Gospel Story Finder

As we faithfully seek information about ancestors with the purpose of performing temple ordinances, we’ll be exposed to events and impressions that will perceptibly show the Lord’s hand in this work. During the 1960s my wife’s grandfather, who served as a branch president in the southernmost part of Brazil, had collected many ancestors’ names, which were all in paper documents as there were no computers then. He was afraid that one of his 16 children would damage or lose those precious records, so he decided to keep them in his branch presidency’s office at the local chapel. But one day that meetinghouse was caught on fire and he lost all his family history. Years of work vanished in minutes! He and his family were deeply saddened but felt impressed to visit his relatives in Argentina in an attempt to recover some of the lost information. During those visits he was describing what happened and one of his uncles (who was not a member of the Church) asked to be excused for a moment and then came right back from another room with a stack of papers full of names, dates, and documents concerning all those that had been lost in the fire. For years, he said, “I felt compelled to keep this information without knowing why, but now it all makes sense. You can have all this!!”
Not only were all the names recovered but also many new ones were added. This event has caused all in the family to clearly discern that there was direct guidance from the Holy Ghost and that God knows the end from the beginning!

After Sister Teh and I dated for a little while, it became obvious that I wanted to spend eternity with her. Naturally, I made it a subject of earnest prayer and fasting. No particular change in my feeling followed. I did not feel a burning in my bosom. I did, however, continue to feel good about my decision, so I persevered. Sister Teh got the same answer, so here we are. Since that experience, I have arrived at many of my decisions in a similar fashion (see D&C 6:22–23).

