We often donโt know the reach of a simple act of kindness. The Prophet Joseph Smith was a model of compassion and love. One day, a group of eight African Americans arrived at the Prophetโs home in Nauvoo. They had traveled from their home in Buffalo, New York, some 800 miles away, so they could be with the prophet of God and with the Saints. Although they were free, they were forced to hide from those who might mistake them for runaway slaves. They endured cold and hardship, wearing out shoes and then socks until they walked on bare feet all the way to the City of Joseph. When they arrived in Nauvoo, the Prophet welcomed them into his home and helped each of them find a place to stay.
But there was one, a girl named Jane, who did not have a place to go, and she wept, not knowing what to do.
โWe wonโt have tears here,โ Joseph said to her. He turned to Emma and said, โHereโs a girl who says she [doesnโt have a] home. Donโt you think she has a home here?โ
Emma agreed. From that day on, Jane lived as a member of the family.
Years after the Prophetโs Martyrdom and after she had joined the pioneers and made the long trek to Utah, Jane said that sometimes she would still โwake up in the middle of the night, and just think about Brother Joseph and Sister Emma and how good they [were] to me. Joseph Smith,โ she said, โwas the finest man I ever saw on Earth.โ
The Abundant Life
Eight free African Americans traveled from Buffalo to Nauvoo to be with the Prophet and the Saints, enduring hardship and hiding to avoid being mistaken for runaway slaves. Joseph Smith welcomed them and found lodging, and when a girl named Jane had nowhere to go, he and Emma took her into their home. Years later, after migrating to Utah, Jane testified of Joseph and Emmaโs kindness and called Joseph the finest man she ever saw.
Read more โ
๐ค Joseph Smith
๐ค Pioneers
๐ค Early Saints
Charity
Family
Joseph Smith
Kindness
Love
Race and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Racial and Cultural Prejudice
Service
Church Delivers Mobility, Freedom in Palau
After losing his leg to diabetes in 2002, Jonathan Remengesauโs old wheelchair failed and he could not afford a replacement. Painful sores and the high cost led him to stop leaving home. He rejoiced when he qualified for a free wheelchair and expressed deep gratitude.
Jonathan Remengesau also is grateful for the blessing of a new wheelchair. Diabetes had caused his leg to be amputated in 2002. When his old wheelchair finally stopped functioning, he looked around for a new one. He was dismayed at the high cost of a new wheelchairโusually more than U.S. $700โa cost he knew he could not afford on his limited income. The plywood seat on his old chair was chafing his legs and causing painful sores. He finally gave up hope and decided to avoid leaving home. He rejoiced when he heard that he was qualified to receive a free wheelchair.
โThis is the first time that anyone has really helped me like this,โ he said as he sat in his new chair.
โThis is the first time that anyone has really helped me like this,โ he said as he sat in his new chair.
Read more โ
๐ค Other
Adversity
Charity
Disabilities
Gratitude
Health
Hope
Service
Faith Helps Us Choose the Right
While waiting in his car, Elder Wayne S. Peterson noticed a boy stick his tongue out at him. He responded by smiling and waving, and after a repeat, the boy waved back and was joined by his younger siblings. As their car drove away, the children continued waving. His kind response turned a negative gesture into a friendly interaction.
A boy sticks his tongue out at you. What should you do? This happened to Elder Wayne S. Peterson of the Seventy while he was waiting in his car. What do you think he did? Elder Peterson remembered how important it is to choose the right. He explains: โI waved at the little boy. He stuck his tongue out at me again. I smiled and waved again. This time he waved back. Soon he was joined โฆ by a little brother and sister. [When their car] pulled away, my newfound friends continued to wave for as long as I could see themโ (โOur Actions Determine Our Character,โ Liahona, January 2002, 96).
Read more โ
๐ค General Authorities (Modern)
๐ค Children
Agency and Accountability
Children
Friendship
Kindness
Virtue
Abortion: An Assault on the Defenseless
An astronaut can withdraw during selection or preparation, but once the spacecraft launches, they are bound to the consequences of that earlier choice. This illustrates that once a significant course is begun, one cannot 'unchoose' the ensuing consequences.
To understand this concept more clearly, we can learn from the astronaut. Anytime during selection or preparation, he or she is free to withdraw from the program. But once the spacecraft has lifted off, the astronaut is bound to the consequences of the previous choice to make the journey.
Read more โ
๐ค Other
Agency and Accountability
Cool Running
Starting as a slower runner, Devan DeWitt improved enough to compete at the state championships. His success in running boosted his confidence, raised his GPA, and led him to try out for and join the a capella choir.
Devan DeWitt has come a long way since joining the cross-country team two years ago as a sophomore. He wasnโt a particularly fast runner when he began, but as time went by he improved. By his junior and senior years, he had earned the right to compete at the state cross-country championships.
