Ten toots of a whistle,
Five waves of a hand,
Three clicks of a shutter and you’re gone.
The days and weeks,
The mornings and evenings,
The failures, the triumphs,
The oneness
Are strings of confetti in the water,
Slowly fading to gray,
to white,
to nothing in the patient sea.
Marks scratched in a dusty black book are all I
have now;
The ghost of a man
Who once was half my mind.
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Missionary Transfer
A narrator recounts a parting marked by a whistle, waves, and camera clicks as the other person departs. As time passes, their shared days and experiences fade like confetti in the sea. Only marks in a dusty black book remain, and the person lingers as a ghostly memory who once felt like half the narrator's mind.
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👤 Other
Death
Disabilities
Grief
“Mom, Are We Christians?”
The speaker struggled to understand the Trinity as taught in his youth. When introduced to Joseph Smith’s First Vision, he experienced a powerful awakening that clarified the distinct nature of the Father and the Son and dispelled his former beliefs.
The knowledge of God and His physical separateness from His Son and the Holy Ghost was lost after the death of Christ and His Apostles. Confusion and false doctrines about the Godhead were fashioned out of the Nicene Creed and Constantinople councils, where men declared that instead of three separate beings, the Godhead was three persons in one God, or the Trinity. Just as Christian Protestant reformers struggled with these creeds of men, I did as well. The teachings about the Trinity that I learned in my youth were incomprehensible to me.
However, when I was introduced to the glorious truths of the First Vision experienced by the Prophet Joseph Smith, it was a stunning awakening for me to finally understand the truth about the nature of God the Eternal Father and His Only Begotten Son. Joseph declared: “I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”4 This heavenly vision restored the wondrous yet plain and precious knowledge of God and His Son to the earth again, dispelling at once the teachings I had learned about the Trinity.
However, when I was introduced to the glorious truths of the First Vision experienced by the Prophet Joseph Smith, it was a stunning awakening for me to finally understand the truth about the nature of God the Eternal Father and His Only Begotten Son. Joseph declared: “I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”4 This heavenly vision restored the wondrous yet plain and precious knowledge of God and His Son to the earth again, dispelling at once the teachings I had learned about the Trinity.
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👤 Other
👤 Joseph Smith
Conversion
Jesus Christ
Joseph Smith
Revelation
The Restoration
Truth
Finding Hope and Love When Battling Pornography
A man describes years of addiction to pornography and learning that repentance is a process. With support from his wife and family and by turning fully to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, he found strength to overcome his addiction. Daily spiritual practices now bring him peace and joy.
A Journey of Hope and Healing
A husband and wife share how pornography affected them and how they are addressing it:
Peace Will Come
After years of fighting a pornography addiction, I learned that repentance isn’t an event but a process. Looking back, I see God’s hand in my life, leading me along. The faith, prayers, and support of my wife and family helped me more than they will ever know. With God’s help, I hope to become the husband and father they have always deserved.
Through my struggles, Heavenly Father was preparing me and my family to receive greater joy and healing. I learned that the Savior alone is the source of strength and refuge that will provide healing and recovery. It was only when I turned to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with full purpose of heart that I was strengthened to overcome my addiction. It’s a daily exercise to put on the full armor of God and to fill my life with things that invite the Holy Ghost, but doing so has brought me peace and joy.
A husband and wife share how pornography affected them and how they are addressing it:
Peace Will Come
After years of fighting a pornography addiction, I learned that repentance isn’t an event but a process. Looking back, I see God’s hand in my life, leading me along. The faith, prayers, and support of my wife and family helped me more than they will ever know. With God’s help, I hope to become the husband and father they have always deserved.
Through my struggles, Heavenly Father was preparing me and my family to receive greater joy and healing. I learned that the Savior alone is the source of strength and refuge that will provide healing and recovery. It was only when I turned to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with full purpose of heart that I was strengthened to overcome my addiction. It’s a daily exercise to put on the full armor of God and to fill my life with things that invite the Holy Ghost, but doing so has brought me peace and joy.