As I mentioned, when my wife and I met in high school, like she said, we were high school sweethearts. I was a less-active member of the Church. I was the nightmare that a lot of bishops and branch presidents have in Hawaii. My mother went to church [but] I think I can count two times in my life that my mother came to church. My stepfather was not a member of the Church. My grandmother was very active, so my grandmother brought me to church. My grandmother had me baptized when I was eight years old, and I went to church with my grandmother every week.
When I was 15, for some reason I decided I didn't need to go to church anymore. I think I might have had... something called a girlfriend might have had an impact on that, but I decided that I wasn't going to go to church anymore. I just stopped going to church. My grandmother went faithfully, she encouraged me, asked me, scold[ed] me, whatever she could do to get me to go, and I just decided not to go. As I look back at that today, there wasn't a home teacher that came to my home and asked if anything was wrong and why I wasn't there. There wasn't a young men's leader who came and wondered why one of the most active members of his teachers' quorum suddenly stopped coming to church. I don't blame them for that. This was my decision, no one offended me, I was not hurt, I was not left out of anything. I just stopped coming to church.
Colleen and I were married, we started a family and in March of 1982, I was out playing basketball on a Tuesday night and our home teacher came by unannounced. Our home teacher was Brother Vance Akinaka. The Akinaka name may be familiar to you. I think four Akinaka's came to school here--Elias, Lea, Michael, and Sam were all students at BYU-Hawaii. But Brother Akinaka came to our home, and he was on a split with the missionaries. (We can't do splits anymore. That was a very popular thing back in those days. So the two home teachers would meet with the elders and one home teacher would go with one elder, and the other home teacher with the other elder, and they'd do splits.) Brother Akinaka came to our home that night with an elder, Elder Paul Larson from California.
My wife had always been afraid of missionaries, something about the white shirt, tie, and nametag that was kind of intimidating to her. She was born and raised as a Buddhist, didn't know much about the Church. Had some seeds planted in her life of the gospel, but not many. They came that night and she was impressed as this young missionary talked about home, family, sports, surfing, high school, and then talked about his love for his Savior, Jesus Christ, talked about a Heavenly Father who loved him and loved her and our family, talked about a plan of happiness and said something that our family could be together forever. That struck a chord with her. So when Elder Larson said, "Well, Sister Wunder, is it okay if we come by sometime?" she said, "Oh, sure, that would be fine." The next night they were back.
Elder Larson [and] his companion Elder Parsons began teaching our family the missionary discussions. We went to church. The first Sunday... was April 14, 1982, and I remember that because it was a fast Sunday. The missionaries said, "Why don't you come to church on Sunday, Sister Wunder? It's a fast Sunday and we'd like to invite you." And I said, "Oh! You don't want to go to church on fast Sunday! The old ladies go up, and they sing these songs, and they cry--you don't want to that." And she said, "No, I'd like to try this and see what it's about."
We went to church on fast Sunday. I remember as they sang the opening hymn, the opening hymn was... "Beautiful Zion, Built Above" (Hymns, number 44). As they sang that song, I felt the Spirit, and for the first time in my life recognized the promptings of the Spirit. I leaned over to Colleen and I said, "You know what, I don't know where your lessons with the missionaries are going to go, but this is where I need to be."
My wife was a golden investigator. The missionaries joked with her and said, "You can't get baptized 'til you read the entire Book of Mormon." She went to them one day and said, "I've read the Book of Mormon. I'd like to get baptized." On June the 6th, 1982, Colleen was baptized. On July 27, 1983, our family came to the Laie Temple and we were sealed for time and all eternity.
The gospel has been a major part of our life ever since. She mentioned that our older son Ray served his mission in the Japan Tokyo South Mission. He returned here, to BYU-Hawaii, met his wife Jenny here. They got married and sealed in the Laie Temple, graduated from BYU-Hawaii. He went on to get his master's degree at the "other" BYU up in Utah. They currently live in Stockton, California. They have a four-year-old daughter, twin five-month-old sons. He served as the elders' quorum president in his ward for nearly three years. When the twins were born his bishop said, "You know, Ray, we're concerned about you. We think you're working too hard. We'll give you an easier calling." So they called him to be a counselor in the young men's presidency. So he's out of the frying pan and into the fire, but continuing to serve well.
Our second son, Kelii, went to BYU [in] Provo, served his mission in Kobe, Japan, returned to BYU [in] Provo, met his wife, Evelyn. They were sealed in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. They have one and one-half children--a little two-year-old and a baby on the way. We're excited for them. He's the elders' quorum president in his ward. We visited them back in December, and I was impressed with his commitment to his calling. One night we couldn't find him. It was 9 o'clock at night. We couldn't find him, and I went outside. There was six feet of snow, it was about 12 degrees, and he was shoveling his neighbor's walk. His neighbor didn't have a husband in the home, and if he didn't do it, the nine-year-old daughter would have had to do it the next morning. So he was out there, the elders' quorum president, a non-member home, shoveling their walk.Our fourth child is our daughter, Becky. She is a chemical engineering major at BYU [in] Provo. She did not serve a mission. She received a call and met up with her eternal companion. They're on their "team-up" right now. They were married in the Mount Timanogos Temple on December 27, last year. Becky's husband is a returned missionary. He served his mission in Manchester, England. They were just called as team-teachers for a primary class.
Each of our children in their lives have been great examples of the gospel. On their missions, Kelii and Ray baptized people, strengthened less-active, and have been great examples.
Our third son, Kevin, was a student at BYU [in] Provo, and he was called to the California Oakland Mission. He was so thrilled to not to go to Japan like his brothers. I don't know why he felt that way, but he wanted to go somewhere different. He went to Oakland and had a great experience there. In his "greeny" area, he met and taught a young man named Ryan Mourelatos. Kevin was soon transferred to the Pleasanton 3rd Ward, and the bishop of the Pleasanton 3rd Ward was Bishop Paul Larson, the very man who served a mission in Hawaii 20 years before, had knocked on our door.Imagine the great joy it was for Bishop Larson to meet this young elder. We'd kept in touch with him over the years, but to have this young elder, whose mother he had taught the gospel before that elder was even born, to have that elder come and serve in his ward. Kevin later became an assistant to the president, and on one of his zone conferences he found out that Ryan Mourelatos had received a mission call to the Salt Lake City Utah Mission. [He] got permission from his mission president to accompany Ryan as he went to the Oakland Temple to receive his endowment in preparation for serving on his mission.
In May of 2006, Kevin and his wife, Salina, were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. We kept in touch with Elder Mourelatos [at] that time. He got permission from his mission president to come to Elder Wunder's sealing. Kevin didn't know he was going to be there. When Ryan walked in, it was a great time of joy.
I have a picture I would like to share and, once it gets up on the screen, if I can see the screen... there it is. This picture is very special to our family:
On the far left is Elder Paul Larson, who later became Bishop Paul Larson of the Pleasanton 3rd Ward and currently is President Paul Larson, second counselor in the Pleasanton California Stake. Next to him is Sister Wunder, our daughter-in-law Salina and our son, Kevin. Next to Kevin is Elder Ryan Mourelatos. This picture strikes a great chord in our hearts because we see how the light of the gospel, brought to our home by Elder Paul Larson, brought our family to the safe harbor of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because he lived his life a certain way, and served with his heart, might, mind, and strength, he was that "lower light" that brought us into the harbor of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On the far end of that, Elder Mourelatos, who, through Elder Larson's missionary effort, that caused Sister Wunder to want to be baptized, that caused Kevin to be born, sealed to our family and serve a full-time mission, he brought the light of the gospel, was the "lower light" that invited Elder Ryan Mourelatos to the safe keeping of the harbor of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Finally, look for insights inside from the Spirit. An early trial in my life was giving up a four-year scholarship to serve a mission in Italy. Upon my return, I was humbled to discover I could test out of many Italian classes due to my Italian fluency. My grades not only helped my acceptance to law school but with a law school scholarship that the Lord had lovingly returned to me. The scripture Ether 12:6 came to mind—that we “receive no witness until after the trial of our faith.” [12] But the Lord had further refining to do. After my first year, my top-20% law school status was challenged when a drunk driver hit us head-on, which, in turn, decimated my law school grades. I made a covenant with the Lord not to study on Sundays (amongst other covenants), much to the chagrin of my law school study partners. My covenants resulted in nearly straight A’s the remainder of law school and a return to the top 20% upon graduation.

