We’re Sam and Anastasia, and we try to SHINE OUR LIGHT by sharing with others!
Where we live, in Florida, USA, we see lots of people who are homeless. We wondered how we could help them. Jesus fed people who were hungry, and everyone needs to eat! So we decided to make emergency snack kits.
Our friend Joa helped us shop for supplies at the dollar store.
We put granola bars, bread sticks with cheese, and other yummy snacks in our kits. Sam even tried one!
Sharing our kits made us smile. Some people said, “Thank you!” and “Awesome!”
Our mom put our project on a website from the Church called JustServe.org so other people could make snack kits too. The young adult branch made 100 more snack kits for our local homeless shelter. The shelter used them to invite people to sign up for a program to help them get homes. That made us really happy!
Sharing Snacks and Smiles
Sam and Anastasia noticed many homeless people in Florida and decided to help by making emergency snack kits. Their friend Joa helped them buy supplies, and they shared the kits with gratitude from recipients. Their mom posted the project on JustServe, inspiring the young adult branch to make 100 more kits for a local shelter, which used the kits to invite people to a housing program. The experience made Sam and Anastasia very happy.
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👤 Children
👤 Friends
👤 Parents
👤 Young Adults
👤 Church Members (General)
👤 Other
Charity
Children
Jesus Christ
Kindness
Ministering
Service
Because of the Restoration …
A young woman wonders how the Restoration affects her daily life and recounts an average week. She receives a priesthood blessing, prays and studies scriptures, goes to the temple for the first time, strives to live gospel standards, spends time with faithful friends, and reflects on her missionary brother. The week culminates in renewing covenants through the sacrament and expressing her testimony of restored truths.
One day I began wondering how the Restoration affects my everyday life. Here’s what the Restoration did for me in just one average week.
Last Sunday my dad gave me a priesthood blessing. Because of the Restoration, I know he has been given the authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ. My dad can bless me whenever I am sick or need extra help.
On Monday I woke up for school and said my prayers. Because of the Restoration, I knew I was praying to a loving Heavenly Father and that I am His daughter, created in His image. I also read from the Book of Mormon. Because of the Restoration, I have another witness that Jesus Christ really lived. That night we had family home evening. Because of the Restoration, I am blessed with loving parents who teach me the truth.
On Tuesday I went to the temple my first time and performed baptisms for the dead. Because of the Restoration, I was able to help those who have died without the gospel to have eternal blessings.
On Wednesday I went to my closet and picked out something modest to wear. Because of the Restoration, I know that my body is sacred and that I need to be a good example to those who see me. I also have the guidance of living prophets and apostles, who have given me For the Strength of Youth, which contains guidelines to help me make righteous choices.
On Thursday I tried my best to live the gospel. Because of the Restoration, I have the gift of the Holy Ghost as my companion to help me always. I also have a bishop and Young Women leaders to watch over me as special advisers. And because of the Restoration, I know about the Atonement so that when I make a mistake I can repent and be forgiven.
On Friday I enjoyed being with my friends. Because of the Restoration, I have friends who also want to live the gospel. These good friends are a big blessing in my life. I also have opportunities to share the gospel with my friends who are not members of the Church.
On Saturday I thought about my brother, Tyler, who is serving a mission in Brazil. I miss him very much, but because of the Restoration, I know what he is doing is right. I want to go on a mission someday too.
Today is Sunday again. Because of the Restoration, I took the sacrament and renewed my promises to follow Jesus Christ. I was reminded that I am a daughter of God and that His plan has been restored so I can one day return home to Him.
Because of the Restoration, I know the scriptures are true. I know that this is the restored Church of Jesus Christ. I know that living prophets are guiding us today. I know that through restored temple ordinances my family can be together forever.
Because of the Restoration, we are blessed every day of the week—and every day of our lives.
Last Sunday my dad gave me a priesthood blessing. Because of the Restoration, I know he has been given the authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ. My dad can bless me whenever I am sick or need extra help.
On Monday I woke up for school and said my prayers. Because of the Restoration, I knew I was praying to a loving Heavenly Father and that I am His daughter, created in His image. I also read from the Book of Mormon. Because of the Restoration, I have another witness that Jesus Christ really lived. That night we had family home evening. Because of the Restoration, I am blessed with loving parents who teach me the truth.
