Gospel Story Finder

I chose to arrange the next two family home evenings, focusing on faith. I started off by preparing the lessons and trying to learn the chords on the guitar for the songs we would sing.
The first lesson was on faith. I asked what we as a family could change to grow our faith. They replied, “Praying, studying scriptures, fasting, going to church,” and so on. We agreed that there are many things you can do to grow your faith, but the most important thing is to actually do them. It’s important that you act in order to strengthen your faith.
The second lesson was on spiritual gifts. We talked about what faith and spiritual gifts had to do with each other.
Our faith-themed family home evenings went really well. We improved some things in our family; we had fun and tried not to just get it over with. We felt the Spirit together as a family.
Riza S., age 16, Roskilde, Denmark

A tender story from our early pioneer days in the American South illustrates the power of testimony. A century ago, feelings of misunderstanding and intolerance toward the Latter-day Saints periodically erupted into senseless violence in the South, with eight murders and many brutal assaults on our missionaries or local priesthood leaders from 1879 to 1900.

During the summer of 1878, Elder Frank Croft, a missionary in northern Alabama, was forcibly taken against his will by “armed and vicious men” to be whipped. He was tied to a tree for that purpose. In the struggle a letter from his mother fell from Elder Croft’s pocket. The leader of the mob picked it up and read from it:

“Surely, my boy, they who are mistreating you Elders know not what they do or they would not do it. Sometime, somewhere, they will understand and then they will regret their action and they will honor you for the glorious work you are doing. So be patient, my son; love those who mistreat you and say all manner of evil against you and the Lord will bless you and magnify you in their eyes and your mission will be gloriously successful. Remember also, my son, that day and night, your mother is praying for you always.’
[The leader of the mob read the whole letter to himself and then said to his companions:] “Men, after reading this Mormon’s mother’s letter, I just can’t go ahead with the job. Maybe we had better let him go.” [“A Mother’s Letter Saves Her Son’s Life,” in chapter 22 of Bryant S. Hinckley, The Faith of Our Pioneer Fathers (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1956), 257–59]

They did indeed let Elder Croft go unharmed, his life spared by a mother’s plea for her son.

During December, my seminary teacher invited our class to bring food and presents for a family in need. We didn’t know the circumstances—only that there was a husband and wife with three little girls, ages 5 to 10 years old.
A few days before Christmas, I met my classmates in the seminary building with a Barbie doll and some boxes of macaroni and cheese in my hands. I was surprised to see that our class had filled not one box but several boxes with canned food, a large cooked turkey, baked goods, and toys.
We wrapped all the presents and carpooled to the family’s home. Most of us hid behind bushes and watched as a few boys quietly carried the boxes to the doorstep of the small, run-down home. Wanting our contributions to be anonymous, the boys rang the doorbell and ran.
From our hiding places, we watched a small girl in her pajamas open the door and squeal. One by one her sisters joined her, each screaming with delight as they saw the many boxes overflowing with presents.
The door widened and, as the mother stepped out, we could see a small Christmas tree with no presents beneath it in the center of their living room.
I saw the mother look around, bewildered. She then fell to her knees and began to cry. We saw her look up and heard her pray: “Thank Thee, God. Oh, thank Thee for sending Thine angels to give my children Christmas.”
We drove back to the seminary building in silence. No one thought of the doughnuts or hot chocolate waiting for us. Instead, there was a tangible feeling of love, peace, and gratitude.
When I got home that night, I sat on my bed and prayed to Heavenly Father, thanking Him for letting me act as His angel for a night. I realized that “I have been given much” and that part of that blessing requires that “I too must give” (“Because I Have Been Given Much,” Hymns, no. 219), which was the greatest blessing of all.

