Gospel Story Finder

Another event that shows Joseph’s love and respect for his father happened one time after he had had a disagreement with his brother William. Joseph went to his father for advice and the dispute was settled when young Joseph obediently accepted his father’s counsel.

I had a serious case of the “I feel worthless” syndrome. I lacked self-esteem and refused to care for or about myself.
My parents tried to encourage me, but any suggestion could cause an eruption. Talking to me was like walking on eggs. “Just leave me alone!” I would exclaim, louder and more angrily than I had intended. I knew my parents spent many sleepless nights worrying about their daughter.
One Sunday evening, my mother insisted that I go to a stake fireside with her and my father. “I don’t want to go to that stupid fireside!” I said. I was always looking for an argument, for any way to blame others for my misery.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Paige. Of course you’ll go,” my mom answered.
When we walked into the chapel, I noticed that some of my friends were already sitting—not in the pews, but on the stand. Trying to go unnoticed, I sat down.
A youth leader tapped me on the shoulder, “Paige, why don’t you sing with us?”
“I’m sorry, Sister Daines, but I haven’t been to any of the practices. I don’t even know the name of the song.”
“Don’t worry,” she said as she helped me up from my seat. “You’ll be fine.”
Before I knew it, the stake president was introducing “a vocal number by the great youth of the stake.” Panic raced through my heart.
The pianist touched the keys, and the opening bars of the song echoed throughout the chapel. Tears slowly slid down my cheeks as I began to sing. I knew the words to this song. I had all along.
“I am a child of God,” I sang. As the words came from my lips, I looked at my parents, smiling from the front row. Their eyes said, “We love you.”
Suddenly I knew I was not alone. From that moment, I have known that truly I am a child of God and that he has sent me to parents kind and dear.
The words of the song had come out of my mouth many times. Now they had finally entered my heart.

I loved making my puppet after I watched the Friend to Friend broadcast!
Marjore D., age 10, São Paulo, Brazil

Photograph courtesy of Grant H.
I have felt inspired to strive harder to strengthen my personal relationship with the Holy Ghost and diligently listen to promptings. I have set a goal to incorporate greater sincerity into my prayers and learn how the Spirit speaks to me. I will seek to be prompted daily for simple ways to serve others. Because of conference, I want to become an instrument for good in the hands of the Lord.
Grant H., 15, Maine, USA

“Temple Marriage” was the theme of the recent Central Canadian Region Lamanite Youth Conference, held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for young Lamanite men and women from the ninth through the twelfth grades.
Some of the youth traveled as far as 400 miles to participate in the conference, which included workshops, talent competition, an awards banquet, a dance, and a testimony meeting.
In order to attend the conference the students had to meet certain requirements, which included participating in either a speech or essay contest and living Church standards.
Ten percent of the participants in the conference were nonmembers, but they were expected to meet the same requirements as the members. The members found special pleasure in teaching these nonmember friends the gospel and in making them feel part of the conference.
The Lamanite youth were welcomed warmly by the local members in whose homes they slept. The local Relief Societies provided lunch for the Friday conference session.
The conference began Friday morning with registration and an address by Calgary North Stake President, Blaine L. Hudson. Following this address, the students participated in the speech and talent contests.
Next they participated in workshops built around the conference theme, after which they had some time to rest up for the banquet and dance, both of which were dressy affairs.
Like all other aspects of the conference, the banquet and dance were conducted by the students themselves, and both were a great success. A local Lamanite disc jockey contributed his talents free of charge, and the young men, being outnumbered by the girls, involved every young lady in the dance by trading off regularly.
Saturday morning there was a meeting at which these Lamanite youth bore testimony of their love for the gospel, their leaders, and each other. It was evident that the girls looked up to the priesthood bearers as their leaders and the young men saw each of their sisters as a lovely, gracious woman.
The youth were involved in all stages of planning the conference, and they arranged for and carried out the activities themselves They were responsible for all preparations, including such things as travel arrangements, housing, food, flowers, decorations, speakers, meetinghouse facilities, and so on. They learned new leadership skills and enjoyed the opportunity to try their strength.
As President Hudson said in his opening address, “The prophecy of Samuel the Lamanite is coming to pass: ‘And this is according to the prophecy, that they shall be brought to the true knowledge, which is the knowledge of their Redeemer, and their great and true shepherd, and be numbered among his sheep.’” (Hel. 15:13.)