On Tuesday I went to the temple my first time and performed baptisms for the dead. Because of the Restoration, I was able to help those who have died without the gospel to have eternal blessings.
On Wednesday I went to my closet and picked out something modest to wear. Because of the Restoration, I know that my body is sacred and that I need to be a good example to those who see me. I also have the guidance of living prophets and apostles, who have given me For the Strength of Youth, which contains guidelines to help me make righteous choices.
On Thursday I tried my best to live the gospel. Because of the Restoration, I have the gift of the Holy Ghost as my companion to help me always. I also have a bishop and Young Women leaders to watch over me as special advisers. And because of the Restoration, I know about the Atonement so that when I make a mistake I can repent and be forgiven.
On Friday I enjoyed being with my friends. Because of the Restoration, I have friends who also want to live the gospel. These good friends are a big blessing in my life. I also have opportunities to share the gospel with my friends who are not members of the Church.
On Saturday I thought about my brother, Tyler, who is serving a mission in Brazil. I miss him very much, but because of the Restoration, I know what he is doing is right. I want to go on a mission someday too.
Today is Sunday again. Because of the Restoration, I took the sacrament and renewed my promises to follow Jesus Christ. I was reminded that I am a daughter of God and that His plan has been restored so I can one day return home to Him.
Because of the Restoration, I know the scriptures are true. I know that this is the restored Church of Jesus Christ. I know that living prophets are guiding us today. I know that through restored temple ordinances my family can be together forever.
Because of the Restoration, we are blessed every day of the week—and every day of our lives.
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👤 Youth
👤 Parents
👤 Missionaries
👤 Friends
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
Apostle
Atonement of Jesus Christ
Baptisms for the Dead
Bishop
Book of Mormon
Chastity
Covenant
Family
Family Home Evening
Friendship
Holy Ghost
Missionary Work
Plan of Salvation
Prayer
Priesthood
Priesthood Blessing
Repentance
Sabbath Day
Sacrament
Scriptures
Sealing
Temples
Testimony
The Restoration
Young Women
Meet Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
As a youth, he was determined to keep his curfew. One night he ran all the way across town so he could arrive home before 10:00 p.m.
He was very obedient growing up. One night he ran all the way across town to get home before his 10:00 p.m. curfew.
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👤 General Authorities (Modern)
👤 Youth
Children
Obedience
The Business of Honesty
A trusted professional concealed a company’s poor financial health to keep it as a client. For six years he accepted bribes and lied to investors. When the truth emerged, the company failed, investors lost vast sums, and he went to prison.
People sometimes yield to temptation when a situation arises that makes it possible for them to make money easily. The opportunity clouds their ethical judgment. One man, for example, held a position of trust in which thousands of investors relied on his assertions about the financial stability of a particular company. Had he told the truth about the company’s poor financial health, he would have lost the company as a client. For six years he lied, accepting bribes from the client in exchange for his silence. Eventually, the truth became known, the company collapsed, investors lost hundreds of millions of dollars, and this man went to prison.
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👤 Other
Agency and Accountability
Employment
Honesty
Sin
Stewardship
Temptation
“But Be Ye Doers of the Word”
A mother read her sixth-grade daughter's assigned book and found it filled with profanity and disrespect. After meeting with the principal, she read the whole series, wrote a detailed objection, and the assistant superintendent removed the books from the district's curriculum. School officials acknowledged the oversight and resolved to improve their review process.
I received a most interesting letter from a mother a few months ago reporting to me her service hours to her community as a Bicentennial commitment. A portion of her letter read as follows: “I went to a P.T.A. meeting at the beginning of the school year and learned that my sixth-grade daughter was assigned to read a certain book in school. I felt impressed that I should read it to see if it was desirable for children. As I read it, I found it highly undesirable for sixth-graders. It contained profanity, violence, disrespect for adults, especially parents, and was generally gloomy and depressing, with nothing of love and beauty and goodness. I discussed the book with the principal of the school and told him of my concerns. He suggested that I read the whole series of books before condemning them, and if I still felt the same way I could write my objections in a letter and give them to him, giving specific examples of objectionable materials.
“I complied with his suggestion and continued to read the other books and found them also unfit for our children. I felt compelled to write my letter even before I had finished the last in the series.
