THE ENSIGN OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • JULY 2002

Nauvoo: A Temple Reborn, p. 14 The Holy Ghost: Glorifying Christ, p. 56 The Last Visit to the Garden,by Lynde Madsen Mott

Knowing that she and others will soon need to leave their homes and gardens to escape growing persecution, this pioneer woman looks anxiously at the Nauvoo Temple and dreams of receiving her long-awaited ordinances. JULY 2002 • VOLUME 32, NUMBER 7

2 FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE A Priceless Heritage President James E. Faust 7At Journey’s End Elaine Wright Christensen 8 The First Nauvoo Temple: So Great a Cause Matthew S. McBride 10 Nauvoo Temple Milestones, 1840–1850 Robert Freeman 14 Nauvoo: A Temple Reborn Don L. Searle The First Nauvoo Temple: 24 President Hinckley and the Nauvoo Temple 8 So Great a Cause 26 GOSPEL CLASSICS The Wentworth Letter Jr. 33 Underneath the Bookshelf Suchat Chaichana 36 An Eternal Marriage—One Day at a Time 40 The Quest for Wisdom Elder James J. Hamula 43 Elijah Nurtures Faith Todd A. Knowles 46 The Savior’s Use of the Old Testament Thomas F. Olmstead

An Eternal 52 More Than Words Can Say Marilyn Dimond 36 Marriage—One 55 Just a Music Leader? Sherri Timmons Day at a Time 56 The Holy Ghost: Glorifying Christ Elder Neal A. Maxwell 62 LATTER-DAY SAINT VOICES 66 Climbing Out of Debt 70 Making It Up to Each Other Kathleen Chambers 71 VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE Finding Nobility in Motherhood and Joy in Womanhood More Than 72 RANDOM SAMPLER Words Can Say Nauvoo: 52 74 NEWS OF THE CHURCH 14 A Temple Reborn THE FIRST PRESIDENCY: Gordon B. Hinckley, TEXT PROGRAMMER: Sally J. Odekirk at 1-800-537-5971. The Ensign Talking Book, for Thomas S. Monson, James E. Faust MAGAZINE GRAPHICS MANAGER: M. M. Kawasaki individuals with visual impairment or physical QUORUM OF THE TWELVE: Boyd K. Packer, ART DIRECTOR: J. Scott Knudsen disability, is available free of charge or through L. Tom Perry, David B. Haight, Neal A. SENIOR DESIGNERS: C. Kimball Bott, donations. Maxwell, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, Fay P. Andrus, Tadd R. Peterson TO SUBMIT MANUSCRIPTS OR ART: Send submis- M. Russell Ballard, Joseph B. Wirthlin, DESIGNER: Thomas S. Child sions to the address above or via e-mail at Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. PRINTING DIRECTOR: [email protected]. For re- Holland, Henry B. Eyring Kay W. Briggs DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR: Kris T. Christensen turn delivery by mail, manuscripts and art EDITOR: Dennis B. Neuenschwander must be accompanied by a self-addressed, ADVISERS: J. Kent Jolley, W. Rolfe Kerr, © 2002 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights stamped envelope. Stephen A. West reserved. The Ensign (ISSN 0884-1136) is pub- TO CHANGE ADDRESSES: lished monthly by The Church of Jesus Christ Old address as well as MANAGING DIRECTOR: Ronald L. Knighton new is needed. Call the subscription helpline at EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Richard M. Romney of Latter-day Saints, 50 East North Temple Street, , UT 84150-3224, USA. 1-800-537-5971, or send changes to the address GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Allan R. Loyborg below. MANAGING EDITOR: Periodicals Postage Paid at Salt Lake City, , Brian K. Kelly POSTMASTER: ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITORS: and at additional mailing offices. Send address changes to Climbing Don L. Searle, Salt Lake Distribution Center TO SUBSCRIBE: Send $10.00 U.S. check or money Jonathan H. Stephenson Church Magazines, P.O. Box 26368 Out of Debt ASSOCIATE EDITORS: order for the Ensign (pronounced N’sign) to Judith M. Paller, Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA. 66 LaRene Porter Gaunt, Linda Stahle Cooper Church Magazines at address at right. Credit ASSISTANT EDITORS: Rebecca M. Taylor, card orders (American Express, MasterCard, CANADA POST INFORMATION Kerry G. Smith, Barbara Jean Jones Visa, Discover Card) are accepted by phone Publication Agreement #40017431 F IRST P RESIDENCY M ESSAGE AA PPRICELESSRICELESS HHERITAGEERITAGE

B Y P RESIDENT THE WILLIE HANDCART COMPANY PIONEERS J AMES E. FA UST Second Counselor in the We went farther along the trail where members of First Presidency the Willie Handcart Company were rescued. We felt that we were standing on holy ground. Many members wish to speak of a priceless of that party died from starvation and cold there. We heritage. I acknowledge the continued to travel up over Rocky Ridge, 7,300 feet faithful pioneers in all of the high. This is the highest spot on the Mormon Trail. The Icountries of the world who have two-mile to Rocky Ridge gains over 700 feet helped establish the Church in their lands. First- in altitude. It was very difficult for all of the pioneers to generation members of the Church are indeed pio- travel over Rocky Ridge. It was particularly agonizing neers. They are and have been men and women of for the members of the Willie Handcart Company, who deep faith and devotion. In this message, however, struggled over that ridge in the fall of 1856 in a blizzard. I speak primarily of the priceless legacy which Many had worn-out shoes, and the sharp rocks caused belongs to the descendants of all pioneers, but their feet to bleed, leaving a trail of blood in the snow. especially to those who came into the valley of the As we walked over Rocky Ridge, two square nails Great Salt Lake and settled in Utah and other parts and an old-style button were picked up. No doubt of western America. these objects were shaken loose going over the sharp rocks. My soul was THE MARTIN HANDCART COMPANY PIONEERS sobered to be in that historic spot. Several In celebration of July 24th several years ago, I of my ancestors joined the Saints of the Riverton Wyoming Stake. crossed that ridge, Under the direction of President Robert Lorimer though none were and his counselors, the youth and youth leaders of in the handcart that stake reenacted part of the handcart trek which companies. took place in 1856. We started early in a four-wheel- Not all of my drive van and went first to Independence Rock, forebears who where we picked up the Mormon Trail. We saw started in Devil’s Gate a few miles up the road. Our souls were subdued when we arrived at the hallowed ground of Martin’s Cove, the site where the Martin Handcart Company, freezing and starving, waited for the res- cue wagons to come from Salt Lake City. Numerous members of the Martin Handcart Company perished JOSEPH BRICKEY

BY there from hunger and cold. It was an emotional experience to see the Sweetwater River crossing where many of the 500 members of the company were carried across the

RED BUTTES CAMP, RED BUTTES CAMP, icy river by several brave .

2 t Martin’s Cove, Wyoming, the MartinA Handcart Company, freezing and starving, waited as rescue wagons made their way from Salt Lake City.

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 3 the great exodus to the West made it even to the Rocky Ridge. Two of them died at Winter Quarters. As I walked over Rocky Ridge, I wondered if I have sacrificed enough. In my generation, I have not seen so much sacrifice by so many. I wonder what more I should have done, and should be doing, to further this work. A few miles farther, at Radium Springs, we caught up with 185 young people and their leaders from the Riverton stake, who had been pulling handcarts in reenactment of the hand- cart treks. We bore testimony of the faith and heroism of those who struggled in agony over that trail 146 years ago. We went on to Rock Creek Hollow, where the Willie Handcart Company made camp. Thirteen members of the Willie Company who perished from cold, exhaustion, and starvation are buried in a common grave at Rock Creek Hollow. Two additional members who died during the night are buried nearby. Two of those buried at Rock Creek Hollow were heroic children of tender years: Bodil Mortinsen, age 9, from Denmark, and James Kirkwood, age 11, from Scotland. Bodil apparently was assigned to care for some small children as they crossed Rocky Ridge. When they arrived at camp, she must have been hrough the sent to gather firewood. She was found frozen Theroic efforts to death leaning against the wheel of her hand- of the rescuers cart, clutching sagebrush. who responded to Let me tell you of James Kirkwood. James was President Brigham from Glasgow, Scotland. On the trip west, James Young’s call, the was accompanied by his widowed mother and suffering handcart three brothers, one of whom, Thomas, was 19 pioneers were and crippled and had to ride in the handcart. James’s loaded with 24,000 pounds of brought into the responsibility on the trek was to care for his flour to leave in the next day or little four-year-old brother, Joseph, while his mother two to “bring in those people valley. and oldest brother, Robert, pulled the cart. As they now on the plains.”2 The climbed Rocky Ridge, it was snowing and there was rescuers went swiftly to a bitter cold wind blowing. It took the whole company relieve the suffering travelers. 27 hours to travel 15 miles. When little Joseph became When the rescued sufferers too weary to walk, James, the older brother, had no got close to the Salt Lake Valley, choice but to carry him. Left behind the main group, convened a meeting in which he James and Joseph made their way slowly to camp. directed the Saints in the valley to receive the sufferers When the two finally arrived at the fireside, James, into their homes, make them comfortable, and adminis- “having so faithfully carried out his task, collapsed ter food and clothing to them. Said President Young: and died from exposure and over-exertion.”1 “Some you will find with their feet frozen to their an- kles; some are frozen to their knees and some have their INTO THE VALLEY hands frosted. . . . We want you to receive them as your own children, and to have the same feeling for them.”3 Also heroic were the rescuers who responded to When the rescuers brought the Willie handcart pio- President Brigham Young’s call in the October 1856 gen- neers into this valley, it is recorded by Captain Willie: eral conference. President Young called for 40 young “On our arrival there the Bishops of the different men, 60–65 teams of mules or horses, and wagons Wards took every person, who was not provided with

4 birthright of obedience to the commandments of God and loyalty to those whom God has called to lead this people. It is a legacy of for- saking evil. Immorality, alternative lifestyles, gambling, selfishness, dishonesty, unkind- ness, and addiction to alcohol and drugs are not part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have wondered why these intrepid pioneers had to pay for their faith with such a terrible price in agony and suffering. Why were not the elements tempered to spare them from their profound agony? I believe their lives were consecrated to a higher pur- pose through their suffering. Their love for the Savior was burned deep in their souls and into the souls of their children and their chil- dren’s children. The motivation for their lives came from a true conversion in the center of their souls. As President Gordon B. Hinckley has said, “When there throbs in the heart of an individual Latter-day Saint a great and vital testimony of the truth of this work, he will be found doing his duty in the Church.”6 Above and beyond the epic historical events they participated in, the pioneers found a guide to personal living. They found

CLARK KELLEY PRICE reality and meaning in their lives. In the diffi- BY , cult days of their journey, the members of the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies encountered some apostates from the Church who were returning from the West, going back to the East. These apostates tried to persuade some in the companies to turn MARTIN HANDCART COMPANY HANDCART MARTIN back. A few did turn back. But the great majority of the pioneers went forward to a a home, to comfortable quarters. Some had their heroic achievement in this life and to eternal life in hands and feet badly frozen; but everything which the life hereafter. Francis Webster, a member of the could be done to alleviate their sufferings, was done. Martin Company, stated, “Everyone of us came . . . Hundreds of the Citizens flocked round the wag- through with the absolute knowledge that God lives ons on our way through the City, cordially welcoming for we became acquainted with him in our extremi- their Brethren and Sisters to their mountain home.”4 ties.”7 I hope that this priceless legacy of faith left by the pioneers will inspire all of us to more fully A LEGACY OF FAITH participate in the Lord’s work of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children. These excruciating experiences developed in these pioneers an unshakable faith in God. Said Elizabeth AN INVITATION Horrocks Jackson Kingsford, “I believe the Recording Angel has inscribed in the archives above, and that You who are among the descendants of these noble my sufferings for the Gospel’s sake will be sanctified pioneers have a priceless heritage of faith and courage. unto me for my good.”5 If there are any of you who do not enjoy fellowship In addition to the legacy of faith bequeathed by with us in the gospel of Jesus Christ, we invite you those who crossed the plains, they also left a great to seek to know what instilled such great faith in your heritage of love—love of God and love of mankind. ancestors and what motivated them to willingly pay It is an inheritance of sobriety, independence, hard such a terrible price for their membership in this work, high moral values, and fellowship. It is a Church. To those who have been offended or lost

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 5 Suggestions for Teaching IDEAS FOR HOME TEACHERS 1. As you read to family members about President Faust’s Preparation journey along the Mormon Trail, ask them to identify the emo- After studying this message, prayerfully consider tions he felt and why. Invite family members to express their the legacy of faith given to all Church members by those feelings about the sacrifices made by these pioneers. What who crossed the plains and settled in Utah. Choose one blessings do we all enjoy today because of what they did? or two statements or stories from President Faust that 2. Give family members a taste of something that is you feel will most benefit those you teach. Then think sweet and satisfying, such as some fruit or candy. Then ask of a teaching method or activity for each statement or them if they would like more. Discuss why even the most story that is appropriate for the ages and circumstances difficult experiences in life can be sweet. Read and testify of of family members. A few examples of how this may be Frances Webster’s statement on page 5. done are provided. 3. Read together the First Presidency’s invitation on page 5 to “come back,” and discuss ways family members can help oth- ers enjoy the sweet fruits of fellowship with God and the Saints.

