Marcia’s mother took her in the car to deliver the rest of the invitations. First they went to see Mary, who lived on the other side of Marcia’s school.
Marcia and Mary were not in the same class at school but they were good friends.
“Hi, Mary,” Marcia said when her friend opened the front door. “Will you come to a party at my house?”
“I’d love to,” Mary answered, her eyes shining in anticipation.
Mary’s mother came into the room and thanked Marcia and her mother for bringing the invitation. “Who are your special friends, Marcia?” she asked.
“That’s a secret,” Marcia answered with a smile. “Mary will find out at the party.”
Marcia’s cousin Susan lived on the other side of town. Susan was younger than Marcia but the girls always had fun when their families got together. Susan was delighted with her invitation. “Will all of your special friends be there?” she asked.
“Most of them,” answered Marcia.
The last invitation was for Connie. Connie didn’t go to the same school as Marcia, but they usually saw each other at Sunday School and sacrament meetings.
“A special friends party,” Connie repeated after she read her invitation. “This sounds like fun, Marcia. I can’t wait till Saturday.”
“You’ll have to, though,” laughed Marcia. “I’ll see you then.”
As Marcia and her mother drove back home, Marcia said excitedly, “I don’t know if I can wait until Saturday, either.”
Mary was the first one to ring the doorbell on Saturday afternoon for the party. Soon the other girls arrived and after she introduced them to each other, Marcia said, “I’m so glad you’re all here. At our last family home evening Dad explained that every friend is special in some way, so I decided to have a special friends party. I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for being my friends.”
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👤 Children 👤 Parents 👤 Church Members (General)
Children Family Family Home Evening Friendship Gratitude

FYI:For Your Information

Summary: Eight young men faced a scheduling conflict: the school weight room was only open during early-morning seminary. Their bishop offered an old barn if they were willing to renovate it. With volunteer help and materials, they transformed the barn into a weight room open to other students, allowing them to keep attending seminary and still work out.
Eight young men in the Hamilton Ward, Stevensville Montana Stake, resolved a dilemma through their own initiative. The weight room at the high school was only open from 7:00 to 8:00 A.M., the time they were in seminary each morning. The bishop of their ward, Robert W. Wischmeier, offered the priests of his quorum the use of an old barn if they wanted to renovate it. “It was a mess back there,” the bishop reported.
The young men jumped at the chance. With volunteer labor and materials from people and businesses in the area, the barn was eventually converted into a weight room and opened for use to other high school students. And the young men can still attend seminary without missing their workouts.
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👤 Youth 👤 Church Leaders (Local)
Bishop Education Priesthood Self-Reliance Service Young Men

Keeping the Covenants We Make at Baptism

Summary: An eleven-year-old girl in England was assigned to read at a school devotional but found a paragraph that conflicted with her beliefs. She and her mother wrote to the teacher requesting to omit it. The teacher agreed, asked for more information about the Church, and invited Lisa to present an assembly about it.
You will find examples of them around the world—like Lisa. Lisa, age eleven, lives in England. She came home from school one day feeling very excited. She had been asked to read a part in the school devotional assembly the following morning. She said to her mother, “But some of the words are wrong.” Her mother discovered that one paragraph referred to God and the Holy Ghost as being one and the same person. Lisa and her mother decided to write a letter to Lisa’s teacher explaining that this paragraph was contrary to Lisa’s belief, and that she would feel much happier leaving it out.
The next afternoon her mother waited anxiously for Lisa to return home from school. She came home with a big, bright smile on her face. Not only had the teacher let her leave the paragraph out, but she had asked for more information about the Church. In addition, the teacher asked Lisa to present an assembly about the Church. All this came about because Lisa lived up to the covenant she had made and was willing to witness to the world her own beliefs.
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👤 Children 👤 Parents 👤 Other
Children Courage Covenant Faith Missionary Work Religious Freedom Teaching the Gospel Testimony

Listening to the Lord

Summary: As a high school pitcher, Robert Hales lost three games in a row and wanted to quit. His coach counseled him to stop wearing out his arm by showing off before games. Robert listened, and in the next game the other team did not score. He learned that listening to Heavenly Father is like listening to wise counsel.
As a boy Elder Hales loved baseball. In high school he became the pitcher for the school’s baseball team. Once he lost three games in a row, one to nothing. One of the games was a no-hitter. The school newspaper had an article called “Hard-Luck Hales Loses Again.”
Robert told his coach he was going to quit. His coach told him that he just needed to stop wearing out his arm. He was pitching fastballs before the games to show off. Robert listened. The next game he pitched so well that the other team never scored a single run. Because he listened to his coach, he was able to play better. Robert learned that listening to Heavenly Father is like that too. When we listen to Heavenly Father, we can do well.
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👤 General Authorities (Modern) 👤 Youth 👤 Other
Apostle Obedience Revelation Young Men