The famous Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in the northwest region of Spain is the supposed final resting place of the Apostle James, the brother of John. It is an impressive structure with a world-renowned organ. Over 100,000 Catholics travel to the city each year to visit the Shrine of St. James inside the cathedral.
When Elder Tyler Clair Neel and his companion, who are serving in the Spain Bilbao Mission, visited the cathedral, Elder Neel asked for permission to play the “awesome” organ. The dean of the cathedral directed him to the organist and permission was granted.
“I’m probably the first Latter-day Saint to ever play the Santiago Cathedral organ, and I played hymns of the Restoration!” Elder Neel said about the experience. In fact, Elder Neel was able to play the organ three times. And the cathedral organist enjoyed the hymns so much that Elder Neel presented him with a large-size, spiral-bound copy of the LDS hymnbook as a thank-you.
In the photo above, Elder Neel is playing the organ at the cathedral in Leon, Spain, one of his previous areas.

By 1844, Joseph's enemies, again former members of the Church, seemed bent on his destruction. He began planning with the brethren to move the Church west to the Rocky Mountains. Governor Ford, meanwhile, made plans to have Joseph taken east to Carthage.

Late on the evening of the 22nd, Orrin Porter Rockwell rowed Joseph, Hyrum and Willard Richards west across the Mississippi River. But the Lord required one more sacrifice of Joseph. On the 23rd a message from Nauvoo told Joseph that several feared that if the Church's enemies came to Nauvoo and found Joseph gone that the mob would attack the city. Joseph made the fateful decision. If his life was of no value to his friends, it was of no value to him. The small party returned to Nauvoo the next day and made preparation to go the Carthage.

Joseph knew what Hyrum only suspected, that they were riding to Carthage to seal their final testimony.
By the afternoon of June 27, 1844, only John Taylor and Willard Richards remained in the Carthage Jail with the Prophet and his brother Hyrum.

Let’s hurry along to Redwood Road. There is a much larger home here where many widows reside. Most are seated in the well-lighted living room. But in her bedroom, alone, is one on whom I must call. She hasn’t spoken a word since a devastating stroke some years ago. But then, who knows what she hears?—so I speak of good times together. There isn’t a flicker of recognition, not a word spoken. In fact, an attendant asks if I am aware that this patient hasn’t uttered a word for years. It made no difference. Not only had I enjoyed my one-sided conversation with her—I had communed with God.

The smell of lasagna filled the kitchen as Chrissy’s family sat down at the table. Chrissy quietly bowed her head as her father gave the prayer. After the prayer, Mother began to serve the lasagna while Father asked what everyone had learned in church that day.
Greta and Roger, Chrissy’s older sister and brother, had learned about Emma Smith, the Prophet Joseph’s wife. They said that Jesus Christ called Emma an “elect lady.”
Chrissy asked, “What’s an elect lady?”
Father explained, “An elect lady is a woman who has been chosen by Heavenly Father and set apart to do a special work.”
Chrissy smiled because she liked Emma Smith and was happy that Jesus Christ had called her an elect lady. Chrissy knew that Emma had been a very courageous person.
When it was Chrissy’s turn to tell what she had learned in Primary, her smile disappeared and her eyes filled with tears. She sobbed, “I wish I only had to sing two songs on Sunday like my friend Jaimey does at her church. I don’t want to sing in Primary anymore.”
“You used to love singing,” Mother said. “What happened?”
“Eric said I sing too loud. He says singing is silly.”
Mother stood up and left the kitchen. In a moment, she came back carrying her Doctrine and Covenants. When she found what she was searching for in it, she asked Chrissy, “Did you know that Emma Smith was given her very own revelation from the Lord?” Chrissy shook her head. “Well,” Mother continued, “section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants is Emma’s very own revelation, and in it Jesus Christ tells her some very special things.”
“Is that where he calls her an elect lady?”
“Yes, that’s right. It also talks about a calling Emma received from him. Did you know that he asked her to make the very first hymnbook for the Church? He knew she would be good at collecting hymns for the Saints to sing. After he asked her to make a hymnbook, the Lord told her something very special about singing. Would you like to hear what he said?”
At Chrissy’s nod, Mother read verse 12: “‘For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.’” Mother put the book down and asked everyone at the table, “Who knows what that verse means?”
Roger smiled. “That means Jesus Christ likes to hear us sing.”
“That’s right, Roger,” Father said. “It also means a song is like a prayer. We are always reverent during prayers because we are speaking with our Heavenly Father. Hymns are just like prayers, and that is why it is important to sing with all our hearts.”
Chrissy smiled as she thought about how Emma Smith had obeyed Jesus and made him happy. She thought of Eric and the mean things he had said. She decided that she would be like Emma and have the courage to do what is right. “I can’t wait for church next Sunday,” she announced. “I’m going to sing with all my heart, and I am going to make Jesus happy.”

