Gospel Story Finder

It has become easy to shock people. I remember once a lady asked my mom, “Are all these kids yours?” We just looked at her and said, “Of course not, lady. She checks us out of the library.” I admit that being in a large family can cause a little bit of commotion. People always stop and stare or look at us funny. Maybe it’s because there are so many of us, or maybe it’s because the colors of skin don’t seem to mix or match.

George Hay was born in Erskine, Scotland, in 1836. His parents, Alexander and Jessie, were the first members to be baptised in Scotland on January 14, 1840. With his parents, he sailed for America from Liverpool, England, in 1841. They landed at New Orleans on October 19, 1841, from where they proceeded to Nauvoo, the Latter-day Saint city in Illinois.
Church records confirm that Alexander Hay was ordained a seventy in 1846, and Alexander and Jessie received their own endowments in the Nauvoo Temple. In September 1848, hearing of opportunities in Texas, and seeking a land free from the antagonism directed at that time to Latter-day Saints, the family started their journey with others to Texas in wagons drawn by mules. A long trip was ahead of them with all sorts of dangers and perils, but fearlessly the little band pursued their journey. George Hay was then a small boy, 12 years of age.
Their destination was Zodiac, a Latter-day Saint settlement on the Pedernales River, which they reached after nearly three months on the road. In company with a large party of Latter-day Saints, they decided to transfer their location to the county of Bandera, reaching there in March 1854. On his arrival in Bandera, George subsequently said, “This was a beautiful country then, a wilderness it is true, but inviting and offering our people wonderful possibilities.”
George Hay was appointed deputy clerk, then county clerk, and then became Judge George Hay of Bandera County, Texas—so a boy from Bishopton, in the Paisley Scotland Stake, became Judge of Bandera County, Texas.
Judge Hay says, “In 1861, when the Civil War came on, … I was commissioned a lieutenant, but being an officer made no difference to me. I went into ranks, stood guard, and performed all the duties of a private.”
He continues, “There are many thrilling incidents connected with the history of this country. Many tragedies have taken place, many hardships were endured by the first settlers, … many of our sons have gone out and won high places in the world, many of our daughters have married and raised manly sons and lovely daughters who are today filling places of usefulness in different parts of the country. I am proud that I can look back upon the sixty-nine years that I have spent here and realise the wonderful changes that have taken place, all for the betterment of mankind and the glory of American manhood and womanhood that brought these things to pass.”
Judge Hay spent his declining years at the old family homestead in Bandera, where for many years he and his good wife kept open house to travellers and entertained many distinguished visitors under their roof.
George Hay died at the age 89 on 6 February 1925 and was buried in Bandera. His wife, Virginia, passed away in Bandera on 6 November 1941 at the age of 97.
This story can be found in the Hondo Anvil Herald newspaper, Texas USA1.

Shinnah strives to follow the Savior. “Before I joined the Church, I didn’t know who I was,” she says. “I was invited by friends to go to parties, and they were bad situations to be in. But now I choose not to go.”

From a young age, Elder Richard G. Scott had a desire to do what was right, even when faced with peer pressure. One summer during high school, he worked on an oyster boat off Long Island, New York, USA. His coworkers tried to get him to do things he knew were wrong. Because he consistently said no, he gained their respect. One night when one of them fell overboard, Richard was the only one who could save his crewmate—because he hadn’t gone partying like the others. He said, “Finally, when they understood I would not abandon my principles, we became friends. Then privately, one by one, they asked for help.”1

1 During the winter of 1832–33, in Kirtland, Ohio, Joseph Smith organized the School of the Prophets. Several carefully selected men were invited to attend.
2 The school was held in an upstairs room behind Newel Whitney’s store; Joseph taught the brethren in detail about the priesthood, the scriptures, and how they should live.
3 Several of the brethren smoked or chewed tobacco, and the schoolroom, which was part of Joseph and Emma’s living quarters, would fill with smoke, and the floor would be spattered with tobacco juice spittles.
4 The situation bothered Joseph because meetings there were sacred and because Emma had to clean up the filth afterward. Joseph prayed about the matter, and the revelation known as the Word of Wisdom was the answer that he received.

Karina’s leg and body muscles are very strong, and she is a good helper and a hard worker on her family’s small farm. The farm has a big tom turkey, chickens, and a dog with lots of puppies. Karina loves animals. One of her chores is to feed the chickens. And she has figured out her own method of getting this chore done. She picks up the bag of corn with her foot and places it under her chin to carry it while she walks. Then she sits on a chair, opens the bag of corn with one foot, puts the other foot in the sack for a footful of corn, and throws the corn out for the chickens to eat. Karina also loves to hold the chickens. She carefully catches a baby chick with her feet and holds the soft, fluffy bird under her chin.

