At nineteen, I was keeping books and acting a policy clerk for Mr. Henry Wadsworth, the agent of Wells, Fargo and Company. My time was not fully employed. I was not working for the company but for the agent personally. I did the same as I had done in Mr. White’s bank—volunteered to file a lot of bank letters, etc., and to keep a set of books of the Sandy Smelting Company, which Mr. Wadsworth was doing personally.
To emphasize the truth of the above quotation from 1 Chronicles, I will remark that my action so pleased Mr. Wadsworth that he employed me to do the collecting for Wells, Fargo and Company, and paid me twenty dollars a month for this work in addition to my regular compensation of seventy-five dollars from the insurance business. Thus I was in the employ of Wells, Fargo and Company, and one of my day dreams had become a reality.
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The Nobility of Labor
At nineteen, Heber J. Grant volunteered to do extra office work for Mr. Henry Wadsworth without expecting pay. Impressed, Wadsworth hired him to handle collections for Wells, Fargo and Company, adding to his compensation and fulfilling one of his early dreams.
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👤 General Authorities (Modern)
👤 Other
Employment
Self-Reliance
Friend to Friend
At six years old, he received a dreaded 'blue letter' from school and tried to hide it from his mother by lying. The letter fell out of his bag, his mother opened it, and he felt deep pain and regret. He learned that hiding a mistake through dishonesty causes more sorrow than admitting it and seeking forgiveness.
“When I was six years old, I had an experience that is very important to me. I’m afraid that I didn’t come out of it as a hero—exactly the opposite. Most of the time we’re not heroes. We are learning, progressing, correcting our mistakes. This incident really taught me about the consequences of dishonesty. In Germany at that time, if teachers wanted to send information to parents, they sent home a letter. Such a letter was always sent in a blue envelope, and so it was nicknamed the ‘blue letter.’ A blue letter always contained bad news! I must have done something wrong at school, because I got a blue letter. I put it in my school bag, and when I got home, my mother asked, ‘What’s wrong with you?’
“I lied. ‘Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.’
“She said, ‘Well, I see by the tip of your nose that something’s wrong.’
“That made me angry and very defensive, so after lunch I went into the living room and opened up my school bag and put everything on the desk. I must have been careless, because the blue letter fell out. My mother immediately saw it and asked, ‘What’s that?’ I tried to grab the envelope and hide it, but Mother had already picked it up and was opening it.
“I will never forget the feelings of pain that came over me while she was reading that letter. To make a mistake is one thing, but it isn’t a really serious mistake if you admit it, ask for forgiveness, and make a commitment not to do it again. But to try to hide a mistake, hoping that nobody will find out, that’s a serious mistake.
“And so the lie caused me much more sorrow than the original mistake. I can’t even remember what was in that blue letter, but I still recall, in vivid detail, the awfulness of lying to my mother.”
“I lied. ‘Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.’
“She said, ‘Well, I see by the tip of your nose that something’s wrong.’
“That made me angry and very defensive, so after lunch I went into the living room and opened up my school bag and put everything on the desk. I must have been careless, because the blue letter fell out. My mother immediately saw it and asked, ‘What’s that?’ I tried to grab the envelope and hide it, but Mother had already picked it up and was opening it.
“I will never forget the feelings of pain that came over me while she was reading that letter. To make a mistake is one thing, but it isn’t a really serious mistake if you admit it, ask for forgiveness, and make a commitment not to do it again. But to try to hide a mistake, hoping that nobody will find out, that’s a serious mistake.
“And so the lie caused me much more sorrow than the original mistake. I can’t even remember what was in that blue letter, but I still recall, in vivid detail, the awfulness of lying to my mother.”
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👤 General Authorities (Modern)
👤 Parents
👤 Children
Agency and Accountability
Children
Family
Honesty
Parenting
Repentance
Conference Story Index
Joy D. Jones and her husband learn to serve out of love for the Lord. They develop a lasting friendship with a less-active family.