“I was gratified to receive a call later from the assistant superintendent of this school district, asking me to come to his office. He told me it was not their policy to have books in their basic reading curriculum with profanity in them and that they would immediately remove those books from their school district. He said they were highly embarrassed that someone should have to point out to them the objectionable nature of the books, and that they would see that those persons responsible for reviewing the books in the future did a more thorough job.”
“I complied with his suggestion and continued to read the other books and found them also unfit for our children. I felt compelled to write my letter even before I had finished the last in the series.
“I was gratified to receive a call later from the assistant superintendent of this school district, asking me to come to his office. He told me it was not their policy to have books in their basic reading curriculum with profanity in them and that they would immediately remove those books from their school district. He said they were highly embarrassed that someone should have to point out to them the objectionable nature of the books, and that they would see that those persons responsible for reviewing the books in the future did a more thorough job.”
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👤 General Authorities (Modern)
👤 Parents
👤 Children
👤 Other
Children
Education
Holy Ghost
Parenting
Service
15,100 and Beyond
A child turned eight, learned indexing with help from parents and set a goal to become a family history reviewer by indexing 1,000 records. When feeling overwhelmed, they followed parents’ counsel to do three records a day and prayed for help. After a year, they surpassed 1,000 records and received reviewer status, later continuing to help at the Trujillo Peru Temple and reaching 15,100 indexed records by age ten.
When I turned eight, I was finally old enough to have my own FamilySearch account! At first I was nervous, but my parents and siblings taught me how to index and create my family tree so I could help my ancestors. After that, I no longer felt nervous. I felt supported and prepared.
Then I felt the desire to become a family history reviewer like my parents and siblings. I chose that to be one of my goals for the Children and Youth program. To reach this goal, I had to index 1,000 records.
Sometimes I felt overwhelmed. But my parents reminded me that I wouldn’t do it all in one day. Instead, I should focus on doing just three records a day, and before a year I would meet my goal. They said if I had a hard time understanding the images, they would help me.
I prayed to Heavenly Father so that He could help me meet my goal. I felt much better after my prayer.
I didn’t give up and continued to index day after day. After a year, before I turned nine, I had already indexed over 1,000 records and had been given the reviewer status. I was very excited!
Now I always go with my parents to the Trujillo Peru Temple. I help print the ordinance cards, cut them out, and give them to each family member so they can perform the ordinances while I wait in the temple gardens. Soon I will be able to go inside to do baptisms.
I am 10 years old now and already have 15,100 records indexed! I am very happy and excited to continue to reach my goals to be more like Jesus Christ.
Then I felt the desire to become a family history reviewer like my parents and siblings. I chose that to be one of my goals for the Children and Youth program. To reach this goal, I had to index 1,000 records.
Sometimes I felt overwhelmed. But my parents reminded me that I wouldn’t do it all in one day. Instead, I should focus on doing just three records a day, and before a year I would meet my goal. They said if I had a hard time understanding the images, they would help me.
I prayed to Heavenly Father so that He could help me meet my goal. I felt much better after my prayer.
I didn’t give up and continued to index day after day. After a year, before I turned nine, I had already indexed over 1,000 records and had been given the reviewer status. I was very excited!
Now I always go with my parents to the Trujillo Peru Temple. I help print the ordinance cards, cut them out, and give them to each family member so they can perform the ordinances while I wait in the temple gardens. Soon I will be able to go inside to do baptisms.
I am 10 years old now and already have 15,100 records indexed! I am very happy and excited to continue to reach my goals to be more like Jesus Christ.
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👤 Children
👤 Parents
Baptisms for the Dead
Children
Family History
Prayer
Temples
Thoughts That Need Thinking
The speaker knew a University of Utah student, Kathy McKay, who lived by teachings from her parents about daily actions determining eternal outcomes. Her example inspired an out-of-state athlete to become interested in the gospel simply by observing her purity. Kathy understood that who she would become depended on who she was becoming each day.
At the University of Utah I knew a young woman, Kathy McKay, a wonderful musician, who was taught by her parents that her eternal position was being determined by her daily actions. She was an example to everyone who knew her. One athlete from another state became interested in the gospel of Jesus Christ just by watching her and recognizing her purity. She knew that the person she was to become she was then becoming.
