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“Ask in Faith, Believing That Ye Shall Receive in the Name of Christ …”

After graduating high school, the narrator prayed in faith and placed their name on the temple prayer roll, asking for a job to save for a mission and for their family to be baptized before departure. In November 2016 they found a job and saved money, then invited family to stake conference in February 2017. By April, the narrator’s mother, sister, and two nephews were baptized. In September 2017, the narrator received a mission call to the DR Congo Kinshasa Mission, strengthening their testimony of God’s love and the Book of Mormon.
After I graduated from high school, I pondered the words of the Book of Mormon in Enos 1:15, “Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it.” I called the temple to put my name on the temple prayer roll and continued to pray personally, asking my Heavenly Father to help me find a job that would allow me to save up money to pay for my mission and also to touch the hearts of my family members so that they could be baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before I left to start my mission.
My desire was to go on mission in 2017.
A few weeks later, Heavenly Father began to answer my prayer. In November 2016, I found a job. It was really difficult at first, but then it became easy. I saved up money to help my mother AND to pay for my mission.
In February 2017, I invited my family to our stake conference, and in April, my mother, one of my sisters, and two nephews were baptized into the Church. What a blessing: four members of my family baptized within a month!
In September 2017, I received my call to serve a two-year mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa Mission.
Through this experience, my testimony has grown. I know that our Heavenly Father loves all His children, He lives and knows us all individually, and He knows our desires. The Book of Mormon is the word of God—the name of Jesus Christ is quoted 558 times in it, which strengthens my belief that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ because I read it.
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👤 Missionaries 👤 Parents 👤 Children 👤 Young Adults 👤 Church Members (General)
Baptism Book of Mormon Conversion Employment Faith Family Missionary Work Prayer Scriptures Self-Reliance Temples Testimony

Being an Example

During multiple recruiting trips to colleges in the United States, the narrator explained her beliefs to team members who had never heard of Latter-day Saints. The conversations surprised them and strengthened her own testimony.
To a large majority of the world, we are considered a different kind of people. We live a clean, mellow life in contrast to the partying lifestyle. I had the opportunity to travel to several different colleges throughout the United States on recruiting trips. While this was an extremely fun and exciting experience, it was also a huge eye-opener for me. The girls on the teams I was being recruited by had never even heard of Mormons. On every single trip, I ended up explaining my beliefs. They were shocked by some of the things I told them, but this was a real testimony builder. As I told them what I believe, I felt an even stronger testimony growing inside me.
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👤 Young Adults 👤 Church Members (General) 👤 Other
Diversity and Unity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Faith Missionary Work Testimony

George Albert Smith1870–1951

After a severe illness left him incapacitated for over two years, George Albert had a dream. His grandfather asked what he had done with the family name, and George Albert replied he had done nothing to bring shame. The experience came during his recovery in 1909.
In 1909 he suffered a severe illness and was incapacitated for over two years. One night during the period of his recovery, he had a dream in which his grandfather Smith appeared to him and asked, “I would like to know what you have done with my name.” George Albert replied “I have never done anything with your name of which you need be ashamed.”
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👤 General Authorities (Modern)
Adversity Family Family History Health Revelation

Q&A: Questions and Answers

A young man felt very nervous about receiving his patriarchal blessing. He spoke with his bishop to ask how to prepare. The bishop counseled him to fast and pray for the Spirit, and the young man testifies that patriarchal blessings are from God and encourages others to receive theirs when ready.
I know I was very nervous when I was going to receive my patriarchal blessing. I talked to my bishop and asked him about the things I should do to prepare. He told me to fast and pray for the Spirit to be with me. A patriarchal blessing is truly from God, and I encourage everyone to get theirs when they are ready.
Scott Ostermiller, 16Fruit Heights, Utah
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👤 Youth 👤 Church Leaders (Local)
Bishop Fasting and Fast Offerings Holy Ghost Patriarchal Blessings Prayer Revelation Testimony Young Men

A Family Is …

The Park family in rural Utah begins days with scripture study and views education as encompassing all of life. In a large household, older children teach younger ones, and everyone shares responsibility for each other’s success. Their father, a school principal, and their varied activities reinforce that the gospel is central to learning and growth.
Inside a farm house in tiny Hanna, Utah, the Park family sits together, reading scriptures, sharing what they learn. Outside, the sun is just breaking over the Uinta Mountains. It’s 6:00 A.M.