The flight attendant led the way down the aisle of the airplane. “Here is your seat,” he said, smiling at Audrey. He pointed out the small window. “Look, they’re loading the baggage. Can you see your suitcase?”
Audrey pressed her nose against the window and watched workers place luggage into a big compartment in the side of the plane. “I can’t see mine. There are too many.”
“Well, I’m sure yours is there,” the flight attendant said reassuringly. “I have to go now, but I’ll be back to check on you.”
A tall man with silver-gray hair and smiling eyes sat down in the seat next to Audrey’s. “I’m Mr. Hampton. And whom do I have the pleasure of sitting by?”
Audrey shyly ducked her head and mumbled, “Audrey.”
“Did you say Audrey?”
Audrey nodded.
“What a lovely name.”
“I was named for my grandmother,” Audrey volunteered. “I have red hair like hers.” Audrey smiled, forgetting to be self-conscious about the gap in her teeth.
“Ah ha! It looks as if the tooth fairy has been busy,” Mr. Hampton teased. “Let me guess—you’re about six years old.”
“I’m seven. My teeth are just poky.”
“Maybe you were so busy growing your beautiful hair that your teeth just had to wait.”
They both laughed.
“I have a granddaughter about your age,” Mr. Hampton said wistfully.
“What’s her name?”
“Laura. I don’t get to see her very often, though.”
“Why not?”
“Because she lives too far away.”
“That’s what my grandpa and grandma said!” Audrey exclaimed. “So we planned for me to stay with them for two weeks.”
“That explains why you’re traveling alone.”
“Yes. It sounded like fun when we were planning it. I didn’t know it would be scary.”
“Is this the first time you’ve flown?”
“Yes. Can this giant airplane really fly?”
Mr. Hampton chuckled. “It really can. Amazing, isn’t it?”
“It looks like you two are getting along famously,” the flight attendant interjected. “Audrey, let me help you with your seat belt.”
As the giant engines roared to life and the plane taxied down the runway, Audrey nervously twisted her CTR ring around and around her finger, taking it off one finger and putting it on another, then repeating the process.
“That’s an interesting ring,” Mr. Hampton said, picking it up for her when she dropped it. “Where did you get it?”
“It’s a CTR ring. I got it in Primary.”
“What’s Primary, and what does CTR stand for?”
“Primary is a meeting in our church that’s for kids. I’m in the CTR class. CTR means ‘choose the right.’ When you’re a CTR, you get a ring like this to remind you to always choose the right.”
“Choose the right what?”
“Choose the right everything. Like if you’re tempted to tell a lie, you choose the right and tell the truth instead. We learn in Primary about Heavenly Father and Jesus and how They want us to live.”
Mr. Hampton gazed intently at Audrey’s upturned face for a minute. “What else do you learn?”
“Last week our lesson was about showing appreciation. Our teacher told us the story about the ten lepers and how Jesus healed them but only one came back to thank Him. Have you heard that story?”
Mr. Hampton nodded. “What church has this Primary in it?”
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Mr. Hampton thought for a moment. “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of it.”
“Have you ever heard of the Mormons?” Audrey asked.
“As in ‘Mormon Tabernacle Choir’?”
Audrey smiled. “Yes.”
“I’ve heard of them, but I never thought of it as a church organization, I guess. If it’s part of The Church … The Church of …”
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Audrey prompted.
“Then where did the name Mormon come from?” Mr. Hampton wanted to know.
“It’s a nickname that came from our belief in the Book of Mormon. That’s a book of scriptures Heavenly Father helped Joseph Smith translate. Like the Bible, it tells about Jesus Christ, but it’s about His teachings to the Nephites and Lamanites, who lived in ancient America.”
“Very interesting. I recall having heard of a Joseph Smith and a Book of Mormon, but I never took it seriously. Did you learn all this in Primary?” Mr. Hampton asked.
“No, not everything,” Audrey explained. “I learn a lot in our family home evenings.”
“And what is family home evening?”
Time passed quickly as Mr. Hampton asked questions and Audrey answered. In what seemed like minutes, preparations were being made to land.
Twisting the CTR ring nervously around her finger, Audrey looked up expectantly at Mr. Hampton. “I’m scared. Will you help me find my grandpa and grandma please?”
“Of course,” Mr. Hampton assured her. “I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to meet them.”
Grandpa and Grandma were standing right next to the exit ramp. With a cry of joy, Audrey ran into their arms. After greetings and hugs were over, Audrey remembered Mr. Hampton. She looked around anxiously before spotting him just a few feet away watching the happy reunion. “Oh, Mr. Hampton, I was afraid you were gone,” Audrey called, running to his side. “Grandpa and Grandma, this is Mr. Hampton. He helped me not be afraid on the plane.”
“Your granddaughter is quite a young lady,” Mr. Hampton said as everyone shook hands. “She’s a wealth of information for one so young. She’s been telling me about your church. I’m very impressed with a church that teaches such important principles to children. I’d like to learn more about it.”
“Give me your address and telephone number,” Grandfather said, “and I’ll make arrangements for the missionaries to visit you.”
“I must be going,” Mr. Hampton said, handing Grandfather his business card. “Audrey, if I send you her address, will you write to my granddaughter Laura? She needs a friend like you.”
Audrey nodded.
“Good-bye. It’s been nice meeting you. And Audrey,” Mr. Hampton added, taking her small hands between his large ones, “I’ll never forget you.”
Grandpa, Grandma, and Audrey watched as Mr. Hampton walked away.
“Mr. Hampton, Mr. Hampton,” Audrey called, running after him. “I forgot to thank you. And I want to give you this,” she said, pressing her CTR ring into his hand.
He leaned down to protest. “I can’t take this—it’s your special ring.”
“It’s OK,” Audrey reassured him. “I can get another one. I thought it might help you to ‘choose the right.’” She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.
Mr. Hampton smiled. “I will, young lady, I will.”