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👤 Young Adults
👤 Parents
👤 Other
👤 Church Members (General)
Agency and Accountability
Chastity
Conversion
Missionary Work
Music
Parenting
Virtue
The Family Proclamation—Words from God
The speaker once made an important decision without consulting his wife, which placed her in a difficult situation. She firmly asked him not to do that again. Since then, they have largely been united and on the same page as equal partners.
Let me share a personal story.
My wife and I learned to work better at being equal partners after one day when I decided to make an important decision without consulting her. My action surprised her, took her off guard, and put her in a very difficult situation. Afterward, she put her hands on my shoulders and firmly said, “Ron, please, never do that to me again.” We have pretty much been on the same page ever since.
My wife and I learned to work better at being equal partners after one day when I decided to make an important decision without consulting her. My action surprised her, took her off guard, and put her in a very difficult situation. Afterward, she put her hands on my shoulders and firmly said, “Ron, please, never do that to me again.” We have pretty much been on the same page ever since.
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👤 Parents
👤 General Authorities (Modern)
Agency and Accountability
Family
Marriage
Unity
Beginning with Joshua
Joshua telephones Paul on a Sunday when Paul has skipped church. Despite Paul's reluctance, Joshua kindly persists and offers help. Paul decides to come on his bike and attend teachers quorum.
“Hey, Paul,” Joshua’s sunny voice came over the telephone. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
Joshua paused. “Why aren’t you at church? Is something wrong?”
“No. I didn’t feel like getting up.”
“Well, do you want to come? My parents could come get you.”
There was a determined edge to Paul’s voice. “I’ve already missed sacrament meeting and part of Sunday School. I just need some time to relax, and it doesn’t really matter to anyone if I come or not. Maybe I’ll come some other time.”
“You could still come to teachers quorum today,” Joshua persisted. “Hey, we want you here. What’s the deal?”
“My mother says I’m old enough that if I don’t want to go to church I don’t have to.”
“So what do you do instead?”
“I don’t know. Watch TV, stuff like that. Sleep.” Paul laughed apologetically.
“Brother Powell says to tell you we’re going to have a really good lesson.”
“Oh. Did he make you call me?”
“No, no, I told him I was going to call you.”
Paul was quiet. “Why did you call me?” he asked finally.
“Well, ’cause I worry about you when you’re not at church. I wonder if you’re okay. You used to come all the time, till a couple of weeks ago.” His voice trailed off. “It’ll be a really cool lesson. I saw all this stuff that Brother Powell’s gonna show us. Want me to send someone to come get you?”
“Oh, I can just come on my bike, I guess.”
“You sure?”
“Sure.”
“Okay, see you in a few minutes.”
“Nothing.”
Joshua paused. “Why aren’t you at church? Is something wrong?”
“No. I didn’t feel like getting up.”
“Well, do you want to come? My parents could come get you.”
There was a determined edge to Paul’s voice. “I’ve already missed sacrament meeting and part of Sunday School. I just need some time to relax, and it doesn’t really matter to anyone if I come or not. Maybe I’ll come some other time.”
“You could still come to teachers quorum today,” Joshua persisted. “Hey, we want you here. What’s the deal?”
“My mother says I’m old enough that if I don’t want to go to church I don’t have to.”
“So what do you do instead?”
“I don’t know. Watch TV, stuff like that. Sleep.” Paul laughed apologetically.
“Brother Powell says to tell you we’re going to have a really good lesson.”
“Oh. Did he make you call me?”
“No, no, I told him I was going to call you.”
Paul was quiet. “Why did you call me?” he asked finally.
“Well, ’cause I worry about you when you’re not at church. I wonder if you’re okay. You used to come all the time, till a couple of weeks ago.” His voice trailed off. “It’ll be a really cool lesson. I saw all this stuff that Brother Powell’s gonna show us. Want me to send someone to come get you?”
“Oh, I can just come on my bike, I guess.”
“You sure?”
“Sure.”
“Okay, see you in a few minutes.”
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👤 Youth
👤 Friends
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
Agency and Accountability
Friendship
Ministering
Movies and Television
Priesthood
Sabbath Day
Sacrament Meeting
Young Men
A Sincere Heart and Real Intent
As a college student, the author sought guidance about serving a mission and expected direction from his patriarchal blessing, which did not mention a mission. While driving home, he stopped to pray in a grove of trees and received a clear impression that he already knew he should go. He soon served in Guatemala and El Salvador, where he learned consecration and found preparation for the rest of his life, later returning to Guatemala in Church service.