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👤 Jesus Christ
👤 Church Members (General)
👤 Parents
Addiction
Chastity
Faith
Family
Holy Ghost
Hope
Jesus Christ
Marriage
Peace
Pornography
Prayer
Repentance
Temptation
A Lifelong Love for the Temple
Betty and Bill married and raised four children, but tragically lost their son Donal in a road accident at age 21. Later, with Bill’s passing as well, Betty became more grateful for the plan of happiness that reunites families eternally. This truth motivates her to stay faithful to be reunited in the next life.
In 1950, Betty met her husband, Bill, who had migrated from Belfast, Northern Ireland to also find work at the shipyard. They married a year later and had three boys and one girl, but sadly, a road accident would take their second eldest son, Donal, at the age of 21. Betty now has 11 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren and says, “Every one of them is lovely.”
The passing of her son Donal and, more recently, her husband Bill have made Betty more grateful and aware of the blessing it is to know that God’s plan of happiness reunites families in the eternities.
She loves the gospel truth that families can be together forever. “It’s a great motivator to keep us on the straight and narrow path so that we can be reunited in the next life.”
The passing of her son Donal and, more recently, her husband Bill have made Betty more grateful and aware of the blessing it is to know that God’s plan of happiness reunites families in the eternities.
She loves the gospel truth that families can be together forever. “It’s a great motivator to keep us on the straight and narrow path so that we can be reunited in the next life.”
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👤 Parents
👤 Children
👤 Church Members (General)
Death
Endure to the End
Family
Gratitude
Grief
Marriage
Plan of Salvation
The Fruit of Our Welfare Services Labors
The speaker recalls his boyhood chores on a small farm, such as gardening, feeding cattle, and chopping wood. He did not realize then that this labor was cultivating strong 'roots' before 'branches.' He expresses gratitude to his parents for teaching this principle, urging others to develop deep roots through work and discipline.
It seems that some among us have this same problem; they want bountiful harvests—both spiritual and temporal—without developing the root system that will yield them. There are far too few who are willing to pay the price, in discipline and work, to cultivate hardy roots. Such cultivation should begin in our youth. Little did I know as a boy that daily chores in the garden, feeding the cattle, carrying the water, chopping the wood, mending fences, and all the labor of a small farm was an important part of sending down roots, before being called on to send out branches. I’m so grateful that my parents understood the relationship between roots and branches. Let us each cultivate deep roots, so that we may secure the desired fruits of our welfare labors.
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👤 Parents
👤 Youth
Children
Family
Parenting
Self-Reliance
Comments
A woman in Germany suffered serious health problems, lost her job, and struggled even to buy food. After praying for health and faith, she received Der Stern earlier than usual and read President Hinckley's article on coveting. The message gave her strength and reassurance that she was doing all she could.
I can’t thank you enough for the article “Thou Shalt Not Covet” by President Gordon B. Hinckley that was published in the February 1991 Der Stern (German).
When medicine in powerless, I know that the word of God can heal. Because of several health problems, I had been dismissed from work and had little money for rent and food. I wanted to go to school and do several other things my friends were able to do, but at times I was so sick that I didn’t have the strength to go to the grocery store across the street.
One day I received Der Stern earlier than usual. I had been praying for health and more faith in my Heavenly Father. The article “Thou Shalt Not Covet” gave me the strength to realize I was doing all I could.
A sister in the gospelGermany
When medicine in powerless, I know that the word of God can heal. Because of several health problems, I had been dismissed from work and had little money for rent and food. I wanted to go to school and do several other things my friends were able to do, but at times I was so sick that I didn’t have the strength to go to the grocery store across the street.
One day I received Der Stern earlier than usual. I had been praying for health and more faith in my Heavenly Father. The article “Thou Shalt Not Covet” gave me the strength to realize I was doing all I could.
A sister in the gospelGermany
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👤 Church Members (General)
👤 General Authorities (Modern)
Adversity
Employment
Faith
Health
Prayer
Ryan Moody
A discouraged friend asked Ryan for advice. He suggested she listen to classical music instead of hard rock; she followed his counsel and reported the next day that her discouragement had lifted.
