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β€œAnd the Password Is …”

Summary: A recently returned missionary in Army basic training helped organize sacrament meetings with fellow Latter-day Saints, with unexpected support from their captain. A gruff, non-member sergeant once escorted LDS recruits to a meeting and sat through it. During later war games, that same sergeant went missing; at night he called out asking if anyone knew who Joseph Smith was, and upon hearing a faithful response, he identified the group and returned safely.
It was the time of the Korean conflict. A recently returned missionary, I was serving with the Army Signal Corps in Georgia at Camp Gordon. Suffering through basic training with me were fifty other Latter-day Saints, including nine returned missionaries. We promptly requested permission to use the company dayroom for sacrament meeting services; and the captain, once he got over his initial astonishment, not only gave us permission but had the room cleaned and arranged and let us use cups and bread from the army cafeteria for the sacrament.
Between the sand fleas, lack of sleep, assisting with kitchen work, guard duty, and stream of orders, the hour of serenity and spirituality each Sunday was a real pleasure. One Sunday, though, that calm was disturbed a little by the presence of a gruff, non-member sergeant. He had marched a group of LDS recruits over from his barracks and sat down in a chair to wait till the end of the meeting. I can’t say that he paid much attention to the speakers, but he sat stoically through the meeting until he could gather his trainees again. The recruits came by themselves after that.
Soon most of us had forgotten the incident, as within a few weeks we were facing our β€œgraduation” testβ€”three days of field duty and war games. On the second day, the β€œenemy” attacked our company and captured some of the men. The sergeant who had attended our meeting was reported missing but not captured.
That night, as we were sitting around a small campfire eating our rations, a faint noise alerted us. We dropped the food, grabbed our rifles, and prepared to defend ourselves.
Suddenly a voice beyond the perimeter called, β€œDo any of you guys know who Joseph Smith was?” We all exchanged looks: the Latter-day Saints didn’t know whether it was a trick or not. The nonmembers didn’t even know what it was. Finally one courageous man yelled back, β€œwe sure do. He was a prophet of God!”
The voice beyond the perimeter yelled exuberantly, β€œI’m home!” and the sergeant walked out of the darkness to rejoin his outfit.
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πŸ‘€ Missionaries πŸ‘€ Church Members (General) πŸ‘€ Other
Conversion Faith Joseph Smith Missionary Work Sacrament Sacrament Meeting Testimony War

Christmas Every Day of the Year

Summary: Ginger Lyn’s family planned a special Christmas by praying for and inviting strangers from Temple Square to share dinner and learn about their faith. After preparing their home and seeking guests at the Visitors Center, they met a family from Michigan and two women from Australia and hosted them for a festive meal. The evening ended with gratitude, gifts of the Book of Mormon, and the realization that sharing the gospel brings the spirit of Christmas anytime.
My name is Ginger Lyn and I’ve always loved Christmas, but last year was the best one we’ve ever had.
It all started on our Thanksgiving Day the last Thursday in November, as our family knelt in prayer to give thanks for our blessings. We were all so happy that we talked about some of the things we could do to help others have that same happy feeling.
Together we came up with many ideas, but the best one of all was our plan for Christmas Day. What we like most is our large family, and the happiness the gospel brings to us. We decided to share both these blessings as our gift to others.
The Salt Lake Temple is only a short drive from our home, and going there was part of our plan. We decided that on Christmas Day, after opening our gifts and eating breakfast, we would clean up the house, fix a big dinner, and then go to the temple grounds and find someone to spend Christmas with us. Before going down to the Visitors Center on Temple Square to find our unknown guests, we would set the table with candles and our best silver and crystal, lay a fire in the fireplace all ready to light, and turn on the Christmas tree lights.
We pasted a picture of our family inside the cover of some copies of the Book of Mormon, wrote a message under each picture, and signed our names. These books were to be given to our dinner guests as we sat around the fire and talked in the evening.
We were excited about our plan, and we knew the Lord would help us. In all our family prayers from Thanksgiving until Christmas, we asked Him to prepare for us someone in need of our love who would be ready to hear the gospel.
Christmas Day finally came and we were all excited. It took us a lot longer to cook the dinner and clean the house than we thought it would. Because of this we arrived at the Visitors Center later than we had planned. We were afraid everyone would have eaten by then and we wouldn’t find anyone to share Christmas dinner with us.
We talked with a number of people and invited several of them to our home. Some said they had already eaten and others looked a little puzzled and said, β€œNo, thank you.” But we just kept asking because we knew that our Heavenly Father had prepared somebody for us. And sure enough, He had!
We found a father and mother from Michigan and their seventeen-year-old son. They were surprised at our invitation, but said they were very hungry and were just going to look in the phone book to find a place to eat. The father and mother had been to the Visitors Center before on another vacation, and on this visit they wanted their son to learn a little bit about the Latter-day Saint people. The father said, β€œThere isn’t a better way for us to learn about your church and lifestyle than to go right into one of your homes. We’d be delighted to come!”
We also invited two young women who were on vacation from Australia to our home. They seemed excited too. They said they hadn’t eaten dinner and would enjoy being with a family at Christmastime.
We had a wonderful time on that Christmas night, eating and talking and answering questions about the Church. Before we said good-bye to our guests they thanked us over and over again. The Michigan family said they would always remember their Christmas dinner with us as a highlight of their trip, and before they left they took a picture of us around the Christmas tree.
The girls from Australia were a little teary as we gave them each a copy of the Book of Mormon with our picture inside the cover.
After the visitors had left, our family gathered in the kitchen to do the dishes. We agreed that the real spirit of Christmas had touched each one of us and that it had been the best Christmas ever. We learned, too, that we don’t have to wait for Christmas to have a Christ-like feelingβ€”all we have to do is share the gospel with others and it can be Christmas every day of the year!
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πŸ‘€ Church Members (General) πŸ‘€ Parents πŸ‘€ Youth πŸ‘€ Children πŸ‘€ Other
Book of Mormon Charity Christmas Faith Family Love Missionary Work Prayer Service Teaching the Gospel