I started college at the University of Texas in Austin and began to contemplate serving a full-time mission. This became another test of how well I could couple a sincere heart with real intent. I was definitely curious to know the Lord’s will about my missionary service. But as I had learned while investigating the Church, curiosity alone is not sufficient. I was convinced that the answer to my question about serving a mission would be revealed in my patriarchal blessing, so I traveled to San Antonio, where the patriarch pronounced my blessing. There was, however, no mention of a mission. Driving home, I reasoned that maybe the Lord didn’t want me to serve. But then I felt impressed to pull off the road. I walked over to a grove of trees and knelt down. As soon as I commenced my prayer, the words that came into my mind were very clear: “I didn’t have to tell you to go. You already know you’re supposed to go.”
I’d been a member only about a year and 10 months when I went into the mission field in Guatemala and El Salvador. It was there that I learned what it meant to consecrate my life to do what the Lord wanted me to do. My mission was my preparation for the rest of my life. Had I not gone on a mission and learned what I did there, I might never have had the opportunities that I have today. Today I am living in Guatemala again, where I serve in the Central America Area Presidency. I love being back among the people who meant so much to me in the development of my own testimony.
I’d been a member only about a year and 10 months when I went into the mission field in Guatemala and El Salvador. It was there that I learned what it meant to consecrate my life to do what the Lord wanted me to do. My mission was my preparation for the rest of my life. Had I not gone on a mission and learned what I did there, I might never have had the opportunities that I have today. Today I am living in Guatemala again, where I serve in the Central America Area Presidency. I love being back among the people who meant so much to me in the development of my own testimony.
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👤 Young Adults
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Missionaries
👤 Church Members (General)
Consecration
Faith
Missionary Work
Patriarchal Blessings
Prayer
Revelation
Testimony
Elder Per G. Malm
Elder Malm recalls learning crucial life lessons from his parents, highlighted by his father's testimony shortly before his death at age 48 to 'Stay true to the gospel.' He explains that this taught them the gospel provides solutions to what matters most.
Elder Malm was born in September 1948 in Jönköping, Sweden, to Karl Gösta Ivar and Karin Anna-Greta Malm. He learned many of life’s most important lessons from his parents, punctuated by the testimony his father bore before passing away at age 48: “Stay true to the gospel.”
“He was teaching us that in the gospel we will find solutions to the things that matter most,” Elder Malm says.
“He was teaching us that in the gospel we will find solutions to the things that matter most,” Elder Malm says.
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👤 General Authorities (Modern)
👤 Parents
Death
Faith
Family
Parenting
Testimony
Preparing for a Mission
In high school, he worked to fund his mission because his parents were poor. After paying tithing, he bought one mission item each month and, over three years, saved enough to purchase everything and pay for the mission. He learned principles of saving and the blessings of tithing.
When I was going to high school, I worked to save money for my mission. My parents were poor and couldn’t afford to pay for everything. I didn’t earn a lot of money, but after paying tithing, I decided to buy one piece of clothing per month for my mission. One month I bought a shirt, another month a tie, another month another shirt. During those three years, I saved enough to buy everything I needed. I saved enough to pay for my mission. I learned the principle of saving. I learned the principle of being obedient to the law of tithing and how many blessings we receive when we pay tithing.
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👤 Youth
👤 Parents
Missionary Work
Obedience
Self-Reliance
Tithing
Of All Things
Youth in the Westminster Third Ward donated half of their youth conference funds to the Perpetual Education Fund. They presented their check to Elder John K. Carmack, who oversees the fund. Their action exemplified responding to President Hinckley’s call to help members become self-reliant.
The youth of the Westminster Third Ward (Huntington Beach California North Stake) know the importance of education. Using half the funds they had raised for their youth conference, they donated to the Perpetual Education Fund. Their check was presented to Elder John K. Carmack, emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, who is the managing director of the PEF.
The Westminster youth responded, along with thousands of other Church members, to President Hinckley’s call to help other Church members become self-reliant and successful (see Ensign, May 2001, 51–53).