Music has helped Ryan reach out to others and set a good example. He teaches keyboard and composition classes in a special summer school program. One friend was very discouraged and turned to Ryan for advice. He told her to go home and tune the radio to a classical music station instead of the usual hard rock she listened to. “She followed my advice,” Ryan said. “The next day she thanked me and said she didn’t feel one bit discouraged.”
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👤 Youth
👤 Friends
Education
Friendship
Kindness
Ministering
Music
“This Is What I Was Looking For!”
While waiting in a doctor’s office, he notices a young woman reading a blue, scripture-formatted book and learns it is not the Bible. Intrigued, he later tells his friend Ghersi, who eventually brings him a worn copy of the book. Reading Joseph Smith’s testimony and about Moroni fills him with conviction that he has found the truth, and he reads 1 Nephi with newfound understanding.
About that time I was waiting in a doctor’s office, and I noticed that the young lady seated next to me had opened a book with a blue cover. The book’s text was written in columns like the Bible. I was curious to know if it was the Bible, but I also wanted to get back to the comic book I had been reading.
I directed my eyes to the blue book and read a word at the top of the page: Alma. I made an effort to remember that name from my Bible reading, then went back to my comic book. But the blue book continued to attract me, and once again I directed my eyes to that mysterious book.
When the young lady noticed my interest, I asked if the book was the Bible. She answered no and asked me what church I belonged to. I told her none, because I didn’t know which one was true.
That night I couldn’t stop thinking about that strange book. I didn’t know its name, because the young lady had said only that it belonged to the Mormon Church. I told my friend Ghersi about it, and he offered to get me a copy. Several weeks went by, and then one afternoon he handed me a book without a cover and with worn pages. All he said was, “Here’s the book.”
That afternoon I opened the book and read the testimony of Joseph Smith. I felt that it was what I had wanted to know; the feeling became stronger when I read about the visit of the angel Moroni. Unable to contain my excitement, I arose from my chair and shouted, “This is what I was looking for! Here is the truth!” I read the first chapters of 1 Nephi very slowly. I felt that I understood them as I had never understood a book before.
I directed my eyes to the blue book and read a word at the top of the page: Alma. I made an effort to remember that name from my Bible reading, then went back to my comic book. But the blue book continued to attract me, and once again I directed my eyes to that mysterious book.
When the young lady noticed my interest, I asked if the book was the Bible. She answered no and asked me what church I belonged to. I told her none, because I didn’t know which one was true.
That night I couldn’t stop thinking about that strange book. I didn’t know its name, because the young lady had said only that it belonged to the Mormon Church. I told my friend Ghersi about it, and he offered to get me a copy. Several weeks went by, and then one afternoon he handed me a book without a cover and with worn pages. All he said was, “Here’s the book.”
That afternoon I opened the book and read the testimony of Joseph Smith. I felt that it was what I had wanted to know; the feeling became stronger when I read about the visit of the angel Moroni. Unable to contain my excitement, I arose from my chair and shouted, “This is what I was looking for! Here is the truth!” I read the first chapters of 1 Nephi very slowly. I felt that I understood them as I had never understood a book before.
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👤 Youth
👤 Friends
👤 Other
Book of Mormon
Conversion
Faith
Joseph Smith
Missionary Work
Scriptures
Testimony
The Restoration
It’s True, Isn’t It? Then What Else Matters?
The speaker and his wife supported a sister in France whose husband died in his 30s, leaving her to raise four young children. The task felt overwhelming. Sixteen years later, her sons returned from missions and her daughter was sealed in the temple.
Many years ago my wife and I stood by a courageous sister in France as her husband, still in his 30s, passed through the veil. The responsibility to righteously teach and guide her four young children alone seemed overwhelming. Yet 16 years later, her three sons have returned from missions, and her daughter is sealed in the temple.