But maybe even better than the squirrels, I like watching the way the sun shines through the frosty trees. It reminds me of the way Grandpa Miller looked when he sat in his old chair in the bedroom with the sunlight coming through the little window and of the way he smiled at me—sort of warm and misty.
I like to study the trees, too, especially the tall, straight-up ones. My dad said that they’re strong like Grandpa was. They bend in the wind the same way Grandpa did when he walked across a windblown field. It seems like trees are strong enough to last forever, just like I thought Grandpa would. But Grandpa died last summer.
Since Grandpa’s funeral, missionaries have taught us about Jesus’ Church. They say that just as new life will come in the springtime to the leafless trees, when Grandpa Miller is resurrected, he’ll stand just as tall and fine as he used to—maybe even finer. And I believe them!
Well, when I’m not looking, I’m mostly listening to the quiet. There’s gobs of it in October by the bridge. It’s as quiet as my secret prayers. I’ve been saying them every day. The missionaries said that we should pray about everything that’s important to us. Sometimes I pray while I’m sitting right here on the bridge because it’s so quiet. It’s not really noisy at home, unless my little sister, Michelle, is awake; then even Biscuit goes outside.
Right now I’m looking down at the water under the bridge and thinking about getting baptized next Saturday. I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. I’m glad that the water in the font will be warm and not cold like the water under the bridge. A kid could freeze in it. And the water in the font will be deeper than in the creek because I have to go all the way under, just as Jesus did.
Yes, I like it here. The red and yellow woods. The bridge. My dad. And that new feeling that I keep feeling on the inside—warm, deep down.
Maybe I’ll show the missionaries my secret bridge. After all, they shared something special with me!