The Westminster youth responded, along with thousands of other Church members, to President Hinckley’s call to help other Church members become self-reliant and successful (see Ensign, May 2001, 51–53).
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👤 Youth
👤 General Authorities (Modern)
Charity
Education
Sacrifice
Self-Reliance
Service
Sons and Daughters of the Midnight Sun
Allison Jasper recounts a cross-country race that was stopped when three moose blocked the course. The runners detoured through trees to safely continue, illustrating the need to respect wildlife in Alaska.
Man is still the newcomer in Alaska. Bear, moose, and caribou are abundant; and run-ins, especially with moose, are common. Moose are plentiful and have no fear of man. The huge beasts are surprisingly quick on their feet and can be provoked, especially in defense of their young. Allison Jasper, a member of her high school cross-country track team, says one race was brought to a screeching halt when three moose were grazing on the race route. The runners had to skirt the moose by cutting through the trees before they could continue. In winter, the moose like to meander down the plowed roads, so motorists have to be constantly on the alert. Everyone has a story about meeting a moose on an icy road. Often the moose comes out the winner, leaving a badly dented car to limp home.
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👤 Youth
👤 Other
Creation
The Family of the Prophet Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith Sr. was jailed and told he would be released if he denied the Book of Mormon. He refused and converted two people during his thirty days of confinement.
He saw and handled the plates of gold from which the Book of Mormon was translated and testified throughout his life to the truthfulness of that sacred book. His name remains firmly affixed, with those of the other witnesses to the Book of Mormon, in the front pages of that second witness of Jesus Christ. On one occasion he was imprisoned and told he would be released if he would deny the Book of Mormon. Not only did he not deny it, but he converted two persons during his thirty-day confinement.
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👤 Early Saints
Adversity
Book of Mormon
Conversion
Courage
Endure to the End
Faith
Testimony
The Best Christmas Gifts
A stake president suffered a heart attack and fell into a coma, prompting earnest prayers from the stake. He recovered and returned to church before Christmas, expressing that he felt strength from the members’ prayers.
Gift of health. In October we heard the shocking news that our beloved stake president had suffered a heart attack and was in a coma. As the weeks passed, members of our stake prayed earnestly for him. The doctors were very concerned, but then he came out of his coma and drastically improved. He lives in my ward, and one Sunday before Christmas I walked into the chapel and was surprised to see him sitting on the stand. After the speakers gave their talks, the stake president came to the pulpit and told us that he could feel the strength of our prayers. As I looked at him, tears streaming down my cheeks, I realized his return to health was a great Christmas present for all of us.Katie B., Washington, USA
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👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Church Members (General)
Christmas
Faith
Gratitude
Health
Miracles
Prayer
Sacrament Meeting
The Richest Man in the World
Brother Thomas Rice recounts how a young neighborhood girl invited his daughter Becky to Primary and even helped her get ready on Saturdays. After Becky began attending, missionaries visited and taught their family, who had been churchgoing in Pennsylvania but unsettled after moving to Ohio. The family gained a testimony and joined the Church, later receiving temple blessings and opportunities to serve.
Brother Thomas Rice recently stood up in a fast and testimony meeting and said, “I am the richest man in the world and it is all because of a young girl in our neighborhood who invited our daughter to go to Primary with her. On many Saturday mornings this girl even came to our home and helped rouse Becky from her bed and then helped her to get ready for Primary.
“A short time after Becky started attending Primary, two missionaries visited our home and presented the discussions to our family. We had been active in another church when we lived in Pennsylvania, but after moving to Ohio we had not found a Church we wanted to attend.
“During our meetings with the missionaries, the gospel plan unraveled before our eyes and soon we had a testimony of its truthfulness.
“Whenever I see that young girl who first invited our Becky to Primary, I want to put my arms around her and tell her how much we love and thank her for making possible our membership in the Church. Our family has realized many rich blessings through temple marriage, missionary service, and calls to serve in positions in the ward and stake.”
“A short time after Becky started attending Primary, two missionaries visited our home and presented the discussions to our family. We had been active in another church when we lived in Pennsylvania, but after moving to Ohio we had not found a Church we wanted to attend.
“During our meetings with the missionaries, the gospel plan unraveled before our eyes and soon we had a testimony of its truthfulness.