Temple Blessings Now and Eternally

Summary: The narrator describes how, from childhood, she longed for temple blessings and later experienced her family being sealed in the temple, her own endowment and sealing to her husband, and the covenant blessing of their son who later died. After adopting two children and sealing them to their family in the temple, she came to understand more fully that the temple brings eternal blessings throughout mortality and beyond. She concludes with gratitude for the temple’s peace, comfort, and eternal promises.
I remember seeing pictures of the temple from the time I was very small. Though too young to understand the blessings of the temple, I knew I wanted to go there someday. In Young Women, I started to understand the blessings that would come from the temple. At that time my family was less active, and I prayed each day that we could be sealed as an eternal family.
In the fall of 1993, two weeks before I turned 18, my family did go to the temple. I remember the feeling I had in the Provo Utah Temple, becoming an eternal family with my parents and siblings. As I left the temple that day, I thought I understood the blessings it brought me.
Two years later, in the summer of 1995, I was engaged to be married, so I went to the temple to receive my own endowment. How wonderful to receive another blessing of the temple! Three days after receiving my endowment, I was sealed to my husband for time and all eternity in the Manti Utah Temple. I realized another blessing that I had not previously experienced—my husband and I could be an eternal family. Again I thought I had experienced all the blessings of the temple.
Six years into marriage, we found that we were expanding our family. We were so excited to raise our son and teach him the gospel. But 24 weeks into the pregnancy, our little boy was born fighting for life. After just eight weeks he returned to Heavenly Father. As I held him for the last time, I recognized yet another wonderful blessing of the temple: our son had been born in the covenant and could be ours forever.
Eighteen months after the passing of our son, we received a phone call from LDS Family Services saying that a young woman had chosen to place her baby with us. Knowing that we could not have more biological children, we could not have been more excited.
When our little girl was six months old, we finalized her adoption and took her to the temple to be sealed to us. Four years after our little girl became part of our family, another young woman chose us to be the parents of a sweet little boy. Again we had the blessing of taking a six-month-old to the temple. I will never forget how I felt when I saw my children, all in white, in the temple with my husband and me to be sealed to us for eternity.
I now realize that I did not understand all the blessings the temple could bring when I was in Young Women or when I was sealed to my husband or even when our son passed away. And even though I recognize many more blessings than I have in years past, I now understand that the temple is a place of eternal blessings, blessings that will come to us in this life and in eternity. Some we may realize easily today, and others will teach us, strengthen our testimonies, and help us someday to reach our eternal home.
The temple is a place of peace and comfort, joy and newness. I am more grateful than ever for the temple and pray that as I return there, I can continue to learn and appreciate the blessings of the temple.
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👤 Young Adults 👤 Other
Covenant Family Marriage Ordinances Sealing Temples

“Charity Doth Not Behave Itself Unseemly”

Summary: A young woman was counseled in her patriarchal blessing that people would judge the Church by her example, and as she traveled and worked she found many chances to discuss the Church with nonmembers. Another recent convert was influenced by a sister’s counsel about dressing for the temple, so she changed her clothing choices to match Church standards. By the time she received her endowment, her wardrobe was already modest and appropriate.
We all have opportunities to proclaim the gospel by being good examples in our homes, at work, at school, and in our communities. One young woman’s patriarchal blessing said that wherever she traveled, people would judge the Church by her example. Since then, she has traveled a great deal—in a college performing group, and later in her employment. She has remembered that counsel and has had many opportunities to discuss the Church with nonmembers.
Another sister, a recent convert, was startled one Sunday when a sister in her ward spoke about dressing with the intention to someday go to the temple and receive one’s endowment. “That sister’s counsel made a strong impression on me,” she says. “As I thought about it, I felt a desire to find out just how I should dress if I had been to the temple.” She later discarded her revealing or inappropriate clothing, and she made future purchases with Church standards in mind. Two years later, when she received her endowment, her wardrobe did not need to be changed; it was both modest and attractive.
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👤 Young Adults 👤 Church Members (General) 👤 Other
Employment Missionary Work Patriarchal Blessings