Joy D. Jones and her husband develop a long-lasting friendship with a less-active family after learning to serve out of love for the Lord.
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👤 General Authorities (Modern)
👤 Parents
👤 Church Members (General)
Family
Friendship
Love
Ministering
Service
The Saints of the Guadeloupe District Testify of the August 2023 Indexing Campaign
A member learned indexing at a large activity led by Sabrina Bastien but initially found it difficult. After another activity with young consultants, they tried indexing at home with help from Sister Bastien and FamilySearch resources, eventually making it a weekly habit. Through prayer they gained patience and clarity, and during the first COVID-19 lockdown they indexed daily. They now feel joy helping unite families through indexing.
A few years ago, I learned to index during a large indexing activity organized at the Les Abymes meetinghouse, led in part by Sabrina Bastien. It didn’t particularly captivate me as I found the documents difficult to read. Another time, I participated in an indexing activity on a Sunday with young people who had been called to serve as temple and family history consultants. I then began trying to do it alone at home, calling Sister Bastien for help when problems arose, and reading explanations on FamilySearch. I started indexing every Sunday afternoon. It became a way for me to help my family with their genealogy, as we are all part of our Heavenly Father’s family. If I find it easy to locate my close family, it’s because others have done work for me.
So, it’s my turn to return the favor. I noticed that by asking for help from our Heavenly Father, I could read certain writing more easily. This allowed me to have patience. During the first major COVID-19 lockdown, I indexed every day. And then every Sunday. I am happy to be able to help, through indexing, in bringing families together on both sides of the veil.
So, it’s my turn to return the favor. I noticed that by asking for help from our Heavenly Father, I could read certain writing more easily. This allowed me to have patience. During the first major COVID-19 lockdown, I indexed every day. And then every Sunday. I am happy to be able to help, through indexing, in bringing families together on both sides of the veil.
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👤 Church Members (General)
👤 Youth
Baptisms for the Dead
Family
Family History
Patience
Prayer
Service
Temples
Feedback
A missionary experiencing health problems had to spend much time in the flat and initially felt it was wasted. She came to realize the Lord was giving her time to prepare spiritually for her mission and life. Inspired by scripture and another’s example, she intends to wait upon the Lord.
“Walk and Not Be Weary” in the March New Era brought home to me just how important it is to prepare ourselves spiritually for the tests of life, to build up that spiritual reservoir so that in times of crisis we can survive, rise above the challenge, and conquer. My story is similar to Kris Logan’s, although it has nothing to do with skiing. I’m serving the Lord on a mission, but I’ve been having problems with my health. I’ve had to spend a great deal of time in the flat. A lot of that time has been wasted, but I’m just really beginning to realize that Heavenly Father is giving me this time to really prepare myself spiritually, not only for my mission but for life. The scripture quoted in the story, Isaiah 40:28–30 [Isa 40:28–30], is truly beautiful, and I, like Kris, “intend to wait upon the Lord.”
Sister Lesley BurtonAustralia Brisbane Mission
Sister Lesley BurtonAustralia Brisbane Mission
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👤 Missionaries
Adversity
Faith
Health
Missionary Work
Patience
Scriptures
The Stern but Sweet Commandment
While serving as a bishop near the University of Utah, the speaker tried to save a young marriage after the wife was unfaithful. He learned she had grown up with an adulterous father and later read that she was arrested for prostitution. He reflects on Jacob’s warning about unfaithful fathers losing the confidence of their children.
As a bishop of a student ward adjacent to the University of Utah campus about 18 years ago, I tried vainly to hold a young marriage together. The wife had been unfaithful, and as I sought to help and to understand, I learned that as a child this woman had an adulterous father. Though unjustified, she acted out her feelings about men. What she then did was not love. Several years after my release as bishop, I saw a story in the local paper about her having been arrested for prostitution. I know not where she is today, but I cannot put out of my mind the words of Jacob, who decried unfaithful fathers who had lost the confidence of their children because of their bad examples (see Jacob 2:35).