Cari R., 15, Utah, USA
My mom’s mother died when my mom was 17. The family fasted and prayed for her for several weeks before she died. She also was given a priesthood blessing. The main thing that gave my mom peace was knowing that she could see her mother again in the next life. My mom’s goal is to live her life so she will be worthy of that blessing. I am sad that I will never be able to meet her in this lifetime, but I look forward to the time when we will finally meet.

Ty climbed into the car with Mom and Dad for the long trip to the hospital. He felt sick to his stomach. He would rather go to school all day than have surgery on his foot!
Over the past several weeks, Ty’s family had prayed that his surgery would go well. Ty had also prayed that he would not be too scared. Last night Dad had given him a blessing that he would be courageous and that the surgery would fix the problem with his foot.
So why did he still feel so nervous?
“Don’t worry, Ty,” Dad said from the driver’s seat. “The surgery is very simple, and the doctor knows what he’s doing. Everything is going to be fine.”
Ty nodded, but he didn’t feel any better. His parents had explained to him that even though he didn’t have any problems walking or running now, if he didn’t have this surgery, his foot would have problems in the future.
Maybe it would be better to just deal with the problems later on, Ty thought.
As they pulled into the parking lot of the hospital, Ty started to cry. Surgery sounded so scary!
“Sweetheart, don’t worry,” Mom said, turning around in the front seat.
“I don’t want to have the surgery!” Ty said, choking down tears.
“Ty, this surgery is a blessing,” Mom said. “We live in a time when doctors can fix your foot so you can have a healthy, active life. We have all been praying for you, and Dad gave you a blessing last night. Heavenly Father will help you. It’s going to be OK.”
Ty knew everything Mom said was true, but he still felt scared. Dad parked the car and turned around to face Ty.
“What can we do to help you, Ty?” Dad asked.
Ty was quiet for a long time. He thought about what Mom had said. He knew Heavenly Father could help him be ready for his surgery. Maybe he just needed to show a little more faith.
“I want to say another prayer,” Ty said.
“Who do you want to say it?” Dad asked.
“I’ll say it,” Ty said.
Sitting in the car in front of the hospital, they all bowed their heads, and Ty started to pray.
“Dear Heavenly Father,” he said, “please help me be brave so I can have this surgery. Thank you for blessing us with good doctors and medicine so I can get better. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
A warm feeling of peace filled Ty as he finished the prayer.
“Do you feel that?” Mom asked.
“Yeah. Is that the Holy Ghost?” Ty asked.
“Yes,” Dad said. “That’s the Holy Ghost telling us everything’s going to be all right.”
“What do you think, Ty? Are you ready to go in?” Mom asked.
Ty took a deep breath. He still felt a little nervous, but he knew it was going to be OK. He nodded his head. “I’m ready,” he said.
A few hours later, Ty left the hospital with a bandaged foot. Dad pushed him out to the car in a wheelchair. He would need to walk on crutches for the next few weeks, but the doctor had said the surgery went well. Ty had a smile on his face. He knew the Holy Ghost had helped him be courageous.

