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THE FEBRUARY 2002 COVER STORY: STARS OF INDIA, P. 2 0 ROMANTIC LOVE AND THE GOSPEL, P. 1 0 OLYMPIC HOPEFUL, P. 3 2 The New Era Magazine n a country Volume 32, Number 2 long famed February 2002 II for its jewels, these teens have Official monthly publication found a priceless for youth of The Church of Jesus Christ pearl. See “Stars of Latter-day Saints of India,” p. 20. Editorial Offices: New Era 50 E. North Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3225 E-mail address: cur-editorial-newera @ldschurch.org To Subscribe: Send $8.00 check or money order for the New Era to Church Magazines Salt Lake Distribution Center P. O. Box 26368 Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0368 Subscription helpline: 1-800-537-5971 Credit card orders (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) may be taken by phone. Cover: Kiran Arul, of Hyderabad, India, has seen his life and attitude change for the better 10 32 since joining the Church. See “Stars of India,” p. 20. Cover photography: Larry Hiller (front), John Luke (back) 2 T HE N EW E RA C ONTENTS The First Presidency The Message: Shining Bright 32 Gordon B. Hinckley Janet Thomas Thomas S. Monson “I Am But a Lad” 4 James E. Faust Living her dream as a member of the Elder Neal A. Maxwell The Quorum of the Twelve Believe in yourselves not only for what Australian Olympic ski team, Rowena Boyd K. Packer L. Tom Perry you now are, but for what you have the Bright was excited that the Olympics David B. Haight Neal A. Maxwell possibilities to become! would be in Salt Lake City, a city that Russell M. Nelson means so much to her LDS family. Dallin H. Oaks M. Russell Ballard Joseph B. Wirthlin No One Will Know 8 Richard G. Scott Robert D. Hales Becky Manion Missionaries on Board 36 Jeffrey R. Holland When I realized that my Heavenly Caroline H. Benzley Henry B. Eyring Father would know, then the temptation The rows of pictures on the wall of Editor Dennis B. Neuenschwander to watch the movie lost out. the Vineyard, Utah, ward building inspire upcoming generations of missionaries. Advisers J. Kent Jolley W. Rolfe Kerr The Gospel and Stephen A. West The Extra Smile 39 Curriculum Department Romantic Love 10 Administrators Elder Bruce C. Hafen Managing Director With friendship as the base, love can Of All Things 40 Ronald L. Knighton Editorial Director be built on a foundation of mutual Richard M. Romney Graphics Director respect and shared interests. Cold Feet, Warm Heart 42 Allan R. Loyborg R. John Walker Editorial Staff Idea List: With something as simple as asking Managing Editor to borrow some burlap, my deacons Larry Hiller Fighting Pride 15 Assistant Managing Editor quorum president changed my life. Janet Thomas Forgiving, repenting, serving—these Assistant Editor Laury Livsey are all part of overcoming pride. Editorial Associates When Life Gets Tough 44 Shanna Ghaznavi Elder John B. Dickson Matthew Baker Q&A: Publications Assistant My own challenge of losing an arm Julie K. Kennard Editorial Intern Questions and Answers 16 taught me to use adversity as a Caroline Benzley I know great blessings can come from stepping-stone and keep moving serving a mission. But I know a college Design Staff towards righteousness. Magazine Graphics Manager degree is good, too. It seems they both M. M. Kawasaki happen at about the same age. How Art Director Reader’s Guide 49 Bryan Lee Shaw can I make such an important decision Senior Designer Brent Christison between two right things to do? We’ve Got Mail 50 Printing Director Kay W. Briggs New Era Poster: Distribution Director Poem: (Subscriptions) It’s Great Except For . 19 Kris T. Christensen A Child’s Imagination 51 Kimberly Webb © 2002 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All Stars of India 20 rights reserved. Periodicals Postage Larry Hiller Paid at Salt Lake City, Utah, and at additional mailing offices. In a land of a thousand languages Photo of the Month 51 U.S. subscription rate $8.00 yearly, in V. Elisabeth Westwood advance. Non-U.S. subscription rate is and a billion people, these teens the U.S. equivalent in local currency. speak a common language. THE NEW ERA (ISSN 0164-5285) is published monthly by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 50 East North Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150-3225. Sixty days’ notice Don’t Bet Your Life 26 required for a change of address. Shanna Ghaznavi Include address label from a recent Everything in the New Era may be copied for issue. Changes cannot be made unless As addictive as drugs, as destructive as incidental, noncommercial Church or home