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👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Parents
👤 Church Members (General)
Bishop
Chastity
Children
Family
Marriage
Sin
Mort the Mormon
That same night after Ryan prayed, a girl approached him and asked how he could handle the harassment. She said she had noticed he was different and wanted to know why. They talked about the Church for two hours, during which Ryan shared scriptures and his testimony.
“The interesting thing about that is that same night one of the girls who I never would have thought would be interested in the Church came up to me and said, ‘How can you handle that?’” She told Ryan she had noticed that he was different and asked what it was that made him act the way he did. They ended up talking about the Church for two hours, with Ryan sharing scriptures and his testimony with her.
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👤 Youth
👤 Other
Missionary Work
Scriptures
Teaching the Gospel
Testimony
Kindling the Light of Hope
After losing his job and possessions in a flood, returned missionary Dilson met with a local Church leader and felt prompted to pursue medicine. Through the Perpetual Education Fund, he completed nursing training and found stable employment at a public hospital. His wife, Alexsandra, also used a loan to become a schoolteacher. They credit the PEF with changing their lives.
When Dilson Maciel de Castro Jr. lost his job in São Paulo, he and his wife moved to Recife, a major port city in northeast Brazil, so they could live with his parents. Despite Dilson’s experience in the telecommunications industry, the only work he could find in Recife was a series of odd jobs.
“Things were very difficult for us at the time,” recalls Dilson. Their challenges went from bad to worse when the couple lost everything they owned in a flood.
At that low point, Dilson, who had served in the Brazil São Paulo South Mission, met with Elder Gutenberg Amorim, an Area Seventy and institute of religion director, to talk about career and educational options. As Dilson discussed his interests, he received a spiritual prompting that he should study medicine. Thanks to the Church’s then-recently implemented Perpetual Education Fund (PEF), in 2003 Dilson turned that prompting into a profession following an 18-month course in nursing.
“Without the fund, it would have been impossible for me to take the courses I needed,” says Dilson, who works for a public hospital in Recife. Likewise, his wife, Alexsandra, would not have been able to get a loan to pay for the education she needed to become a schoolteacher.
“Six years ago we were unemployed,” Dilson says. “The PEF was essential to all we’ve been able to accomplish. It has changed our lives.”
“Things were very difficult for us at the time,” recalls Dilson. Their challenges went from bad to worse when the couple lost everything they owned in a flood.
At that low point, Dilson, who had served in the Brazil São Paulo South Mission, met with Elder Gutenberg Amorim, an Area Seventy and institute of religion director, to talk about career and educational options. As Dilson discussed his interests, he received a spiritual prompting that he should study medicine. Thanks to the Church’s then-recently implemented Perpetual Education Fund (PEF), in 2003 Dilson turned that prompting into a profession following an 18-month course in nursing.
“Without the fund, it would have been impossible for me to take the courses I needed,” says Dilson, who works for a public hospital in Recife. Likewise, his wife, Alexsandra, would not have been able to get a loan to pay for the education she needed to become a schoolteacher.
“Six years ago we were unemployed,” Dilson says. “The PEF was essential to all we’ve been able to accomplish. It has changed our lives.”
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👤 Missionaries
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Parents
👤 Church Members (General)
Adversity
Education
Employment
Family
Holy Ghost
Revelation
Self-Reliance
Hire Yourself This Summer
A young entrepreneur fixed flat bicycle tires and realized the same patch kit worked on punctured playground balls at an elementary school. He secured a regular agreement to maintain the school’s playground equipment.
Some jobs, of course, are traditional, but if you approach them from a new angle, they can be modified from mundane chores into exciting, or at least profitable, endeavors. Try specializing: One fellow was earning money repairing flat bicycle tires when he also discovered he could use the same kit to patch the elementary school’s punctured playground balls. Now he has a regular agreement with the school to maintain their playground equipment.