interest or who have turned away for any reason, we “We encourage Church members to forgive those invite all of you to join in full fellowship again with us. who may have wronged them. To those who have The faithful members, with all their faults ceased activity and to those who have be- and failings, are humbly striving to do God’s he First come critical, we say, ‘Come back. Come holy work across the world. We need your back and feast at the table of the Lord, and Presidency help in the great struggle against the powers T taste again the sweet and satisfying fruits of darkness so prevalent in the world today. has said to of fellowship with the saints.’ In becoming a part of this work, you can all those who have “We are confident that many have satisfy the deepest yearnings of your souls. ceased activity, [wanted] to return, but have felt awkward You can come to know the personal comfort “Come back and about doing so. We assure you that you will that can be found in seeking the sacred and feast at the table find open arms to receive you and willing holy things of God. You can enjoy the bless- of the Lord.” hands to assist you.”8 ings and covenants administered in the holy On behalf of my Brethren of the First temples. You can have great meaning and Presidency, I sincerely and humbly purpose in your lives, even in reiterate that request, the profane world in which and we open our arms we live. You can have to you. strength of character so NOTES that you can act for your- 1. Private letter, Don H. selves and not be acted Smith to Robert Lorimer, 20 Feb. 1990, quoting account upon (see 2 Ne. 2:26). of John Chislett. A few years ago, the 2. LeRoy R. Hafen and First Presidency of the Ann W. Hafen, Handcarts to Zion (1960), 121. Church issued the invita- 3. Hafen and Hafen, tion to all to come back: Handcarts to Zion, 139. “We are aware of some 4. James G. Willie, Journal who are inactive, of others History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day who have become critical Saints, 9 Nov. 1856, 15. and are prone to find fault, 5. Leaves from the Life of and of those who have Elizabeth Horrocks Jackson Kingsford, Dec. 1908, 7. been disfellowshipped or 6. “Missionary Service, excommunicated because Activation, Temple Work of serious transgressions. Emphasized in Conference Leadership Meetings,” “To all such we reach Ensign, May 1984, 99. out in love. We are anxious 7. David O. McKay, to forgive in the spirit of “Pioneer Women,” Magazine, Jan. 1948, 8. Him who said: ‘I, the Lord, 8. “An Invitation to Come will forgive whom I will Back,” Church News, 22 Dec. forgive, but of you it is 1985, 3. required to forgive all men.’ Gospel topics: faith, pioneers,

(D&C 64:10.) endurance, sacrifice MANN PAUL BY ILLUSTRATED

6 A T J OURNEY’ S E ND B Y E L AINE W RIGHT C HRISTENSEN

“The redeemed of the Lord shall drink well water Faith is the mountain that does not flee, return, and come with singing unto and slake our thirst at last the water that does not part, Zion” (Isa. 51:11). with fruit and a glimpse of that salt sea the rock that won’t turn into bread— that’s ebbed and flowed, instead, marks our dead. For the last time our captain blows the 5:00 A.M.whistle. one more step, just one more step, They walk the desert with us today. AINTING BY LYNN FAUSETT LYNN AINTING BY For the last time we roll our bedclothes ahead of us, day after day, Our faith and theirs, wrung drop by drop, blossoms— P damp with dew, like some desert mirage. red as the promised rose. to stow them and our five-man tent in the two-wheeled cart that’s become our home. Shadows along Emigration Creek, For the last time we lift the prop stick The Dutch oven filled with last night’s coals lined with rough and rangy cottonwoods, from beneath the cart’s handle. hangs still warm beneath the oaken bed, point out the last stretch of road to Zion. For the last time we grease the wheels with tallow and one last time Every morning the shadows have shown us the way. and take our accustomed spots, right and left, we hear the call to circle up for prayer, Today, at journey’s end, front and back, a rousing song, and the day’s instructions. we’ll hear the Nauvoo band play to push and pull for the very last time, and we’ll walk, one last time all that we own, Twelve miles, that’s all that’s left to go. with our hand-worn friend, all that we are, the streets we’ve sung about so many nights all that we’ve become We wash our faces in the numbing creek, camped on strangely named river banks— on our wooden cross of a handcart. scrub our sunburned arms and necks with pieces of soap the Platte, Loup Fork, Wood River, We’re tempted to let it have its way at the end, saved from the old country for this very day. where Sister Sorensen hid herself among the willows to hurtle down the hill, an unbridled horse The men take time to shave and gave birth to a baby girl. heading for home. and beat their hats till dust motes dance Yet happy to hold it back one last time in the early sun pulling itself up over Little Mountain, Thirteen times we crossed the Platte. on its steep descent to the valley, the one we climbed yesterday. Indians carried us on their backs, we sing, while the men ferried our goods across our hearts in our mouths, The girls braid their hair, slick with sugar water, and floated the emptied carts. our hopes before us. then tie clean aprons around their waists, Oh, how we sing washed last evening and left to dry in moonlight. How we pled for the waters to part. every last one of the songs, Many walked the trail barefoot, the Olsen girls, the mighty Redeemer’s songs young Jimmy Jensen, yet today Now we kneel here in the sand, grateful that led us to Zion. they put on their holey shoes for every unanswered plea for maybe we’ll shake Brother Brigham’s hand, that proved us.

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 7 THE FIRST NAUVOO TEMPLE B Y M ATTHEW S. MC B RIDE SSoo

he building of the Nauvoo Temple was “an event of the greatest importance to the Church and the world,” wrote the 1 The desire to receive sacred PrTophet Joseph Smith. In September of 1842 he issued a rallying call and affirmed the impor- ordinances motivated early tance of temple ordinances: “The earth will be Saints to complete the temple. smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children. . . . For we without them can- not be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. . . . Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceed- ingly glad” (D&C 128:18, 22). Such was the motivation for the Saints as they willingly sacrificed everything to complete the temple and receive their endowments and sealings before being driven from Nauvoo. The written accounts of those who participated in this effort reveal their love for the Lord and their reverence for His house. It is a story filled with trials and triumph.

A CALL TO HELP C. A. CHRISTENSEN, AL ITEMS COURTESY LDS CHURCH ARCHIVES AL ITEMS COURTESY At the October 1840 conference, the Prophet called upon all to help. Though some of the con- struction would require payment, he explained that the temple would be built by the tithes of THE NAUVOO TEMPLE, BY THE NAUVOO

: the people and that male members would per- form nearly all the labor. The response of one of

, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED; HISTORIC , ALL RIGHTS RESERVED; the stonecutters, Charles Lambert, was typical. He “committed with Brother William Player that [he] would stick to the temple pay or no pay un- 2 til finished and did.” LEN HOPKINSON; FAR RIGHT LEN HOPKINSON; FAR The extent to which the Saints sacrificed is BY G recorded in a letter from the Twelve: “Many

T, BRIGHAM YOUNG T, have volunteered to labor continually, and the

Right: The Prophet Joseph Smith watches over the build- ing of the Nauvoo Temple. Inset: An artist’s rendition of the original Nauvoo Temple. Far right: A mallet and chisel used to quarry limestone for temple walls. BUILDING THE NAUVOO TEMPLE, BUILDING THE NAUVOO © COURTESY OF MUSEUM AR © COURTESY RIGHT: RIGHT: 8 reatreat aaCCauseause

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 9 AKER,

NAUVOO October 1840 January 1841 TEMPLE During general conference, The Lord officially instructed

UGHAN, LYNN FAUSETT UGHAN, LYNN the Saints unanimously ac- the Saints to “build a house to MILESTONES, cepted a proposal to build the my name, even in this place 1840–1850 temple. Leaders formed a tem- [Nauvoo]” (D&C 124:55). Y TED GORKA, WILLIAM WHIT Y TED GORKA, 31 August 1840 ple committee. Later that fall, BY R OBERT F REEMAN The Prophet Joseph Smith leaders chose a site February 1841 counseled the Saints to give for the temple on the Leaders selected a young attention to building a temple bluff overlooking the New England convert by in Nauvoo. Mississippi River. the name of William WILLIAM WARNER MAJOR, WILLIAM MA WILLIAM WARNER LEFT TO RIGHT: PAINTINGS B PAINTINGS LEFT TO RIGHT:

brethren generally are giving one-tenth part of their wrote: “I could not think of anything that would time, or one-tenth part of their income, according to grieve me to part with in my possession, except [my circumstances; while . . . sisters . . . are knitting socks deceased husband’s] watch. So, I gave it up to help 5 and mittens, and preparing garments for the labor- build the Nauvoo Temple.” ers, so that they may be made as comfortable as pos- Louisa Barnes Pratt’s writings reflect the reality 3 sible during the coming winter.” of their sacrifice: “I started in good faith to go to Mercy Fielding Thompson told of her experi- the Temple office to bestow my offering. Suddenly ence: “At one time after seeking earnestly to know a temptation came over me . . . that [this] money from the Lord if there was anything that I could do would relieve my present necessities. Then I resisted. for the building up of the Kingdom of God, a most pleasant sensation came over me with the follow- Left: Some members sold their fine china ing words. Try to get the Sisters to subscribe and donated the money to the building one cent per week for the purpose of of the temple. Below: The laying of the southeast cornerstone of the buying glass and nails for the Temple. Nauvoo Temple by the Prophet I went immediately to Brother Joseph Smith. Right: Elder Joseph. . . . He told me to go Heber C. Kimball. ahead and the Lord would bless 4 me.” This “penny subscrip- tion” soon became a major fund-raising effort. Others sold their china dishes. Elizabeth Kirby AINTING BY LAWLOR AINTING BY P 10 Weeks to be the chief archi- the baptismal 30 November administered, and soon the tect, and construction began. font. 1845 temple was operating virtually The attic around the clock. 6 April 1841 27 June 1844 and other por- Cornerstones for the sanctu- The martyrdom tions of the 4 February 1846 ary were laid. of the Prophet Joseph Smith upper level of the temple The first wave of wagons forced a suspension of all were dedicated. began to 8 November 1841 labors. By 7 July, work roll west- President Brigham resumed and, in fact, 10 December 1845 ward from Young dedicated intensified. The first endowments were the city.

Said I, ‘If I have no more than a crust of the Saints hastened to prepare the bread each day for a week, I will pay this basement of the temple with a tem- money into the treasury.’ ”6 porary wooden font, which rested upon the shoulders of 12 carved oxen. It was dedicated “I WENT FORWARD AND WAS BAPTIZED” on 8 November 1841. The faithful Saints rejoiced in the prospect of In August 1840 at the funeral of Seymour laboring on behalf of their loved ones who had Brunson, the Prophet gave the first sermon on passed away. Sally Randall expressed her excite- baptism for the dead. “The moment I heard ment in a letter to her family: “What a glorious of it,” wrote Elder Wilford Woodruff, “my thing it is that we . . . can . . . save them as soul leaped with joy; for it was a subject far back as we can get any knowledge of in which I felt deeply interested. I went them. I want you should write me the forward and was baptized for all my given names of all of our connections 7 dead relatives I could think of.” that are dead as far back as grandfa- Initially the baptisms were per- ther’s and grandmother’s at any 8 formed in the Mississippi River, but rate. I intend to do what I can.”

A GLANCE INTO ETERNITY On 4 May 1842 the Prophet Joseph Smith administered for the first time what we know as the tem- ple to nine men in a large upper room of his red brick store. Elder Heber C. Kimball, who was present in those sacred councils, wrote to fellow Apostle Parley P. Pratt, “We have received some precious things through the Prophet on the 9 that would cause your Soul to rejoice.” Though ordinances had been committed initially to just a few, the Prophet Joseph foresaw that “there was nothing made known to these men but what will be made known to all the Saints of the last days, so soon as they are prepared to receive, and a proper place is prepared to communicate them.”10 During this pivotal Nauvoo period, the Prophet also taught of temple sealing ordinances that assured family relationships would continue after the Resur- rection. Of this Elder Pratt wrote: “It was at this time [winter 1839] that I received from [the Prophet Joseph Smith] the first idea of eternal family organi- zation, and the eternal union of the sexes in those inexpressibly endearing relationships . . . which are at the very foundation of everything worthy to be called happiness. . . .

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 11 9 February 1846 the Church had started private ceremony. The newspaper re- At about 3:30 P.M., fire erupted the fire, but the Saints next day Orson Hyde ported, “The fire on the roof of the temple. The soon learned that a offered the first of presented a most blaze was extinguished quickly stovepipe had ig- several public sublime spectacle. and caused nited clothes drying dedicatory prayers, [The flames which] only minor in an attic room. the last on 3 May. shot up to the sky damage. It . . . threw a lurid was sus- 30 April 1846 9 October 1848 glare into the surrounding 1 pected that Joseph Young dedi- Fire destroyed darkness.” By morning only enemies of cated the temple in a the temple. A local the west-facing wall and parts

“I had loved before, but I knew not word, we continued at work diligently in the House why. But now I loved—with a pure- of the Lord. Two hundred and ninety-five persons re- ness—an intensity of elevated, exalted feeling. . . . I ceived ordinances.”13 felt that God was my Heavenly Father indeed; that The first wagons left on 4 February, temple work Jesus was my brother, and that the wife of my bosom finally ceased on 8 February, and the great exodus was an immortal, eternal companion. . . . My dearly from Nauvoo went forward. Looking back on that re- beloved brother, Joseph Smith . . . had . . . given me a markable period, Elder Erastus Snow declared, “All single glance into eternity.”11 felt satisfied that during the two months we occupied , ALL RIGHTS RESERVED; [the temple] in the endowment of the Saints, we 14 YOU HAV E ALL THE KEYS were amply paid for all our labors in building it.” As they journeyed over the Mississippi and began Early in 1844 the Prophet Joseph called together the the trek across Iowa, many Saints cast a parting Quorum of the Twelve and administered to them all glance backward at their beloved temple and city.