In this home, each day brings new opportunities for growth, spiritually and temporally, personally and as a family. The Parks call the learning process “education,” but that’s a broad definition. They try to simplify it: “Education is school, church, work, play—in short, everything we do. Education is applying what we’ve learned to our own lives to make them better.”

But getting a well-rounded education isn’t easy when you live on an isolated farm in the mountains. And finding time for education is hard when you’re one of ten children (plus a Costa Rican exchange student) and have duties on the farm and in the house.

Those difficulties, however, are what made the children of the Park family develop a secret of success: be responsible and learn from each other.

“With a family this size we have to teach each other,” says Brook, 15. “My mom and dad are involved in a lot of things in the community and at church so the older kids make sure the younger ones understand their homework and can do things around the house.”

“We all feel responsible for everybody else’s success,” adds mother, Rene.

Ben is the oldest child left at home. At 17 he is beginning to feel the eyes of the younger children upon him. More responsibility. More growth.

“I’ve come to realize it’s important to study and learn because I set an example for the rest,” says Ben, who will graduate in Tabiona’s largest senior class ever—20 people.

Ben also recognizes the educational value of the things he takes for granted, things he learned from his father. He helps his brothers and sisters learn to work around the farm and with the cattle.

Bob, the father, is the principal of the Tabiona Public School, ten miles down the valley. So, of course, academics are important in the household, but the children have never been limited to just a classroom education. The family also learns from activities like 4-H, Scouting, music, drama, sports, and traveling.

“We try to be well-rounded people, participating in all aspects of education,” Bob said. “We then teach each other the gospel by using life—trying to show how our lives relate to the scriptures and then how the scriptures relate to us.”

Education is a family business for the Parks, and the gospel is at the center of all they learn. At dawn in the Uinta Mountains, the Parks are discovering a world of opportunity.
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👤 Parents 👤 Youth 👤 Children 👤 Church Members (General) 👤 Other
Education Family Parenting Scriptures Self-Reliance Teaching the Gospel

Lessons I Learned as a Boy

In sixth grade, Lynn, a class clown, was sent to the closet by Miss Spooner. At lunchtime he emerged eating the teacher’s lunch, causing the class to laugh and worsening the situation. Lynn continued clowning through life and learned too late that serious choices matter.
As the years passed, I finally reached the sixth grade. One of my friends was Lynn. That wasn’t his real name, but that’s what I’ll call him. He was always in trouble. Lynn seemed to have a hard time concentrating, particularly when spring came and things looked better outside than they did in.
Miss Spooner, our teacher, seemed to have it in for Lynn. One day at about 11 o’clock, Lynn disturbed the class, and Miss Spooner told him to shut himself in the closet. Lynn obediently went and closed the door behind him. When the bell rang at 12 o’clock, Lynn came out eating the last bite of Miss Spooner’s lunch. We couldn’t help laughing, all but Miss Spooner, and that made matters worse.
Lynn went on clowning throughout his life. He never learned until it was too late that life is a serious thing, in which serious choices are to be made with care and prayer.
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👤 Children 👤 Friends 👤 Other
Agency and Accountability Children Education Friendship Prayer

The Assembly Hall

The Nauvoo Bell once hung in the original Nauvoo Temple. When the pioneers left Nauvoo, they hauled the bell by wagon to Salt Lake City. Today a recording of the bell rings hourly, and Kennidy reflects that it reminds them of religious freedom.
The Nauvoo Bell stands next to the Assembly Hall. The bell hung in the original Nauvoo Temple. When the pioneers left Nauvoo, they pulled the bell in a wagon to Salt Lake. Today, a recording of the bell rings every hour. “I think it is cool that the bell did all of these things so long ago, and now we hear it too,” Kennidy said. “It reminds us of the religious freedom we have.”
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👤 Pioneers 👤 Children
Children Religious Freedom Sacrifice Temples