President Dallin H. Oaks shared how the commandments of God guide and steady our lives. He said: “Our experiences in mortality are like the little boy and his father flying a kite on a windy day. As the kite rose higher, the winds caused it to tug on the connecting string in the little boy’s hand. Inexperienced with the force of mortal winds, he proposed to cut the string so the kite could rise higher. His wise father counseled no, explaining that the string is what holds the kite in place against mortal winds. If we lose our hold on the string, the kite will not rise higher. It will be carried about by these winds and inevitably crash to the earth.”

Sue Ann wants to share the gospel with as many people as she can. Recently, a friend of hers, Elouise Meyers, finished the missionary discussions and was baptized. Sue Ann explained, “I had an appointment with my bishop and decided to take a buddy with me. I took Elouise. I knew she didn’t know much about the Church. While we were waiting for the bishop, the missionaries walked by. I asked them if they were teaching anyone that night. They answered, ‘No.’ ‘Well,’ I said, ‘why don’t you teach my friend?’ They set up an appointment.”

In October 2011, while serving a full-time mission in South Africa, I received a phone call from Sister Catherine Wood, our mission president’s wife. All merry and bright, she told me that President Thomas S. Monson had just announced the construction of a temple in my home town, Kinshasa. I remember shouting—with joy with tears flowing down my cheeks—in gratitude to the Most High for the blessing of having a temple in my country.
Eight years later, having married and been sealed to Rachel Tshimungu in the Johannesburg South Africa Temple in 2014, I am the father of two children. Together as a family we have witnessed the fulfillment of this great miracle—not only in our country, but also and especially in our own lives. We watched as the temple rose from ground level until, finally, the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple was dedicated on Sunday, April 14, 2019 by Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

While at his grandmother’s home, Domingos had developed a desire to serve a full-time mission. “I prayed, and the answer was very certain that I should go when I turned 19. From then on, my mind was made up—I just needed to prepare.”
He found that if he completed his first year of study, the University of the Northern Territory would agree to give him two years off to serve. But he would have to carry an even harder class load for a few months before he left. “My coordinator actually encouraged me and said the mission would be a good experience,” Domingos says. Domingos continued something he had done since high school—telling fellow students about the steps of repentance and the plan of salvation.
He intensified his scripture study, memorizing many passages. “The scriptures brought me peace,” he says. “They reminded me of the things I should be doing.”
He joined the full-time missionaries when they gave discussions. He often bore his testimony. He kept a journal, writing in it every day. His Church leaders interviewed him, found him worthy, and sent in his missionary application.
Then one day, this time when he returned from church, his father ordered him out of the house for the fourth time. “It was pretty final,” Domingos says. “He was not pleased with my plans for a mission. He said if I went, I wouldn’t be his son anymore.”
Domingos’s branch president, Michael Kuhn, invited him to live in his home until the mission call arrived.
Finished with his schoolwork, Domingos filled his days with prayer, uplifting music, Church activities, missionary work, and scripture study. Sometimes he would read the scriptures all day long.
And then the letter came: “You are called to labor in the Hong Kong Mission.” Domingos returned home for a short time to try to make peace with his family before he left. “Mainly because they knew they could not change my mind, they yielded,” he says. Before he left, the family went out to dinner together and took lots of farewell photos.
Letters written from the Missionary Training Center and from the mission field reflect the joy that quickly followed:
—“At the airport I was able to meet one of the missionaries who taught me, Elder (Hoyt) Skabelund, and his wife and baby and parents. I am slowly learning Cantonese. The people in the MTC are wonderful.”
—“I’ve received two letters from my mother. Everything is going well at home. They are being blessed greatly, and they know it! My family and relatives are now happy that I am serving a mission. Surely God is a God of miracles!”
—“I have done my first street display, talking to everyone who goes by. I have taught the six discussions in Cantonese.”
—“Now I have been transferred to Macau, a Portuguese colony neighbouring the coast of China. I am pretty lucky because not many missionaries get to serve here. We are teaching an investigator, and he will be baptized. I know that God called me here to do a special work.”
—“Every inconvenience was worth overcoming to read the Book of Mormon. Every insult was worth swallowing to keep the Sabbath holy. Every moment was worth waiting for to kneel in private prayer, every pain worth enduring to attend church. Every blow was worth taking, every torment worth suffering, every tear worth shedding to come on this mission.”
Today in Macau, Elder Liao looks out the window of his missionary apartment and sees a promised land.
“When I decided to go on a mission,” he says, “I knew there would be strong currents against me. I didn’t really know the dangers lurking in the water, what might try to sting me or to swallow me up. I was thinking only about making it. Now here I am, and I know that it’s worth it.”
And he is eager to build a bridge to help others, including his family, to cross over to the other side.