โWhen I discovered I could succeed at running, it helped me in other areas,โ he says. โMy grade-point average went from a 2.6 to a 3.0, and I had the courage to try out singing. Now Iโm in the a capella choir.โ
โWhen I discovered I could succeed at running, it helped me in other areas,โ he says. โMy grade-point average went from a 2.6 to a 3.0, and I had the courage to try out singing. Now Iโm in the a capella choir.โ
Read more โ
๐ค Youth
Adversity
Courage
Education
Music
Young Men
Pioneer Trek
A day-by-day account records the pioneersโ final stretch, including river crossings halted by wind, illness, wagon repairs, and scouting a mountain pass. Brigham Young fell ill as Orson Pratt led an advance company; the group sometimes split so the sick could rest and offered special prayer for them. The advance and main groups entered the valley, began irrigation, planted crops, and the last members arrived with Brigham Young.
1
Green River crossing not completed because of high winds (no miles)
2
It was decided to send back guides for the next company (no miles)
3
Finished crossing; men were chosen to go back for next company (3 miles)
4
Sabbath day; twelve former Mormon Battalion members joined company (no miles)
5
Many still suffering from Mountain Fever (20 miles)
6
Beautiful prairie wildflowers in bloom, camped in field of wild flax (18.5 miles)
7
Passed Fort Bridger and camped just beyond it (17.5 miles)
8
Camped entire day; fixed wagons; many went to fort to do some trading (no miles)
9
Descended almost perpendicular hill (13 miles)
10
Cleared trail of huge rocks to make road passable; spotted three bears (18 miles)
11
Sabbath day; oil discovered and used on gun stocks, shoes, and wagon wheels (no miles)
12
Brigham Young and others became very ill; main group traveled on, leaving sick behind to rest (16.5 miles)
13
Orson Pratt took small advance company to find pass through mountains (main company no miles)
14
Hunted antelope; Brigham Youngโs health improved (no miles)
15
Brigham Young and those with him rejoined main group of pioneers (4.5 miles)
16
Passed through narrow gap between high canyon walls where every sound echoed (16 miles)
17
Had special prayer for the sick; rolled rocks down mountain for fun (2.5 miles)
18
Sabbath day; decided to split company again to allow sick to stay behind and rest (no miles)
19
Very difficult traveling through mountains; made first sighting of valley (14 miles)
20
Repaired wagons; trail very roughโspent time improving road (7.5 miles)
21
Spent much time getting wagons down steep mountain ridges (14 miles)
22
Advance group and main group entered valley; seven men searched for place to plant crops (8 miles)
23
Plowed and began work on irrigation system (2 miles)
24
Planted crops; last members of company arrived in Salt Lake Valley with Brigham Young (no miles)
Green River crossing not completed because of high winds (no miles)
2
It was decided to send back guides for the next company (no miles)
3
Finished crossing; men were chosen to go back for next company (3 miles)
4
Sabbath day; twelve former Mormon Battalion members joined company (no miles)
5
Many still suffering from Mountain Fever (20 miles)
6
Beautiful prairie wildflowers in bloom, camped in field of wild flax (18.5 miles)
7
Passed Fort Bridger and camped just beyond it (17.5 miles)
8
Camped entire day; fixed wagons; many went to fort to do some trading (no miles)
9
Descended almost perpendicular hill (13 miles)
10
Cleared trail of huge rocks to make road passable; spotted three bears (18 miles)
11
Sabbath day; oil discovered and used on gun stocks, shoes, and wagon wheels (no miles)
12
Brigham Young and others became very ill; main group traveled on, leaving sick behind to rest (16.5 miles)
13
Orson Pratt took small advance company to find pass through mountains (main company no miles)
14
Hunted antelope; Brigham Youngโs health improved (no miles)
15
Brigham Young and those with him rejoined main group of pioneers (4.5 miles)
16
Passed through narrow gap between high canyon walls where every sound echoed (16 miles)
17
Had special prayer for the sick; rolled rocks down mountain for fun (2.5 miles)
18
Sabbath day; decided to split company again to allow sick to stay behind and rest (no miles)
19
Very difficult traveling through mountains; made first sighting of valley (14 miles)
20
Repaired wagons; trail very roughโspent time improving road (7.5 miles)
21
Spent much time getting wagons down steep mountain ridges (14 miles)
22
Advance group and main group entered valley; seven men searched for place to plant crops (8 miles)
23
Plowed and began work on irrigation system (2 miles)
24
Planted crops; last members of company arrived in Salt Lake Valley with Brigham Young (no miles)
Read more โ
๐ค Pioneers
๐ค Early Saints
๐ค Other
Adversity
Apostle
Health
Prayer
Sabbath Day
Service
Building an Eternal Family
At 16, the authorโs friends began making poor choices, and his father warned him to consider their influence. Later at university, he was in a speeding car with friends and was pulled over by a policeman, which frightened him. Remembering his fatherโs counsel, he chose better friends and immersed himself in Church activities to prepare for a mission.