Blake is from Penrith, Australia, and has taken part in junior triathlons, so he is a strong swimmer and runner. He started lifeguarding at swimming pools in the Penrith area before he became the youngest and first trainee lifeguard to be hired at Bondi Beach when he was 18 years old.

Joseph moved to Missouri in the spring of 1838. Far West served as Church headquarters. The cornerstones for a temple were laid, but the Saints were driven out by mobs before the temple was built.

A lot of people are thankful to Shawn for their introduction to the gospel. One of his favorite activities is helping the missionaries. When invited, he sometimes travels across four or five states on an airline or in his own plane to tell an assembly of investigators about rodeoing and the gospel. He explains some of the finer points of bronc riding and then winds up the meeting telling them why the gospel is so important. After a recent trip to an Indian reservation where he explained about the gospel and how to ride broncs, he said, “I guess this approach has helped opened a few more doors for the elders.”

Porter volunteered to remain in Missouri until all the Saints had made their way to Illinois. Because of his fearlessness, a number of unfounded charges were made against him, and he became a hunted man. In defense of his faithful and valiant friend, the Prophet Joseph said, “Orrin Porter Rockwell, who is now a fellow-wanderer with myself [is] an exile from his home, because of the murderous deeds, and infernal, fiendish dispositions … and unrelenting hand of the Missourians. He is an innocent and a noble boy. May God Almighty deliver him from the hands of his pursuers. … Let the blessings of salvation and honor be his portion.” (History of the Church, 5:125.)

Over and over, I have been reminded that people play important roles in our lives. One cold January day when I was in high school, I stayed after school for wrestling practice. My home was ten miles from the high school, so I usually caught a ride home after practice.
On this particular night, I didn’t feel very well. The only ride I could get was in the back of a pickup, and when the driver dropped me off, I was still at least a mile from home. I felt frozen, and I remember not being able to think straight. There were no cars in sight as I stumbled down the road toward home.
Before long, a car appeared in the distance. As it grew closer, I weakly waved my arm, hoping the driver would stop. He did. It was my brother-in-law, who had felt a strong prompting to come looking for me. The next day, I was diagnosed with pneumonia. I was very sick for several weeks. I’m not sure what would have happened to me if my brother-in-law hadn’t showed up, but I’m certain that he was following the Spirit when he went out looking for me that night.

1. I’ve seen the photographs;
I’ve seen the women on my screens.
It’s heavy on my mind
Why they seem happier than me.
And I’ve been running ’round
Chasing down the person I should be.
It keeps me up at night.
These expectations always seem
Too heavy. How can I
Find truth when it’s so hard to see?
’Cause it’s like tryin’ to find
a drop inside an ocean far too deep. Mm.
But then I hear You when I feel alone.
Your voice can heal me,
Save me from myself.
You take my weight
And carry it away.
And I remember I’m beloved.
I’m divine—
Divine in nature,
And I’m perfectly designed.
When I don’t feel wanted,
You call me—
I remember I’m beloved.
I’m divine—
Divine in nature,
And I’m perfectly designed.
When I don’t feel wanted,
You call me beloved. Beloved.
2. I tune the noises out,
And in the silence I can see
You love me more than life,
And your love is all the hope I need.
The proof is in the stars
And in the scars you took for me.
Sometimes I hear You when I feel alone.
Your voice can heal me,
Save me from myself.
I know who I am
No matter where I go.
I remember I’m beloved.
I’m divine—
Divine in nature,
And I’m perfectly designed.
When I don’t feel wanted,
You call me—
I remember I’m beloved.
I’m divine—
Divine in nature,
And I’m perfectly designed.
When I don’t feel wanted,
You call me beloved. Beloved.
My scars don’t make me who I am.
Oh, they just tell my story.
The imperfections fade away,
And You help me see the beauty.
My scars don’t make me who I am.
Oh, they just tell my story.
The imperfections fade away,
Fade away.
And I remember I’m beloved.
I’m divine—
Divine in nature,
And I’m perfectly designed.
When I don’t feel wanted,
You call me—
I remember I’m beloved.
I’m divine—
Divine in nature,
And I’m perfectly designed.
When I don’t feel wanted,
You call me beloved. Beloved.

Said Wilford Woodruff from this Tabernacle: “Joseph Smith was what he professed to be, a prophet of God, a seer and revelator. He … lived long enough to deliver the keys of the kingdom … unto the Twelve Apostles. … The foundation that he laid we have built upon” (in Journal of Discourses, 13:164).