Y SAM LAWLOR; UNKNOWN; C. A. CHRISTENSEN, Y SAM LAWLOR; the ordinances of the house of the Lord. He proceeded Priddy Meeks wrote: “While T, BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY BRIGHAM YOUNG T, Y JOHN LUKE to confer the keys of the sealing power on Elder crossing over a ridge seven miles Brigham Young. The Prophet then declared, “Now if from Nauvoo we looked back they kill me you have got all the keys, and all the ordi- and took a last sight of the nances, and you can confer them upon others.”12 Te mple we ever expected On 27 June 1844, the Prophet and his brother to see. We were sad and Hyrum were martyred at Carthage. Construction sorrowful.”15 SAM LAWLOR. RIGHT: PHOTO B RIGHT: SAM LAWLOR. ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: PAINTINGS B PAINTINGS LEFT TO RIGHT: ABOVE, OF MUSEUM AR © COURTESY on the temple then stopped, but only briefly. THE LIGHT WILL NOT FILLED TO OVERFLOWING GO OUT On 30 November 1845 the attic story was dedi- A few Saints re- cated, and the administering of endowments com- mained in Nauvoo to menced on 10 December. Over the next eight weeks, continue work on the about 5,600 Saints received their temple ordinances. temple interior. The As the pressure to leave Nauvoo increased, temple was dedicated President Young addressed the Saints on 3 February in private on 30 April 1846. The plan was to leave the next day, but Saints 1846 and in public still filled the temple. President Young urged the the following May Saints to return to their homes and prepare for their morning. departure. Never fully fin- In his history, President Young recorded: ished, the temple “Notwithstanding that I had announced that we was set on fire would not attend to the administration of the ordi- by arsonists on nances, the House of the Lord was thronged all day, 9 October 1848. the anxiety being so great to receive. . . . I . . . informed The building was the brethren that I was going to get my wagons destroyed, but the started and be off. I walked some distance from the “great cause” for which Te mple supposing the crowd would disperse, but on it had been built lived hough the first few returning I found the house filled to overflowing. on in thousands of Twagons left Nauvoo on Looking upon the multitude and knowing their anxi- Latter-day Saints who 4 February 1845, temple work ety, as they were thirsting and hungering for the had received their went on until 8 February.

12 of the other three walls were 27 May 1850 burst suddenly on the hill of Earl Arrington, The Destruction of left standing. A tornado struck, and debris Nauvoo, where lightnings, the Mormon Temple at Nauvoo, 5–6; fell around workers who were thunder, wind, hail and rain, reprinted from Journal of the Illinois April 1849 repairing the walls of the tem- seemed united to assail the State Historical Society, Dec. 1947, 2 The Icarians, a newly ar- ple. The St. Louis–based Daily building.” 418–19. rived religious communal Missouri Republican 2. 27 May 1850, quoted in group, purchased the temple recorded, “This frightful NOTES Don F. Colvin, The Nauvoo Temple: A Story of Faith (2002), 270. block, which included the hurricane, the most ter- 1. Keokuk [Iowa] Register, Robert Freeman is a member of charred remains of the rible experienced in the 12 Oct. 1848, the Springville Seventh Ward, temple. country in many years, quoted in Joseph Springville Utah Hobble Creek Stake.

endowments and sealings and performed bap- 8. In Kenneth W. Godfrey and others, eds., tisms for their deceased ancestors. Women’s Voices: An Untold History of the Latter-day Saints, 1830–1900 (1982), 138. “And the light will not go out,” wrote Elder 9. 17 June 1842, quoted in Stanley B. Kimball, “Heber C. Woodruff, referring to the future opportunity for Kimball and Family: The Nauvoo Years,” Brigham Young University covenant making. “The Saints had labored faithfully Studies, summer 1975, 458; spelling modernized. 10. History of the Church, 5:2. and finished the temple and were now received as a 11. Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, ed. Parley P. Pratt Jr. Church with [their] dead. This is glory enough for (1938), 259–60. building the Temple.”16 12. Quoted by Orson Hyde, Millennial Star, 5:104. 13. History of the Church, 7:579. NOTES 14. In Andrew K. Larsen, Erastus Snow (1971), 96. 1. History of the Church, 4:492. 15. Priddy Meeks Reminiscences, Family and Church History 2. Autobiography of Charles Lambert, typescript, Family and Department Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Church History Department Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ Saints, microfilm. of Latter-day Saints, 13. 16. Journal of Wilford Woodruff, vol. 3, 3 May 1846, Family and 3. History of the Church, 4:434. Church History Department Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ 4. In Don C. Corbett, Mary Fielding Smith, Daughter of Britain of Latter-day Saints, 46–47. (1966), 155. Matthew S. McBride is a member of the Pacific Drive Ward, 5. In Carol Cornwall Madsen, In Their Own Words: Women and American Fork Utah Stake. the Story of Nauvoo (1994), 180. 6. In Heart Throbs of the West, comp. Kate B. Carter (1947), 8:233. Gospel topics: Nauvoo Illinois Temple, temples, Church history, 7. In Journal of Discourses, 5:84. family history LYNN FAUSETT LYNN BY EXODUS FROM NAUVOO, FROM NAUVOO, EXODUS

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 13 PHOTOGRAPHY FOR MAIN ARTICLE BY JOHN LUKE AND WELDEN C. ANDERSEN JOHN LUKE BY PHOTOGRAPHY FOR MAIN ARTICLE NAUV 14 Once again a temple stands overlooking the Mississippi, a holy house where today’s Latter- day Saints can serve their God.

B Y D ON L. SEARLE Assistant Managing Editor s Latter-day Saint pioneers left Nauvoo in 1846, many looked back longingly at the temple they left behind. For some, theA sight of the temple on the hill above the Mississippi River may have been their last men- tal picture of their beautiful city. If they could gaze on the same spot today, they would recognize the temple that stands there now. The new Nauvoo Illinois Temple has been made to look like the first one. Yet under the surface it is a thoroughly modern working temple. Planning and building were preceded by thorough research on the first Nauvoo Temple: examination of photographs, written descrip- tions, and drawings, including some donated by the descendants of William Weeks, architect of the earlier temple. “Piecing everything together, we think the outside of the new temple is as close as humanly possible to the original,” said Keith Stepan, managing director of the Temple Construction Department. The most immediately visible difference would be the standing angel on top of the new temple instead of a horizontal angel as on the original. Other than that, observers might have difficulty detecting differences between the Nauvoo Illinois Temple dedicated in June of this year and the one seen in photographs or draw- ings from the 1840s. OORebornA TEMPLE THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 15 Above: The baptism of Jesus depicted in stained glass. Right: Circular stairway, close view of newel-post.

The stone on the outside of the new temple was carefully chosen to have, as nearly as possi- ble, the same color and texture as the limestone of the original temple. But the stone for the new temple came to Nauvoo after journeying through several other states. Quarries near Nauvoo from which stone was taken for the original temple are flooded now, and limestone from those quarries was found not to be the most durable. Stone for the new temple was taken from quarries in Alabama; transported to Falls, Idaho, for cutting into blocks; then shipped to skilled carvers in several cities, including Salt Lake City, for carving. The carvers used modern methods to recapture designs and decorative features cre- ated for the original temple. Glass fiber molds were made from sunstones and moonstones preserved from the earlier temple so modern carvers could have patterns to reproduce these works of art. Toolmakers had to design and build steel tools that could make the basket weave pattern found on stones from the walls of the original temple. The new temple was not built with stone piled on stone and cemented, as was the origi- nal. Instead, the exterior of the new temple is a stone facing created by modern methods that fasten it securely in place. The superstructure of the new temple is concrete, to meet modern construction codes. The more than 10,000 hand- tooled stones on its exterior were “panelized” before being put into place. They were mounted on stainless steel frames with stainless steel fas- teners, and the panels were then hoisted into position and secured to the walls of the temple. Despite the use of modern methods and tools, today’s stone carvers took almost the same amount of time as the original craftsmen

16 ORIGINAL NEW NAUVOO NAUVOO TEMPLE ILLINOIS TEMPLE • Dimensions: Approximately • Dimensions: Approximately 128 feet by 88 feet; top of 128 feet by 88 feet; top of spire, 165 feet spire, approximately 163 feet • Cornerstone laying: 6 April • Groundbreaking: 24 October 1841, President Joseph Smith 1999, President Gordon B. presiding Hinckley presiding • Dedication: privately, 30 April • Cornerstone laying: 1846; publicly, 1–3 May 1846 5 November 2000, President Gordon B. Hinckley presiding • Dedication: 27–30 June 2002

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 17 18 to re-create the carved sunstones, moonstones, and The interior of the temple, however, is a differ- other features on the temple. That is because of the ent story. individual artistry that went into the work. No two “The inside is a modern temple that works of these carved stone features are exactly alike. for modern needs,” Brother Stepan said. The bap- Similar attention has gone into re-creating other tismal font on the lower level resembles the one exterior details such as the temple’s clock tower and in the original temple; the new font rests on the its windows, including the row of red, white, and backs of 12 carved stone oxen. On the temple’s blue windows installed just under the roofline. The ground floor and upper levels, however, are ordi- temple’s windows were built in Nauvoo by a local nance rooms and six sealing rooms that serve the craftsman who employed the same processes used purposes of temples as we know them now. There to create the original windows. The glass put into the are also ancillary rooms associated with temple new windows was also cast by the same process used operations, and there is a separate mechanical in the 1840s (see accompanying story on page 23). building as well. While the first Nauvoo Temple had spiral stair- Left: An interior stairway in the temple, a carved wooden bench ways in two corners, this temple has only one, from one of the rooms. Inset: Detail of decorative carvings. built as a reflection of the first temple’s design.

TESTIMONIES OF THE TEMPLE he new Nauvoo Illinois Temple was changing lives only to clean up trash. During his year and a half working even before its dedication. A number of members on the temple, he also helped insulate temple windows. He Twho worked on the temple gained added strength and his wife never missed a day of their assigned work as for their testimonies, and there was at least one bap- volunteers despite two separate crashes with deer during tism—a young painter from a the one-hour drive from Latter-day Saint background Macomb to Nauvoo. who had not been baptized as a child. He became interested in Margaret Lewis. the gospel through associating Sister Lewis vol- with Church members while unteered after working on the temple. seeing her hus- Some 140 of the people who band’s love of his worked on the temple during its work. The work was often physi- construction were volunteers cally hard, and it made her re- who arranged their personal af- flect on the sacrifice of the early fairs so they could donate their pioneers who built the first time. The volunteer program Nauvoo Temple. Then one day was coordinated by Elder Stan Ashlee Taft, right, with family and friends who as she started down a hallway and Sister Mary Hemphill. The volunteered time to work on the temple. toward the center of the temple volunteers included retirees, while no one else was inside the students or teachers who had time off, a local doctor, building, Psalm 46:10 came to her mind—“Be still, and nurses, and a businessman and a judge from other states. know that I am God”—and she stopped to ponder what A handful of them worked for more than a year. she was doing there. “Those moments of silence left me Following are experiences of just a few of the volunteers. feeling strong and confident. I was up to the task before me, whatever it might be. Someone stronger and greater Dean Lewis. When Brother Lewis retired and with more power was in control.” from his job as a mechanical engineer, he and his wife, Margaret, moved from Virginia Ashlee Taft. Sister Taft, daughter of one of to Macomb, Illinois, to live in their fifth-wheel the officers of an electrical contracting firm trailer near the Nauvoo Temple. They made involved in the project, came to Nauvoo periodic trips to the site to watch the from Utah with her family. She was caught progress on its construction. Writing about his experiences up in the spirit of the place and volunteered as a volunteer, Brother Lewis recalled that each time he several days of labor on the temple. “There visited, this thought came: “If I could only go through that is a definite feeling, a spirit about these sacred grounds. gate and put my hand on the wall!” When he was accepted At times I would have an intense feeling of companion- as a volunteer to work on the temple in September 2000, it ship come over me,” she wrote. “Once as I was gathering was a dream come true, even though his job at first was some tools, wandering from floor to floor, I had a great Continued on page 20 PHOTOS COURTESY NAUVOO TEMPLE PROJECT NAUVOO PHOTOS COURTESY

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 19 The new temple also has modern fire alarm and More than 77,000 hours of labor were donated suppression systems and other electrical and cool- during construction of today’s Nauvoo Illinois ing systems. Lighting levels in the temple will be Temple, much of it by skilled craftspeople who took somewhat lower than in other temples, however, time away from their regular jobs—plumbers, elec- reminiscent of the candle lighting in the original tricians, and others. A retired painter who had temple. worked in the Salt Lake Temple and was serving There are other parallels, less visible but impor- a mission in Nauvoo stayed on after that mission tant, between the building of the original Nauvoo ended to work on the new temple. A Church Te m p le and the new temple. Educational System instructor from “When the Saints built the first temple, they state came to donate his labor during parts of two gave it their all,” Brother Stepan said. They sacri- summers. He was just one of many members who ficed in their poverty to help pay for materials, donated labor on the temple out of love for what it and they donated much of the labor. While condi- represents (see accompanying story on page 19). tions were much less harsh during the building of the new temple, modern Saints have nevertheless Right: Furnishings of an interior room of the temple. been generous in their donations. Inset: A doorstop. Below: Detail of a sunburst carving.

Continued from page 19 program ended as the temple was nearing completion. sense of thankfulness rush over me like a swift breeze. Brother Ball was delighted with the opportunity to con- I couldn’t pray intently enough to express my thanks.” tinue his work. As he looked back on his experiences, he said: “I went from sweeping the floors in the basement to Margaret Valenta. Daughter of a former con- lighting the dome. I feel honored to have had a small part struction company owner, Sister Valenta sur- in rebuilding the Nauvoo Temple, the first house of the prised workers on the job who thought this Lord in this dispensation.” small woman volunteer wouldn’t last more than a day. She knew how to do the work, how to use the tools, and soon she was offered a full-time job. But she declined. Working on the tem- ple was a labor of love. She recalls rev- erently touching the words on the face of the building, “Holiness to the Lord,” and writing in her journal: “I’ve never been this motivated on a construction site. Then again, this is the Lord’s house.” She made friends among the workers and had the op- portunity to talk with some about the gospel. Her work as a volunteer ended after two weeks when she had to return to school. Before leaving, she wrote poignantly: “When I start my drive west Monday morning, I’ll be fighting back the tears and pain of having to leave the temple,” and “I can almost understand a small portion of what the early Saints felt for the temple as they left. However, I know I can come back.”