When I was 16, most of my friends at school werenโt members, but they knew that I was a member of the Church. They started to smoke and do other things I wouldnโt do. So things began to change between us; our types of conversation were very different, and our thinking and activities werenโt compatible.
One day my father asked me, โWhy arenโt you thinking about your friendsโ effect on you?โ He counseled me to be careful and think about the necessity of changing my friends.
When I started at the university, I became very busy and didnโt spend a lot of time with my friends, but one time when we were together, they decided to do something bad. We were in a car, and they drove really fast. A policeman pulled us over, and I was scared. I remembered the words of my father about taking care of the future. That experience helped me make a decision about the kinds of friends I wanted to have.
I became very involved in Church activities. Attending Mutual was wonderful because I decided to have those kinds of friends. I learned that my father was rightโthat I should take care of my relationship with good friends. I needed friends who would help me prepare for a mission.
One day my father asked me, โWhy arenโt you thinking about your friendsโ effect on you?โ He counseled me to be careful and think about the necessity of changing my friends.
When I started at the university, I became very busy and didnโt spend a lot of time with my friends, but one time when we were together, they decided to do something bad. We were in a car, and they drove really fast. A policeman pulled us over, and I was scared. I remembered the words of my father about taking care of the future. That experience helped me make a decision about the kinds of friends I wanted to have.
I became very involved in Church activities. Attending Mutual was wonderful because I decided to have those kinds of friends. I learned that my father was rightโthat I should take care of my relationship with good friends. I needed friends who would help me prepare for a mission.
Read more โ
๐ค Parents
๐ค Youth
๐ค Friends
Agency and Accountability
Friendship
Missionary Work
Temptation
Word of Wisdom
Young Men
A nine-year-old explains that his teenage sister is very busy and they used to have fun together. By consistently asking her nicely, he finds she makes time to be with him.
My sister is a busy teenager, and we used to have so much fun. I find if I keep asking her nicely, she will find time for me.
Benjamin N., age 9, Colorado, USA
Benjamin N., age 9, Colorado, USA
Read more โ
๐ค Children
๐ค Youth
Children
Family
Kindness
At Home in Mozambique
A missionary serving as a local branch president in Mozambique worried about Maria, a disabled mother who lost both children and struggled to pay rent. Following a late-night inspiration, he and the youth and members of the branch built her a traditional mud-and-stick home despite limited resources. After many labor-intensive trips for wood and extensive mud construction, they completed the house, giving Maria a secure place to live.
Mozambique. The name, for some, conjures images of exotic wildlife, lush green vegetation, or white-sand beaches. More likely, it will send the average person scrambling for a map to discover its location in southeast Africa. But for Maria da Conceiรงรฃo, it means home. And thanks to the efforts of members in the Inhamรญzua Branch and a few missionaries, Maria now has a place in Mozambique to call her own.
Maria is a tiny woman with a gigantic spirit. Abandoned by her husband and oldest daughter, she was left to rear two small children on her own. Crippled by a debilitating disease she has had since birth, Maria struggled to pay the rent each month. In a country that has high unemployment, work and money are nearly impossible to come by. Yet Maria managed to make a meager living and do the best she could.
I was a full-time missionary in Mozambique. When I first met Maria, I was impressed by her positive attitude and zest for life. She worked relentlessly in her machamba (large garden) to provide for two children and herself and to pay rent on a small mud house.
Church members helped by providing food and medical care. Tragically, Mariaโs two children died within three weeks of each other due to disease and no access to the right medical facilities. Death and suffering are common in Mozambique.
Serving as the branch president for our tiny branch, I was extremely concerned for Maria. Both the youth and adult members of our isolated branch did everything they could to help Maria. Some worked in the machamba, others offered food, and a few even helped pay the rent; but she needed a permanent answer.
Late one night, while I was pondering and searching for an answer, inspiration came to me in the form of an idea for an ambitious youth project: building a home for Maria. My companion, Elder Bis-Neto, and I proposed our idea to the younger members of the branch, and they jumped at the chance to help build Maria a house. There was little money and a great deal of work to be done, but with many willing hands and a vision of a traditional African mud-and-stick house, a plan took shape, and the youth went to work.
Everyone got down to business immediately. First job: get wood.
A trip into the African jungle to gather wood for building a home is not a job for the fainthearted. The youth and missionaries made many two-hour trips through thick, swampy savannas, endless rice fields, dense overgrown jungles, and waist-deep mud to find the perfect trees with which to build Mariaโs house. Using machetes, we hacked down the slender trees and then organized them into bundles for the journey back. Some of the youth used tall wild grass to quickly weave hats to help protect their heads from the rough logs.
The most difficult leg of the journey now began. Carrying a heavy load on our heads, scratching our way through the dense undergrowth, and battling the scorching African sun, we hauled our loads back. As we walked, the youth sang hymns of Zion, with smiles on their faces.