Because of Joseph’s Prayer

A sacred record buried in a hill is found by Joseph by God’s will. It becomes the Book of Mormon, showing the Savior and standing with the Bible.
A record buried in a hill
And God alone knew where,
But Joseph found it, by God’s will,
For all the world to share.
Now as the Book of Mormon known,
Its pages have our Saviour shown.
The Bible does not stand alone
Because of Joseph’s prayer.
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👤 Joseph Smith 👤 Other
Bible Book of Mormon Joseph Smith Prayer The Restoration

For the Sake of Your Posterity

While returning home in Peru, a Church leader took a taxi and learned the driver, Omar, had been inactive since age 15. After a heartfelt conversation and sharing contact information with the bishop, Omar returned to church with his son. Months later, Omar baptized his wife and children, and a year after that the family was sealed in the Lima Peru Temple. Omar explained he returned because he and his wife wanted greater happiness for their children through the gospel.
A few years ago, when I was serving in the South America Northwest Area and living in Peru, I had a beautiful experience that I would like to share with you.
It happened when I was returning home after a busy weekend of assignments. After finally completing the airport immigration process, I found a friendly taxi driver waiting for me from our usual taxi service. He took me to his car, and I sat in the back, ready to relax and enjoy a quiet trip home. After driving a few blocks, the driver received a phone call from his supervisor telling him I took the wrong taxi. A different car was reserved for me, and the supervisor asked him to take me back to the airport if I wanted to change cars. I told him it was not necessary, and we could keep going. After a few minutes of silence, he looked at me through the rearview mirror and asked, “You are a Mormon, aren’t you?”
Well, after that inviting question, I knew my quiet moments were over. I could not resist exploring where his question would take us.
I learned that his name was Omar, his wife’s name was Maria Teresa, and they had two children—Carolina, age 14, and Rodrigo, age 10. Omar had been a member of the Church since he was a child. His family was active, but at some point, his parents stopped going to church. Omar became completely inactive when he was 15. He was then 40 years old.
At that moment I realized I did not take the wrong taxi. It was not a coincidence! I told him who I was and that I was in his taxi because the Lord was calling him back to His fold.
We then talked about the time he and his family were active members of the Church. He had fond memories of sweet family home evening moments and some Primary songs. He then softly sang a few words of “I Am a Child of God.”
After getting his address, phone number, and permission to share with his bishop, I told him I would find a way to be in the chapel on his first day back to church. We finished our trip from the airport to my home, as well as our little trip to his past, and we went our separate ways.
A few weeks later his bishop called me, telling me Omar was planning to attend church on a certain Sunday. I told him I would be there. That Sunday, Omar was there with his son. His wife and daughter were not yet interested. A few months later, his bishop called me again, this time to tell me that Omar would be baptizing his wife and his two children, and he invited me to be there. Here is the picture of that Sunday where they were confirmed members of the Church.
That same Sunday, I told Omar and his family that if they were prepared, in one year I would be honored to perform their sealing in the Lima Peru Temple. Here is a picture of that memorable moment for all of us, taken one year later.
Let’s start with the first scenario, good members who have left the covenant path, as happened with my Peruvian friend Omar. When I asked him why he decided to return, he said it was because he and his wife felt their children would be happier in life with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He felt it was about time to go back to church for the sake of their children.
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👤 General Authorities (Modern) 👤 Church Leaders (Local) 👤 Parents 👤 Children 👤 Church Members (General)
Apostasy Baptism Bishop Children Conversion Covenant Family Family Home Evening Ministering Missionary Work Sealing Temples