Thank you so much for printing “Hidden Agony” in your March 1992 issue. It came at a point in my life when I really needed it the most. My older brother sexually abused me when I was about nine years old. I knew it was wrong, and felt awful and dirty because of it. I felt guilty, worthless, and totally confused. That was nine years ago, and it still affects me. Reading the article helped me realize I am not alone and there are people who understand. I am realizing it was not my fault and that our Father in Heaven understands and still loves me. Thank you very much.
Name Withheld

The second story has to do with an experience I had after I finished graduate school and was working as a full-time member of the Harvard Business School faculty. There I learned how to teach by the case method. And I also learned about a market for corporate executive education that I had no idea existed. I remember sitting in my office at Harvard one afternoon and receiving a phone call from a senior professor by the name of Jay Lorsch. "Doug," Jay said. "I am calling you because of an emergency. "We're teaching a group of executives out in Cincinnati tomorrow, and the fellow who was supposed to do it has become terribly sick with food poisoning. I wonder if you can help out." "Jay," I said. "I'd be happy to help out if I can. What's the case?" [I knew there had to be a case.] "You'll be teaching a case on competition in the jet engine business." "And who are the executives?" "They are all middle managers at General Electric's jet engine business in Evendale, Ohio." "Wait a minute, Jay," I said. "You want me to teach a case about the jet engine business, about which I know nothing, to a bunch of people who are experts in the business?" "That's right," he said. "When do I get the case?" I asked. "We can bring it right over. You can prepare it on the plane tonight when you fly out there." Well, I did it. And it went really well. That teaching experience really taught me how powerful the case method was. It was like walking a tight rope without a net, but what a great learning experience it was!

I learned how to perform in that very unique marketplace: a marketplace that only a couple of years before I had no idea even existed. I learned that as a teacher I did not have to have all the answers. In fact, I was more effective if I didn't. My role was to be the concept leader, and to ask the questions. I discovered the power of questions, and learned that I could help people get better answers by helping them ask better questions.

This discovery opened up another new door of opportunity for me. A few years later some other Harvard professors and I decided we enjoyed this type of teaching so much we would try to make a business out of it. In 1987 we co-founded the Center for Executive Development in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dedicated to helping companies build strategic capability through customized executive education. The 20 years that I spent as managing partner for CED provided deeply rewarding work for me and my partners, and I think for our clients as well. And I discovered it by accident!

When I was eight, my orthodontist informed me that I needed to get six teeth pulled to continue the process of getting braces. I was scared. No medication, in my mind, could cover the pain of getting my teeth pulled. My family prayed for me. Surprisingly, with anesthesia and medicine, all I felt was a slight jerk, and the teeth were out. I love the power of prayer. Prayer combats fear and doubt. It upholds faith. Prayer helps all the time, and especially during hard and difficult trials.

Sister Braithwaite relates one experience that was “a special spiritual awakening” for her. “One year there was a young man on a motorcycle going through town during pageant time, and he stopped to ask what was going on. I told him and asked him if he knew anything about the Mormon church. He said, ‘Not a thing,’ so I invited him to stay with my family and watch the pageant. At first he said ‘No, I’m too grubby,’ but I told him he could shower and get cleaned up, and he agreed. He did watch the pageant and slept on our lawn in a sleeping bag that night. Well, we didn’t hear from him again for a year and a half. Then we got a letter from him in the mission field.” She pauses to blink back tears. “You know, I could just see the light of Christ in his eyes. That’s what this pageant is all about. And just recently, another lady and I were in Provo making some purchases for the pageant. A man in the shop heard who we were and walked up to us and said, ‘I owe the conversion of my son-in-law to the Mormon Miracle Pageant.’”