Since our last conference we have had a delightful message from Christopher S. Bond, Governor of the state of Missouri, who advised us that he has rescinded the 138-year-old Executive Order of Governor Lilburn W. Boggs calling for the extermination or expulsion of the Mormons from the state of Missouri. Governor Bond, present Missouri governor, writes:
“Expressing on behalf of all Missourians our deep regret for the injustice and undue suffering which was caused by this 1838 order, I hereby rescind Executive Order No. 44 dated October 27, 1838, issued by Governor Lilburn W. Boggs.”
To Governor Bond and the people of Missouri, we extend our deep appreciation for this reversal and for the present friendly associations between the membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the people of Missouri as it is now in effect.
In Missouri now we have five stakes in fifty-one communities, with approximately 15,000 members of the Church, who, we are confident, are law-abiding citizens of that state of Missouri. Thank you, Governor Bond.

When I was walking home from school one day I saw my friend. She was crying because her mom was not home. So I took her to my house. She felt better when I helped her. Her mom came home soon after that, and my friend was happy. I am glad I could help my friend.

During her time at the mission home, the American missionaries taught Sister Fidencia to sing hymns in Spanish and English. She later joined the legendary Tecalco Choir and sang with the choir until just a few years before her death.

I had a wise bishop who called me in when I was twelve. He said, “LeGrand, we need some organists in our ward. I’d like you to take an organ class at the McCune School of Music. It costs five dollars for ten lessons. The ward will pay half of it, and you pay half.” I’m sure my mother put him up to it and paid the ward’s half.
I took the class and started to play the organ. When I was fourteen, I became the ward organist. In my high school days, I played the piano in a dance orchestra. That was a lot of fun. I loved the rhythm, and I could usually make five or ten dollars a night. When I was in dental school in Kansas City, Missouri, I played the organ at a Presbyterian church. It was a great experience for me. I played a lot of LDS hymns for them. They especially enjoyed “O My Father” and “Come, Come Ye Saints.” After playing at their service, I would get on the bus and go play a pump organ at our service.

For instance, there recently came to my office a Protestant minister who is a most effective leader in the unending battle against pornography. We are grateful for him. We join with him and his associates. We give financial support to his organization.

When I went to college, I wondered what would happen if I stopped going to church, reading my scriptures, or praying. It was the worst experiment of my life! After two months, I felt like Heavenly Father was telling me, “Never do that again!” Feeling the light of the gospel return to my life really helped me realize how much Christ had been with me through my difficult, lonely childhood.

A week later, two missionaries knocked on the Cantos’s door. That evening they gave Nancy, Pedro, and their two older sons, Cesar and Fernando, the first discussion.

Before they left, the elders gave the family a Book of Mormon, after first marking for them the passages they had been discussing about Christ’s visit to America. They also felt inspired to underline the passages relating to Lehi’s dream about the tree of life—something they had never done before.

Later, as Nancy Cantos read the account of Lehi’s dream, she became excited. It was so similar to her own! She knew in her heart that this was the answer to their prayers.

Eagerly she read the passages to her husband and told him about her dream. He, too, believed this was their answer. “If we obey God’s commandments and hold to the iron rod, our baby will be healed,” he told his wife.

The Cantos could hardly wait for the next discussion.

For a jade carving to have great value, the jade has to be one solid color. Carvings made out of perfect jade sell for high prices because it is nearly impossible to find perfect jade. The Jadeite Cabbage is green on one end and white on the other, and it has cracks and ripples. No skilled carver would waste time on such a piece of jade, until someone came along whom the Chinese call a master carver.
If this jade could talk, I can imagine the conversation it would have with this new carver. I imagine the carver picking up this piece of jade.
“What do you want?” the jade would ask.
“I am looking for jade to carve,” the carver would say.
“Then find another piece. I am of no worth. I have two different colors so intertwined that you’ll never separate them. I have cracks and ripples in me. I will never be of any worth. Don’t waste your time.”
“Oh, you silly little jade. Trust me. I am a master carver. I will make a masterpiece of you.”
What makes the Jadeite Cabbage so amazing is that this anonymous master carver used the weaknesses of the jade—the two colors, the cracks, and the ripples—to make the cabbage all the more lifelike. The opaque white part became the stem of the cabbage, and the cracks and ripples make the leaves come to life. If it weren’t for the “weaknesses” of this jade, it could not have looked so real.
Because of the beauty of this piece of art, it became a gift for one of the royalties in China and adorned the halls of beautiful Asian palaces until it ended up at the museum in Taiwan.