After All Was Said and Done, It Was True

A woman in Mexico City meets missionaries through the Flores family and initially resists their message. After discussions, a challenge to read the Book of Mormon, and a joint fast with the missionaries and the Flores family, she prays and receives a confirming witness. She finishes the Book of Mormon in under a week and is baptized on February 19, 1990. She expresses gratitude for those who helped her accept the restored gospel.
“All right, I’ll listen to your message,” I told the young missionaries when they asked if they could visit me in my home in Mexico City. “But just to share ideas. I already know what I believe, and I don’t want to be a member of your church.” I had met them when the Flores family invited me to their family home evening. I never imagined that the evening would end with my allowing them to come to my house. Oh, well, it’s only an hour, I told myself. Then I can forget about them.
The following week, at exactly the appointed hour, I heard their knock. At least they’re punctual, I thought, and opened the door to see two fresh faces, eager to begin.
At first I was defensive, expecting them to attack my beliefs. But instead they talked about our Father in Heaven, who has a body like me; about his Son, who had died for me and then was resurrected; and about the Holy Ghost, who can communicate with me. It was all very logical.
Then they went on to say that Jesus Christ had visited the American continent; his visit was recorded in a book—the Book of Mormon.
If they think they’re going to sell me their little book, I thought, they are mistaken. To my surprise, they said that someone had already purchased the book for me and that the only price was to read it. For that reason I accepted it, although I felt that only the Bible contained God’s word.
When the elders came a second time, they asked me if I would be baptized. “I’m already baptized,” I replied. “I was baptized when I was a baby, and it was good for life.” The missionaries stated that baptism had to be done by immersion and that it was for the remission of sins at the age of eight, when a child was old enough to be responsible for his actions. In my heart I knew that I had been sinless when I was baptized. And I hadn’t been submerged. I decided to take a closer look at their beliefs.
I began to visit their church, although I would leave the meetings early to attend my own services. I found that everyone there smiled and greeted me as if they had known me for a long time. They just want to convert me, I told myself. The atmosphere is nice, and the classes are interesting, but that is all.
Although I didn’t touch the Book of Mormon, I continued with the discussions. I learned about a young man named Joseph Smith who, in the year 1820, saw God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. At that moment, a new era had begun—lost truth had again illuminated the world. Could this possibly be true? There was only one way to find out, the missionaries said, and that was to pray. They taught me how to pray in a very simple way. They said God would answer me if I would only ask him this question, with sincere faith. My heart softened for a moment, but then I was afraid. What if he did answer? What if it were true?
The next time they came, they explained that before we were born, we had all lived with our Heavenly Father in a spirit world (could it really exist? I wondered) and that we came to this earth to get bodies and to learn to choose between good and evil. If we chose the good, we began to become like God. Isn’t this blasphemy? I asked myself. How can I become like God, who is perfect? The missionaries also explained that I should take care of my body. They asked me if I would keep the Word of Wisdom and the law of chastity. I surprised myself when I agreed to live by these standards, even though I did not believe in their church.
This is too much, I thought, when during the fifth discussion they told me about tithing, about fasting, and about the offering I should give for the poor. Why should I help others when I am the one who needs help? But the missionaries explained that Latter-day Saints consider it a privilege to pay their tithing and fast offering. “The Lord gives you ten apples and asks for only one back,” they explained. “How generous he is!”