When I was a young bishop, an experience in our ward taught me about covenant belonging as manifested in the strengthening of one another in the Savior’s love. Ward families Hans and Fay Ritter and Larry and Tina O’Connor, along with other wonderful families, were constantly ministering to others and were beloved by all.
One day our stake president asked if I would check on the Ritters. When I arrived at their home, I noticed some sagging in the floor and a well-used kettle.
“Bishop, it’s like this,” Brother Ritter said. “Our water heater leaked, and warm water seeped through the floor. Termites came. That’s why the floor sags a little. We had to shut off the water heater, and that’s why we heat water in a kettle.”
The Ritters agreed to let me discuss their situation with our ward council. Our ward council was amazing. Members knew someone who could help with floors or walls or carpets or appliances or paint. Volunteers came and helped in countless generous ways. Among them was Larry O’Connor, a skilled builder who was frequently at the Ritters’ house.
Larry’s wife, Tina, recalled that Larry and other quorum members would sometimes go to the Ritters on Friday and stay all night. “One Saturday morning, I took them breakfast,” she said. “There was Larry coming out of a bathroom holding plumbing tools.”
Tina added that it was from men like Hans Ritter and others “that my husband learned to become a man—kind, thoughtful, tender. As my Larry served together with such good men, including in the nursery, he became an even more wonderful husband and father.”
When the house was finished, we all rejoiced.
Hans and Fay Ritter have been gone for some time, but I spoke recently with two of their sons, Ben and Stephen. They remember that the quiet service of others maintained the dignity of their father, who worked tirelessly to take care of his family.
While at a ward activity not long after the Ritters’ home was completed, Larry and Tina O’Connor received emergency word that their home was on fire. They rushed to their home and everywhere saw broken windows (to vent smoke) and punctured walls (to check for hidden flames).
“We were devastated,” Tina said. But then the ward came.
“Everyone helped,” Tina and Larry said. “The whole ward came together in love. We were there as a family.”
And who were among the first to come and the last to leave as the O’Connor home was being rebuilt? Yes, the Hans and Fay Ritter family.
Ben and Stephen are modest but remember their family coming to help the O’Connors. “We were all there together,” they said. “That’s the way service works. We all take care of each other, sometimes by helping others and sometimes by allowing others to help us.”
To me, there can be a wondrous, virtuous, harmonious circle as we strengthen each other in the Savior’s love. The O’Connors help the Ritters, the Ritters help the O’Connors, and all the while a community of Latter-day Saints is being established. Each day in myriad ways, we each need, and can offer, ministering love and support in small, simple, powerful, life-changing ways.

I have always loved animals. When I was a boy, my favorite pet was a dog I called Ruff. Today I would like to tell you about a test that Ruff flunked.

I suppose I named my dog Ruff because he looked and acted that way. He was a homely dog, an unlikely and unsuccessful cross between a bloodhound and an Airedale, and he was always getting into fights—and he loved to chase motorcycles. Unfortunately for Ruff, the motorcycle he loved to chase more than any other belonged to a policeman.

He never learned—that is, until one fateful day when he chased after the policeman one too many times and the officer shot Ruff in the foot. It scared my poor dog half to death, and he limped home whimpering and whining. I dressed his wound as best I could, and Ruff eventually recovered. But he never chased motorcycles after that.

Instead he followed me to work at my father’s business during the summer. Ruff wasn’t very welcome at work; he always seemed to be in the way. I tried to get him to go home, but he would not leave my side.

One day a young boy popped a balloon, and Ruff flew out the door at work and ran at full speed for the safety of our home. I guess he thought the policeman had come looking for him. From that day on, if I wanted Ruff to get out of our way, I would just pop a sack, and off he would flee in a beeline for home.

I am sure that before he got shot, chasing motorcycles seemed like a good idea to Ruff. Perhaps he was thinking, “This is exciting, and I am willing to risk the consequences in order to have a good time.”