The Home Teachers Who Wouldn’t Quit

Summary: The narrator describes how two faithful home teachers continued to visit, invite, and help him even as he drifted from Church activity. Their persistence, especially Brother Des Gorman’s kindness and a blessing given to the narrator’s baby son, helped bring about a powerful spiritual witness and repentance. He returned to full activity in the Church and expresses deep gratitude for the home teachers who never gave up on him.
During this time, two people from the Church never gave up on me. Our home teachers invited me to church every Sunday, sometimes in person and other times by a phone call. They visited our home at least once and sometimes twice each month. They even knew when we needed something. I especially remember the time I ordered a garden shed that was delivered unassembled during my absence. Upon returning home, I found our home teachers had already assembled the shed.
I particularly admired our senior home teacher, Des Gorman, an Irish Canadian. He was a genuine person who truly cared for people. To me he represented the Church, and I felt the Church must be a good organization, even if I wasn’t attending.
Eventually we were blessed with a baby boy. Our home teachers reminded me that it is a priesthood practice to name and bless a baby at fast and testimony meeting. I did not want to participate, though I finally agreed to allow our baby to be blessed by others.
Brother Gorman stood in my place and was the mouthpiece for a beautiful blessing on our son, Ronan. As I listened I received a powerful witness from the Spirit. I had been proud. I had made some big mistakes. I had nearly lost my testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel. I still had my family, but I had almost lost the sweet peace the gospel brings. Many tears flowed while my wife, Brother Gorman, and the bishopric supported me as I repented.
From that time on I have been active in the Church. Our home teachers have continued to support me. Our baby boy is now a returned missionary, married in the temple, and raising a family of his own. I feel his life is a tribute to the man who gave him a name and a blessing.
I shall ever be grateful to two dedicated home teachers who took their assignment seriously. Although Brother Gorman has been deceased for some years, I know I won’t forget him or his patient consistency in inviting me back. He never gave up.
Today I seek to emulate his quiet and loving persistence in my own home teaching and other Church callings.
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πŸ‘€ Parents πŸ‘€ Church Members (General)
Charity Kindness Ministering Service