old address, as well as new one, is included. Unsolicited manuscripts are drinking, gambling is not just playing use unless otherwise indicated. Other uses welcomed, but no responsibility is assumed for them. Sufficient postage games. It can lead to serious problems. require permission of the copyright owner. and self-addressed envelope must accompany all manuscripts. Canada Post Information Publication Agreement #40017431 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Distribution Services, Church Magazines, P. O. Box 26368, Salt Lake City, Utah 84126-0368. F EBRUARY 2002 3 T HE M ESSAGE ““II AmAm ButButaa LadLad”” Your possibilities are you are to what you have the power to become. Chapters from three diverse immense. Trust the Lord stories illustrate this perspective. to lead you from what A grandfather’s blessing you are to what you have Not very many years ago in a Maori village in New Zealand, a baby boy was the power to become. born. He soon received a blessing from his grandfather who said in the blessing that this boy would one day become an n ancient Greek leader tried to educational leader among his people. rally his people by urging them, Some of the men in the village laughed at AA in effect, to believe in that blessing; it seemed so unrealistic. themselves and their city-culture not only That boy, Barney Wihongi, earned his for what they then were but for what doctorate and became president of the they had the power to become! Youth of Church College of New Zealand. He the Church, this is an appropriate ome in the became president of the Church College message for you today, even though Maori of New Zealand at age 35 and had some of you may presently feel very village influence among other educators in the S inadequate and uncertain. S country of New Zealand. The promises laughed when a When the prophet Enoch was called, baby named given to Brother Wihongi as a baby he wondered why and said, “I . am but Barney Wihongi amused some. Brother Barney Wihongi a lad, and all the people hate me; for I was blessed to inspired many! am slow of speech” (Moses 6:31). Yet become an Inspired blessings can part the curtains Enoch knew that in responding to God educational of your possibilities! Performance and the test is not our capability but our leader. But the patience must then follow. availability. Enoch kept the Lord knew his commandments and trusted in the Lord’s potential. What may be vision of his possibilities, going on to During the time of the Korean War, a become the builder of the greatest city of young man, Rhee Ho Nam, was pressed all time. The only time in all of human into a helping role by an American history when a whole people’s military unit involved in court martials. At righteousness did not relapse was in the the time, being dislocated from his City of Enoch. And it all began with a regular way of life looked like a tragedy. comparatively young man who was less Ho Nam, however, made the best of his than sure of himself. challenges as did Joseph in ancient Your personal possibilities, not for Egypt. He developed English as a second by Elder status and position but for service to God Neal A. Maxwell language. He carefully observed the and mankind, are immense, if you will things the American soldiers did, of the Quorum of the but trust the Lord to lead you from what Tw elve especially an LDS lieutenant who was 4 T HE N EW E RA Illustrated by Scott Snow F EBRUARY 2002 5 n the midst of “different” from his fellow soldiers and Italian girl in the Bern Switzerland a war, a much admired by Ho Nam. They Te mple, and became one of the directors IIyoung discussed things often. One day the of the seminary and institute program in Korean man lieutenant asked Ho Nam what the Italy. recognized the purpose of life was. Rhee Ho Nam could In July of 1980, Felice Lotito left at age truth outlined on not answer, saying only that philosophers 32 to be the mission president in the a scrap of paper. had struggled in vain with that question Italy Padova Mission of The Church of He studied the for centuries. Thereupon, the officer Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! God saw gospel, was took out a plain sheet of paper and drew in Felice possibilities that Felice did not baptized, and an outline of the plan of salvation. At that see in himself. When the gospel was went on to serve very moment, the Lord bore testimony presented to him, Felice had the integrity with distinction through the power of His Spirit to Rhee of heart and intellect to believe it, even in the Church. Ho Nam’s heart that what the American though he had been hassling the had told him was true.