But then he learned for himself through that terrifying experience that his thinking was shortsighted. There is a moral to this story, although I would rather think of it as advice from me to you, graduate to graduate.

Bobby looked around the Primary room. All of the kids looked so small! He couldn’t wait to turn 12 and start going to Young Men.
“Today we are going to talk about the priesthood,” Sister Wilkey said. “The priesthood is Heavenly Father’s power. When you receive the priesthood, you’ll have access to that power.”
Whoa, Bobby thought. Heavenly Father did things like create the earth and perform miracles. And He’s giving me His power? That sounded awesome.
Bobby didn’t really listen to the rest of the lesson. He was too excited thinking about how cool it was going to be to have Heavenly Father’s power!
One evening a few days later, Dad came in and said, “Bobby, I need your help. Sister Jarvis called. She can’t get around well with her hurt leg, and she needs help with some chores tonight. My home-teaching partner can’t come.”
Bobby looked out the window. It was snowing like crazy, and he was watching a great movie. “Can I finish this first?” he asked, snuggling into the warm sofa.
“Well, the storm is only going to get worse.”
“Fine. I’m coming,” Bobby said, slowly sliding out of the fuzzy blanket.
When they got to Sister Jarvis’s home, she thanked them for coming.
Rroooff! her little dog barked.
“Peanut got all muddy when he went outside today. Could you please give him a bath?”
“Sure,” Bobby said. He picked up Peanut. “Hey, little guy.” Peanut licked Bobby’s hand happily.
While Bobby washed the dog in the bathtub, Dad made dinner for Sister Jarvis. Then they washed the dishes, filled Peanut’s food dish, and brought more firewood inside.
“Is there anything else we can do for you tonight?” Dad asked.
“No, this is lovely! Thank you for your help!” she said.
“It was our pleasure. Have a good night,” Dad said.
“Bye, Sister Jarvis,” Bobby said. He patted Peanut goodbye.
As they got in the car, Dad thanked Bobby for coming.
“It was fun. Sister Jarvis seemed really grateful,” Bobby said.
“You know, things like this are what the priesthood is really about,” Dad said. “Heavenly Father gives us His power so we can serve others. Sometimes this means giving a blessing or passing the sacrament. Sometimes it means just visiting someone who needs help.”
“Oh, I hadn’t thought about it like that,” Bobby said. “But I’ll still get to do powerful stuff right?”
Dad smiled. “Serving people is powerful stuff, Bobby. It’s what Jesus Christ did when He was on the earth. Heavenly Father gives power to everyone who serves in His Church so that they can help others. That way everyone benefits from the priesthood.”
Bobby thought about that. Having the priesthood might be different from what he expected, but it still sounded important. And Heavenly Father trusts me to do it, he thought.
“I can do that,” Bobby said. Even though it was dark and cold, he felt peaceful and warm.

Conner was learning so many new, wonderful things, but he had a hard time understanding a key principle. “There’s just so many people,” he says. “How could God know everything about me?” So he asked the missionaries.
Sister Jin and her companion prayed to know how they could show Conner that Heavenly Father cares about him personally. Inspiration hit. Conner had recently shared with them how he felt homesick for China and missed his favorite Wuhan noodles.
The missionaries prayed, asking Heavenly Father to help them find these noodles. A couple hours before their next lesson with Conner, Sister Jin and her companion felt impressed to walk to an area they didn’t regularly visit. Not long after they got there they were approached by a Chinese family. It turned out they were from Wuhan, too!
Sister Jin told them about Conner and how he missed his homeland. The family went to their car, pulled out a bag full of Wuhan noodles, and asked Sister Jin to give them to Conner.
Later, during their lesson with Conner, Sister Jin told him, “Conner, Heavenly Father knows you and He loves you, and He even knows what your favorite food is.” Then she handed him the bag.
“When she gave me the bag of noodles, it was very special,” Conner says. “I really felt the Spirit and knew in that moment that God really knows me.”
Conner was soon baptized and sealed to his family in the Salt Lake Temple. “I have a great family. I don’t say that a lot in front of people, but it’s true—it’s always a party! I feel like I chose this family. I waited a long time for them. Everything is so good now.”