No Cussing Club

Summary: McKay Hatch was troubled by the bad language he heard from friends when he started middle school, so he challenged them to stop cussing if they wanted to stay close to him. That led him to start the No Cussing Club, which quickly grew into an organization with members and branches across all 50 states and 35 countries. The club also helped establish cuss-free weeks in their city and in Los Angeles County. Despite criticism and backlash, McKay says he is only trying to raise awareness, and he teaches children that words shape thoughts, actions, character, and destiny.
When McKay Hatch of Pasadena, California, and his friends started middle school at age 12, he was bothered by the increase in bad language. β€œI think what bothered me most,” says McKay, β€œwas that they were using it every other word. It wasn’t just that they used a cuss word when they stubbed their toe. It was becoming part of their everyday language.”
McKay got up his nerve, spoke to his friends, and basically said that if they wanted to continue hanging out with him, they had to quit using bad language. He wondered if he would lose all his friends, but they stuck with him and cleaned up their language. McKay came up with the idea of starting a clubβ€”a No Cussing Club.
The first club meeting was held June 1, 2007, at the end of the school year. β€œA lot of people came,” says McKay. β€œI was surprised. We talked about what our goals were going to be and what we could do.” Since that simple beginning, McKay reports having members or branches of the club in all 50 states and in 35 countries. They now have T-shirts, wristbands, and a Web site.
The club wanted to have a cuss-free week in their city. McKay wrote to the city council, who agreed, and last year, March 3–7 was declared Cuss-Free Week. In March 2009, the county of Los Angeles, home to over 10 million people, is also going have a Cuss-Free Week, with McKay receiving the proclamation.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. At first, McKay almost quit because of negative response. Sometimes people would yell bad words at him. Or they would accuse him of trying to take away their freedom of speech. McKay points out that he isn’t making them do anything. He asks them to challenge themselves to improve. β€œI’m just trying to bring awareness about people’s language.”
McKay is often asked to talk at elementary schools. He tells the younger kids that their words become their thoughts, their thoughts become their actions, their actions become their character, and their character becomes their destiny. β€œI tell them it all starts with your words.”
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πŸ‘€ Youth πŸ‘€ Friends
Agency and Accountability Courage Friendship Young Men

Spiritual Power of Our Baptism

Summary: A Mia Maid who had lost the Spirit went to her bishop despite fear. She felt the Lord’s support, repented, relearned to pray, and testified that the light side is best.
A Mia Maid from Utah wrote: β€œThis past year I had some personal challenges. I lost track of the Spirit, and then something incredible happened. I went to my bishop. I can’t remember ever feeling so scared. But the Lord was with me in that room, holding my trembling hand. I knew I could be forgiven. It’s been a hard roadβ€”humbling, repenting, and learning to pray all over again. But He was there. He never left me for a minute. I’ve been on both sides, and the light side is definitely the place to be” (letter in possession of Young Women office).
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πŸ‘€ Youth πŸ‘€ Church Leaders (Local)
Bishop Forgiveness Holy Ghost Humility Prayer Repentance Sin Young Women

Symphony of One

Summary: As a missionary in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, Elder Zack Clark and his companion taught a husband and wife who chose to be baptized. Elder Clark testified that sharing the gospel and watching people embrace it brings a sweet, soul-stirring 'melody.'
Today, as Elder Zack Clark is serving faithfully in Kirkcaldy, on the east coast of Scotland facing the North Sea, his personal symphony continues. Elder Clark and his companion, Elder Stoddard, just taught a husband and wife who both chose to be baptized. β€œIf you want to hear music in your soul,” Elder Clark says, β€œjust share the gospel. Watch someone embrace it, and as they learn and grow, the melody in your own heart will be sweet.”
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πŸ‘€ Missionaries πŸ‘€ Other
Baptism Conversion Missionary Work

Strong Roots in Small Branches

Summary: Recent convert Lucija Krajnik from Ljubljana, Slovenia, distanced herself from former friends who were bad influences. She stayed connected with members and missionaries instead. She expresses deep gratitude for the Church and her faithful friends.
Many of the youth must also stand alone among their friends. Many left friends behind when they embraced the gospel. A recent convert, Lucija Krajnik of Ljubljana, Slovenia, says: β€œSince joining the Church, I have needed to separate myself from my old friends because they were bad company. The best thing for me to do was to isolate myself from them and stay in contact with members and missionaries.”

Lucija Krajnik knows that she needs her friends in the gospel. β€œWhere would I be if I didn’t have the Church?” she asks. β€œI am grateful to be a member of the Church and to have my friends by my side.”
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πŸ‘€ Youth πŸ‘€ Missionaries πŸ‘€ Church Members (General)
Adversity Conversion Friendship Missionary Work Sacrifice Young Women