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👤 Youth
Employment
Self-Reliance
How to Have a Happy Family
A child, saddened by struggling families and influenced by a lawyer father’s cases, wants to help families be happier. They come up with a program idea and write to the President of the United States asking what is being done to help families. The next day, they read the Family Proclamation and feel happy to see prophets and apostles teaching the same goals. They conclude that living the gospel each day will make families happier.
I love my family and try hard to help them when I can. I feel sad when I see families or parents who are struggling. I want to help them learn how to be a better and happier family. My dad is a lawyer and sometimes he has cases about families who are not choosing the right and that makes them very unhappy.
My idea was to help make a program to teach mothers and fathers and children to love each other better. I even wrote a letter to the president of the United States to ask what is being done to help families. Then yesterday I was reading “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” I felt so happy that President Hinckley and the Apostles also want families to have love and do things that are right. I think if families will live the gospel every day they will be a lot happier.
My idea was to help make a program to teach mothers and fathers and children to love each other better. I even wrote a letter to the president of the United States to ask what is being done to help families. Then yesterday I was reading “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” I felt so happy that President Hinckley and the Apostles also want families to have love and do things that are right. I think if families will live the gospel every day they will be a lot happier.
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👤 Parents
👤 Children
👤 General Authorities (Modern)
👤 Other
Apostle
Children
Family
Happiness
Love
Parenting
I Love Church!
A youth auditioned for a school play and received a main role. Upon learning that many rehearsals would be on the Sabbath, they told the teacher they could not attend and stepped away from the role. Though initially sad, they felt at peace because their love for church came first.
I auditioned for a play at my school. A few weeks later, I found out I had gotten one of the main parts! I was really excited, and rehearsals were going to be really fun. When I got a letter about when rehearsals were, I found out that loads of them were on the Sabbath day. I was so disappointed, so straightaway I told the teacher in charge that I could only go to a few rehearsals, so there would be no point in me being in the play. I may have been a bit sad about losing such a good part, but now I don’t care because I love church and nothing would stop me from going!
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👤 Youth
👤 Other
Children
Obedience
Sabbath Day
Sacrifice
The Blessings of Obedience
Elder Gary E. Stevenson and his wife, Lesa, visited missionaries at the Brazil Missionary Training Center. They discussed the blessings that come from obedience and bore testimony of Heavenly Father’s love and the Savior’s role in helping us progress.
“Lesa and I were honored to spend some time with this remarkable group of missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during a recent visit to the Brazil Missionary Training Center. We spoke about the blessings that come from obedience to God’s commandments. This is true for missionaries—and for all of us.
“I shared with these wonderful elders and sisters that we all are children of a loving Heavenly Father. He desires our ultimate success and eternal progression in this life and in the next.
“Our Savior Jesus Christ can help us receive these blessings from our Father. I testify of Him, and His divine redemptive role as our Savior.”
Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Facebook, June 1, 2023, facebook.com/stevenson.gary.e.
“I shared with these wonderful elders and sisters that we all are children of a loving Heavenly Father. He desires our ultimate success and eternal progression in this life and in the next.
“Our Savior Jesus Christ can help us receive these blessings from our Father. I testify of Him, and His divine redemptive role as our Savior.”
Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Facebook, June 1, 2023, facebook.com/stevenson.gary.e.
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👤 General Authorities (Modern)
👤 Missionaries
👤 Other
Apostle
Atonement of Jesus Christ
Commandments
Jesus Christ
Missionary Work
Obedience
Plan of Salvation
Testimony
In Memoriam:A Man for All the World
After serving a mission in the British Isles, Ezra studied at BYU. His sweetheart, Flora, accepted a mission to Hawaii. He waited for her return, and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple.
From 1921 to 1923, President Benson served as a missionary in the British Isles. Upon his return, he entered Brigham Young University, graduating with honors in 1926. In the meantime, Flora Smith Amussen, his sweetheart, accepted a mission call to Hawaii. He waited for her return, and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple, September 10, 1926.