Alves Elรญdio Eguimane Razรฃo, 18, says, โIt was a lot of hard work, and we loved every minute of it!โ
The wooden frame went up stick by stick, with care given to ensure a sturdy and lasting structure. Many generous hands constructed the roof by laying down strips of plastic, which were secured with mats of woven weeds. This roof would need to repel the violent storms of the annual rainy season.
From mud walls to mud floors to mud pies, mud was the menu for most building days. Barrel after barrel of rich brown dirt was hauled in and then drenched in water. Dozens of youth and other branch members turned out to help hand mix the mud and cover the frame house. The exterior was done first, followed by the interior walls and partition. After we had packed the walls with several inches of strong, dried mud, the house started to take shape. To jazz up the interior, a special layer of mud was carefully applied to create the floor and solid water-resistant surfaces.
These days were full of hard work, but the atmosphere abounded in good humor and many smiles, not to mention the surprised eyes of the neighbors as they watched missionaries and youth carrying large bundles of sticks and gallons upon gallons of water and slinging handfuls of mud.
Finally the door was hung, a lock installed, and the house was done. After more than 1,000 service hours, given by more than 40 members and a number of missionaries, Maria da Conceiรงรฃo had a beautiful home of her own.
On a tiny plot of land, in a remote village of Mozambique, Maria da Conceiรงรฃoโs home stands as a testament of love and obedience to the principles of the gospel. Maria and the members of the Inhamรญzua Branch have learned that, amid the harsh trials of life, there is hope to be found when Church members work together to make good things happen.
Maria is a tiny woman with a gigantic spirit. Abandoned by her husband and oldest daughter, she was left to rear two small children on her own. Crippled by a debilitating disease she has had since birth, Maria struggled to pay the rent each month. In a country that has high unemployment, work and money are nearly impossible to come by. Yet Maria managed to make a meager living and do the best she could.
I was a full-time missionary in Mozambique. When I first met Maria, I was impressed by her positive attitude and zest for life. She worked relentlessly in her machamba (large garden) to provide for two children and herself and to pay rent on a small mud house.
Church members helped by providing food and medical care. Tragically, Mariaโs two children died within three weeks of each other due to disease and no access to the right medical facilities. Death and suffering are common in Mozambique.
Serving as the branch president for our tiny branch, I was extremely concerned for Maria. Both the youth and adult members of our isolated branch did everything they could to help Maria. Some worked in the machamba, others offered food, and a few even helped pay the rent; but she needed a permanent answer.
Late one night, while I was pondering and searching for an answer, inspiration came to me in the form of an idea for an ambitious youth project: building a home for Maria. My companion, Elder Bis-Neto, and I proposed our idea to the younger members of the branch, and they jumped at the chance to help build Maria a house. There was little money and a great deal of work to be done, but with many willing hands and a vision of a traditional African mud-and-stick house, a plan took shape, and the youth went to work.
Everyone got down to business immediately. First job: get wood.
A trip into the African jungle to gather wood for building a home is not a job for the fainthearted. The youth and missionaries made many two-hour trips through thick, swampy savannas, endless rice fields, dense overgrown jungles, and waist-deep mud to find the perfect trees with which to build Mariaโs house. Using machetes, we hacked down the slender trees and then organized them into bundles for the journey back. Some of the youth used tall wild grass to quickly weave hats to help protect their heads from the rough logs.
The most difficult leg of the journey now began. Carrying a heavy load on our heads, scratching our way through the dense undergrowth, and battling the scorching African sun, we hauled our loads back. As we walked, the youth sang hymns of Zion, with smiles on their faces.
Alves Elรญdio Eguimane Razรฃo, 18, says, โIt was a lot of hard work, and we loved every minute of it!โ
The wooden frame went up stick by stick, with care given to ensure a sturdy and lasting structure. Many generous hands constructed the roof by laying down strips of plastic, which were secured with mats of woven weeds. This roof would need to repel the violent storms of the annual rainy season.
From mud walls to mud floors to mud pies, mud was the menu for most building days. Barrel after barrel of rich brown dirt was hauled in and then drenched in water. Dozens of youth and other branch members turned out to help hand mix the mud and cover the frame house. The exterior was done first, followed by the interior walls and partition. After we had packed the walls with several inches of strong, dried mud, the house started to take shape. To jazz up the interior, a special layer of mud was carefully applied to create the floor and solid water-resistant surfaces.
These days were full of hard work, but the atmosphere abounded in good humor and many smiles, not to mention the surprised eyes of the neighbors as they watched missionaries and youth carrying large bundles of sticks and gallons upon gallons of water and slinging handfuls of mud.
Finally the door was hung, a lock installed, and the house was done. After more than 1,000 service hours, given by more than 40 members and a number of missionaries, Maria da Conceiรงรฃo had a beautiful home of her own.
On a tiny plot of land, in a remote village of Mozambique, Maria da Conceiรงรฃoโs home stands as a testament of love and obedience to the principles of the gospel. Maria and the members of the Inhamรญzua Branch have learned that, amid the harsh trials of life, there is hope to be found when Church members work together to make good things happen.