Well, I said to myself, if he’s going to give me ten apples and then want one back, let him just give me nine in the first place! But I had always had financial problems. Was it because I was unfair with the Lord?
At the last discussion, the missionaries reviewed everything they had taught and explained the mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Again they spoke of baptism, and again I told myself that they would not succeed in baptizing me. I began to argue vigorously with them. The evening ended with my assuring them that they were wrong about everything. They listened sadly, then tried to respond with readings from the scriptures. But I refused to listen and asked them to leave.
At last I was free of the missionaries. Certainly, they were pleasing enough as people, but I wanted no more to do with them as representatives of their church. So why did I feel such an emptiness inside?
One Sunday afternoon, about six weeks later, the missionaries came again. This time, one of the elders suggested that I would have a difficult time reading the Book of Mormon in a week. I felt a challenge in his words. Did he think I wasn’t capable of reading his little book? I will read it in even less time! I also accepted their suggestion that the three of us fast together the following Tuesday while I came to a decision about the book.
That night when I began to read the Book of Mormon, I found that despite my former reluctance, I could not put it down. I read steadily, with no desire to sleep, until three o’clock in the morning. Although I had to work the next day, I found myself reading the book at each free moment. And as soon as I came home in the afternoon, I went back to it like steel drawn to a magnet.
That very evening, I visited the Flores family, who had introduced me to the missionaries. I told them that I was considering baptism. Brother Flores questioned me, wanting to know if I were serious. I answered that I was. Then the Flores family said that they wanted to fast with me and the missionaries the next day. That night I read until the early hours a second time.
On Tuesday morning, each of us, in our own homes, began to fast. I was in good spirits all day and was not hungry or thirsty. In the afternoon, I read a scripture that shook me: “For after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, … then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed” (Alma 34:33). I knelt and asked my Father in Heaven if the church I was investigating was true and if I should join it. As I listened, I knew deep within my soul that this really was the church of Jesus Christ. I should wait no longer. That night when I ended my fast, I told the missionaries of my decision to be baptized. Happiness filled their faces.
Day and night I continued my reading of the Book of Mormon until, six and a half days after I started, I finished it. I had done it! I had met the missionaries’ challenge. I knew that I would never again refer to the Book of Mormon as the “little book.” It was now a great book, another testament of Jesus Christ. And although Satan tried to put obstacles in my path, on 19 February 1990 I was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
After all was said and done, it was true! God loved us so much that he designed a plan of salvation for us and gave his Only Begotten Son as a sacrifice so that we could return to his presence. Joseph Smith saw the Father and the Son and was chosen by God to restore the truth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds the authority of God to perform those ordinances and offer those covenants that help us obtain a celestial home, if we are faithful and true to those covenants.
Each night I thank God for the opportunity I had to meet the Flores family and the missionaries. They all served as instruments in the hand of the Lord so that I could receive and accept his precious gospel.
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👤 Missionaries 👤 Church Members (General) 👤 Other
Atonement of Jesus Christ Baptism Book of Mormon Chastity Conversion Faith Family Home Evening Fasting and Fast Offerings Friendship Gratitude Holy Ghost Jesus Christ Joseph Smith Missionary Work Plan of Salvation Prayer Revelation Scriptures Testimony The Restoration Tithing Word of Wisdom