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👤 General Authorities (Modern)
👤 Missionaries
👤 Young Adults
👤 Church Members (General)
Dating and Courtship
Education
Marriage
Missionary Work
Temples
You Can’t Pet a Rattlesnake
While visiting India, the speaker and his wife observed snake charmers coaxing cobras from baskets, even petting and handling them. A guide warned that such behavior was very risky and that poisonous snakebite was a major cause of death in the area. The experience illustrated how dangerous things can appear manageable or entertaining.
Some years ago, Sister Sorensen and I had the privilege of visiting India. At one airport I remember walking across the landing strip and seeing some men sitting in front of wicker baskets, playing flutes. As they started to play the music, they would take the top off the basket and a cobra would appear! As the music continued, the snake would rise higher and higher, nearly reaching its full length until the cobra would collapse back into the basket. Once I noticed a cobra fall outside the basket. The man playing the flute reached over, petted the cobra, and carefully put it back into the basket. I was amazed that a man could handle such a dangerous creature apparently without being harmed. But our guide quickly told me that this was very risky and told us that a major cause of death in this province was indeed poisonous snakebite.
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👤 General Authorities (Modern)
👤 Other
Courage
Death
FYI:For Your Information
High school senior Joe Izatt won first place in the physics division of the Montreal Province science fair with his laser project, advancing from school to regional and provincial levels. He also earned multiple academic and athletic honors and leadership roles. His achievements placed him among top students nationally.
When Joe Izatt of the Quebec Branch, Canada Montreal Mission, received first place in the physics division of the Montreal Province science fair, his high school principal and fellow students were not really surprised. Joe had won numerous awards and honors before. His science fair project, “Saturable Absorption of Laser Light by a Gas,” won the physics division of the Quebec High School science fair before winning the regional and provincial science fairs. In addition, upon graduation from high school, Joe received the Dunn memorial prize for the senior who best exemplifies the qualities of an athlete, a scholar, and a gentleman. During the preceding year he had served as student-body president, was captain of the football and basketball teams, was named most valuable football and basketball player, and was among the top three percent of all Canadian students in a national math contest.
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👤 Youth
Education
Young Men
My Companion’s Celestial Shoes
A missionary in Florida grew resentful of his senior companion, who avoided tracting and often talked about his affluent background. Instead of confronting him, the missionary secretly shined his companion's shoes each morning for two weeks. As he served, his resentment faded, and his companion joked about having 'celestial shoes.' The missionary learned that the problem was within himself and that love grows through service.
Years ago, after leaving the Provo Missionary Training Center, I arrived in Florida feeling prepared and excited to get started in the mission field. When I met my new companion, we had many of the same interests and our companionship seemed like a perfect fit.
After a few weeks, however, I noticed some differences. For example, I was ready to go tracting every day, but my companion was not so enthusiastic about knocking on doors. In fact, even though he was the senior companion, he chose not to do much of it.
I also noticed that my companion seemed to talk a lot about himself. His family was financially well-off, and he had experienced many things that I, coming from lesser circumstances, had not.
These things started to develop some uncomfortable feelings inside of me, almost to the level of resentment. Harboring resentment toward my companion affected me spiritually, especially while I was attempting to teach the gospel. I had to do something. At first I considered talking to my companion and simply venting all my frustrations. But I chose a different approach.
Each morning my companion and I would take turns showering and preparing for the day. While he was in the shower, I decided to sneak over to the foot of his bed and shine his wingtip shoes. After quickly cleaning and buffing them, I would carefully put his shoes back where they were. I did this every morning for about two weeks.
During this time I noticed that my resentment began to leave. As I served my companion, my heart began to change. I said nothing to him about my little act of service. One day, however, my companion mentioned that he must have been blessed with “celestial shoes” because they never seemed to get dirty.
I learned two great lessons from this experience. First, I learned that the real problem was within me—even though the catalyst for my feelings came from outside. My companion was fine.
Second, I knew that we generally serve those we love. But I didn’t realize that the same principle works in reverse: we come to love those we serve.