Read more โ
๐ค Missionaries
๐ค Church Members (General)
๐ค Youth
๐ค Church Leaders (Local)
๐ค Other
Adversity
Charity
Death
Disabilities
Diversity and Unity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Grief
Hope
Ministering
Missionary Work
Revelation
Service
Single-Parent Families
Unity
Something Told Me to Stop
A father and his son Carl hiked down a cliffside trail at night to reach a campout when their flashlight dimmed. The father felt a strong prompting from the Holy Ghost to stop and return, despite Carl seeing the distant campfire. The next morning they discovered a 12-foot gap in the trail where they had stopped, realizing they would have fallen to their deaths. They safely reached the campsite by another route, grateful for the warning from the Spirit.
Illustrations by Bradley Clark
An overnight campout with all kinds of outdoor activities had been planned for Friday and Saturday, and I was eager to accompany my son. Carl had a part-time job and had to work Friday, so I proposed picking him up Friday evening after work. We planned to park at a bridge above the campsite and then hike down.
When we arrived at the bridge, it was dark, with only a sliver of the moon and a few stars shining in the sky. The trail to the campsite was carved out of the face of a cliff that ran alongside the river. We were about 300 yards (275 m) above the river when we began our hike.
Not far down the trail our flashlight began to dim, and the trail seemed to disappear at times in the faulty light. Suddenly something told me to stop. I halted abruptly but then took two more steps forward. The feeling or voice then repeated, โStop!โ
I stopped again. Carl, close behind, almost ran into me.
โWhatโs going on, Dad?โ he asked.
I told him about the prompting, adding that we needed to go home and that we would return in the morning.
โDad, I can see the campfire,โ he responded. โIt canโt be more than a mile (1.6 km) away.โ
Recognizing that the prompting had come from the Holy Ghost, I insisted that we not take another step. The flashlight had gone dead, so we cautiously hiked back up the trail. Carl was disappointed and didnโt talk much on our way home.
Early the next morning we returned to the bridge and began hiking again. At least Carl would be able to participate in Saturdayโs activities. We hurried along until, all of a sudden, the trail disappeared! Then it hit us. We had arrived at the exact spot where we had stopped the night before.
โDad, itโs at least 100 yards (91 m) straight down to the river,โ Carl said. โWe would have been killed!โ
The cliff stretched steeply below us down to the river. In front of us there was a gap in the trail about 12 feet (3.6 m) wide, the aftermath of a recent storm.
Carl and I hugged each other as our tears flowed. Then we climbed to another trail and made our way to the campsite. We arrived just in time for breakfast.
A warning sign was supposed to have been placed on the first trail but wasnโt. Thankfully, a warning sign came to us from the Holy Ghost.
An overnight campout with all kinds of outdoor activities had been planned for Friday and Saturday, and I was eager to accompany my son. Carl had a part-time job and had to work Friday, so I proposed picking him up Friday evening after work. We planned to park at a bridge above the campsite and then hike down.
When we arrived at the bridge, it was dark, with only a sliver of the moon and a few stars shining in the sky. The trail to the campsite was carved out of the face of a cliff that ran alongside the river. We were about 300 yards (275 m) above the river when we began our hike.
Not far down the trail our flashlight began to dim, and the trail seemed to disappear at times in the faulty light. Suddenly something told me to stop. I halted abruptly but then took two more steps forward. The feeling or voice then repeated, โStop!โ
I stopped again. Carl, close behind, almost ran into me.
โWhatโs going on, Dad?โ he asked.
I told him about the prompting, adding that we needed to go home and that we would return in the morning.
โDad, I can see the campfire,โ he responded. โIt canโt be more than a mile (1.6 km) away.โ
Recognizing that the prompting had come from the Holy Ghost, I insisted that we not take another step. The flashlight had gone dead, so we cautiously hiked back up the trail. Carl was disappointed and didnโt talk much on our way home.
Early the next morning we returned to the bridge and began hiking again. At least Carl would be able to participate in Saturdayโs activities. We hurried along until, all of a sudden, the trail disappeared! Then it hit us. We had arrived at the exact spot where we had stopped the night before.
โDad, itโs at least 100 yards (91 m) straight down to the river,โ Carl said. โWe would have been killed!โ
The cliff stretched steeply below us down to the river. In front of us there was a gap in the trail about 12 feet (3.6 m) wide, the aftermath of a recent storm.
Carl and I hugged each other as our tears flowed. Then we climbed to another trail and made our way to the campsite. We arrived just in time for breakfast.
A warning sign was supposed to have been placed on the first trail but wasnโt. Thankfully, a warning sign came to us from the Holy Ghost.
Read more โ
๐ค Parents
๐ค Youth
Faith
Holy Ghost
Miracles
Obedience
Parenting
Revelation
Loads of Toads
A child and siblings bring tadpoles home and place them in their aquarium. Their fighting fish bites off the tadpolesโ tails and eats them, teaching the family a lesson about protecting the creatures they care for.