A few years ago, Sister Nelson and I visited Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and Tahiti. Each of those island nations had heavy rains for days. Members prayed that their outdoor meetings would be protected from the rain.
In Samoa, Fiji, and Tahiti, just as the meetings began, the rain stopped. But in Tonga, the rain did not stop. Yet 13,000 faithful Saints came hours early to get a seat. They waited patiently through a steady downpour. They then sat through a very wet meeting.
We saw great faith at work among each of these islanders—faith to stop the rain and faith to keep going when the rain did not stop.

When we went to the Conference Center and found our seats, I was very nervous. I was seated on the back row, right in front of the tallest, widest, loudest, hugest organ pipes. Everyone around me kept saying things like, “Oh no, it’s going to blow out our eardrums.” I have very sensitive ears, and I was really scared. I felt like I was going to cry, so I pleaded with Heavenly Father that I wouldn’t be afraid. Before we started singing, a woman said a prayer. She asked that if anyone was nervous, they would be comforted. Then the organ played. Now I felt like crying happy tears! The organ was not too loud at all. I thanked Heavenly Father and sang my testimony.
Emma C., age 11

This point struck me several years ago when I realized that my wife and I have done several things we never intended to do! These things were never part of our plans—short or long term. For example, we never planned to settle in Houston, Texas. I never intended to be a financial consultant or to start a business. We did not set out to have nine children. We never envisioned serving seven years in Brazil—as mission president and then in the Area Presidency. As a matter of fact, it was a surprise to be called as a stake president, then a mission president, an Area Seventy, and especially a General Authority.

On the other hand, we had firm plans that I would do the joint JD/MBA program after graduation from college. I had been accepted to Harvard Business School to start that four-year program. The new J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU was not even on the radar screen. But in the end I attended and graduated from BYU Law School! I have never done the JD/MBA program.

Once I was in the financial consulting business, I found it so flexible that my plan was to never retire but just slow down to an acceptable level. As it turned out, I retired at age fifty-nine. In that business I learned about the tax advantages of a mortgage. As a result, we decided never to pay off our house. But a few years ago, with the counsel of prophets reminding us, we asked the Lord for guidance, and He directed us to pay off the mortgage. We did it as quickly as possible.

So how did all of this happen?

Decision Points

Each time my wife and I came to a decision point, we would think it through, counsel together, and make a decision. Then we would pray to seek the Lord’s confirmation. We always followed the promptings of the Spirit. If the Lord was silent, we would do what seemed best to us in light of what we already knew.

On a daily basis we asked in our prayers for the Lord to guide and direct us. We emphasized, as did Jesus, not our will but Thine be done (see Luke 22:42). Sometimes direction would come when we didn’t even realize we were at a decision point—such as when we paid off our home mortgage.