How thankful I am to have the Liahona in my home! It is a source of power. One day when my mind was bombarded with unclean thoughts, I immersed myself in the Liahona, and those thoughts departed from me. The Liahona helped me clean my thoughts and served as an anchor for safety in a stormy sea.
Victorino F. Dela Cruz Jr., Philippines

One member learned how easily an unchallenged lie can snare us in the web of sin even if we believe we have personally kept ourselves at arm’s length from it. He bought a motorcycle from a man who told him, “Pay me [U.S.] $600, but I’m writing out the bill of sale for [U.S.] $400. That way we won’t have to pay as much in taxes.” The buyer fully intended to report the price of the motorcycle honestly; if the seller chose not to do so, the buyer reasoned, he could do nothing about that.

But as he prepared his own tax return, reporting the price of the motorcycle correctly, he realized the problem might not be as simple as he originally had assumed. What if the names of the buyer and seller were somehow linked on tax records? What if he had to back up the information on his tax return with a bill of sale? There was little likelihood of ever being challenged, he reasoned, but that was not the point. He could not live with the idea of sustaining a lie, even though it was not his own.

The buyer of the motorcycle returned to the seller and asked for a legitimate bill of sale. He went away having learned a valuable lesson: if we tolerate lying to any degree, we are accessories to deception.

8 Mary Duty. Mary had 11 children. She moved with her husband from Massachusetts to Vermont as they looked for new farmland. In her later years, Mary had a strong testimony that her grandson was a prophet. In 1836 Mary went to Kirtland, Ohio, to gather with the Saints. She died 10 days after arriving there.

With deep admiration I have studied the experiences of the prophet Nephi, especially admiring the perseverance and discipline with which he built a ship. I have come to appreciate that there was a wise purpose for the Lord to command him to do so.
When President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) visited Guatemala in 1997, his counsel that especially penetrated my heart was the simple encouragement to hold family home evening. Moved by our prophet’s words, my wife, four children, and I met and set a goal that we would “build a ship called family home evening.” We knew the effort it would require but also realized that the Lord had a wise purpose for asking us to do so.
Years and hundreds of home evenings later, our family home evening ship has grown with our family. And we have experienced just what President Hinckley promised. From these small gatherings—held regularly and with perseverance—something wonderful has come. Love for parents has grown. Love between brothers and sisters has increased. And our love for Heavenly Father and the Savior has been magnified. Appreciation has come into our hearts for what is simple and good. (See Gordon B. Hinckley, “Some Lessons I Learned as a Boy,” Ensign, May 1993, 54.)
Rony Saúl García Méndez, Guatemala

A young woman named Thricia felt feelings of guilt, shame, and unworthiness after doing something wrong. She began to listen to Church music, watch Church videos, and study gospel talks more intently, but the feelings didn’t go away. Eventually she decided to talk to her branch president. As she met with him, she felt the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for her. Now she feels grateful that through the Savior’s Atonement, she can be forgiven of her sins and receive help to rise above her weaknesses. “What I hold on to right now is that He is always with me in this journey,” she says.

In our quest for an example, we need not necessarily look to years gone by or to lives lived long ago. Let me illustrate. Today Craig Sudbury occupies a position of prominence in Salt Lake City, but let me turn back the clock just a few years to the day he and his mother came to my office prior to Craig’s departure for the Australia Melbourne Mission. Fred Sudbury, Craig’s father, was noticeably absent. Twenty-five years earlier, Craig’s mother had married Fred, who did not share her love for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and indeed did not belong to the Church.
Craig confided to me his deep and abiding love for his parents. He shared his innermost hope that somehow, in some way, his father would be touched by the Spirit and open his heart to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He pleaded earnestly with me for a suggestion. I prayed for inspiration concerning how such a desire might be rewarded. Such inspiration came, and I said to Craig, “Serve the Lord with all your heart. Be obedient to your sacred calling. Each week write a letter to your parents, and, on occasion, write to Dad personally and let him know that you love him, and tell him why you’re grateful to be his son.”
He thanked me and, with his mother, departed the office. I was not to see Craig’s mother for eighteen months. She came to the office and, in sentences punctuated by tears, said to me, “It has been almost two years since Craig departed for his mission. His faithful service has qualified him for positions of responsibility in the mission field, and he has never failed in writing a letter to us each week. Recently, my husband, Fred, stood for the first time in a testimony meeting and said, ‘All of you know that I am not a member of the Church, but something has happened to me since Craig left for his mission. His letters have touched my soul. May I share one with you? “Dear Dad, Today we taught a choice family about the plan of salvation and the blessings of exaltation in the celestial kingdom. I thought of our family. More than anything in the world, I want to be with you and Mother in that kingdom. For me it just wouldn’t be a celestial kingdom if you were not there. I’m grateful to be your son, Dad, and want you to know that I love you. Your missionary son, Craig.”’ Fred then announced, ‘My wife doesn’t know what I plan to say. I love her and I love our son, Craig. After twenty-six years of marriage I have made my decision to become a member of the Church, for I know the gospel message is the word of God. I suppose I have known this truth for a long time, but my son’s mission has moved me to action. I have made arrangements for my wife and me to meet Craig when he completes his mission. I will be his final baptism as a full-time missionary of the Lord.’”
A young missionary with unwavering faith had participated with God in a modern-day miracle. His challenge to communicate with one whom he loved had been made more difficult by the barrier of the thousands of kilometers that lay between him and his father. But the spirit of love spanned the vast expanse of the blue Pacific, and heart spoke to heart in divine dialogue.
No hero stood so tall as did Craig when, in Australia, he stood with his father in water waist deep and, raising his right arm to the square, repeated those sacred words: “Fred Sudbury, having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
The prayer of a mother, the faith of a father, the service of a son brought forth the miracle of God. Mother, father, son—each qualifies in a Hall of Fame.