Are there any toads where you live? We have lots of them around our house. My dad works at a laboratory where they try to learn how to help farmers grow food better. Sometimes he takes my brothers and me on Saturday mornings out to see the fields he studies. There are long ditches that bring water to irrigate the crops, and sometimes they are full of tadpoles. We usually catch a few of them and bring them home with us. The first time we did this, we put them in an aquarium in our family room. They really liked it thereโexcept for one thing. Our fighting fish bit off their tails and then ate them up!
Read more โ
๐ค Parents
๐ค Children
๐ค Other
Children
Education
Employment
Family
Parenting
A Flower of Forgiveness
One missionary approached alone, visibly upset after a disagreement with his companion. As he wrestled with scripture and conscience, his companion called out an apology. The first elder asked for a flower of forgiveness, and the two reconciled, walking back with arms around each other as the woman pondered love versus hatred.
It was then she looked up, and instead of seeing two young men in suitcoats and on bikes turn out of the alley, only one was coming. His white shirt was missing its usual tie, and his bike and coat were gone. With head down and hands jammed hard in his pockets, clenched in fists of frustration, he was kicking rocks and old cans as he stomped toward her. She could see that he was talking to himself, and as the distance narrowed, she caught snatches of the angry words he was saying.
She sat and listened as he began having a mental battle with himself. First heโd mumble a scripture on patience, or brotherly love, or humility, then a quick comeback on patience being gone, and brotherly love destroyed by this or that, and humility nonexistent. The more he talked, the more the scriptures began to win until he was murmuring only pieces of scriptures and phrases of hymns that she had never heard before.
There had been a disagreement of some sorts; that was obvious. By the time he had reached the spot where she sat staring in the chrysanthemums, he had slowed and stopped. He stood looking at his scuffed shoes, totally unaware of her presence, his mind frantically searching for what to do. Pride said go, but love said stop. The hardness of his brow softened, the firmness around his mouth that had kept his gritted teeth solidly in place weakened, and she could see his eyes fill with tears. She became very conscious of her position and wished she were one of her beautiful little flowers blowing in the breeze.
Then from the alley a voice boomed: โElder, wait! IโIโm sorry!โ The young man near her slowly turned and looked where his partner was standing in his stocking feet.
For what seemed enough time to plant and harvest a section of wheat, the air remained empty of human sounds or movement. Then Elder Scuffed Shoes looked at her and, in a rather husky voice, asked if he could please have a flower. โA flower of forgiveness,โ he had muttered. Mutely she clipped one for him and watched as he retraced his steps until he stood in front of the other. They were too far off for her to hear what was said, but she saw the flower exchange hands and watched as they walked back to their apartment in the alley, each with an arm around the otherโs shoulder.
She had sat there in the flowers trying to figure out how one young man could know so much about love and have such an abundance of it, while another lay lifeless on a morticianโs table because of his gross lack of it. Both had been searching for what life really was. One had found it; the other hadnโt. Why? She couldnโt answer her own question. Finally she got up and left to prepare for a funeral many miles away. Even as she left, she knew she had to find the answer to โWhy?โ when she returned.
She sat and listened as he began having a mental battle with himself. First heโd mumble a scripture on patience, or brotherly love, or humility, then a quick comeback on patience being gone, and brotherly love destroyed by this or that, and humility nonexistent. The more he talked, the more the scriptures began to win until he was murmuring only pieces of scriptures and phrases of hymns that she had never heard before.
There had been a disagreement of some sorts; that was obvious. By the time he had reached the spot where she sat staring in the chrysanthemums, he had slowed and stopped. He stood looking at his scuffed shoes, totally unaware of her presence, his mind frantically searching for what to do. Pride said go, but love said stop. The hardness of his brow softened, the firmness around his mouth that had kept his gritted teeth solidly in place weakened, and she could see his eyes fill with tears. She became very conscious of her position and wished she were one of her beautiful little flowers blowing in the breeze.
Then from the alley a voice boomed: โElder, wait! IโIโm sorry!โ The young man near her slowly turned and looked where his partner was standing in his stocking feet.
For what seemed enough time to plant and harvest a section of wheat, the air remained empty of human sounds or movement. Then Elder Scuffed Shoes looked at her and, in a rather husky voice, asked if he could please have a flower. โA flower of forgiveness,โ he had muttered. Mutely she clipped one for him and watched as he retraced his steps until he stood in front of the other. They were too far off for her to hear what was said, but she saw the flower exchange hands and watched as they walked back to their apartment in the alley, each with an arm around the otherโs shoulder.
She had sat there in the flowers trying to figure out how one young man could know so much about love and have such an abundance of it, while another lay lifeless on a morticianโs table because of his gross lack of it. Both had been searching for what life really was. One had found it; the other hadnโt. Why? She couldnโt answer her own question. Finally she got up and left to prepare for a funeral many miles away. Even as she left, she knew she had to find the answer to โWhy?โ when she returned.