After a few weeks, however, I noticed some differences. For example, I was ready to go tracting every day, but my companion was not so enthusiastic about knocking on doors. In fact, even though he was the senior companion, he chose not to do much of it.
I also noticed that my companion seemed to talk a lot about himself. His family was financially well-off, and he had experienced many things that I, coming from lesser circumstances, had not.
These things started to develop some uncomfortable feelings inside of me, almost to the level of resentment. Harboring resentment toward my companion affected me spiritually, especially while I was attempting to teach the gospel. I had to do something. At first I considered talking to my companion and simply venting all my frustrations. But I chose a different approach.
Each morning my companion and I would take turns showering and preparing for the day. While he was in the shower, I decided to sneak over to the foot of his bed and shine his wingtip shoes. After quickly cleaning and buffing them, I would carefully put his shoes back where they were. I did this every morning for about two weeks.
During this time I noticed that my resentment began to leave. As I served my companion, my heart began to change. I said nothing to him about my little act of service. One day, however, my companion mentioned that he must have been blessed with “celestial shoes” because they never seemed to get dirty.
I learned two great lessons from this experience. First, I learned that the real problem was within me—even though the catalyst for my feelings came from outside. My companion was fine.
Second, I knew that we generally serve those we love. But I didn’t realize that the same principle works in reverse: we come to love those we serve.
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👤 Missionaries
Humility
Judging Others
Love
Missionary Work
Service
Raising the Quality of Life:
In Portoviejo, Ecuador, Humberto Canarte’s family struggled to survive on a small farm. After learning Benson Institute small-scale agriculture techniques, he adopted better seeds, spacing, and animal feeding. His crop yields more than doubled and his chickens matured far faster, improving family nutrition and income. Trainees and BYU students helped implement the changes, and the families are expected to continue successfully.
That plan is making a difference for Humberto Canarte of Portoviejo, Manabi province, Ecuador. Humberto and his wife support five children and two grandchildren on one hectare of good farmland near the Pacific Coast. For the Canarte family, farming is survival. In past years, their living has been meager.
Two years ago, Humberto Canarte was planting just corn and peanuts. Today he is also harvesting soybeans and vegetables. He still plows by hand and clears weeds with a machete. But he now plants hybrid corn, and he plants it in rows closer together. As a result, he now harvests as much as 5,500 kilograms of corn per hectare, more than double what he used to harvest. Two years ago, it took as long as a year for Humberto’s chickens to reach market size. Now, by feeding them a better balanced diet, he can raise chickens in eight weeks using only one-tenth of the feed he previously used.
Today the Canarte family is better nourished. Not only do they eat more chicken and eggs, but they can also afford to buy rice with the money they are making on their corn. Now, too, their diet includes more vegetables from a small garden they cultivate. In fact, the Canarte family harvest has increased threefold over past years.
What has made such a startling difference? The Benson Institute calls it small-scale agriculture. Two years ago, institute personnel farmed two plots in Portoviejo, training farmers and the local agriculture department in techniques that make small-plot farming more productive. Last year, Humberto and six other farmers who have learned those techniques tripled their yields.
Two BYU graduate students are training Humberto Canarte and the other six families in Portoviejo how to farm more productively. Malaquias Flores is a master’s degree candidate from Chihuahua, Mexico. He and Neils Tidwell, an animal science major from Idaho, with their wives and children, live in Portoviejo. “We feel good being able to help them have a better way of life,” they say. They feel confident that the seven families are fully capable of carrying on the program after Benson Institute personnel leave Portoviejo.
Two years ago, Humberto Canarte was planting just corn and peanuts. Today he is also harvesting soybeans and vegetables. He still plows by hand and clears weeds with a machete. But he now plants hybrid corn, and he plants it in rows closer together. As a result, he now harvests as much as 5,500 kilograms of corn per hectare, more than double what he used to harvest. Two years ago, it took as long as a year for Humberto’s chickens to reach market size. Now, by feeding them a better balanced diet, he can raise chickens in eight weeks using only one-tenth of the feed he previously used.