Power in the Priesthood

A single mother described the humility it takes to call her home teachers to bless her child. She observed it requires no more humility than that of the home teachers who prepare to give the blessing.
A mother, carrying the weight of providing both spiritually and temporally for her family, sensitively explained that calling her home teachers to bless one of her children requires her humility. But she insightfully added that it requires no more humility than that of her home teachers as they prepare to bless her child.
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👤 Parents 👤 Church Members (General) 👤 Children
Family Humility Ministering Parenting Priesthood Priesthood Blessing

John Taylor:

After returning from his first mission to England, John Taylor found his wife, Leonora, gravely ill. He called in elders to anoint and bless her. Through their faith and prayers, she recovered.
Upon returning home from his first mission to England, he found his wife, Leonora, gravely ill. Elder Taylor called in the elders and anointed Leonora and blessed her. Through their faith and prayers, she was restored to health.
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👤 General Authorities (Modern) 👤 Church Members (General) 👤 Other
Adversity Faith Family Health Miracles Missionary Work Prayer Priesthood Blessing

Perfect Prayer

During a sacrament meeting, Billy, a newly ordained priest with speech challenges, repeatedly restarts the sacrament prayer after missing words as the bishop lovingly signals corrections. As the congregation grows anxious, Billy’s older brother Andy quietly kneels beside him for support. With his brother at his side, Billy completes the prayer perfectly, teaching the congregation about love, patience, and growth.
Calmly the bishop turned his head toward the sacrament table and gave the dreaded “no” sign. The young priest had missed a word while blessing the sacrament.
Give the kid a break, I thought to myself, trying in vain to transmit my brainwaves to the bishopric. After all, this was Billy we were talking about. This was a kid who had a tough enough time talking in complete sentences, let alone reading prayers in front of a congregation of people, speaking words verbatim from a card.
Just a week before, Billy’s dad had ordained him a priest. With that prayer came a promise that the Lord would help him overcome his handicaps. The following Sunday, that promise was put to the test. Billy was kneeling behind the sacrament table, confronted with a task that demanded nothing less than perfection.
Billy prayed again, and with loving composure, the bishop once again signaled for him to say the prayer over. Billy’s face filled with disappointment as he dropped to his knees, cleared his throat, and prayed. An anxious reverence filled the chapel.
As Billy began again, I prayed along with him, mouthing each word as if I could somehow control his speech. Amazingly, the technique seemed to be working. With only a few phrases to go, Billy’s prayer was perfect. And then the unthinkable happened as the words that I mouthed and Billy spoke went suddenly out of sync.
There would be no need for Billy to look at the bishop. Billy knew he had to start over. For one awkward and eternal moment he remained on his knees as all eyes focused on the bishopric. And then Andy arose from the congregation, walked quietly to the sacrament table, and knelt down next to his younger brother.
Bowing our heads in gratitude, we waited for Andy to offer the prayer and put an end to Billy’s suffering. But it was Billy’s voice—not Andy’s—that broke the silence. I held my breath as Billy tiptoed through the phrases with his brother at his side.
Then at last came “amen,” and the bishop smiled and nodded.
Billy emerged from behind the sacrament table wearing the same big grin he seemed to always have. For one sweet moment he had tasted perfection, and he knew it. We all knew it, and I more fully understood the wisdom of our bishop.
He was well aware of Billy’s weaknesses. But he loved Billy. He loved him enough to allow him the chance to magnify his priesthood and to let him try and fail until he found perfection.
In that perfect prayer that Billy uttered, we were all lifted and edified. We all saw a priest of great courage who knelt with his older brother and preached a powerful sermon from the sacrament table.
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👤 Church Leaders (Local) 👤 Youth 👤 Parents 👤 Church Members (General)
Bishop Courage Disabilities Family Prayer Priesthood Sacrament Sacrament Meeting Young Men

Dean R. Burgess

As a college basketball player on scholarship in 1965, Dean Reid Burgess faced a choice between continuing basketball and serving a mission. After much prayer and fasting, he chose to leave school and serve in Brazil. His testimony of the restored gospel was strengthened during his mission.
The first real test of my young testimony came when I had to decide between going on a mission and playing basketball,” says Dean Reid Burgess. Brother Burgess had spent his freshman year playing basketball for the College of Southern Utah on scholarship.
It was 1965, the height of the war in Vietnam, and not every young man had the chance to serve a mission because of the United States military draft. But Brother Burgess had the chance and the choice. “It took a lot of prayer and a lot of fasting,” he says. “But I knew serving a mission was a real privilege, so I left school to serve.” While serving in the Brazilian Mission, Brother Burgess solidified his testimony of the restored gospel.
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👤 Missionaries 👤 Young Adults
Faith Fasting and Fast Offerings Missionary Work Prayer Sacrifice Testimony War

A wife describes how she and her husband use the Liahona for family home evening. They seek inspiration from First Presidency messages to face daily challenges. As a result, their home and marriage are strengthened in Christ.
My husband and I use the Liahona for family home evening. It has been an edifying experience. In the messages from the First Presidency, we seek words of inspiration to help us with our daily challenges. Thus we strengthen the foundations of a home and a marriage founded on the Savior Jesus Christ.
Patricia Oliveira de Souza Balena Leal, Brazil
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👤 Church Members (General)
Family Family Home Evening Jesus Christ Marriage

Queensland Church Pioneer—John Douglas Jeffrey

In 1957, missionaries visited John Jeffrey’s mother, and as they taught John and his mother, the Holy Ghost confirmed the Church’s truth to him. After moving to Townsville, John and his new wife, Lois, continued learning from missionaries. They became the first people baptized into the Church in Townsville, with John baptized in Bluewater Creek.
Early in 1957, two missionaries knocked on his mother’s door and she invited them in. This was the start of John Douglas Jeffrey’s learning about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As he and his mother spent time with the missionaries, the Holy Ghost bore witness to him that the Church was true because the missionaries were able to answer all of his questions.
Later, John moved to Townsville, Queensland, where he met more missionaries who continued to teach him, and also his new wife, Lois. In September 1957 they became the first people to join the Church in Townsville. He was baptised in Bluewater Creek just north of Townsville. (Baptisms in creeks or swimming pools were common in the early days of the Church.)
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👤 Missionaries 👤 Parents 👤 Other
Baptism Conversion Holy Ghost Missionary Work Testimony