Our experiences have taught us over and over again that God knows best. For example, we succeeded in paying off that mortgage in 1998. It was on January 21, 1999, that President James E. Faust telephoned us in Houston with the call to be a mission president in Brazil. Because our home was debt free, we had the option to keep it while we served. We much prefer to do things the Lord’s way.

I wanted to feel the Spirit more in my life, so I prayed to Heavenly Father and asked how I could do that. I was in a quiet place and I opened the Book of Mormon.
I looked up “Holy Ghost” in the index. I found Alma 13:28, which says, “But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit.” This was a beautiful answer to my prayer. The answer to my prayer was prayer!
As I tried to humbly come before the Lord in prayer and ask for the Spirit, I was able to feel it more in my life. I felt like I had more opportunities to serve, and I felt more connected to Heavenly Father throughout my day.
Even though this was a simple answer to my simple question, it helped strengthen my testimony that when we ask in faith, we will receive the wisdom we need from God.
Olivia T., 13, Hawaii, USA

George Staples (pictured as an adult)

George Staples left his home and family in England to travel to Utah. When he was 16, he joined a company of Saints in the United States, but as they crossed the plains, George was separated from the group. The company had to keep moving or risk running into warring Sioux Indians. As the story goes, he stayed behind.

George later joined a Sioux tribe and lived as an honorary Sioux for years.

People in the Salt Lake Valley heard about a white boy living as a Sioux. Eventually, a group came looking for him. As the group neared the tribe, George recognized someone. With a wild whoop, he ran to his father. They were thrilled to see each other, but George’s Sioux mother was devastated to lose her adopted son. So, before leaving with his father, George promised to return and visit his Sioux family. He kept his promise.2

I met my husband when we were both EFY counselors. I was impressed by his strong testimony and the way he taught and interacted with the youth.
When we started dating, we felt like the Lord expected something from our relationship. As our relationship progressed, however, he became more insistent in the way he showed affection. I started suspecting he had difficulties with pornography, but when we talked about it, he denied that he had any problems with it.
We started setting stricter rules to protect ourselves. When he proposed, I accepted and things got better—until one day when, once again, he started insisting on showing me he loved me in ways that made me uncomfortable.
I still had my suspicions about his pornography use, so one day I told him about one of my mission companions who had struggled with pornography before her mission. I did my best to sound understanding, loving, and nonjudgmental, because she truly is a good person. I then asked him again if he had a pornography addiction, and he finally told me he did.
At first, it was hard for me to talk to him and look him in the eyes. My feelings were almost unbearable because I felt that the Lord had told me that this man could be my eternal companion. But even though I was hurt, I knew I needed to work toward forgiving him, and I felt prompted to not give up on our relationship.
I prayed a lot and studied talks about forgiveness and pornography use. I read a lot of articles and testimonies of married people whose spouse had struggles with this poison. As I read, I felt the Savior’s love for me and my fiancé, and I received another confirmation that this man was truly my eternal companion. I also learned a different aspect of the Savior’s Atonement—how He can heal a repentant soul (my fiancé’s) and a bruised heart (mine).
An important factor in our journey was talking to my fiancé’s bishop. His guidance helped us to heal and grow closer as a couple. He was very patient when my husband relapsed, and his Christlike, loving example inspired and helped me to forgive and work through this problem with my fiancé.
For a while, it was so hard for my fiancé to see me suffer because of his choices that he almost didn’t want to marry me anymore! But after working together for months for him to be clean, he finally felt that both the Lord and I had sincerely forgiven him.
Eventually, we got married, and our relationship is now stronger than ever. This experience has helped us not be ashamed to talk to each other about our problems. And although he is no longer involved with pornography, we still remain very attentive and accountable to each other.
If your relationship is being poisoned by the effects of pornography, know that it’s possible to forgive. It’s possible to continue to love each other and work together to find solutions and overcome it. We are all entitled to the healing of the Savior’s Atonement. We have to accept that we are hurt and that only with the Savior’s help can we be fully healed.
Every person’s story is unique, and every relationship is unique. For some people, ending the relationship may be the right thing to do. But I hope our story can help others in similar circumstances. Because I received that confirmation from the Holy Ghost, and with the help of the Savior and His Atonement, I was able to forgive my fiancé and continue our relationship. I know that it was the right choice for me.
If you’re facing a similar situation, prayerfully consider your current circumstances and what the future could potentially hold. If you receive confirmation from the Spirit that continuing your relationship is the right thing to do and you feel confident, know that with effort from both of you and reliance on Heavenly Father, your relationship can work.
My husband is a wonderful man, and I love him more than ever! I can’t thank the Lord enough for helping us heal and making it possible for us to get married. The Lord has helped us grow together as a couple that is ready to face whatever He has planned for our lives together.