Read more โ
๐ค Missionaries
๐ค Other
Agency and Accountability
Death
Forgiveness
Grief
Humility
Love
Missionary Work
Patience
Pride
Scriptures
An Unending Conflict, a Victory Assured
A friend relates a conversation with a fellow Church member about feeling close to Heavenly Father. The man admits he doesn't want to feel close because it would likely require commitment he isn't ready to make. President Hinckley laments that someone with covenants would avoid closeness to God to escape obligations.
Some years ago a friend told me of a conversation he had had with another member of the Church. My friend had asked whether his associate felt close to his Heavenly Father. The man replied that he did not feel close. Why not? He said, โCandidly, because I donโt want to.โ Then he went on to say, โIf I were close to Heavenly Father, He would probably want some commitment from me, and I am not ready for that.โ
Think of itโa man who has taken upon himself the name of the Lord in baptism, a man who has renewed his covenants with the Lord in his sacrament meetings, a man who has accepted the priesthood of God and yet has said that if he were close to his Heavenly Father, some commitment might be expected of him, and he was not ready for that.
Think of itโa man who has taken upon himself the name of the Lord in baptism, a man who has renewed his covenants with the Lord in his sacrament meetings, a man who has accepted the priesthood of God and yet has said that if he were close to his Heavenly Father, some commitment might be expected of him, and he was not ready for that.
Read more โ
๐ค Friends
๐ค Church Members (General)
Agency and Accountability
Baptism
Covenant
Priesthood
Sacrament
Excerpts from Talks Given at the 1973 Priesthood MIA June Conference
James McCloy told of a hunting dog that kept switching to new rabbits as they crossed its path. By dayโs end, the dog was exhausted and had caught nothing, leaving its owner empty-handed.
James McCloy has told us about his easily distracted hunting dog. While hunting rabbits the dog would chase the rabbit until another rabbit ran across the path going in another direction. The dog would then leave the chase of the first and follow after the second rabbit, until a third rabbit crossed the path, going in still another direction and so on with the fourth and fifth and sixth rabbits being chased as each went in different directions. At the end of a fruitless day chasing many rabbits, but catching none, the dog was exhausted and his owner empty-handed.
Read more โ
๐ค Other
Patience
Temptation
Out of Small Things
The speaker highlights 92-year-old Lois Bonner, who began visiting teaching when she married over 65 years ago and still serves. Her example illustrates that discipleship continues throughout life. The account emphasizes enduring commitment to service.
When we are called to serve, we are not offered a release date. Our lives are our service. Lois Bonner, a woman in my stake who is 92 years old, began serving as a visiting teacher when she married over 65 years ago. She still faithfully serves. The Nelsons from Canada and the Ellsworths from Utah, as missionaries, taught, mentored, and loved those of us who were in a small, growing ward in Missouri. We learned, through them, the joy of service and benefited from the wisdom of their experiences. I can think of no better way to thank our Father for all He gives us than to serve His children in every age of our lives.
Read more โ
๐ค Church Members (General)
Love
Ministering
Missionary Work
Service
Women in the Church
How Do We Show Our Love?
President Monson asked a particularly devoted missionary about his motivation. The missionary explained he had once slept in and then thought of his parents working tirelessly to support his mission. That thought removed his laziness and deepened his commitment to serve.
We had a missionary in our mission who was particularly devoted and obedient. I said to him one time, โElder, what is the source of your motivation?โ
โBrother Monson,โ he replied, โI slept in one morning. As I did so, my mind turned to thoughts of my mother and my father, who are operating a little cleaning establishment, working around the clock to earn sufficient money to support me on a mission. As I thought of my parents performing that strenuous work in my behalf, all signs of laziness left me; and I determined that I had an opportunity to serve the Lord in my behalf and in behalf of my own mother and my own father.โ
โBrother Monson,โ he replied, โI slept in one morning. As I did so, my mind turned to thoughts of my mother and my father, who are operating a little cleaning establishment, working around the clock to earn sufficient money to support me on a mission. As I thought of my parents performing that strenuous work in my behalf, all signs of laziness left me; and I determined that I had an opportunity to serve the Lord in my behalf and in behalf of my own mother and my own father.โ
Read more โ
๐ค General Authorities (Modern)
๐ค Missionaries
๐ค Parents
Family
Gratitude
Missionary Work
Obedience
Sacrifice
Service
Meet Brother Joseph
In 1832, Joseph Smith was attacked by a mob and his tooth was chipped. As a result, he spoke with a lisp thereafter.
After his tooth was chipped when he was attacked by a mob in 1832, Joseph spoke with a lisp.3
Read more โ
๐ค Joseph Smith
๐ค Other
Abuse
Adversity
Disabilities
Joseph Smith
Hearts Bound Together
The speaker describes a future interview with Jesus Christ. The Savior, who provided the Atonement and priesthood power, will express love and appreciation for those who labored to help their ancestors receive eternal blessings. It emphasizes the Saviorโs gratitude for faithful efforts.