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👤 Church Members (General)
👤 Parents
👤 Missionaries
Adversity
Courage
Death
Family
Grief
Missionary Work
Parenting
Sealing
Single-Parent Families
The Temple-Going Type
At 16, a Sunday School teacher counseled that she would marry someone she dated. She evaluated each friendship by whether they could go to the temple together, made some misjudgments, but stayed committed. Eventually she found the right person to marry in the right place.
Turning 16 brought more decisions. One of my Sunday School teachers warned, “You will marry someone you date. Make sure you date the kind of person you can marry in the temple.” I took his advice seriously and asked myself about each friendship, “Is this the kind of person I could go to the temple with?” Sometimes my judgment was off. Still I kept to my plan until I found the right person to marry in the right place.
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👤 Youth
👤 Friends
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
Agency and Accountability
Dating and Courtship
Friendship
Marriage
Sealing
Temples
Where the Book of Mormon Was Published
In 1829, Joseph Smith visited printer Egbert B. Grandin in Palmyra after completing the translation of the gold plates. He arranged for the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon to be printed. By the following spring, the book was printed and ready for readers.
On a summer day in 1829, Joseph Smith walked into a red brick building in Palmyra, New York, USA, where Mr. Egbert B. Grandin had a printing press. The Prophet had just finished translating the words on the gold plates, and he wanted Mr. Grandin to publish the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon. By the next spring, the new book of scripture was printed and ready for people to read.
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👤 Joseph Smith
👤 Other
Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith
Revelation
Scriptures
The Restoration
“I Was with My Family”:
Concerned for his father’s failing health, Joseph prayed earnestly that he might be restored to enjoy his parents’ counsel. Over several days in October 1835, Joseph anxiously attended his father, received assurance in prayer that he would live, and, with other brethren, laid hands on him and rebuked the disease, after which God answered their prayers.
Joseph cherished the faithfulness and constant support of his beloved parents, as seen by his tender pleading with the Lord concerning his father’s failing health in 1835: “I waited on him all this day with my heart raised to God in the name of Jesus Christ, that He would restore him to health, that I might be blessed with his company and advice, esteeming it one of the greatest earthly blessings to be blessed with the society of parents, whose mature years and experience render them capable of administering the most wholesome advice” (History of the Church, 2:289).
Even when Joseph was most busy with his responsibilities as prophet and President of the Church, his concern for his family and parents came to the fore. His diary for 8–11 October 1835—when he had just commenced again to translate the writings of Abraham—records his concern for his father. No other business was more pressing or important.
“Thursday, 8.—At home. I attended on my father with great anxiety.
“Friday, 9.—At home. Waited on my father.
“Saturday, 10.—At home, and visited the house of my father, found him failing very fast.
“Sunday, 11.—Waited on my father again, who was very sick. In secret prayer in the morning, the Lord said, ‘My servant, thy father shall live.’ …
“At evening Brother David Whitmer came in. We called on the Lord in mighty prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, and laid our hands on [my father], and rebuked the disease. And God heard and answered our prayers—to the great joy and satisfaction of our souls” (History of the Church, 2:289).
Even when Joseph was most busy with his responsibilities as prophet and President of the Church, his concern for his family and parents came to the fore. His diary for 8–11 October 1835—when he had just commenced again to translate the writings of Abraham—records his concern for his father. No other business was more pressing or important.
“Thursday, 8.—At home. I attended on my father with great anxiety.
“Friday, 9.—At home. Waited on my father.
“Saturday, 10.—At home, and visited the house of my father, found him failing very fast.
“Sunday, 11.—Waited on my father again, who was very sick. In secret prayer in the morning, the Lord said, ‘My servant, thy father shall live.’ …
“At evening Brother David Whitmer came in. We called on the Lord in mighty prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, and laid our hands on [my father], and rebuked the disease. And God heard and answered our prayers—to the great joy and satisfaction of our souls” (History of the Church, 2:289).
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👤 Joseph Smith
👤 Parents
👤 Church Members (General)
Faith
Family
Health
Joseph Smith
Miracles
Prayer
Priesthood Blessing
Revelation
FYI:For Your Information
In the Winnipeg Manitoba Third Ward, magazine representative Susan Gross ensured every youth, active or not, received the New Era. She arranged gift subscriptions for those unable to subscribe. Youth used the magazine for talks, lessons, and family home evenings, and it sparked new conversations between parents and children, including a friendly father-son contest over who reads it first.