The Trial of Billy Fisher

Summary: Billy Fisher, a young Latter-day Saint boy, is pressured by a bully, Silas Marsh, to share test answers. Remembering his mother's teachings about trials and conscience, Billy refuses and prepares to face a beating. Mr. Beecher discovers the note and commends Billy, and when Billy confronts Silas after school, Silas is impressed by his courage and decides not to fight, asking to walk home together instead.
Billy Fisher pushed his cap off his forehead and wiped the beads of sweat off his warm brow. It was a good five miles from Horse Water Junction to his place on the flats, and the road under his feet was hot. But aching as he was to stop and rest under the shade of a big cottonwood tree, he knew he’d best keep traveling the rutted stage trail that pointed toward the sod house.
The sun was more down than up, and Billy had chores waiting for him, and he needed to study for a big test the following day at school. Mr. Beecher’s a tolerable enough schoolmaster, Billy pondered, but he’s awfully strictβ€”especially toward me. β€œIs it because I’m a Mormon, Ma?” he had asked one day as he helped fetch water for washday.
β€œWe are the only Mormons in all of Spillman County, but only God and Mr. Beecher know for sure, Billy,” his mother had replied as she dragged the huge black kettle into the yard.
β€œWhy do the Saints get so tromped on sometimes, Ma? It doesn’t seem right.”
Billy’s mother had walked with him back down to the creek that trickled by the family’s vegetable garden. β€œNow, Billy,” she had started, with a gentle wisdom that the boy often stood in awe of, β€œthe Lord doesn’t backhand a good person, but He just might bless him with a little trial and tribulation every now and again to keep him meek and humble. Like the bumps on the road between our place and town, there’s just enough of them to keep a body watchful.”
Billy’s mother had sat down on a fallen tree by the creek and pushed a loose strand of hair out of her eyes. Billy had plopped down beside her and let his bare feet dangle in the cool water.
β€œI do believe,” she had continued, β€œthat if the righteous could stack all their hard times under them, they could rise almost to heaven.” She had brushed at the tangles in the boy’s matted hair. β€œI suspect a rose without a thorn is only half a rose, honey. And if the rain can make the flowers grow, why not the rest of us too?”
Billy sighed as he plodded along toward home. What his mother had said made sense, just as it had when she’d talked about a light shining its brightest when surrounded by the blackest black and about having to fight and maybe even die for what’s right. Yet, the knowledge that what Ma said was true didn’t always make life any easier.
Billy stopped to rest a moment and to pat his dog, Banjo. The dog was hitched to a travois loaded with supplies from J. D. Hollins’s mercantile store. Billy dug into his huck shirt and withdrew a crumpled list his mother had given him. β€œI’d better make double sure we got everything Ma wanted, Banjo,” Billy said. β€œIt’ll be a long walk back to town if we forgot anything, and I just have to study for that test Mr. Beecher is giving us tomorrow. Let’s see. We got the flour, hardtack, dried beef, salt, four yards of gingham, the new bullet pouch for Pa, the whetstone, and the—”
β€œHey, Holy Joe!” a derisive voice shouted. β€œYou haven’t shown me your horns yet!”
Billy whirled around. The voice belonged to Silas Marsh. Twelve-year-old Silas had taunted Billy on more than one occasion, and the jeers were usually followed by shoving and blustery threats. Besides being considerably larger than Billy and most of the other children in and around Horse Water, Silas had a mean streak in him. Billy had seen the effect of that meanness more than once. He stiffened as Silas swaggered up, grabbed him by the shirtfront with one hand, and rumpled his hair with the other. β€œWhere’d you stash those horns, Mormon?”
Banjo growled.
β€œYou’d better let go of me,” Billy sputtered weakly, β€œor my dog will—”
β€œWhat could that mutt do,” Silas snarled, pulling a knife from his boot, β€œwith this toad-sticker between his ribs?”
β€œPlease don’t hurt him, Silas,” Billy pleaded.
Gloating because he had the upper hand, Silas slit the leather straps binding the mercantile goods to the travois and dumped the bundles out onto the road. β€œLooks like you had a little accident, Mormon,” he sneered, grabbing Billy by the arm. β€œAnd you’re going to have an even bigger one tomorrow after school if you don’t give me the answers to that test. I’ll pound you so far into the ground that they’ll have to drop a light to find you!” Giving Billy one last shove, Silas tromped off down the road.