“Whenever I see that young girl who first invited our Becky to Primary, I want to put my arms around her and tell her how much we love and thank her for making possible our membership in the Church. Our family has realized many rich blessings through temple marriage, missionary service, and calls to serve in positions in the ward and stake.”
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👤 Missionaries
👤 Parents
👤 Children
👤 Church Members (General)
Children
Conversion
Family
Gratitude
Kindness
Missionary Work
Service
Temples
Testimony
Ten Gifts from the Lord
A candidate for U.S. president visited Church leaders, and the speaker introduced him to three women who preside over major Church organizations. When told that Sister Winder presided over more than 1.6 million women, the candidate was incredulous. The encounter challenged assumptions that Latter-day Saint women lack opportunity.
When one of the candidates for the presidency of the United States visited us a year ago, I introduced these three women to him. I stated that Sister Winder presided over more than 1,600,000 women. He seemed incredulous. He possibly had heard some of the nonsense that Mormon women are subjugated and have no opportunities. When he met this charming woman and was told that she presided over 1,600,000 other women, he looked as if he could scarcely believe it.
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👤 General Authorities (Modern)
👤 Other
Judging Others
Relief Society
Women in the Church
Sowing Seeds of Self-Reliance in Small Spaces
In Hong Kong, Kwan Wah Kam began gardening to support home storage, initially relying on books. She learned more through hands-on experience over the years, improving techniques for soil, seeds, watering, and seasons. After a severe storm, she found her plants strengthened by the extra water, teaching her that faith through trials can make us stronger.
Kwan Wah Kam of Hong Kong first decided to plant a garden to supplement her home storage. She had never attempted to grow her own food but assumed she could learn all she needed to know by reading books.
Although the information she found was helpful, Kwan soon discovered that the greatest lessons she learned came through the process of actually planting the garden. With each additional year of experience, she has learned more about the best soil to use for different seeds, how to distinguish between good seeds and bad seeds, different ways to water and fertilize plants, and the best seasons to grow various vegetables.
The lessons Kwan learned were not limited to gardening alone, however. One evening, a terrible storm threatened to destroy her garden. In the morning, she was surprised to discover that the plants were not damaged, but instead, grew stronger from the additional water.
“From that experience, I learned that with faith in God, we can become stronger as we face our trials and difficulties with courage,” Kwan says. “The blessings I have received from gardening are both temporal and spiritual.”
Although the information she found was helpful, Kwan soon discovered that the greatest lessons she learned came through the process of actually planting the garden. With each additional year of experience, she has learned more about the best soil to use for different seeds, how to distinguish between good seeds and bad seeds, different ways to water and fertilize plants, and the best seasons to grow various vegetables.
The lessons Kwan learned were not limited to gardening alone, however. One evening, a terrible storm threatened to destroy her garden. In the morning, she was surprised to discover that the plants were not damaged, but instead, grew stronger from the additional water.
“From that experience, I learned that with faith in God, we can become stronger as we face our trials and difficulties with courage,” Kwan says. “The blessings I have received from gardening are both temporal and spiritual.”
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👤 Church Members (General)
Adversity
Courage
Education
Emergency Preparedness
Faith
Self-Reliance
Success Stories
After escaping captivity, King Richard returned to England in plain armor, gathered loyal followers, and attacked Torquilstone where Ivanhoe lay wounded. Unable to see, Ivanhoe asked Rebecca to describe the leader; she detailed his fearless fighting, noting his unmatched heart and strength. Ivanhoe declared he would endure ten years of captivity to fight one day beside such a great leader in a great cause.
Success story number four has to do with the lion-hearted King Richard, who ruled England during the latter part of the twelfth century. Richard organized a crusade to the Holy Land to dispossess the Turks of the sepulcher. But the expedition was unsuccessful and Richard himself was captured and confined to a foreign prison. During his absence from home, traitors took over the government, and when Richard finally effected his escape and returned to England, it was necessary for reasons of his own personal security that he come disguised in plain, unmarked armor. When back in England, he quietly gathered around him a few of his faithful followers with the idea of putting England back in the hands of its rightful rulers. One of the first things he did after this little group had been assembled was to attack the castle at Torquilstone. Torquilstone was the stronghold of the enemy in which Ivanhoe, the faithful friend and follower of the King, was wounded and imprisoned.