The New Era is a common sight in the homes of the youth of the Winnipeg Manitoba Third Ward. Through a dedicated magazine representative, Susan Gross, every youth, active and inactive, receives the magazine written especially for them.
As a result, the youth of the ward have used the magazine in preparing talks, lessons, and family home evenings. The music often serves as prelude or postlude selections.
If a young person is unable to subscribe to the magazine himself, the magazine representative channels a gift subscription donated by members of the ward to the person needing the magazine.
Sister Gross comments that the magazine has caused new communication between the young people and their parents. One father and son have a friendly tug-of-war over who gets to read the magazine first. And parents report that their children bring them special articles to read and discuss.
As a result, the youth of the ward have used the magazine in preparing talks, lessons, and family home evenings. The music often serves as prelude or postlude selections.
If a young person is unable to subscribe to the magazine himself, the magazine representative channels a gift subscription donated by members of the ward to the person needing the magazine.
Sister Gross comments that the magazine has caused new communication between the young people and their parents. One father and son have a friendly tug-of-war over who gets to read the magazine first. And parents report that their children bring them special articles to read and discuss.
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👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Youth
👤 Parents
👤 Church Members (General)
Family
Family Home Evening
Music
Parenting
Service
Teaching the Gospel
Young Men
Young Women
Be Thou Not Commanded in All Things
Kate Bateman, a Canadian friend of the Church, lost her documents while visiting the Dominican Republic and stayed longer than planned, receiving help from the community. Grateful, she returned with school supplies, and when children assumed she was their teacher, she accepted the role. With support from Latter-day Saint volunteers, her school expanded to serve more children.
Kate Bateman, a Canadian and friend of the Church, arrived in the Dominican Republic as a visitor too, but upon losing her documents on the beach, she ended up staying longer than planned. The community cared for Kate in her time of need and the bond that was forged prompted her to return to Puerto Plata with suitcases full of school supplies. When the children saw the supplies, they naturally thought she was their teacher, so that is who she became. Joined by Sister Zobell, the Palmers, the Giles and others, her school was expanded, and more children were served.
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👤 Other
👤 Church Members (General)
Charity
Children
Education
Friendship
Kindness
Ministering
Service
Additional Sharing Time Ideas, June 2009
A leader loosely ties a child's ankles with string and asks the child to step onto a stool, showing they can't progress while bound. After explaining that sin binds us similarly, the leader removes the string, and the child steps up, illustrating how repentance through Jesus Christ frees us to return to Heavenly Father.
Repentance helps me return to Heavenly Father. Loosely wrap string around a child’s ankles, and help the child balance so he or she doesn’t fall. Ask him or her to step up onto a stool without hopping or jumping. Explain that just as the string prevents the child from climbing onto the stool, sin keeps us from progressing toward Heavenly Father’s kingdom. Help the children understand that Jesus Christ made it possible for us to repent through His Atonement. Unwrap the string, and have the child step onto the stool. Explain that repentance is similar to removing the string. Repentance frees us of our mistakes and sins and lets us progress to return to Heavenly Father. Ask the children to listen for things we do to truly repent while you sing together the second verse of “Help Me, Dear Father” (Children’s Songbook, 99). Ask for responses (“Making things right, and changing my ways”). Tell a story from the Liahona or a personal story that demonstrates repenting and making things right. Read together 3 Nephi 9:22. Testify that Jesus Christ has made it possible for us to repent and be forgiven of our sins through His Atonement.
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👤 Children
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
Atonement of Jesus Christ
Book of Mormon
Children
Forgiveness
Jesus Christ
Music
Repentance
Scriptures
Teaching the Gospel
Testimony
Daddy’s Song
A young girl named Carlan wakes from a frightening dream and cries out. Her father comes to comfort her by singing 'I Love to See the Temple' and 'I Am a Child of God.' The songs soothe Carlan, and she peacefully falls back asleep.