Billy kicked his foot in the dirt. He didn’t like the idea of looking at the world through a couple of black eyes. He’d seen it happen to Stanley Jackson, the boy who sat three seats behind him. Silas had told Stanley to give him the piece of cherry cobbler packed in his lunch. Without thinking, Stanley had said no, and Silas had blackened both of Stanley’s eyes and had taken the cobbler too.
Won’t slipping Silas a few answers be better than taking a beating? Billy wondered.
In school the next day Billy felt a breeze on the back of his neck from the open window. It was a welcome relief as he sweated over the test questions. He had studied the night before, and although the questions were difficult, he was prepared.
Then Billy felt something else on the back of his neckβ€”Silas Marsh’s eyes.
Silas sent a note saying, β€œWrite the answers on this paper and slip it back to me. Or else!”
Sweat trickled off Billy’s forehead and salted his eyes. He blinked back the sting and stared numbly at the slip of paper, then glanced at Mr. Beecher. The schoolmaster was seated at his desk, busy with paperwork. Billy’s heart pounded, and his lips were dry.
The memory of Stanley Johnson getting a beating skittered across Billy’s mind. Still, Billy thought, if I cheat, I’ll have to live with my conscience a lot longer than with two closed eyes and a swollen lip. Then he remembered what Ma had told him about trials and tribulatons. Finally he wrote on the back of the note, folded it, and slipped it back to Silas.
Silas, grinning from ear to ear with cocky assuredness, opened the paper. His grin disappeared as quickly as Billy wished he could after school. On the paper Billy had written, β€œI won’t give you any answers. It’s just not right. I’ll meet you out back after school. I know what you are going to do to me. I can’t stop you. But I won’t let you do it without fighting back. Billy.”
An hour later the class began to file out of the sweltering one-room building. As Billy reached for his cap hanging on a wooden peg by the door, a hand rested firmly on his shoulder. Billy’s muscles tensed and he turned around, expecting to see Silas’s fist. Instead, it was Mr. Beecher grasping him. β€œWilliam Fisher,” he intoned.
β€œYes, sir, Mr. Beecher,” Billy responded with an unmanageable lump in his throat.
The schoolmaster displayed a piece of crumpled paper. β€œI procured this from the trash bucket. Silas Marsh passed this note to you.”
β€œYou saw him pass it?” Billy blurted out with surprise. β€œBut you were—”
β€œMr. Fisher,” the schoolmaster clipped, β€œthere are two things that rarely elude me: One is mischief, and the other is good judgmentβ€”though in relation to the latter, I must admit I have badly misjudged you.” He gestured toward the paper, and a smile trickled across his face. β€œI also read your response to Mr. Marsh’s demands. You did well, William. Very well indeed.” He started to turn away, then hesitated, looked back at Billy, and added, β€œMay God be with you. Judging from the tone of that note, you’ll be needing Him.”
β€œYes, sir,” Billy replied. He put on his cap, girded himself up, and walked out.
Mr. Beecher sat back down at his desk and stared at the door that closed behind Billy. That boy has more gumption than I thought he did, he mused. Then he smiled and went back to his work.
Silas was waiting for Billy when he came walking around the corner of the schoolhouse. Billy stopped a few feet from his adversary, doubled up his fists, and looked the big, brawly youth right in the eye. β€œWell,” Billy got out in an as-bold-as-he-could-muster voice, β€œlet’s get it over with. I have chores waiting for me at home.”
Silas just stared at him. Then he twisted his face up like a tree knot and stared some more. β€œJust what is it with you Mormons?” he finally said, looking as perplexed as anyone could be. β€œDon’t you remember what I said I was going to do to you?”
Billy nodded.
β€œWell, aren’t you afraid?”
Billy nodded again. β€œMy ma says that the time comes when a body has to face up to his fears. So here I am.”
Silas shook his head. β€œYou’re really something, you know that?” He threw up his arms and started to walk away.
β€œYou mean you’re not going to beat me up?”
Silas looked back, scratched his head, and said, β€œMaybe tomorrow.” Then he fidgeted a little and looked questioningly at Billy.
β€œWhat is it?” Billy asked.
β€œNothing,” Silas returned, β€œexcept … well, you and me, we take the same road home. I was wondering if we could walk together.”
Billy tried to swallow his surprise. β€œSure, I don’t mind. I don’t mind at all.”
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πŸ‘€ Youth πŸ‘€ Parents πŸ‘€ Church Members (General) πŸ‘€ Other
Adversity Agency and Accountability Courage Faith Honesty Judging Others