During a priesthood executive committee meeting, our full-time missionaries reported meeting a member whose records were not in the ward. I recognized the name immediately and mentioned that she and I had been in the same ward many years ago.
One of the missionaries said, “Yes, bishop, she mentioned that and seemed quite surprised that you were the bishop.”
I asked them, “What did she say?”
They said she looked very surprised and said, “He’s the bishop?”
I had to laugh and explain that this sister knew me as a very different person 30 years ago.

“Choose your friends wisely, for you will tend to be like them.” I had seen this little sign a million times and never thought anything of it. It was only one of many strategically placed thoughts and quotes that dotted the walls of our home. This one happened to be in the best location of all—right above the kitchen table.
When friends came over, we naturally congregated in the kitchen. Dates, late night movies, and quick lunches almost all involved the kitchen. Mom knew this and planned her attack accordingly. Years later I realized what a direct hit Mom had scored.
I was blessed with a lot of friends who are also members of the Church. We went to church and school together, and most of us went on missions at about the same time. However, there was one who was not exactly like the rest of us. His parents were divorced, and he was shuffled between their homes and the homes of friends. As a result, I think he always felt a little isolated and alone. He wore his hair long and always had at least one earring. Regardless, we loved him, and he was one of us.
During high school we witnessed him change; it was great. A short time after his 19th birthday he submitted his mission papers and received a call. A couple of months later we really understood the significance of this event.
The realization came on a cold, crisp Sunday in January. My friends and I had gathered to hear this young man speak in sacrament meeting. I had been invited to perform a musical number, so I sat on the stand. As I gazed over the crowd, I saw all of our friends, as well as my family; it was a wonderful sight. As my friend ventured to the pulpit, his eyes were a little red.
His talk opened with a question: “Do any of you know why I am here? Well, it is really very simple. I am here because of the many meals eaten at a friend’s table, a table with a sign above it that reads, ‘Choose your friends wisely, for you will tend to be like them.’ I want my friends to know that without their influence and love I wouldn’t be here today.”
As I looked down into the crowd, I saw my mother with teary eyes and a smile.
From that day on, I have also thought about the effects my friends have had on my life. I don’t know if I would have served a mission without their example. I don’t know what kind of a person I would be today if it hadn’t been for the strength and love I received from such wonderful people. For that, I will be forever grateful, both to them and to my Heavenly Father.
I know that no one has forgotten the message shared from that pulpit. I also know that that sign, to this day, still hangs above our kitchen table.