Carlan snuggled in bed, fast asleep. She wore her favorite pajamas with elephants on them and held her favorite fuzzy bear.
Suddenly Carlan’s eyes flew open wide. “Scary, scary!” she yelled. She covered her face and started to cry.
Daddy came to the door. “Did you have a bad dream?” he asked. Carlan nodded, but tears kept rolling down her cheeks.
Daddy sat down on Carlan’s bed and started singing, “I love to see the temple. I’m going there someday.”
Carlan felt a little better. “Daddy, sing child of God, please,” she asked.
“I am a child of God, and He has sent me here,” Daddy sang.
When Daddy finished singing, he looked down to ask Carlan what song to sing next.
But Carlan was already fast asleep.
Suddenly Carlan’s eyes flew open wide. “Scary, scary!” she yelled. She covered her face and started to cry.
Daddy came to the door. “Did you have a bad dream?” he asked. Carlan nodded, but tears kept rolling down her cheeks.
Daddy sat down on Carlan’s bed and started singing, “I love to see the temple. I’m going there someday.”
Carlan felt a little better. “Daddy, sing child of God, please,” she asked.
“I am a child of God, and He has sent me here,” Daddy sang.
When Daddy finished singing, he looked down to ask Carlan what song to sing next.
But Carlan was already fast asleep.
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👤 Parents
👤 Children
Children
Music
Parenting
Temples
Honey and Sweet Harmony in Quebec
After missionaries found the LeGault family, young Nathalie sought to learn whether the Church was true for herself. By age nine she knew it was true despite relatives suggesting she was only following her parents. She emphasizes that youth need their own testimonies.
The LeGault family joined the Church after they were tracted out by missionaries ten years ago. Although Nathalie was only eight years old when the missionaries came, she searched to find out for herself if the Church was true. “When I was nine years old, I knew it was true,” she says. “My relatives said the girls were joining the Church because their parents had joined. But I said no, I know it’s true. It was my decision to join. I always tell young people you have to have your own testimony, not just the testimony of your friends or family.”
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👤 Youth
👤 Missionaries
👤 Parents
Agency and Accountability
Children
Conversion
Missionary Work
Testimony
Call Those Missionaries
Decades after joining the Church, the family received many blessings: two more children were born, their son Luciano served a mission to Italy, and their eldest grandson was baptized. Eventually, the husband's heart was softened, and in December 1999 the family was sealed in the Sydney Australia Temple.
Two decades have now passed since we joined the Church, and we have been blessed in many ways. Two more children were born into our family. The year 1996 was especially wonderful. Luciano went on a mission to Italy, and our eldest grandson was baptized. And if that was not enough, Heavenly Father touched my husband’s heart concerning the Church. In December 1999 our family was sealed in the Sydney Australia Temple.
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👤 Parents
👤 Missionaries
👤 Children
Baptism
Conversion
Family
Missionary Work
Sealing
Temples
Robots in Your Blood
A simple nanobot travels through a person's blood vessels to remove fatty deposits from the walls. By scraping away the buildup that can clog vessels and cause strokes, the nanobot allows blood to flow normally again.
Even a very simple nanobot that just cleaned the fat from the inside of blood vessels could save millions of lives. Fatty deposits can build up on the walls of the blood vessels, causing less blood to pass through and even clogging the vessels. The deposits can also cause strokes. A nanobot could travel through blood vessels and scrape the deposits off the walls, allowing the blood to flow normally once more.
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👤 Other
Health
The Lighthouse of the Lord:
In Alice in Wonderland, Alice reaches a crossroads and asks the Cheshire Cat which path to take. The cat explains that the choice depends on where she wants to go, and if she doesn't know, the path doesn't matter. The vignette underscores the importance of having a clear destination.
In Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice finds herself coming to a crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching onward but in opposite directions. She is confronted by the Cheshire Cat, of whom Alice asks, “Which path shall I take?”
The cat answers, “That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t really matter which path you take.”3
The cat answers, “That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t really matter which path you take.”3
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👤 Other
Agency and Accountability