Ray L. Ball. Brother Ball came from Morristown, Indiana, to work as a volunteer. “I was happy to do even the smallest task on cleanup detail or as water boy. It mattered not. I was working on the temple site!” He stayed for 18 months, and his background in electron- ics proved so valuable that one of the contractors hired him when the volunteer

20 THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 21 22 Throughout the Church, members who could new. Like all temples of The Church of Jesus not work on the temple gratefully donated funds Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is a joyful gift toward its construction. Some larger donations of members to a kind Eternal Father and His made possible the purchase of specific items like Beloved Son, who made possible the everlasting a piano, carpeting, the angel, and even the bell for blessings available in the house of the Lord. the tower of the new temple. The latter donation But this temple also is in part a loving tribute to seemed almost like an echo of the purchase of the those Saints who helped the young Church put bell for the first Nauvoo Temple by Saints from the down spiritual roots and flourish. They looked British Isles. with faith and hope to the future at a time And that echo reflects the unique place of this when their present seemed clouded and grim. newest temple in the Church. It is old as well as The new Nauvoo Illinois Temple is for them as well. Left: View of an assembly room in the temple. Inset: End of a stairway banister. Below left: An exterior window. Gospel topics: Nauvoo Illinois Temple, temples

SEEING 1845 IN WINDOWS OF 2002 he windows in the new Nauvoo Illinois Temple about something, he would redesign it or redo it until offer a beautiful example of what was required to he felt comfortable with it, then move on. Approach- Tre-create the look of the original building while ing his tasks prayerfully, “I just kept finding ways to meeting modern construction standards. improve.” Their elegant artistry disguises the fact that they are The glass was cut in New Hampshire, according to double-paned, insulated windows built to provide protection his specifications, then brought to Nauvoo for assembly from cold and wind at standards that would have been be- in the windows. The work of Brother Allen and his yond the capabilities of pioneer builders. helpers was painstaking. There are In constructing the new windows, 4,191 double-paned pieces of glass in craftsmen used materials as much as the temple windows, he said, and “I possible like those in the original win- hand-puttied every one of them my- dows. The stands of Wisconsin pine self. That was my final quality check.” that provided wood for the original win- Then the wood in the windows was dows are gone now, so the wood in the painted with four coats of primer and new windows is sugar pine from Califor- paint from a firm in Holland that has nia. Mouth-blown glass, made by an been making the highest-quality paint 800-year-old process, was imported products for 300 years. The finished from France for the clear windows and windows had to be good enough for from Germany for the colored ones. But such a sacred building. behind each pane of this glass is a mod- Someone suggested that the win- ern one—its twin in the double-paned dows would be a legacy of sorts and construction. asked if Brother Allen might sign his The windows were created in the work, perhaps in some obscure place shop of Charles Allen in Nauvoo. As a builder, Brother where his signature would never be seen. The answer Allen was used to having construction supervisors pro- was, “No! It’s not my building.” The craftsmanship was vide specifications and identify the materials to be used. meant to be a gift to the Lord, and Brother Allen’s goal It became apparent early on that this project would be was to sit at the dedication of the temple feeling comfort- different. When he raised questions about the specifica- able about the quality of the work. tions, he was told by the project architect, “Brother Allen, When the last window was put into place, he felt the just make them right.” That’s when Brother Allen realized lifting of a weight of responsibility from his shoulders. it would be his responsibility to see that the windows Brother Allen worried in the beginning because he were both historically accurate and worthy of a house of knew he could not produce the perfection this building the Lord. “It had to be more of a spiritual pursuit than any deserved. Eventually, however, he received an assurance other project I had ever worked on,” he said. that “all the Lord wants is your best effort. He can make As he sought the Lord’s help, it came in various ways. up the difference.” For example, he needed 16,000 board feet of sugar pine Charles Allen’s best effort was what he gave. Others and was told that no more than 4,000 could be supplied. may judge, if they will, whether it was enough. His own Somehow, however, the other 12,000 board feet was judgment is modest: “I feel humble to have been asked found. In designing and building the windows, he often to produce something like this, far beyond my natural relied on feelings as his guide. If he felt uncomfortable ability.” PHOTO BY STEVE JACOBSEN PHOTO BY

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 23 resident Hinckley surprised the worldwide “. . . This will be the house of the Lord. It will be satellite-broadcast audience by making the fol- dedicated as His holy house. It will be reserved and lowing statement in the closing session of gen- set aside for the accomplishment of His divine and eralP conference on 4 April 1999: eternal purposes. It will occupy a special place in the “I feel impressed to announce that among all of the belief and the testimony and the conviction of this temples we are constructing, we plan to rebuild the people. It will have great historic significance. It will Nauvoo Temple. A member of the Church and his fam- be a thing of beauty and, I hope, a joy forever. . . . ily have provided a very substantial contribution to “The exterior will look just as it did in 1846, except make this possible. We are grateful to him. It will be a for a few little changes. . . . The interior will be some- while before it happens, but the architects have begun what different. The font will be downstairs in the their work. . . . The new building will stand as a memo- basement. . . . The first floor will be an assembly hall rial to those who built the first such structure there on as it was in the original building. The second floor of the banks of the Mississippi.”1 the original building was At the 2 October 1999 also an assembly hall. There general conference, President were mezzanine floors and Hinckley announced that the an attic, and the ordinance groundbreaking would be PRESIDENT work took place upstairs. held later in the month. At We will build one assembly the 24 October 1999 cere- floor inside, and the ordi- mony, he said: nance rooms will be on the TER HINCKLEY “This is a solemn and sa- second floor. . . . When it is cred occasion for each of us all completed we will have as we gather here to begin a public showing, and we the reconstruction of this sa- hope that all the people of cred house of the Lord. . . . Nauvoo will come and

’S RENDERING BY JAMES POR JAMES ’S RENDERING BY “I look back on what I said last April—it look it over carefully and thoroughly. We was almost an afterthought at the close of have nothing to hide in these temples, but conference when I announced that we would once they are dedicated then they become sa- rebuild the Nauvoo Temple. And I have never cred unto the Lord and we so regard them and try seen anything that has elicited more excitement& than to take care of them.” this announcement. . . . On 5 November 2000 President Hinckley returned “My father was mission president here in 1939, in to Nauvoo to conduct the cornerstone ceremony and Chicago, when that mission included Nauvoo, and made the following remarks: they celebrated the 100th anniversary of the establish- “Now we have had cornerstone services for many ment of Nauvoo. As mission president he wrote to the temples, but [for] this one we are reverting to the President of the Church and suggested a rebuilding of past. . . . this temple. And they replied in the negative . . . and “My wife was still asleep when I left this morning,

YANT HINCKLEY COURTESY CHURCH ARCHIVES; ARCHITECT HINCKLEY COURTESY YANT he was disappointed. The Church did not have a lot of and I left a note for her that said: ‘Have gone to money then; all of this country was just coming out of Nauvoo. Will be back at 4:30 this afternoon.’ Now the Depression. But I am counting it something of a that is a miracle. That is an absolute miracle that we strange and wonderful coincidence that I have had a have come here, we are here, and we will be back part in the determination to rebuild this temple. . . . home at 4:30 this afternoon. If I had said to Brigham CHURCH NEWS ; PHOTO OF BR CHURCH Y GREG HILL,

On 4 April 1999, President On 24 October 1999, the ground- As mission president in 1939, An architect’s rendering of the Hinckley announced the re- breaking ceremony signaled the President Hinckley’s father, new temple shows an exterior

RIGHT: GROUNDBREAKING PHOTO B RIGHT: building of the Nauvoo Temple. beginning of construction. Bryant, suggested a rebuild- much like the temple of 1846. ing of the temple.

24 Young, ‘Brigham, I am going home this afternoon. the southeast cornerstone first. And in the construc- It will take me two hours and ten minutes,’ he tion of temples, the Melchizedek Priesthood is on the would say, ‘You are out of your head,’ because he east side, and the Aaronic Priesthood is on the west never could have imagined, never could have side; and that is why the Aaronic Priesthood partici- dreamed that we would fly through the sky at 45,000 pates in the laying of the cornerstone on the south- feet and 550 miles an hour in coming to this place, west corner. . . . which they left in such sorrow and regret and mis- “Now, my brethren and sisters, I invite you to join ery long ago. . . . in the practice which was followed 150 years ago of “. . . When buildings were built as this building uniting in a brief prayer at this cornerstone, and was first built, they dug a trench around what this will be the case at each cornerstone. . . . would become the foundation of the building. “. . . I want to read to you Paul’s great words. . . . Then they laid a huge cornerstone at the They are tremendously significant, my brothers southeast corner and had and sisters. And they pertain some dedicatory services, to the cornerstone of the including a short speech temple. Said he: and a prayer. . . . The first “ ‘Now therefore ye are corner [will be] presided THE NAUVOO no more strangers and for- over by the First Presidency eigners, but fellowcitizens of the Church. Then [we with the saints, and of the will go] to the southwest household of God; corner, where the Aaronic “ ‘And are built upon the Priesthood [will] partici- foundation of the apostles pate, and we have with us and prophets, Jesus Christ today the Presiding Bishop himself being the chief cor- of the Church, Bishop ner stone; David Burton, and we will also have the bishop of “ ‘In whom all the building fitly framed together the ward here and a deacon and a priest who will groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord’ (Eph. participate in that service. 2:19–21). “Then we move around to the northwest corner, “I would hope that every time you pass that cor- where we will have the stake presidents and the elders nerstone you will think of Him whom it represents, quorum presidents—these local brethren will participate Him whom it symbolizes—the Lord Jesus Christ. He there. And we should have included the patriarchs. is the foundation of this work, and upon that founda- “Then we will move to the northeast corner, tion rests the structure of apostles and prophets, the where President [Boyd K.] Packer, representing the priesthood of God with all of the authorities inherent Council of the Twelve Apostles, will place that corner- therein. And the building of the temple on top of that stone. Then we will come back to this place of begin- all fitly framed together. . . . ning for a brief service. . . . “God bless us as we think of this project and go “Now, to me it is wonderfully significant what forward with it that we shall have ever in mind the we do. Why the southeast corner? Brigham Young purpose for which it is being constructed.” explained that this is where they first see the light of NOTE day. As the sun rises in the east, it is here that they 1. “Thanks to the Lord for His Blessings,” Ensign, May 1999, 89. first see the light. And that is the reason for placing Gospel topics: Nauvoo Illinois Temple, temples LEFT: PHOTOS BY JED CLARK PHOTOS BY LEFT: On 5 November 2000, President Quorum presidents Hans Smith, Elders quorum president President Boyd K. Packer of Hinckley returned to Nauvoo Jared Brown helped Presiding Lee Noe participated in the Quorum of the Twelve for the cornerstone ceremony. Bishop H. David Burton at the laying the northwest Apostles laid the northeast southwest cornerstone. cornerstone. cornerstone.

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 25 his new painting of the Prophet Joseph Smith depictsT what he may have looked like at age 25. The blue tie is typical of the colorful neckwear worn in his day.

26 B Y J OSEPH S MITH J R . (1805–44)

f this classic, Elder B. H. Roberts (1857–1933) of the a great clash in religious sentiment. If I went to one First Council of the Seventy wrote: “The letter is one society they referred me to one plan, and another of the choicest documents in our church literature; as to another, each one pointing to his own particular alsoO it is the earliest published document by the Prophet per- as the summum bonum of perfection. Consider- sonally, making any pretension to consecutive narrative of ing that all could not be right, and that God could not those events in which the great Latter-day work had its origin. be the author of so much confusion, I determined to . . . For combining conciseness of statement with comprehen- investigate the subject more fully, believing that if siveness of treatment of the subject with which it deals, it has God had a church it would not be split up into fac- few equals among historical documents, and certainly none tions, and that if He taught one society to worship that excel it in our church literature.”1 one way, and administer in one set of ordinances, He would not teach another, principles which were March 1, 1842.—At the request of Mr. John diametrically opposed. Wentworth, editor and proprietor of the Chicago Believing the word of God, I had confidence in Democrat, I have written the following sketch of the the declaration of James—“If any of you lack wis- rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter-day dom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liber- Saints, of which I have the honor, under God, of be- ally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” ing the founder. Mr. Wentworth says that he wishes [James 1:5]. I retired to a secret place in a grove and to furnish Mr. Bastow [Barstow], a friend of his, who began to call upon the Lord. While fervently en- is writing the history of New Hampshire, with this gaged in supplication, my mind was taken away document. As Mr. Bastow has taken the proper steps from the objects with which I was surrounded, and to obtain correct information, all that I shall ask at his I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision and saw two hands is that he publish the account entire, ungar- glorious personages, who exactly resembled each nished, and without misrepresentation. other in features and likeness, surrounded with a I was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noonday. County, Vermont, on the 23rd of December, A.D. 1805. They told me that all religious denominations were When [I was] ten years old, my parents removed to believing in incorrect doctrines and that none of Palmyra, New York, where we resided about four them was acknowledged of God as His Church and years, and from thence we removed to the town of kingdom; and I was expressly commanded “to go not Manchester. My father was a farmer and taught me after them,” at the same time receiving a promise the art of husbandry. When about fourteen years of that the fullness of the gospel should at some future age, I began to reflect upon the importance of being time be made known unto me. prepared for a future state, and upon inquiring On the evening [of] the 21st of September, A.D. [about] the plan of salvation, I [found] that there was 1823, while I was praying unto God and endeavoring SMITH BY GARY JOSEPH SMITH AS A YOUNG MAN, JOSEPH SMITH AS A YOUNG