The Friend for a Friend

Summary: After a family home evening with friends, the narrator and their mother told a friendβ€”who was meeting with missionariesβ€”about the Friend magazine. The friend looked through an issue, liked it, and the narrator gave her the August 2007 Friend. The narrator felt glad to share the gospel this way.
One night, my family and some friends had a family home evening. We had the lesson and the closing prayer, and then had a treat. When it was time for our friends to leave, my mom and I told one of my friends about the Friend magazine. She is taking discussions from the missionaries and hadn’t heard about the Friend, so I let her look through it. She really liked it. I let her have the August 2007 Friend. I’m glad that I can share the gospel with others.
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πŸ‘€ Parents πŸ‘€ Friends πŸ‘€ Church Members (General) πŸ‘€ Missionaries
Children Family Family Home Evening Friendship Missionary Work Teaching the Gospel

Changing Channels

Summary: A father on a rough airplane flight worries about his five-year-old son, only to hear the boy delightfully ask whether the turbulence is meant to make the trip fun for kids. The anecdote concludes with the lesson that good parents and leaders seek wholesome fun that lifts the spirit and does not detract from lasting joy.
A picture forms on my monitor involving a father aboard an airplane. He has with him his five-year-old son and is almost wishing his son were not there because it is a very rough trip. There are downdrafts and updrafts and some passengers are feeling a bit queasy. Apprehensively, the father glances at his son and finds him grinning from ear to ear. β€œDad,” he says, β€œdo they do this just to make it fun for the kids?”
Good parents and family and leaders and friends do go to great lengths to make it fun for the kids, but the fun they are thinking of is wholesome fun; it hurts no one, and it lifts the spirit. It never detracts from the real, long-term joy we came into this world to experience.
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πŸ‘€ Parents πŸ‘€ Children
Children Family Happiness Parenting

Standing with the Leaders of the Church

Summary: Soon after being sustained, Elder Rasband traveled to Pakistan and met devoted Saints, including Brother Shakeel Arshad. After returning home, he received a heartfelt note from Brother Arshad expressing love and support, calling the visit a golden day for his family. Elder Rasband shares that the experience was likewise a golden day for him and later references Brother Arshad’s continued support.
Soon after I was sustained last October, I traveled to Pakistan on an assignment and, while there, met the magnificent and dedicated Saints in that country. They are few in number but large in spirit. Shortly after returning home, I received the following note from Brother Shakeel Arshad, a dear member I had met on my visit: β€œThank you, Elder … Rasband, for coming to Pakistan. I want to tell you that we … Church members … sustain you and love you. [We are] so lucky that you were here and we heard from you. It was just a golden day in my family’s life that we met an Apostle.”
Meeting Saints like Brother Arshad was an overwhelming and humbling experience and, using his words, β€œa golden day” for me as well.
Shakeel Arshad, my friend in Pakistan, sent his support to me, his brother and friend. So have many of you. When we reach out to lift one another, we prove those powerful words: β€œ[No one] goes his way alone.”
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πŸ‘€ General Authorities (Modern) πŸ‘€ Church Members (General)
Apostle Diversity and Unity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Friendship Love Ministering Unity

Keep Trying!

Summary: As a child in a small Australian branch, the author was asked at age seven to play the piano in church. He often made mistakes and cried but kept practicing. Over time he learned to play the hymns well and came to love playing the piano.
My parents joined the Church when I was young. We were in a small branch in Australia. My mother played the piano at church. But she could play only a few of the hymns. I was learning to play the piano too. When I was seven, the branch president asked me to play at church.
When I played the piano in church, I made mistakes. And when I made a mistake, I would cry. I was very shy and nervous. But I kept practicing. I wanted to play the hymns well. Now I love to play the piano! I can play all of the hymns.
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πŸ‘€ Children πŸ‘€ Parents πŸ‘€ Church Leaders (Local)
Children Conversion Courage Family Music Sacrament Meeting

Taking the Next Step

Summary: In 1997, David Eves was paralyzed in an off-road accident and endured months of intense pain and surgeries. Peace came as his father read the Book of Mormon to him. When his condition failed to improve, his mother prayed, felt prompted to call a specialist, and a doctor repaired a hole in his esophagus, allowing him to return home two weeks later.
David Eves discovered life can change quite quickly when, on 20 September 1997, he and his friends were riding an off-road vehicle in southern Utah.
β€œWe hit a bump and lost control,” explains David. β€œI remember flying through the air, then waking up in excruciating pain. When I saw my friends looking down at me and I told them I couldn’t feel my legs, I knew I would never be the same.”
David was flown to a hospital in Salt Lake City and underwent eight hours of surgery. He spent the next three months fighting for his life.
David, a member of the La Verkin Second Ward, La Verkin Utah Stake, had been a sports star, but now he faced new challenges. He couldn’t keep food down or speak, and he was in extreme pain. His weight dropped from 170 to 100 pounds (78 to 45 kilograms) in two months.
The days and nights were long and hard to endure. β€œI wanted to get off the painkillers, but the pain was unbearable,” David recalls. β€œI asked my dad to read to me from the Book of Mormon, and as he did a miracle happened. The spirit of that book brought so much peace, I was able to rest.”
But David was not improving. Jill Eves became alarmed at her son’s severe weight loss. She prayed for inspiration and felt impressed to call a specialist. The new doctor repaired a hole in David’s esophagus. Two weeks later, David came home from the hospital.
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πŸ‘€ Parents πŸ‘€ Friends πŸ‘€ Other
Adversity Book of Mormon Disabilities Faith Family Health Holy Ghost Miracles Prayer Revelation