Today the Canarte family is better nourished. Not only do they eat more chicken and eggs, but they can also afford to buy rice with the money they are making on their corn. Now, too, their diet includes more vegetables from a small garden they cultivate. In fact, the Canarte family harvest has increased threefold over past years.
What has made such a startling difference? The Benson Institute calls it small-scale agriculture. Two years ago, institute personnel farmed two plots in Portoviejo, training farmers and the local agriculture department in techniques that make small-plot farming more productive. Last year, Humberto and six other farmers who have learned those techniques tripled their yields.
Two BYU graduate students are training Humberto Canarte and the other six families in Portoviejo how to farm more productively. Malaquias Flores is a master’s degree candidate from Chihuahua, Mexico. He and Neils Tidwell, an animal science major from Idaho, with their wives and children, live in Portoviejo. “We feel good being able to help them have a better way of life,” they say. They feel confident that the seven families are fully capable of carrying on the program after Benson Institute personnel leave Portoviejo.
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👤 Other
Adversity
Education
Family
Self-Reliance
Service
Healed in the Temple
The author and spouse lost two sons to stillbirth, leading to intense grief and spiritual struggle. With support from family, scripture, prayer, and counselors, the author found culminating healing through serving in the temple. Temple service brought increased light and assurance of the Lord’s love and reshaped how the author viewed ancestors and eternal families. Holding to covenants now helps on hard days as they anticipate being with their sons again.
Our first son was stillborn in 2017. Nine months before the Durban South Africa Temple was dedicated in 2020, our second son was stillborn.
At the time, I felt like Hannah of the Old Testament. I “was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore” (1 Samuel 1:10).
I felt helpless and angry, and I was in excruciating pain. I struggled emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Holding on to the rod felt like holding on to a thread that was gradually slipping from my hands. I was truly burning in “the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10).
I am so grateful that I received help and healing from my family, the scriptures, and prayer. I also received help from counselors. The culmination of my healing, however, came in the temple.
As I began serving in the temple, I began to be filled with increased light. I felt at home there. I also felt a deep assurance that the Lord loves me and is mindful of my struggles.
As I continued serving in the house of the Lord, I began to look at the names of my ancestors in a different way. They weren’t just names. I realized, for example, that one ancestor was a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a sister, a niece. Her passing must have been hard for surviving relatives. But the blessings offered this ancestor in the temple through sacred vicarious ordinances constitute a great and sweet joy that surpasses any pain her living relatives might have felt at her passing.
This understanding has blessed me as I have thought about our precious boys, the eternal nature of our spirits, and Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation. Losing our boys prompts me to do my best to live the gospel.
Some days are still harder than others. But holding on to my covenant promises makes those days easier.
To borrow the words of President Russell M. Nelson, “We miss our [sons] greatly. However, because of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, we do not worry about [them]. As we continue to honor our covenants with God, we live in anticipation of our being with [them] again.”1
At the time, I felt like Hannah of the Old Testament. I “was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore” (1 Samuel 1:10).
I felt helpless and angry, and I was in excruciating pain. I struggled emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Holding on to the rod felt like holding on to a thread that was gradually slipping from my hands. I was truly burning in “the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10).
I am so grateful that I received help and healing from my family, the scriptures, and prayer. I also received help from counselors. The culmination of my healing, however, came in the temple.
As I began serving in the temple, I began to be filled with increased light. I felt at home there. I also felt a deep assurance that the Lord loves me and is mindful of my struggles.
As I continued serving in the house of the Lord, I began to look at the names of my ancestors in a different way. They weren’t just names. I realized, for example, that one ancestor was a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a sister, a niece. Her passing must have been hard for surviving relatives. But the blessings offered this ancestor in the temple through sacred vicarious ordinances constitute a great and sweet joy that surpasses any pain her living relatives might have felt at her passing.