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 27 to exercise faith in the precious promises of scripture, Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I on a sudden a light like that of day, only of a far purer translated the record by the gift and power of God. and more glorious appearance and brightness, burst In this important and interesting book the history into the room. Indeed the first sight was as though the of ancient America is unfolded, from its first settlement house was filled with consuming fire. The appearance by a colony that came from the Tower of Babel at the produced a shock that affected the whole body. In a confusion of languages to the beginning of the fifth moment a personage stood before me, surrounded century of the Christian era. We are informed by these with a glory yet greater than that with which I was al- records that America in ancient times has been inhab- ready surrounded. This messenger proclaimed him- ited by two distinct races of people. The first were self to be an angel of God, sent to bring the joyful called Jaredites and came directly from the Tower of tidings that the covenant which God made with Babel. The second race came directly from the city of ancient Israel was at hand to be fulfilled; that the Jerusalem about six hundred years before Christ. They preparatory work for the second coming of the were principally Israelites of the descendants of Messiah was speedily to commence; that the Joseph. The Jaredites were destroyed about time was at hand for the gospel in all its ful- the time that the Israelites came from ness to be preached in power unto all na- Jerusalem, who succeeded them in tions, that a people might be prepared for the millennial reign. I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of His purposes in this glorious dispensation. I was also informed concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this country [America] and shown who they were, and from whence they came; a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, governments, of their right- eousness and iniquity, and the blessings of God being finally withdrawn from them as a people, was [also] made known unto me; I was also told where were deposited some plates on which were engraven an abridgment of the records of the ancient prophets that had existed on this continent. The angel appeared to me three times the same night and unfolded the same things. After having received many visits from the an- gels of God, unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that should transpire in the last days, on the morning of the 22nd of September, A.D. 1827, the angel of the Lord delivered the records into my hands. These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold. Each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and not quite so thick as com- mon tin. They were filled with engravings, in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a volume as the leaves of a book, with three rings running through the whole. The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed. The characters on the unsealed part were small, and beautifully en- graved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction and much skill in the art of engraving. With the records was found a curious Written in the instrument, which the ancients called “Urim and Prophet’s own hand or dictated, this letter Thummim,” which consisted of two transparent stones was published in set in the rims of a bow fastened to a breastplate. 1842.

28 the inheritance of the country. The principal nation of the house was frequently beset by mobs and evil de- the second race fell in battle towards the close of the signing people. Several times I was shot at, and very fourth century. The remnant are the Indians that now narrowly escaped, and every device was made use of inhabit this country. This book also tells us that our to get the plates away from me; but the power and Savior made His appearance upon this continent after blessing of God attended me, and several began to His Resurrection; that He planted the gospel here in all believe my testimony. its fulness, and richness, and power, and blessing; that On the 6th of April 1830, the “Church of Jesus they had apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and Christ of Latter-day Saints” was first organized in the evangelists––the same order, the same priesthood, the town of Fayette, Seneca County, state of New York. same ordinances, gifts, powers, and blessings, as were Some few were called and ordained by the spirit of enjoyed on the eastern continent; that the people were revelation and prophecy and began to preach as the cut off in consequence of their transgressions; that the Spirit gave them utterance. And though weak, yet last of their prophets who existed among them was were they strengthened by the power of God; and commanded to write an abridgment of their prophe- many were brought to repentance, were immersed in cies, history, etc., and to hide it up in the earth; and the water, and were filled with the Holy Ghost by the that it should come forth and be united with the laying on of hands. They saw visions and prophesied, for the accomplishment of the purposes of God in the devils were cast out, and the sick healed by the laying last days. For a more particular account I would refer on of hands. From that time the work rolled forth with to the , which can be purchased at astonishing rapidity, and churches were formed in Nauvoo, or from any of our traveling elders. the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, As soon as the news of this discovery was made Illinois, and Missouri. In the last-named state a consid- known, false reports, misrepresentation, and slander erable settlement was formed in Jackson County. flew, as on the wings of the wind, in every direction; Numbers joined the Church, and we were increasing

he Wentworth Letter contains accounts in the Prophet’s own wordsT of the and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. TED HENNINGER THE FIRST VISION, BY GARY SMITH; LEFT: GARY BY ARDSHIP OF THE PLATES, ARDSHIP OF THE PLATES, JOSEPH SMITH RECEIVES STEW INSET:

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 29 rapidly. We made large purchases of land; our farms We next settled in Caldwell and Daviess Counties, teemed with plenty; and peace and happiness were where we made large and extensive settlements, enjoyed in our domestic circle and throughout our thinking to free ourselves from the power of oppres- neighborhood. But as we could not associate with our sion by settling in new counties with very few inhabi- neighbors (who were, many of them, of the basest of tants in them. But here we were [also] not allowed to men, and had fled from the face of civilized society to live in peace, but in 1838 we were again attacked by the frontier country to escape the hand of justice) in mobs, an exterminating order was issued by Governor their midnight revels, their Sabbath breaking, horse Boggs, and under the sanction of law an organized racing, and gambling, they commenced at first to banditti ranged through the country, robbed us of ridicule, then to persecute, and finally an organized our cattle, sheep, hogs, etc., many of our people were mob assembled and burned our houses, murdered in cold blood, the chastity of our women tarred and feathered and whipped many was violated, and we were forced to sign away of our brethren, and finally, contrary our property at the point of the sword. And to law, justice, and humanity, drove after enduring every indignity that could be them from their habitations, who, heaped upon us by an inhuman, ungodly PAUL MANN PAUL

BY houseless and homeless, had to band of marauders, from twelve to fifteen CH, wander on the bleak prairies till thousand souls, men, women, and children the children left the tracks of their were driven from their own firesides, and blood on the prairie. This took place from lands to which they had warrantee in the month of November, and deeds––houseless, friendless, and homeless they had no other covering but the (in the depths of win-

ORGANIZATION OF THE CHUR ORGANIZATION canopy of heaven. In this inclement ter) to wander as exiles

RAE; season of the year this proceeding was on the earth, or to seek C winked at by the government, and an asylum in a more although we had warranty deeds Above: genial clime, and for our land, and had violated no Mr. John among a less bar- TH BY JOHN C. M TH BY law, we could obtain no redress. Wentworth. barous people. Many Right: First There were many sick who Church organi- sickened and died in were thus inhumanly driven from zation meeting. consequence of the their houses, and had to endure all cold and hardships this abuse and to seek homes where they could be they had to endure. found. The result was that a great many of them, Many wives were left ETCHING OF JOHN WENTWOR being deprived of the comforts of life and the nec- widows, and children essary attendances, died; many children were left [were left] orphans and destitute. It would take more orphans, wives [were left] widows, and husbands, time than is allotted me here to describe the injustice, widowers; our farms were taken possession of by the the wrongs, the murders, the bloodshed, the theft, mob; many thousands of cattle, sheep, horses, and misery, and woe that have been caused by the bar- hogs were taken; and our household goods, store barous, inhuman, and lawless proceedings of the state goods, and printing press and type were broken, of Missouri. taken, or otherwise destroyed. In the situation before alluded to, we arrived in Many of our brethren removed to Clay County, the state of Illinois in 1839, where we found a hos- where they continued until 1836, three years; there pitable people and a friendly home, a people who

was no violence offered but there were threatenings of were willing to be governed by the principles of law , ALL RIGHTS RESERVED violence. But in the summer of 1836 these threatenings and humanity. We have commenced to build a city

began to assume a more serious form. From threats, called “Nauvoo” in Hancock County. We number C. A. CHRISTENSEN, BY public meetings were called, resolutions were passed, from six to eight thousand here, besides vast numbers vengeance and destruction were threatened, and af- in the county around and in almost every county of fairs again assumed a fearful attitude. Jackson County the state. We have a city charter granted us and [a] , MISSOURI,

was a sufficient precedent, and as the authorities in charter for a [military] legion, the troops of which UNIVERSITY BRIGHAM YOUNG T, that county did not interfere, they [the Clay County now number 1,500. We have also a charter for a uni- authorities] boasted that they would not [interfere] in versity, for an agricultural and manufacturing society; this, which on application to the authorities, we found [we] have our own laws and administrators and pos- to be too true; and after much privation and loss of sess all the privileges that other free and enlightened property, we were again driven from our homes. citizens enjoy. INTS DRIVEN FROM JACKSON COUNTY INTS DRIVEN FROM JACKSON © COURTESY OF MUSEUM AR © COURTESY SA 30 Persecution has not stopped the progress of truth, penetrated every continent, visited every clime, but has only added fuel to the flame. It has spread swept every country, and sounded in every ear; till with increasing rapidity. Proud of the cause which the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the they have espoused and conscious of our innocence Great Jehovah shall say the work is done. and of the truth of their system, amidst calumny and reproach, have the elders of this Church gone forth [THE ARTICLES OF FAITH] and planted the gospel in almost every state in the Union. It has penetrated our cities; it has spread over We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His our villages and has caused thousands of our intelli- Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. gent, noble, and patriotic citizens to obey its divine We believe that men will be punished for their mandates and be governed by its sacred truths. It has own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression. also spread into England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, where, in the year 1840, a few of our missionaries were all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws sent, and over five thousand joined the Standard of and ordinances of the Gospel. Tr uth; there are numbers now joining in every land. We believe that the first principles and ordinances Our missionaries are going forth to different of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for Australia, the East Indies, and other places, the the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on [of] hands for Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed the gift of the Holy Ghost. hand can stop the work from progressing; persecu- We believe that a man must be called of God, by tions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may as- prophecy, and by the laying on hands by those who semble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has in the ordinances thereof.

ersecutions may rage, mobs may “ combine, . . . but the truth of God willP go forth boldly, nobly, and inde- pendent, till . . . the purposes of God shall be accomplished.”

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 31 We believe in the same organization that existed to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, all men the same privilege, let them worship how, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. where, or what they may. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revela- We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, tion, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and so forth. sustaining the law. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevo- as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book lent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, of Mormon to be the word of God. we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul–– We believe all that God has revealed, all that He We believe all things, we hope all things, we have en- does now reveal, and we believe that He will dured many things, and hope to be able to en- yet reveal many great and important things dure all things. If there is anything virtuous, pertaining to the Kingdom of God. lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, We believe in the literal gathering of we seek after these things. Israel and in the of the Ten Respectfully, etc., Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) JOSEPH SMITH will be built upon the American NOTE 1. History of the Church, 4:535–41. The continent; that Christ will reign Wentworth Letter was originally published personally upon the earth; and, in Nauvoo in the Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1842, and it also appears in A Comprehensive that the earth will be renewed and History of the Church, 1:55. receive its paradisiacal glory. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization We claim the privilege of wor- modernized. Gospel topics: Church history, Articles of Faith, shiping Almighty God according missionary work

ublished in Nauvoo as part of the Wentworth Letter, the Articles of Faith Pprovide strong evidence of the divine call- ing of the Prophet Joseph Smith. JOHN SCHRODER BY NAUVOO, ILLINOIS, 1859, NAUVOO, 32 UUNDERNENDERNEATHATH THETHE

BOOKSHELFBOOKSHELFgradually realized that society could be changed only In a pile of dusty books, a single book by changing people’s hearts. But how could this be caught my attention. I pulled it out done? I searched but found no answer. One day as I was walking and contemplating and wiped off the dust. It was a Book these problems, I spotted a small handbill blowing of Mormon. around my feet. I shook my foot to free the paper from my shoe, but it seemed attached there, so I B Y S UCHAT C HAICHANA bent over to remove it. have many memories of growing up in northern Glancing at the handbill, I noticed it said, “You Thailand, but two things stand out distinctly: in- are having problems in your life, right?” I answered equality and the name of Jesus Christ. I remem- the question in my heart. “Right.” The next line Iber inequality because I witnessed poverty all around stated, “If you are having problems in your life and me, including in my own family. I remember Jesus cannot find a way to solve them, Jesus Christ is the Christ because at my Christian middle school I heard one who can help you.” His name often, though I didn’t know then that He Many thoughts started to enter into my heart, would later come to have great meaning in my life. thoughts I hadn’t had since middle school. “Who is My concern over inequality was reinforced when, this Jesus Christ?” I thought. “Can I find in Him an- as part of my university studies, I had the opportu- swers that no other can provide?” At that moment, I nity to travel to the more rural parts of Thailand, felt a strong yearning to learn more about Him. I where I saw many more poverty-stricken people. resolved to visit the Christian church whose address Why were some people born into families in which was listed on the handbill. they had everything they needed while others were On a Sunday morning I visited the church, where born into starving families? I searched for solutions, a teacher was speaking about the life of Christ. A but was disappointed in the beliefs of my own young student sitting next to me raised her hand and

religion and in different political philosophies. I asked, “Are you familiar with the ‘Mormon’ church? JOHN REES PHOTOGRAPHY BY