When Ivanhoe heard the noises of assault beginning to take place outside the castle, and since he was unable to raise himself from his couch because of wounds and loss of blood, he asked his nurse, Rebecca, to stand by the window and tell him what was taking place. The first thing he wanted to know was who the leader was. And that is the most important thing that anyone needs to know about any undertaking. So he asked Rebecca to describe for him the insignia or other marks of identification on the armor of the leader and then he would know who he was and what their chances for rescue were.
But Rebecca reported back that the leader fought in plain, unmarked armor and that he had no insignia or marks of identification. Ivanhoe said, “Then tell me how he fights and I’ll know who he is.” That is, everyone has a set of traits about as characteristic as his fingerprints, and the best key to his identity is what he does. So Rebecca tried to describe this great knight clad in plain black armor as he swung his ponderous ax with thunderous blows assaulting this castle stronghold almost single-handed. And here are some of the things that she said about him. “Stones and beams are hurled down from the castle walls upon him, but he regards them no more than if they were thistledown or feathers.” Again, she said, “He fights as if there were twenty men’s strength in his single arm.” Again, she said, “It is fearful yet magnificent to behold how the arm and heart of one man can triumph over hundreds.”
I suppose that Richard’s arm wasn’t much stronger than any other warrior’s arm, but that is not where strength comes from. Rebecca had said, “The arm and heart of one man.” Richard was fighting with his heart; he was fighting for England. And when one begins to put his heart in what he is doing, then things really begin to happen.
Ivanhoe did not know who this man was. He knew that Richard fought like this, but no one fought like the King, and he believed Richard to be a prisoner in an Austrian dungeon. And then he paid this great tribute to an unknown leader. He didn’t know what this man’s name was, but he knew the traits that characterized greatness, and he said to Rebecca, “I swear by the honor of my house, I would endure ten years of captivity to fight a single day by that great man’s side in such a quarrel as this.” Captivity would have been the greatest punishment to which Ivanhoe could have been subjected, and yet he said, “I would gladly languish ten years in a dungeon cell for the privilege of fighting by the side and under the banner of a great man in a great cause.”
When Ivanhoe heard the noises of assault beginning to take place outside the castle, and since he was unable to raise himself from his couch because of wounds and loss of blood, he asked his nurse, Rebecca, to stand by the window and tell him what was taking place. The first thing he wanted to know was who the leader was. And that is the most important thing that anyone needs to know about any undertaking. So he asked Rebecca to describe for him the insignia or other marks of identification on the armor of the leader and then he would know who he was and what their chances for rescue were.
But Rebecca reported back that the leader fought in plain, unmarked armor and that he had no insignia or marks of identification. Ivanhoe said, “Then tell me how he fights and I’ll know who he is.” That is, everyone has a set of traits about as characteristic as his fingerprints, and the best key to his identity is what he does. So Rebecca tried to describe this great knight clad in plain black armor as he swung his ponderous ax with thunderous blows assaulting this castle stronghold almost single-handed. And here are some of the things that she said about him. “Stones and beams are hurled down from the castle walls upon him, but he regards them no more than if they were thistledown or feathers.” Again, she said, “He fights as if there were twenty men’s strength in his single arm.” Again, she said, “It is fearful yet magnificent to behold how the arm and heart of one man can triumph over hundreds.”
I suppose that Richard’s arm wasn’t much stronger than any other warrior’s arm, but that is not where strength comes from. Rebecca had said, “The arm and heart of one man.” Richard was fighting with his heart; he was fighting for England. And when one begins to put his heart in what he is doing, then things really begin to happen.
Ivanhoe did not know who this man was. He knew that Richard fought like this, but no one fought like the King, and he believed Richard to be a prisoner in an Austrian dungeon. And then he paid this great tribute to an unknown leader. He didn’t know what this man’s name was, but he knew the traits that characterized greatness, and he said to Rebecca, “I swear by the honor of my house, I would endure ten years of captivity to fight a single day by that great man’s side in such a quarrel as this.” Captivity would have been the greatest punishment to which Ivanhoe could have been subjected, and yet he said, “I would gladly languish ten years in a dungeon cell for the privilege of fighting by the side and under the banner of a great man in a great cause.”
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War