This understanding has blessed me as I have thought about our precious boys, the eternal nature of our spirits, and Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation. Losing our boys prompts me to do my best to live the gospel.
Some days are still harder than others. But holding on to my covenant promises makes those days easier.
To borrow the words of President Russell M. Nelson, “We miss our [sons] greatly. However, because of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, we do not worry about [them]. As we continue to honor our covenants with God, we live in anticipation of our being with [them] again.”1
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FYI:For Your Information
As Torrance High studentbody president, Lynn Curtis started a benefit project for Orthopedic Hospital in Los Angeles. Years later, his younger brother Dean, also studentbody president, led the effort, turning the campus into themed regional displays for a massive festival. The event drew over 100,000 attendees and raised $15,000, uniting students and townspeople in service.
Families are the backbone of the Church. They also are important in “Project Hope.” Lynn Curtis of Torrance, California, originated the idea of doing a benefit project for Orthopedic Hospital of Los Angeles, California, when he was studentbody president of Torrance High four years ago. Younger brother Dean has come along to be studentbody president too and has spearheaded the project, which recently netted $15,000. More than 100,000 people attended the super-festival. The entire Torrance High campus was turned into model regional sections of the United States. The state flags were on display, and special features of the areas were erected in miniature, such as a Coney Island hot dog stand, a hula hut, a lighthouse, and a huge mountain range for the Rockies. The carnival drew students together in a great cause, and the townspeople are glad there are Mormon boys to stir up involvement.
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See the Good in Them
Assigned to minister to Karen as she began returning to church, the speaker and her youth companion Ella felt prompted to invite Karen to the temple. Ella resolved account issues, the speaker helped with temple clothing, and Karen found peace in the celestial room. Despite health challenges, Karen experienced miracles, grew in confidence, and testified that ministering sisters are sent from God.
Karen is now a dear friend of mine. But I didn’t know her until I became her ministering sister. My ministering companion was a kind young woman named Ella, who was a senior in high school. We received the assignment to minister to Karen when she was just starting to return to church.
As we ministered to Karen and learned her unique story and needs, Ella and I felt impressed to invite her to come to the temple. This effort enlisted Ella’s tech-savvy skills to fix issues with Karen’s online Church account so she could pay her tithing and make a temple appointment. And I took her to get new temple clothing and helped her feel comfortable going. Karen seemed to glow and be filled with peace and happiness as she and I sat together in the celestial room following the session.
Karen experienced major health issues but also incredible miracles during the time we ministered to her. Supporting her during this time strengthened all of us in the Lord.
We invited her to join us for Relief Society and Sunday School and spent time with her in her home. She has grown beautifully confident in who she is and who she wants to become. She has started to see the good in herself.
When I asked Karen if I could share this special experience of being her ministering sister, she said, “Go for it! Let them know there is a Heavenly Father who loves [them]!” She said the love and concern Ella and I had for her taught her that she needed someone in her life. She said, “They will never know how much I needed them. … Ministering sisters are sent from God.”
As we ministered to Karen and learned her unique story and needs, Ella and I felt impressed to invite her to come to the temple. This effort enlisted Ella’s tech-savvy skills to fix issues with Karen’s online Church account so she could pay her tithing and make a temple appointment. And I took her to get new temple clothing and helped her feel comfortable going. Karen seemed to glow and be filled with peace and happiness as she and I sat together in the celestial room following the session.
Karen experienced major health issues but also incredible miracles during the time we ministered to her. Supporting her during this time strengthened all of us in the Lord.
We invited her to join us for Relief Society and Sunday School and spent time with her in her home. She has grown beautifully confident in who she is and who she wants to become. She has started to see the good in herself.
When I asked Karen if I could share this special experience of being her ministering sister, she said, “Go for it! Let them know there is a Heavenly Father who loves [them]!” She said the love and concern Ella and I had for her taught her that she needed someone in her life. She said, “They will never know how much I needed them. … Ministering sisters are sent from God.”
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