Carrie’s Journal

Summary: A ten-year-old attends general conference and usually gets bored but decides to follow a Primary teacher’s advice to listen carefully and apply the messages. During President Hunter’s concluding talk, the child listens closely and resolves to be more like Jesus Christ.
Dear Journal,
Today I watched general conference at the church. Sometimes I get bored because conference seems too long for my ten-year-old body. But today I decided to follow the advice of my Primary teacher. She told me that I’d get more out of the talks if I listened carefully and figured out how I could use what was said in my life. I tried very hard to do that, and I think I did pretty well.
When President Hunter gave the last talk, I listened especially hard. I can’t remember everything he said, but I know that he asked us to be more like Jesus Christ. I’m going to try.
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πŸ‘€ General Authorities (Modern) πŸ‘€ Church Leaders (Local) πŸ‘€ Children πŸ‘€ Jesus Christ
Children Jesus Christ Teaching the Gospel Testimony

Covenants with God Strengthen, Protect, and Prepare Us for Eternal Glory

Summary: The speaker recalls rappelling with young women and being the first to descend when she suddenly began falling uncontrollably. The belayer was pulled toward the cliff but wedged his feet and painstakingly lowered her by hand while another friend below was ready to catch her. She prayed as she dangled, and her friends’ efforts safely brought her to the ground. The experience illustrates reliance on a trustworthy anchor and partner.
Have you ever stood on a high cliff with your toes on its edge and your back to the abyss below? In rappelling, even though you are securely connected to a system of strong ropes and equipment that can deliver you to safety, standing on the edge is still heart-racing. Stepping backward off the cliff and swinging into thin air requires trust in an anchor secured to an immovable object. It demands trust in the person who will apply tension to the rope as you descend. And although the equipment provides you with some ability to control your descent, you must have confidence that your partner will not allow you to fall.
I vividly remember rappelling with a group of young women. I was first in the group to go. As I stepped backwards off the cliff, I began to fall without control. Gratefully, the rope jerked and my too-rapid descent was stopped. As I dangled halfway down the jagged rock face, I prayed fervently for whomever or whatever was keeping me from dropping onto the rocks.
Later, I learned that the anchor bolt had not been securely set, and as I stepped off the edge, the person belaying me was jerked on his back and pulled towards the edge of the cliff. Somehow, he wedged his feet against some rocks. Stabilized in that position, he was able to laboriously lower me, hand over hand, with the rope. Although I couldn’t see him, I knew he was working with all his strength to save me. Another friend was at the bottom of the cliff, prepared to catch me if the rope ceased to hold. As I came within reach, he caught my harness and lowered me to the ground.
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πŸ‘€ Youth πŸ‘€ Friends πŸ‘€ Church Members (General)
Adversity Courage Faith Friendship Gratitude Prayer Service

Summary: Catherine posted small Mormonads in the halls of a stake center during a regional youth dance. She observed youth walking the halls to find them, and the DJ reported that youth thanked him and did not argue when he declined to play certain songs. Catherine wonders if the positive behavior was connected to the Mormonads.
Thank you very much for the continuing publication of the Mormonads. Recently I put up all of the small-sized Mormonads in the hallways in our stake center during a regional youth dance. It was interesting to see some of the youth go up and down the hallways to see which ones they would find next. Our DJ, a longtime veteran of Church dances, told me that some of the youth made a special effort to thank him for the good job and that no one argued or complained when he declined to play certain songs. They just chose different songs for him to play. I don’t know if there is a correlation between this behavior and the Mormonads, but I like to think it wasn’t a coincidence.
Catherine M., Utah
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πŸ‘€ Youth πŸ‘€ Church Members (General) πŸ‘€ Other
Gratitude Kindness Music Young Men Young Women