Sister Julie B. Beck: I remember a reporter who attacked our standards as restrictive. She had read the For the Strength of Youth book, and she felt that it was all about rules. So I talked to her about safety and choices, and I used the words liberate and free and protect. I said, for instance, if a young woman keeps our standard not to drink alcohol or take drugs, she will never be a slave to those habits. She’ll be free, and her ability to make choices will be multiplied because she won’t have the problem of addiction. The reporter started to nod her head when she understood that standards are not a fence to keep us in. Standards are what help us go out and function in a world full of choices. We can contribute in this world and live happy, productive lives because we are protected.

Each individual shares views in an honest but non-attacking manner. Sometimes thoughtful reflection resolves the problem as it becomes clear the disagreement was merely a misunderstanding. For example, a wife who thinks her husband is selfishly insisting that she attend a high school basketball game with him instead of going out to dinner for a date, might come to understand that he is less interested in basketball than in showing attention to a player who has stopped attending his Sunday School class.
Couples explore concerns at a deeper level. The focus is on understanding and accepting one another’s concerns. Continuing the basketball example, the wife, while understanding her husband’s concern for the student, might believe that he is developing a pattern of always putting the needs of others before those of the marriage. In this case, a more thoughtful discussion must be held in which each expresses feelings in a sensitive manner and opposition gives way to cooperation.
Couples brainstorm and decide on mutually satisfying solutions. The focus is on what each individual can do to address the concerns rather than on what their spouse can do. Such negotiation can test maturity and patience but, over time, lead to a belief that there is safety in expressing feelings and confidence that each person’s desires will be addressed. Our couple may agree to spend one Friday night together at a basketball game, one Friday night in which the husband attends the game alone, and two Friday nights doing couple activities. It is not as important how the couple chooses to spend Friday night as it is that the quality of the decision-making process is satisfying to both.

Although the hurricane was frightening when they were in the middle of it, most of the youth of Charleston learned something unique about themselves. They discovered that material possessions didn’t mean as much as they thought. Christina said, “When my dad went out to see if our house was still there, I thought, ‘It doesn’t matter because I know my whole family is all right.’ We would be glad if the house was okay, but if it wasn’t, we were still okay.”

Ben O’Brien of the Temple View Second Ward, Temple View New Zealand Stake, was the only LDS student and only boy from New Zealand to attend a youth peace conference in India. The conference was held for youth from the Pacific to get together to discuss how they could help bring peace and harmony into the world.
Ben applied to participate in the program before he realized that all of the other 34 participants from New Zealand were from girls’ schools. But he felt that the experience of learning about a new culture as well as serving with others was too good to miss.
The group from New Zealand lived with families in India as part of their tour. They also visited hospitals and offered comfort to the ill. They talked with lepers and their children. Ben found that even with the language barrier, the patients in hospitals were cheered by their visits.
In Calcutta the group met and talked with Mother Theresa, and they worked in her orphanage and home for the elderly and mentally handicapped. They also spent time helping Bangladesh refugees.
Ben said of his experience, “It opened up your heart. It was easy to feel the spirit of Christ’s love. Through all their trials and despite what they don’t have, these people want to give to others.”
The experience made 18-year-old Ben even more eager to serve a mission.

“The organ is not completed, and there are various construction details yet to be attended to. But fortunately the work is far enough along that we are able to use it for this conference.” He added: “The building of this structure has been a bold undertaking. We worried about it. We prayed about it. We listened for the whisperings of the Spirit concerning it. And only when we felt the confirming voice of the Lord did we determine to go forward.”