If you can imagine the smile of the missionary and your ancestor, think of the Savior when you meet Him. You will have that interview. He paid the price of the sins of you and all of Heavenly Fatherโs spirit children. He is Jehovah. He sent Elijah. He conferred the powers of the priesthood to seal and to bless out of perfect love. And He has trusted you by letting you hear the gospel in your lifetime, giving you the chance to accept the obligation to offer it to those of your ancestors who did not have your priceless opportunity. Think of the gratitude He has for those who pay the price in work and faith to find the names of their ancestors and who love them and Him enough to offer them eternal life in families, the greatest of all the gifts of God. He offered them an infinite sacrifice. He will love and appreciate those who paid whatever price they could to allow their ancestors to choose His offer of eternal life.
Read more โ
๐ค Jesus Christ
๐ค Church Members (General)
Atonement of Jesus Christ
Baptisms for the Dead
Family
Family History
Gratitude
Jesus Christ
Priesthood
Sacrifice
Sealing
Temples
The Restoration
Friend to Friend
At age seven, the narrator was bitten by a snake and rushed to a small hospital after a difficult trip. Doctors determined it was a rattlesnake bite, and his condition became critical. While hospitalized, he received a priesthood blessing promising his life would be preserved for a special purpose, which later strengthened his testimony.
One sunny day when I was seven years old, I was playing outside my grandmotherโs home while my family visited on the front porch. As I walked along a shrubbery-lined path by the side of the house, I suddenly felt a sharp, terrible pain in my ankle. My family heard my screams and rushed to my side. To their shock they saw that I had been bitten by a snake.
I had to get to a doctor, but we were out in the country and didnโt have a car. My uncle ran several miles to a neighborโs home to borrow a cattle truck, and once we were in the truck, we even had to stop to get gasoline. My leg started swelling, and we didnโt know what kind of snake had bitten me.
We finally reached the hospitalโa little one-story frame buildingโand after some tests, the doctor determined that I had been bitten by a rattlesnake. Judging from the fang marks, it had been a huge snakeโabout five feet long! As the poison from the bite rose in my blood, it turned my skin black, until it was black only two or three inches below my heart.
I was in the hospital for many days, and it was a painful and difficult time. I can remember having nightmares and screaming. One time, a young medical student who lived in a house across the street heard my screams as he was taking a shower. He dashed over to the hospital to help me with just a towel wrapped around him. Another time, the owner of a small restaurant about two blocks away became alarmed when he heard me, and he called the hospital, wanting to know what was going on.
Iโm told I almost didnโt survive, but while in the hospital I was given a blessing. Because I was unconscious at the time, I didnโt hear the words, but my family later told me that I had been blessed that my life would be preserved for a special purpose. My relatives later told and retold this experience at family gatherings. This has given my life special meaning, and it has strengthened my testimony of the importance and power of the priesthood.
I had to get to a doctor, but we were out in the country and didnโt have a car. My uncle ran several miles to a neighborโs home to borrow a cattle truck, and once we were in the truck, we even had to stop to get gasoline. My leg started swelling, and we didnโt know what kind of snake had bitten me.
We finally reached the hospitalโa little one-story frame buildingโand after some tests, the doctor determined that I had been bitten by a rattlesnake. Judging from the fang marks, it had been a huge snakeโabout five feet long! As the poison from the bite rose in my blood, it turned my skin black, until it was black only two or three inches below my heart.
I was in the hospital for many days, and it was a painful and difficult time. I can remember having nightmares and screaming. One time, a young medical student who lived in a house across the street heard my screams as he was taking a shower. He dashed over to the hospital to help me with just a towel wrapped around him. Another time, the owner of a small restaurant about two blocks away became alarmed when he heard me, and he called the hospital, wanting to know what was going on.
Iโm told I almost didnโt survive, but while in the hospital I was given a blessing. Because I was unconscious at the time, I didnโt hear the words, but my family later told me that I had been blessed that my life would be preserved for a special purpose. My relatives later told and retold this experience at family gatherings. This has given my life special meaning, and it has strengthened my testimony of the importance and power of the priesthood.
Read more โ
๐ค Children
๐ค Church Members (General)
๐ค Other
Adversity
Faith
Family
Foreordination
Health
Miracles
Priesthood
Priesthood Blessing
Testimony
Look to the Heavens
Laysa enjoys sharing the gospel with her friends. After she invited one friend to be taught by missionaries, that friend was baptized, strengthening Laysaโs desire to continue sharing the gospel.
She also loves to share the gospel with her friends. One of her friends was even baptized after Laysa invited her to be taught by the missionaries. โI want to do this all my life,โ she says, โto share the inspiration and knowledge we have with other people. They need to have this happiness, this comfort, these answers that we have.โ
Read more โ
๐ค Youth
๐ค Friends
๐ค Missionaries
Baptism
Conversion
Friendship
Happiness
Missionary Work
Teaching the Gospel