A veteran airline pilot may no longer be flying, but that won’t stop him from ministering to others on the ground.
On April 1 of 2024, Air Marshall Islands (AMI) held a surprise ceremony for Captain Albon “Al” Jelke at Amata Kabua International Airport in Majuro to commemorate his final flight as chief pilot for the national airline.
Brother Jelke, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was the longest-serving pilot in AMI’s history, with over 43 years of flight service. US Federal Aviation Administration regulations prevent pilots above 65 from flying commercially, a milestone Brother Jelke reached in April. He will remain with AMI as general manager, a post he’s held for over two years.
Strong emotions were displayed by his fellow employees at the ceremony on April 1, including president of the Marshall Islands, Hilda Heine, who honored Brother Jelke for his commitment and service. The admiration expressed by AMI employees and people on social media attests to his friendly nature and dedication.
“I’ve retired from flying but as the CEO/general manager of Air Marshall Islands, I can still fly as a passenger and minister to my people,” Brother Jelke said. “It just won’t be as frequent as when I was a pilot.”

One day I realized that I wasn’t reading my scriptures or doing some of the things I should be doing. I wasn’t being a good example to my brother and sister. So I decided to talk to my parents and my bishop about what was going on, to pray in the morning and at night, and to read my scriptures.

Sometimes I would pray to find answers to my questions through the scriptures. One morning, I prayed to have my eyes opened to something that I needed to know. I opened to Alma 38, where Alma is giving his son advice about things that you should and should not do. That really helped me out. This experience changed me because it opened my eyes to how much God loves us.

Doing what God wants me to do in the little things each day—including praying and reading my scriptures—helped me find these blessings.
Kade M., Hawaii, USA

In Mom’s last days, the men in the family surrounded her with their hands on her head, pronouncing a priesthood blessing. I peered in as well. She opened her eyes at the conclusion, looking at each one of us. The only word that she could muster was soft but clear: “love”. Her final word in mortality was the “greatest of these” – love -- giving us strength to press forward with steadfastness in Christ. . . and a love of God and of all men,” knowing that if we do, “[we] shall have eternal life.”

Their final words, their “last lectures,” sealed a lifetime of teaching that the love of God is “most desirable above all things. . . Yea, and the most joyous to the soul,” And that of all the spiritual gifts the “greatest of these is charity.”

President Thomas S. Monson told a story about a man from the eastern United States who was traveling by bus to California. In Salt Lake City a Primary girl got on the bus and sat next to the man. They started talking, and he asked if she was a Mormon. She answered yes. He asked her what Mormons believe. It was a big question for such a young girl. What would you have said? Imagine the look on the man’s face as she recited and explained the Articles of Faith. He couldn’t believe it!

After she got off the bus, the man thought about her courage and knowledge. As soon as he arrived in California, he called the local mission president and asked questions about the Church. The missionaries came to see him, and later the man’s entire family was baptized—all because a Primary girl knew the Articles of Faith and had the courage to share them (see Ensign, April 1994, pages 67–68).

Rowena first wanted to be a gymnast, but there wasn’t a good gymnastics program close by. There was, however, a good swimming coach in town. As her mother says, “Rowena became very good very quickly. She thought she’d go to the 2000 Olympics in swimming. But the pool in town is only open half the year.” She was not able to train consistently.
That’s when her plans changed. She and her brothers and sisters had taken up cross-country skiing because alpine skiing was too expensive. When Rowena was 11, a girl on her school’s ski team broke her arm. Another person was needed to complete the team. The team knew Rowena cross-country skied and asked her to try alpine. As Rowena says, “That’s when I started, and I’ve never looked back.” The following year she was the Australian children’s champion.
The Bright family lives about an hour and a half from the only mountains that have much snow in Australia. Even then, with bad snow years and short ski seasons, Rowena has had to train in less-than-ideal conditions. Once she was asked to join the Australian training institute, and gained sponsors to help with the expense, then she was able to do some training and participate in competitions in Europe and North America where snow is more abundant.