I walked into sacrament meeting late that Sunday, and as usual sat on the back row. I didn’t know it at the time, but when I walked out of that meeting I would be a different person. It wasn’t just an ordinary meeting—it was the missionary farewell for my brother who’s a year older than I am. He was the fourth one in my family to go on a mission, so it was nothing new to me, but I was closer to Chuck than the others.
Though I’d been raised in the Church, I never really had a desire to go on a mission like my brothers had. My plans after high school graduation were set, and I didn’t see how I could take two years out of my social life, my roofing business, or from my motorcycles to go on a mission.
As the speakers in the meeting started talking, I thought about how much I would miss Chuck. We’d grown up together. In fact, we’d shared the same bedroom until just a year before when he had moved into mom’s sewing room because I wouldn’t keep the room clean. We’d worked together almost every day of our lives since I was six years old, and now we owned a roofing business together. But all of a sudden he’d be gone. In two days he’d be in the MTC learning Spanish, and then on to Spain for two years to teach the gospel.
I left my daydreaming as I heard Chuck’s voice come over the loudspeaker. He was always a joker and started this talk with a joke that had everybody laughing. Then he talked a little about Spain and what his mission would be like. Then for a few seconds everything was quiet and Chuck’s face clouded with emotion. And he said, “I want to talk to my little brother Dean for a few minutes.
“Throughout my life I’ve done everything I could to make my brother proud of me. I’ve always kept the Word of Wisdom and been the best person I could. And as I accept this call to serve the Lord on a mission, I hope that he’ll be proud of me.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He had been trying to make me proud of him? As I sat there with my girl friend, for the first time since I was a kid tears filled my eyes and I started to cry. And the Holy Ghost bore witness to me of the importance of my brother’s mission.
As Chuck talked, I thought back on our lives. He’d never taken a drink or touched a cigarette. He’d lived a life of purity and honesty unequaled by anyone else I knew. I’d never known him to tell a lie. He’d always lived a Christlike life and been a good example of a member of the true church of Jesus Christ. Then I thought back on my own life and how I’d fallen short of his example. He’d never put me down for my shortcomings, though. Sitting in that sacrament meeting, I made a promise to myself that I would someday make my brother proud of me.
It’s been a year and a half since that meeting, and I have not forgotten the promise I made. I have turned my life around and am now serving a mission for my Heavenly Father—the best decision I have ever made in my life. As I kneel every night in prayer, I thank the Lord for the great examples I have had in my life, like my brother, who have had the courage to live the teachings of the Church and act like the sons and daughters of God that they are. I pray now that I can be that same example to others.

For this story you will need 5? x 6? (12.5 cm x 15 cm) piece of paper, pencil, scissors, and crayons or colored pencils. Fold the paper in half lengthwise and trace pattern onto it. As you read the story, cut as directed.
Fold Pattern
Every Friday was show-and-tell day at Mi Lee’s school. Mrs. Green, her teacher, had made show-and-tell time a game. If you had something to share, you were to bring it to school all covered up so that it would be a secret. Then, during show-and-tell time, you would give the other children clues about your surprise, and they would try to guess what it was. (Cut 1 to 2.)
Mi Lee watched while her classmates shared a doll with hair that grew, a rocket that zoomed toward the ceiling, a book with pages that folded out into a house, and a collection of tiny glass animals. But Mi Lee hadn’t yet taken anything to share. (Cut on dotted line, 2 to 3.)
Then one day Mi Lee received a package from her grandfather in Japan. (Cut 3 to 4.)
The next day Mi Lee carried a large paper bag to school (Cut 4 to 5.)
When Mrs. Green called on her, Mi Lee gave these clues:
“Sometimes it’s open; sometimes it’s closed.” (Cut 5 to 6.)
“When it’s open, it’s too big to go through a door, but I can carry it in one hand.” (Cut 6 to 7.)
“I can use it on hot, sunny days or I can use it on wet, rainy days. What is it?” (Cut 7 to 8.)
Unfold the paper and see what Mi Lee shared, then color it.

Another time, my uncle, who was only three years older than I was, put me in a baby carriage and took me for a walk around the house. In front of the house was a road, and on the other side of the road was an irrigation canal. When he took me across the road, the carriage slid into the canal. It was empty at that time, but my uncle couldn’t get us out. My mother felt concern for me and began to call me. Then she looked for me in the house but couldn’t find me. She felt prompted to look on the road and in the canal. She found us and got us out of the canal just before the water started to come through the canal. Had she not listened to the Spirit, my uncle and I would have drowned.