Beloved Teacher

As David O. McKay prepared to retire, he worried that the funds for a larger school building were still incomplete. After being called away on his last day, he returned to a surprise gathering where students and friends announced the remaining funds had been donated and presented checks and letters.
When Elder McKay’s busy calling made it necessary for him to retire, he worried because all the money had not yet been raised for a larger building. Then, on his last day of school, he was suddenly called to a meeting in Salt Lake City.
Student: Mr. McKay, we bought you these books by Charles Dickens as a farewell present.
David: This means so much to me. I’m sorry I can’t be here for the last day.
That night when he returned home to attend a reception for school board members, he was surprised to find 300 students and other friends gathered in the study hall.
Student: Surprise! We’re happy to announce that the rest of the money for a larger school building has been donated. Here are checks and letters from some of your friends.
Student: To Elder David O. McKay, a man we love, admire, and respect!
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👤 General Authorities (Modern) 👤 Youth 👤 Church Members (General)
Apostle Charity Education Friendship Love

Bruce Drennan:Planting the Seeds of Testimony

After Bruce’s death, Grace Jones fielded media inquiries and proposed sharing the Book of Mormon in his memory. With stake approval and family support, the project launched, personalized copies were prepared, and many wards participated. The stake mission president described the overwhelming response as books were printed and distributed.
When the news of Bruce’s death reached his hometown of Ukiah, California, it struck a nerve in the community. Bruce was well known and loved. Grace Jones, whose Church assignment is to work with the media in Ukiah, received many of the questions about what had happened. She decided to let people really know what Bruce was doing in Bolivia—preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“We had so many inquiries from newspapers and radio stations about Bruce, that we decided it would be a good idea to let others know what he had been teaching,” said Sister Jones. “Why not give out copies of the Book of Mormon in his memory during the remaining 18 months he would have been serving as a missionary? I discussed the idea with the stake presidency, and they approved it. And Bruce’s family accepted the idea wholeheartedly.”
Many wards in the Ukiah Stake asked if they could participate in the Book of Mormon project. Posters were made and put in the foyers of participating wards. When a referral card was filled out and returned to the stake or full-time missionaries, the name of the requesting person was embossed in gold on the hardback cover of a Book of Mormon for that person, with Bruce’s testimony and photo included. Over 500 copies of Bruce’s testimony were printed the first time, and more were later printed.
“It was overwhelming! We were printing names on books like you couldn’t believe!” said Bruce Bates, Ukiah stake mission president. The books were either given to the recipient by the person making the referral or by the missionaries.
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👤 Church Leaders (Local) 👤 Church Members (General) 👤 Missionaries 👤 Friends
Book of Mormon Death Grief Missionary Work Service Testimony

One Year, 3 Goals

Michael Deamer reflects on the breadth of growth he experienced through Duty to God. From climbing a mountain to sewing a button, he was pushed to develop talents and knowledge he never expected to enjoy.
Michael Deamer remembers, “Duty to God is amazing. I’ve learned so much, from climbing a mountain to sewing a button on my shirt! It really has pushed me to develop talents and knowledge in areas which I never thought I would be interested in.”
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👤 Youth
Education Self-Reliance Young Men

Voices

Teresa wanted her less-active father to attend her temple wedding but he lacked a recommend. Through loving encouragement, conversations, and prayers, he prepared and obtained a recommend. At the wedding, they embraced with gratitude for the change her love helped bring.
Teresa was blessed to have a relationship with a fine returned missionary who promised marriage. These two loved each other in all the right ways. They planned to go to the temple. They qualified for this and they were anxious, but there was a snag in their plans. Teresa’s father hadn’t been active in the Church, so he didn’t have a temple recommend. She loved her father, the way girls do, and wanted him there when she was married. Through her love and encouragement, her tireless, tender conversations and prayers with him, her father finally came around.
I happened to be seated next to him at Teresa’s wedding in the temple. When the ceremony was over, Teresa turned at once to put her arms around her father, and with tears streaming, she whispered in his ear, “Oh, daddy, my daddy, my beloved first sweetheart. Thank you! Thank you!”
And her father, emotionally touched, replied, “Oh thank you, little girl. Thank you!”
Teresa was a voice of love!
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