Your Contract with BYU

Summary: While serving as elders quorum president, the speaker came to know Helen Royston, a poor but faithful widow who worked hard and opened her home to those in need. In ward council, a bishop settled a spending question by reminding everyone they were using Helen Royston’s tithing, leaving a lasting lesson about sacred funds.
Years ago I served as elders quorum president in our California ward. One of my responsibilities was to home teach Helen Royston, a convert to the Church and one of the widows in our ward. She was barely five feet tall, and I imagine she didn’t weigh 100 pounds. For as long as I can remember, Helen faithfully taught Primary, including classes with some of my own children. Her home was modest, and it always seemed to be filled with an impossible number of visitors who were in need of a refuge or just down on their luck. Helen made her living working in a laundry. I often wondered how such a little, older lady could withstand such difficult work. I calculated that during her career she must have steam pressed literally millions of articles of clothing.

During ward council meeting one Sunday, we were considering an expenditure that was on the borderline between necessary and extravagant. After some discussion our wise bishop said, β€œRemember, we are spending Helen Royston’s tithing.” That resolved the issue. I have never forgotten that council meeting. Since that day, each time I hear the story of the widow’s mite I think of Sister Royston. It guides me today in my role as the chief financial officer of this university. How amazing it is that funds considered sacred are made available for your education and benefit.
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πŸ‘€ Church Members (General) πŸ‘€ Church Leaders (Local) πŸ‘€ Parents

God Answers Prayers

Summary: A zone leader from Mexico had wanted as a boy to go to a movie with his siblings, but their father said he would only take them if it rained. Because they lived in a very dry area, the father felt safe making that promise. The children prayed for rain, and the next morning it had rained, giving the boy both the outing and a testimony that God hears prayers.
We have a wonderful zone leader in this mission, born and raised in Mexico. As a young boy, he and his siblings were pleading, one day, with his father to take them to a movie. His father said, "No, I don't have time to take you to a movie." They continued to plead and beg, the way only young children could do. Finally out of exasperation his father said, "Well, if it rains, I will take you to a movie." They lived in a very dry portion of Mexico. His father thought he was making a very safe arrangement. But this little boy and his siblings went into their room, knelt down and plead with the Lord for rain. They really wanted to see that movie.

The next morning as they all got up, the father looked out the window and it had rained. Now the Lord didn't care about that movie, but He cared deeply about the faith of one of his future missionaries and He wanted him to know that God does answer prayers. So that young man not only got a movie, but he got a personal testimony of the reality of prayer.
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πŸ‘€ Missionaries πŸ‘€ Children πŸ‘€ Parents

Fear Not

Summary: While engaged during the Depression, Gordon B. Hinckley worried that he lacked enough money to marry. When he told Marjorie he had only $150 and a modest monthly income, her cheerful confidence dispelled his fears and helped launch a long marriage of faith and service.
Of course, love conquers fear not just in missionary work but in all aspects of life. When young Gordon B. Hinckley and Marjorie Pay were engaged to be married, Gordon began to worry about the economic realities of marriage during the depression-ridden 1930s. He called his fiancΓ©e and said they needed to talk. They agreed to meet over lunch.

β€œI think you should know,” he told her, β€œthat I only have $150 to my name.” He added that he only made $185 a month.

Marjorie put his fears to rest with her unexpected, optimistic response: β€œOh, that will work out just fine; if you’ve got $150, we’re set!”

Reflecting on her thoughts that day, Marjorie said, β€œI had hoped for a husband and now I was getting $150 too!” Sister Hinckley’s love and faith empowered her to β€œfear not” as they started their lives togetherβ€”a marriage that would become nearly seven decades of love and faith and service.
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πŸ‘€ General Authorities (Modern) πŸ‘€ Young Adults

The Bulletin Board

Summary: Jamie attended a national student council conference and unexpectedly met many other Latter-day Saint youth. They organized a testimony meeting with dozens attending from across North America. Sharing testimonies brought a strong spiritual witness and highlighted their example as student leaders.
I’m having a blast here at the summer conference of the National Association of Student Councils. Among the 2,000 student delegates from North America, I didn’t expect to find other Mormons, but soon they found me!
Some LDS delegates planned a testimony meeting and spread the word. Dozens of LDS kids from all over North America showed up! As we bore our testimonies, the Spirit let us know the truthfulness of the Gospel.
Here’s a photo of some of the LDS kids. It’s great to know that so many student leaders are also such wonderful examples for the Church!
Love, Jamie
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πŸ‘€ Youth πŸ‘€ Church Members (General)
Education Faith Friendship Holy Ghost Testimony Unity