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 33 What do you think about it?” The teacher turned to face the girl and answered, “We don’t talk about that church in this class. That is the church of the devil.” I was startled by the instruc- When I tor’s answer. I had looked, I discovered never heard of this in a pile of dusty books a church, but I felt that single book which caught my what the instructor attention. I pulled it out and said was just wiped off the dust. It was a Book of not right. Mormon. What I saw there amazed me. I raised my hand For the second time in my life, I came into contact and asked a question with the word Mormon as I read the title, the Book that silenced the en- of Mormon. tire class. “How do I thumbed through the book and discovered it was you know this church in English. Even though my English was not very good is of the devil?” at that time, I tried to read the book and was able to Gazing at me with grasp that it began with a story of a family that moved irritation in her eyes from a place called Jerusalem because God had com- for interrupting her manded them to go to a new land. I thumbed through lesson, the instructor some more pages and came upon a picture of a man answered, “I don’t descending from the sky, surrounded by bright light. Suchat Chaichana and his family. know. I just think it is.” The picture’s caption read “Jesus shows himself to the Because I had been Nephites.” I was intrigued. I took the book home and searching for equality all my life, it upset me when started reading it every day along with my Bible, someone judged or criticized another unfairly. “That although I was frustrated because I could understand is unjust,” I replied. “You shouldn’t criticize some- so little English. thing you don’t know anything about.” One day, after having read both books, I was startled I felt disappointed with my visit to this church, and to look up and see a stranger standing outside the door I left feeling I would never find the answers to my of my room. On his face he wore an expression of hap- questions anywhere. But the strong desire to learn piness and excitement. Looking into my room at my about Jesus Christ remained in my heart, so I decided new book, he asked if I was a member of The Church to try to learn about Him on my own. I obtained a of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bible and began studying it. “No, I’m not,” I replied. One day as I was sitting in the foyer of my dormi- “Then where did you get that Book of Mormon?” tory, I started to feel an impression like I’d never felt When I explained how I had come upon the book, before. The feeling told me to get up and look under- he smiled and asked, “Would you like to know more neath a nearby bookshelf. I tried to shrug the feeling about our church?” off because it didn’t make sense to me, but then I felt “Yes, I’d be happy to,” I answered without hesita- impressed that there was something under that book- tion. The man explained he’d come to visit my room- shelf that would be very important to me in my life. mate, a relative of his. He offered to take me to his

34 AN ADDED WITNESS OF CHRIST “This . . . Book of Mormon, this scripture of the New World, is before us as an added witness of the divinity and reality of the Lord Jesus Christ, of the encompassing beneficence of His Atonement, and of His coming forth from the darkness of the grave. . . . “The testimony is here to handle; it is here to be read; it is here to be pondered; it is here to be prayed over with a church soon, and I accepted the promise that he who prays shall know believed in God before, but invitation. As he left the room, I from that day forward I be- felt a trace of hope enter my heart. by the power of the Holy Ghost of its lieved without a doubt. I was Perhaps I would finally find truth and validity (see Moro. 10:3–5).” shocked at how easy it was to answers to my questions. President Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Greatest Miracle believe the things the elders One evening, my new friend es- in Human History,” Ensign, May 1994, 72. taught me. I would later come corted me to the top floor of a tall to understand the Holy Spirit building, where I saw a sign that and how it assists those who read “Mission Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of earnestly seek for truth. Latter-day Saints.” But the office was dark and silent. Two weeks after I began the missionary discussions, Perplexed, my friend led me to a phone booth outside, I was baptized a member of the Lord’s Church. where he dialed many different numbers until he got I have now been a Church member for 26 years. I through to a Church member. He told me he wanted have served a mission myself, been sealed in the tem- me to meet this member who was playing a key role in ple, and raised a family. I have served in many Church the Church in Thailand at that time, for she was trans- callings, including branch president, counselor in the lating the Book of Mormon. “The Book of Mormon in mission presidency and stake presidency, high coun- Thai!” I thought, intrigued. cilor, and country director for the Church Educational Walking down the road to get to this member’s System. Since the day of my baptism, I have changed house, I noticed two neatly dressed young men walk- so much. Not only have I learned how the gospel of ing toward us on the other side of the street. One was Jesus Christ can create justice in society, I have also Thai, and the other appeared to be North American. learned that we can progress to become like God and When my friend spotted the young men, he became live forever with those we love. I’m not afraid to face very happy and waved them over. The two young the obstacles of life anymore. Life has so much more men introduced themselves as Church representatives. meaning when we understand its purposes. We decided to forgo our appointment with the local The Book of Mormon was published in Thai shortly Church member for the time being and instead walked after my baptism, and I’ve read it many times since. It to a nearby meetinghouse, where I began to ask my has played a crucial role in helping me understand questions. Why was life so unjust? Why was there so life’s purposes. much inequality in society? Who was I really, where Recently, I was blessed to participate in the revision had I come from, and where would I go after this life? of the Thai translation of the Book of Mormon. As I What was the ultimate purpose of life? have worked on this translation, I’ve thought often Both elders had a startled look on their faces when I about how I was led to the Book of Mormon and how asked these questions. They quickly answered that it has changed my life. I have felt so grateful to be able there was a prophet who had answered these ques- to help share the Book of Mormon with other Thai tions, a man named Joseph Smith. They told me how people who, like me, will discover the power of this God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, had ap- book. I testify of its truth. peared to this prophet while he was yet a boy. I learned how this prophet had translated ancient scripture that Suchat Chaichana is a member of the Sinkarin Ward, was the Book of Mormon. As I heard these things, Bangkok Thailand Stake. a miraculous thing happened to me. I had never Gospel topics: Book of Mormon, Holy Ghost, testimony

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 35 An Eternal Marriage— ONE DAY AT A TIME

Church as two different obligations—until one night Members tell how choices they have in June 1991. made in their marriages have helped Each year our stake’s Young Women had a three- day backpacking trip for the older girls. It was my them build enduring relationships. role as a member of the stake presidency to go along as a chaperone and priesthood leader. That year, my MY HIGHEST CHURCH PRIORITY wife was undergoing treatment for breast cancer and had been told that a mastectomy would be arly in our courtship, my wife and I determined required, but the surgery was not scheduled for we would maintain the Church as our first pri- several weeks, so I thought I could support both her ority and we would do whatever the Lord ex- and the Young Women. pressedE as His will. Through the ensuing years of our This disease tries the emotions as well as the body, marriage, we each held a variety of callings, and however, and on that particular night I woke to find sometimes there were challenges as we tried to bal- my wife’s place in the bed empty. I found her sitting ance family responsibilities with Church obligations. on the couch in the front room holding her head in After our children left home, our situation changed, her hands and looking at the floor. but I thought I understood the responsibility I had to As I tried to determine how to help meet her care for and support my wife. Nevertheless, I viewed needs, the broken branch of our weeping willow my responsibility in the home and my service to the tree came to mind. During a recent storm, a gust of

36 wind had snapped one of the tree’s main branches. the priesthood is to honor your eternal companion” When I had climbed the tree to cut off the broken (“Honoring the Priesthood,” Ensign, May 1993, 39). limb, I had found the limb was half eaten through —S. Mahlon Edwards, Lindell Ward, Las Vegas by borers. Because it was diseased, the wind had Sandstone Stake been able to break it easily. Now the idea came into my mind that my wife was also in a delicate condi- STAYING CLOSE tion, with the cancer boring into both her body and her emotions. It was my most important responsibil- Communication is one key to a strong marriage. ity, as her husband, to protect her from the storm— This information is hardly new, but still, communica- any wind, fear, or other force that might break her tion—or, more correctly, the lack of it—seems to be a down. Although I had already known this intellectu- wedge in many marriages today. ally, the idea came to me that night with the force of One thing that my husband, Russ, and I have revelation. She was my most important Church re- done to improve our communication is to try to be sponsibility. When I told her that I could see what together often. We try to sit next to each other in she was going through and that I would stay home meeting, to walk together at the store or from the hike to take care of her, it helped her know elsewhere, to be together when we are at home, even where she stood in relation to my other concerns if it means that I simply sit next to him and hand him and it helped both of us understand our proper pri- tools while he works on a project. This closeness orities. Our stake president understood too; he took helps us feel more secure, I think, at other times my place as chaperone on the hike. when communication might be more difficult. I learned from the experience that there is no need It may be hard for spouses to be genuinely open for struggle in deciding whether my Church calling when things need to be discussed that are not pleas- or my eternal role of husband comes first. As Elder ant—financial difficulties, disagreements over dealing Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve with the children, or other family problems. It is hard Apostles has taught: “Brethren, please remember: the at times to admit that you were wrong or that his or highest degree of the celestial glory is available to you her idea may work better than yours. Assuming you only through that order of the priesthood linked to know what your spouse meant by a remark, keeping the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. (See quiet and holding a grudge, or trying to manipulate a

D&C 131:1–4.) Therefore, your first priority in honoring situation might seem easier at the moment, but these ROB MAGIERA BY ILLUSTRATED

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 37 approaches usually lead to long-term difficulties. Russ Among the things my husband and I found it and I have learned that although there might be un- important to agree on was the use of our resources. pleasant moments in communication, if we are kindly We needed to become one in our financial outlook. and respectfully honest with each other and make sure Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Quorum of the we understand what the other person is really saying Tw elve Apostles (1915–94), noting a report of the num- or feeling, then the unpleasant moments are simply ber of divorces traced to problems over money, wrote: that—moments—and our days are generally brighter. “These marriage tragedies are not caused simply by I believe communication strengthens marriage as lack of money, but rather by the mismanagement of faith strengthens testimony. Faith is not always easy to personal finances” (One for the Money: Guide to Family hold, but if we follow counsel from Alma 32:27—“yea, Finance [pamphlet, 1992; item no. 33292, no charge], 2). even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this Since so many people have suffered in their mar- desire work in you”—our belief will begin to grow riages because of money, when my husband and I were and our understanding increase. I believe if we as cou- students, we determined to give ourselves every ad- ples can no more than desire to have better communi- vantage we could in this area. In a money management cation in our marriages and we let this desire work in class, I learned a simple budget system we began to use us, day by day our marriages can become stronger immediately. We set financial goals for the future and and eventually able to endure for eternity.—Camille determined to learn all we could from the counsel of Gold, Woodville First Ward, Shelley Idaho Stake apostles and prophets about finances in families. We resolved to do certain things recommended by Elder ONE FOR THE MONEY Ashton: pay tithes and offerings, pay for vacations and consumer durables with cash, if possible, avoid install- In marriage, two separate individuals from differ- ment credit where possible, and be careful with our use ent families are brought together and commanded to of credit cards (One for the Money, 3, 6). We decided that be one (see Eph. 5:31). I consider the goal of becom- freedom from financial bondage was a lot more exhila- ing one in heart and purpose to be the most chal- rating than buying the newest and nicest things right lenging aspect of marriage. It requires humility and now. We began to put aside money to meet our finan- charity. And it touches every aspect of married life as cial goals. The habit of saving even when it is a small we learn that even temporal things must be governed amount has been good training for us. by spiritual principles to which both husband and It can be stressful to a marriage when financial things wife are committed. are not in order, but there can be peace and security

38 when they are. We continue to that my husband and I should pray for guidance in our finan- GROWTH—A PROCESS FOR TWO read the scriptures together. I cial life. Of course we pray for realized that since taking a vaca- our income to continue, but we “Spiritual growth tion about six weeks earlier, we also pray for self-control and comes by solv- had gotten out of the habit of wisdom in using the resources ing problems reading scriptures together each Heavenly Father has given our night. I shared the feeling I had family.—Carrie Generia Hunt, together—not received with my husband, and Santa Clara First Ward, Eugene by running we agreed to resume nightly Santa Clara Stake scripture study. from them. We found that as we studied Today’s inordinate emphasis on ARE YOU STUDYING the scriptures together, this prac- individualism brings egotism and tice invited the Spirit of the Lord THE SCRIPTURES? to come into our hearts. With When my husband and I had separation. Two individuals that influence in our hearts, we been married about four years, becoming ‘one flesh’ is still the were able to be more patient we had a disagreement that was Lord’s standard. (See Gen. 2:24.) and understanding with each hard to resolve. We usually re- other, and the harmony in our solved problems quite easily, so “The secret of a happy marriage marriage increased.—Annette I was feeling frustrated that we is to serve God and each other. Cleveland, Walkersville Ward, were having a hard time with The goal of marriage is unity and Frederick Maryland Stake this particular issue. One day I decided to pray about it. I real- oneness, as well as self-development. Gospel topics: marriage, service, love, ized I could not change my hus- Paradoxically, the more we serve one charity band or how he felt, so I focused More on this topic: See “Building a my prayer on being able to un- another, the greater is our spiritual Successful Marriage,” Ensign, Mar. derstand him and his point of 1998, 27; Marlin K. Jensen, “A Union of and emotional growth.” Love and Understanding,” Ensign, Oct. view better. President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994), 1994, 47; Lorin and Lina Hatch, “Putting As I finished my prayer, I was “Salvation—a Family Affair,” Ensign, July 1992, 4. First Things First—Together,” Ensign, surprised to feel the impression Apr. 1980, 67.

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 39 THE QUEST FOR WWisdomisdom

B Y E LDER J AMES J. HAMULA Area Authority Seventy

he Lord has coun- seled: “Seek not for riches but for wis- Tdom, and behold, the mys- teries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich” (D&C 6:7). We are of- ten confronted with choices, the rightness or wrongness of which is not always immedi- ately apparent. We live in a dark and perilous world (see D&C 112:23; 2 Tim. 3:1) where the adversary seeks to blur distinctions between good and evil. Like the young King Solomon we need wisdom in bearing our responsibil- ities well and making good choices. His story provides insight into how to gain a wise and understanding heart.

“A SK WHAT I SHALL GIVE THEE” Having been made king of Israel by his father, David, Solomon became the leader of a great nation. It was about 1015 B.C., and the kingdom was large, GUSTAVE DORÉ GUSTAVE unified, and prosperous. Solomon was but a young adult, probably in his 20s, when he ascended to the throne (see Bible Dictionary, “Chronology,” 636). Solomon appears to have been

JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON, BY JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON, deeply humbled by the burden of

40 leading Israel, and “because the Lord blessed Solomon as he was walking in the statutes of David, his father, he began to love the Lord” (JST, 1 Kgs. 3:3). In Gibeon (see Bible Map 19), Solomon earnestly sought the Lord. In re- sponse to Solomon’s deep yearning for and imploring help from the God of Israel, the Lord appeared to him and said, “Ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kgs. 3:5). With great reverence, Solomon responded by citing the Lord’s blessings upon his father, David. Solomon then identified his own perceived weakness, his pro- found need: “O Lord my God, thou hast made thy ser- vant king . . . and I am but a child” (1 Kgs. 3:7). Solomon was concerned that he lacked the capacity to govern the affairs of men. His faith in the Lord’s mercy and his recognition of his own weakness allowed him to respond to the Lord with this request: “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad” (1 Kgs. 3:9). Solomon’s selfless request pleased the Lord: “Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself . . . behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart” (1 Kgs. 3:11–12). The Lord then gave him other great blessings and strictly charged Solomon to walk in His ways and keep His commandments.

WISDOM WAS IN HIM During Solomon’s 40-year reign, God gave him “wis- dom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore” (1 Kgs. 4:29). As king, Solomon judged the cases that could not be satisfactorily resolved by lower judges. Thus he heard only the most difficult cases. His wisdom was demon- strated in his judgment of a case involving two women called harlots1 and a dead child. Tw o women who lived together in a house had each borne a son within three days of each other. While sleep- ing in the night, one of the women overlaid her new- born, smothering the child to death. Discovering her The story of loss in the night, she exchanged her deceased child for the living child of the other mother. Becoming aware King Solomon the next morning of the fraud perpetrated upon her, the mother of the living child appealed to public justice for can help us a righting of the wrong (see 1 Kgs. 3:16–22). The difficulty of the case lay in the absence of wit- understand nesses. No one else had been in the house the night of and obtain the tragedy (see 1 Kgs. 3:18). Further, the living newborn could not identify his mother, nor could he be clearly for ourselves distinguished by his physical features. Both women were equally adamant in their statements about their wisdom motherhood of the newborn (see 1 Kgs. 3:23). Having patiently heard the case, Solomon called for from God. a sword and ordered, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one [woman], and half to the other”

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 41 (1 Kgs. 3:25). “O my lord, give her the living child, and more than just ask; he sacrificed a thousand burnt in no wise slay it,” was one woman’s response. The offerings to the Lord at Gibeon (see 1 Kgs. 3:4). And other said, “Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide our efforts must be sustained over time since spiritual it” (1 Kgs. 3:26). Solomon’s pronouncement proved to knowledge does not come all at once but “line upon be an effective method of discovering the truth. He or- line, precept upon precept” (2 Ne. 28:30). Furthermore, dered that the child not be slain but given to the woman spiritual knowledge comes not on our terms or time- who had been willing to give the infant up to the other. table but on the Lord’s. President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has GAINING WISDOM IN OUR LIVES said: “You cannot force spiritual things . . . You can cre- ate a climate to foster growth, nourish, and protect; but Wisdom is the capacity to exercise sound judg- you cannot force or compel: you must await the growth. ment in applying general knowledge and principles Do not be impatient to gain great spiritual knowledge.”2 to particular circumstances. Thus it consists of both a Foster personal reverence. Because the Holy Spirit broad knowledge and understanding of things and is a “still small voice, which whispereth” (D&C 85:6) the judgment to apply that knowledge properly. and “a still voice of perfect mildness” (Hel. 5:30), we Without broad knowledge there cannot be wisdom. too must be still to hear or feel His voice (see also Ps. This broad knowledge grows from 46:10). “Cast away your idle thoughts schooling in the ways of the Lord. and your excess of laughter,” the Lord Solomon’s ascendancy to the throne has told us. “Cease from all your light and the work that he was to perform for speeches, . . . from all your pride and Israel was foreseen by his father, David light-mindedness” (D&C 88:69, 121). (see 1 Chron. 17:11–14, 22:1–19). Thus Our failure to follow this counsel of- David no doubt ensured that Solomon fends the Spirit and diminishes our was prepared for his days as king, see- access to His wisdom. ing that he was properly schooled in the ways of the Lord. THE LORD’S PROMISE Notwithstanding his preparatory

schooling, Solomon recognized that BARRETT ROBERT AINTING BY As Solomon’s father, David, said, P something more was required for him “The fear of the Lord is the beginning to properly perform his duties. He knew olomon knew he needed of wisdom: a good understanding have he needed the capacity to judge, to dis- the gift of wisdom and all they that do his commandments” cern between good and evil. While such Ssought it from the Lord. (Ps. 111:10). It is therefore little wonder a capacity may be partially acquired that David charged his young son to be through experience, it is essentially a gift of the Spirit obedient. The Lord’s promise to the righteous is that (see D&C 46:17–18). Thus if we wish to obtain wis- “their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding dom, we must qualify ourselves for the administra- reach to heaven” (D&C 76:9). The reason for this is tion of the Holy Ghost. In striving to do so, I have that spiritual understanding accrues to the obedient; found the following principles to be helpful. it “distil[s] upon [the] soul as the dews from heaven” Ask. In spiritual matters, asking is a prerequisite (D&C 121:45). As we earnestly study and learn the to receiving. When the Lord appeared to Solomon, ways of the Lord and then qualify ourselves for the He told him to “ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kgs. companionship of the Holy Ghost, I testify that He 3:5). In all scripture, there is no more frequent in- will guide us in wisdom’s path (see Mosiah 2:36). junction than to ask. Thus the gift of wisdom must be earnestly sought (see D&C 46:8–9, 28–30). NOTES 1. The Hebrew word denotes both “harlot” and “victualler,” or Unfortunately, many do not ask the Lord for His un- innkeeper. In 1 Kings 3:20, one of the women refers to herself as derstanding, choosing instead to rely on their own in “thy handmaid.” Yet they were probably unmarried because there an effort to manage their lives. Such arrogance may is no mention of any husbands, whose office it was to contest for their wives, and because they lived in one house. arise from extensive study or experience. In the end, 2. “The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan. 1983, 53. however, the breadth or depth of one’s expertise is Elder James J. Hamula is an Area Authority Seventy serving in the immaterial, for “the wisdom of this world is foolish- North America Southwest Area. ness with God” (1 Cor. 3:19) and “it profiteth [us] not” Gospel topics: wisdom, Solomon, Holy Ghost, Old Testament (2 Ne. 9:28). Study and experience are good, but only More on this topic: See Spencer J. Condie, “Some Scriptural Lessons if we “hearken unto the counsels of God” (2 Ne. 9:29). on Leadership,” Ensign, May 1990, 27–28; Derek A. Cuthbert, “The Sustain effort and exercise patience. The gift of Meaning of Maturity,” Ensign, Nov. 1982, 54–56; Franklin D. Richards, wisdom does not come merely by asking. Solomon did “Seek Not for Riches but for Wisdom,” Ensign, May 1976, 35–36.

42 lijah boldly announced to KingE Ahab that the Lord would send a drought. ROBERT BARRETT ROBERT BY lijah ARD, NURTURES FAITH ELIJAH AND KING AHAB IN NABOTH’S VINEY ELIJAH

to revive the spirituality of his people. The manner in B Y T ODD A.E KNOWLES which he did this demonstrates how signs and mira- Stories from the life of this cles relate to the development of faith in Jesus Christ. Old Testament prophet teach us A FAMINE about miracles and strong faith. Our introduction to Elijah comes when he sud- denly appears before King Ahab with this bold an- efore the end of King Solomon’s reign, much of nouncement: “As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before Israel plunged into the spiritual darkness and whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these chaos of idolatry and great wickedness. For the years, but according to my word” (1 Kgs. 17:1). The Bnext 100 years, the Lord sent such prophets as Ahijah, wording of this decree suggests that Elijah had power Azariah, Hanani, and Jehu to preach repentance and from God like Nephi son of Helaman, who did “smite warn Israel and its leaders. the earth with famine . . . according to the wickedness When Ahab ascended to the throne of the of this people” and who received the promise of God Northern Kingdom, faithfulness to the living God that “whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed descended to a new low (see 1 Kgs. 16:30–31). Into in heaven” (Hel. 10:6–7). this spiritual abyss the Lord sent Elijah, a prophet Despite the onset of the drought according to whose influence upon the life of the Israelites has Elijah’s word, King Ahab’s heart did not soften. As lasted more than 2,870 years. To this day he is still an the drought worsened, he became angry and ordered invited guest at the annual Jewish Passover meal (see Elijah arrested. Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, rounded up many Bible Dictionary, “Elijah,” 664). Elijah’s mission was of the prophets of God and had them slaughtered (see

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 43 1 Kgs. 18:4). Consequently, the Lord warned Elijah to Lord to raise her son from the dead, and the Lord hide in a desolate place east of the Jordan River. There granted his request. When the woman saw her son the Lord provided him with food brought each morn- alive, in Elijah’s arms, she could not restrain her joy ing and evening by birds and with water from a brook and expressed her feelings of strengthened faith: “Now (see 1 Kgs. 17:2–6). Soon the brook dried up, and the by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the Lord commanded Elijah to journey northwest to word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth” (1 Kgs. 17:24). Zarephath, a city on the coast of the Mediterranean In this woman we see an example of the results of Sea in the gentile nation of Sidon. He was told to board faith, even in its imperfect stages. She exercised a par- in the home of a “widow woman” there. This experi- ticle of faith in caring for Elijah and had not com- ence became another opportunity to nurture faith in pletely cast it out by unbelief when her son died, yet others and see it develop. her faith needed nurturing. Her son’s death and the miracle that followed strengthened her faith. She had THE BARREL OF MEAL WASTED NOT experimented on the word and reaped its rich re- wards (see Alma 32:27–43). As Elijah approached Zarephath, he recognized the woman as she gathered sticks for a fire. She and THE FIRE OF THE LORD her son were facing starvation, with but one last serv- ing of food remaining. He called to her, “Fetch me, I The Lord commanded Elijah to revisit King Ahab. pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink” Their meeting was tense and confrontational. Ahab and “Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of defiantly accused Elijah of causing the bread in thine hand” (1 Kgs. 17:10–11). drought, but Elijah rebuffed him, saying, When she confessed her desperate situ- “I have not troubled Israel; but thou, ation to Elijah, he tested her faith: “Fear and thy father’s house, in that ye have not . . . but make me thereof a little cake forsaken the commandments of the first, and bring it unto me, and . . . the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim” barrel of meal shall not waste . . . until (1 Kgs. 18:18). the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon Elijah proposed that the issue be set- the earth” (1 Kgs. 17:13–14). Her re- tled before all Israel by a contest between sponse to this request and promise is Jehovah and Baal, and Ahab agreed. quite remarkable—so remarkable that he faith of the widow of Elijah said, “If the Lord be God, follow the Lord used her as an example of faith Zarephath was further him: but if Baal, then follow him,” hop- during His mortal ministry (see Luke Tstrengthened when her son ing that a sign from heaven would nur- 4:24–26): “And she went and did accord- was raised from the dead. ture the faith of his people (1 Kgs. 18:21). ing to the saying of Elijah” (1 Kgs. 17:15). What unfolded is one of the most im- The Lord honored her obedience by providing flour pressive displays of divine power in all scripture. and oil for the three of them for about three years (see Elijah had two bullocks, or oxen, brought to Luke 4:25). Mount Carmel. He suggested that the priests of Much like this woman, many Church members Baal slaughter an ox and place it on an altar while he today pay tithing in full, not knowing how to pay would do the same on another altar. “Call ye on the for essential food. Others hearken to the voice of the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Spirit in making great personal sacrifices to serve the Lord,” Elijah confidently told those who had assem- Lord and keep His commandments. The Lord honors bled, “and the God that answereth by fire, let him be them by blessing their acts of faith with experiences God” (1 Kgs 18:24). And all the people agreed that that nurture their faith (see Ether 12:6). such would be a fair test. The priests of Baal called from morning until noon, THY SON LIVETH but there was no answer. Elijah mocked them, saying they should shout louder for perhaps God is deep in Not long after the miracle of the oil and flour, the thought or busy. Maybe he is sleeping and must be widow’s son suddenly became sick and died, a great awakened. The priests cried out louder, slashing trial of faith. She complained to Elijah and the Lord, themselves with knives, yet nothing happened. not understanding why her son had been taken. She Finally, Elijah called the people close to him. They was filled with despair and guilt. This new test, how- watched as he built an altar to the Lord from 12 ever, provided one more opportunity for her faith in stones, dug a trench, and drenched it with water. God and His prophet to grow. He then humbly called upon God for his people, Touched by the woman’s sorrow, Elijah asked the “Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may

44 know that thou art the Lord God” (1 Kgs. 18:37). The Jehovah through signs and miracles from the Lord. fire of the Lord descended from heaven, burning up Yet seeing the Lord’s power manifest in spectacular the offering and leaving nothing but a hole in the events is usually not as beneficial to conversion as ground. The people fell on their faces and exclaimed, the whisperings of the Holy Spirit, which come by “The Lord, he is the God” (1 Kgs 18:39). With this re- obedience and sacrifice and are born of faith in Jesus newal of faith, clouds came, and a torrential rain fell. Christ. Elijah had successfully nurtured his people’s weak President Heber J. Grant taught: “There is but one faith. path of safety to the Latter-day Saints, and that is the King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, however, were path of duty. . . . It is not marvelous manifestations . . . only convinced that Elijah must be put to death, so that will save you and me, but it is the keeping of the Elijah fled into the wilderness (see 1 Kgs. 19:1–3). commandments of God, the living the life of a Latter- Feeling discouraged, Elijah experienced one more day Saint.”2 It was the widow of Zarephath who ex- important lesson about faith and miracles. perienced long-lasting conversion. Her obedience As Elijah rested in a cave, the Lord sent a great de- and faith preceded her miracles. Elijah’s use of mira- structive wind, then an earthquake, and finally a fire. cles teaches us that signs can confirm a person’s faith In each marvelous display of divine power, the record in the Lord, but they are rarely useful in causing the states that “the Lord was not in [it]” (see 1 Kgs. 19:11–12). wicked to truly repent and be converted. Finally, there came “a still small voice” in which the NOTES Lord manifested himself (see 1 Kgs. 19:12–18). 1. Joseph Fielding Smith, “The Sin against the Holy Ghost,” A friend of mine, faced with the sudden death of Instructor, Oct. 1935, 431. a close family member, struggled to prepare a talk for 2. “The President Speaks,” Improvement Era, Nov. 1936, 659. the funeral. Finding a time and place to be alone, he Todd A. Knowles is a member of the Meridian Greens Ward, Meridian asked the Lord for a manifestation of the departed Idaho South Stake. loved one. As he prayed, a still, small voice spoke to Gospel topics: faith, miracles, signs, Elijah, Old Testament his mind, “And what would you know then that you More on this topic: See Jeffrey R. Holland, “A Handful of Meal and a don’t know now? Be faithful and you will continue Little Oil,” Ensign, May 1996, 29–31; Jonathan H. Stephenson, “I to be filled with light and truth.” Have a Question: What are we to understand about signs and mira- cles?” Ensign, Dec. 1994, 60–61; David H. Madsen, “No Other Gods He learned, like Elijah, that the “Spirit of God before Me,” Ensign, Jan. 1990, 48–52; Spencer W. Kimball, “Keep speaking to the spirit of man has power to impart the Lines of Communication Strong,” Ensign, July 1972, 37–39. truth with greater effort and under- standing than . . . by personal contact even with heavenly beings.”1 he Lord sent fire from MIRACLES AND FAITH heaven and the people Texclaimed, “The Lord, he In contemplating the role of mar- is the God.” velous manifestations in strengthening our faith in Jesus Christ, we might con- sider the following: 1. Signs come according to the will of God, not the will of man (see D&C 63:10). The miracles, whether for Elijah, Ahab, the widow, or the Israelites, were clearly per- formed according to the will of the Lord.

2. Signs cannot be the sole basis for HARSTON JERRY BY faith in the Lord (see Alma 32:17–19). Ahab saw the same signs as many others but was not converted to the Lord. 3. Signs can strengthen those who already believe (see Hel. 14:28–29). The widow of Zarephath was a believer whose convictions were strengthened by miracles. The faith of the Israelites rallied when they saw the fire from heaven.

Elijah sought to nurture faith in THE PRIESTS OF BAAL, CONTENDS AGAINST ELIJAH

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 45 THE SAVIOR’S USE OF THE O ldTestament

46 B Y T HOMAS F. O LMSTEAD fulfillment of this 750-year-old fter His baptism and wilder- Messianic prophecy of the Old ness preparations for His Testament. Stunned, everyone mortal ministry, Jesus “wondered at [His] gracious Areturned to Nazareth, the town words” and marveled at the where He was raised. There, power of His sayings (see Luke according to Luke, He gave His 4:22). They knew Him and His Jewish neighbors His first public family and had heard rumors of discourse. This sermon is a model His many miracles in other cities. for understanding how Jesus chose Jesus quoted the words of the prophet Jesus discerned their unspo- Å FREDERIKSBORG, HILLERØD Jeremiah as He cast the money chang- to use the scriptures of His day. ers from the temple courtyard. ken desire that He also show Jesus was a regular participator them a mighty miracle (see Luke in scripture recitation at worship services, so “he 4:22–23). He rebuked their faithlessness, calling went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and their attention to two Old Testament stories: stood up for to read” (Luke 4:16). As Jesus took His “But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in TIONALHISTORISKE MUSEUM P place before the people, an attendant removed the Israel in the days of Elias [Elijah], when the heaven scroll of Isaiah from its special place in the syna- was shut up three years and six months, when gogue and handed it to Him. Carefully and re- great famine was throughout all the land; spectfully, Jesus unrolled it until He came to the “But unto none of them was Elias sent, save following and read: unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he was a widow. CARL HEINRICH BLOCH, DET NA HEINRICH BLOCH, CARL hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; “And many lepers were in Israel in the time BY he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach of Eliseus [Elisha] the prophet; and none of them deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian” (Luke to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 4:25–27). “To preach the acceptable year of the Lord” This stern reprimand filled them with anger. (Luke 4:18–19). How dare He say that two Gentiles had greater With great power and feeling faith than they! He must have read this passage! This event offers at least three insights into Jesus then rolled the scroll the Savior’s use of the Old Testament scripture: up, returned it to the attendant, first, Jesus confirmed the words of Old Testa- and sat down. With all eyes ment prophets and His role in fulfilling them; fixed upon Him, He announced: second, He affirmed the events of the Old Testa- CHRIST CLEANSING THE TEMPLE, ABOVE: SIMON DEWEY; BY “This day is this scripture fulfilled ment as historical fact and used them to teach in your ears” (Luke 4:21). eternal truths; and third, Jesus exemplified great With unmistakable clarity and boldness, respect for the law of Moses as given in the Old our Savior proclaimed that in Him was the Testament. LEFT: LIGHT AND TRUTH, LEFT:

t the synagogue in Nazareth, the people marveled at the powerA of Jesus’ sayings as He read from the words of the prophet Isaiah.

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 47 CLARK KELLEY PRICE BY THE LORD FULFILLETH ALL HIS WORDS, THE LORD

hen speaking of the judgment that will come without specifying where they were from, often sim- at His Second Coming, the Lord referred to the ply saying, “It is written.” In this way the Lord gave Wstory of the Flood, saying that the people of Noah’s the authority of the Old Testament to His teaching day “knew not until the flood came. . . . So shall also and prophesying. His use of Jeremiah 7:11, “It is writ- ten, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but the coming of the Son of man be.” ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matt. 21:13), gave scriptural justification for His second cleansing of the temple. Shortly before His arrest He said to His JESUS AND THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS Apostles, “For it is written, I will smite the shepherd, Jesus loved to quote the words of Old Testament and the sheep shall be scattered” (Mark 14:27; see also prophets. And since Jesus Christ and Jehovah, the Zech. 13:7). His Apostles would have likely recog- Lord God of the Old Testament, are, in fact, the same nized that His words were from the Old Testament, person, when Jesus quoted the words of the prophets and in this way He assured them that what was He was often actually quoting Himself! The Savior about to take place was according to God’s will. quoted from the writings of Jeremiah, Daniel, Finally, Jesus sometimes incorporated phrases Zechariah, Hosea, and Malachi. He was especially from Old Testament scripture without mentioning a fond of using the words of the prophet Isaiah. source. For example, when Jesus told some disciples The New Testament records more than 30 refer- of John the Baptist, “Go your way, and tell John what ences from these six prophets, 19 of which come things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind directly from the mouth of the Savior (see Bible see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf Dictionary, “Quotations,” 756–59). Sometimes He hear” (Luke 7:22), He was paraphrasing Isaiah 35:5–6. told His listeners which prophet he was quoting. When Jesus prophesied of His “coming in the clouds For example, Jesus named Daniel once (see Matt. with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26), He was in- 24:15/Dan. 9:27) and Esaias (Isaiah) three times (see corporating language from Daniel 7:13–14. Thus, His Matt. 13:14/Isa. 6:9–10; Matt. 15:7–9/Isa. 29:13; Luke listeners who were familiar with the Old Testament 4:17–19/Isa. 61:1–2). would have found a comforting similarity between Other times He used the words of a prophet His words and the scriptures.

48 JESUS AND THE OLD TESTAMENT “As Jesus testified of ESUS SED J U Moses, so likewise leaders of the Jews told Jesus, OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY “If we had been in the days of did Moses testify of our fathers, we would not have Much of what the Lord Christ, although been partakers with them in the taught was either based on, or blood of the prophets,” He un- supported by, historical events much of [Moses’] veiled their hypocrisy by say- described in the Old Testament. testimony is not in our present-day ing, “Ye be witnesses unto He used them not simply to Bible. But obviously it was in the yourselves, that ye are the chil- teach the facts of history, but to dren of them which killed the support and highlight principles scriptures available to the people of prophets” (Matt. 23:30–31). of truth. For example: Jesus’ day. . . . Jesus then foretold the fate Sabbath Day. When the “When critics attacked him, the of His own disciples whom He Pharisees complained that His would send forth to testify unto disciples had violated the law Lord responded by saying to them: the world: by plucking and eating “ears ‘Search the scriptures; for in them ye “Behold, I send unto you of corn” on the Sabbath, Jesus prophets, . . . and some of them used an incident from the Old think ye have eternal life; and they ye shall kill and crucify; and Testament to teach about the are they which testify of me.’ (John some of them shall ye scourge Sabbath: 5:39; [emphasis] added.) in your synagogues, and perse- “Have ye not read what cute them from city to city: David did, when he was an “He never would have said that if “That upon you may hungred, and they that were the scriptures available to the people come all the righteous blood with him; of that day did not testify of him.” shed upon the earth” (Matt. “How he entered into the 23:34–35). Elder Mark E. Petersen (1900–1984) of the house of God and did eat the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Moses: Man Jesus then ended this shewbread, which was not law- of Miracles (1977), 148–49. prophetic denunciation by ful for him to eat, neither for specifically mentioning Abel them which were with him, but and Zacharias, two Old only for the priests? Testament prophets who “Or have ye not read in the had been martyred (see law, how that on the sabbath Bible Dictionary, “Abel” and days the priests in the temple “Zacharias,” 600, 790). profane the sabbath, and are Judgment. Jesus used Old blameless?” (Matt. 12:3–6). Testament examples of the The incident cited by the wicked being destroyed to Savior is from 1 Samuel 21 and demonstrate some of the stan-

was used to make the point that BIDA LEXANDRE dards by which we will be

“The Son of man is Lord even of BY A judged. During a discourse on the Sabbath day” (Matt. 12:8). It judgment, some of the scribes is also worth noting that Jesus and Pharisees asked Jesus for a used the words of an Old sign. He called them an “evil and Te stament prophet on this occa- adulterous generation” for seek- sion to rebuke the Pharisees: ing a sign (see Matt. 12:38–42). “But if ye had known what this And to drive His point home, He meaneth, I will have mercy, and declared that the gentile people not sacrifice, ye would not have of the city of Nineveh (see Jonah condemned the guiltless” (Matt. JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES IN THE CORNFIELD, 3:1–10) and the gentile queen of 12:7; see also Hosea 6:6). When the Pharisees complained that His disciples the south (see 1 Kgs. 10:1–10) Persecution. Throughout had violated the laws of the Sabbath, Jesus justi- would be better off at Judgment fied their actions with a story from the life of Old Testament history, God’s King David. Day than them. prophets were persecuted for When speaking to His disci- their testimony (see 2 Chr. 36:14–16; Jer. 37:15–21; ples about the judgment that will come at His Second 1 Ne. 1:20). The Lord referred to the persecutions Coming and how one might prepare for it, the Lord of old several times in order to give insight into the referred to two Old Testament events: the stories of hearts of those who persecuted Him. When some Noah and Lot.

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 49 “But of that day [the Second Jesus used the law of Moses as Coming] and hour knoweth no man. . . . it was intended to purify lives and

“But as the days of Noe [Noah] HEINRICH BLOCH, CARL teach of salvation through the BY

were, so shall also the coming of the Å FREDERIKSBORG, HILLERØD Messiah. The law of Moses, cor- Son of man be. rectly understood and applied, “For as in the days that would raise the natural man to a were before the flood they spiritual level and fortify him were eating and drinking, against the cunning of the devil. GET THEE HENCE, SATAN, marrying and giving in When tempted by Satan during marriage, until the day that His 40 days of fasting in the Noe entered into the ark, wilderness (see Matt. 4:1–11), Jesus DET NATIONALHISTORISKE MUSEUM P DET NATIONALHISTORISKE “And knew not until the responded to the temptations by flood came, and took them referring to Old Testament scrip- all away; so shall also the tures: “It is written, Man shall coming of the Son of not live by bread alone, but man be” (Matt. by every word that pro- 24:36–39). ceedeth out of the mouth of Luke’s report of this God” (see Deut. 8:3); “It is same moment adds: written again, Thou shalt not “Likewise also as it tempt the Lord thy God” (see was in the days of Lot; Deut. 6:16); and “For it is writ- they did eat, they drank, ten, Thou shalt worship the they bought, they sold, Lord thy God, and him only they planted, they shalt thou serve” (see Deut. builded; 6:13, 10:20; Josh. 24:14). “But the same day that When the Pharisees came Lot went out of Sodom it to Him seeking to justify the rained fire and brimstone way they practiced divorce, from heaven, and de- He upheld the sanctity of stroyed them all. the marriage covenant from “Even thus shall it be in the esus frequently quoted the writings of Moses, using Genesis day when the Son of man is re- Jfrom the law of Moses, 1:27 and 2:24. vealed. . . . including three passages from “Have ye not read,” He chided “Remember Lot’s wife” Deuteronomy when tempted them, for He knew full well that they (Luke 17:28–30, 32). by Satan during 40 days of had read the writings of Moses, “that fasting in the wilderness. he which made them at the beginning JESUS AND THE LAW OF MOSES made them male and female, “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they the prophets,” Jesus said. “I am not come to destroy, twain shall be one flesh? but to fulfil” (Matt. 5:17). The meaning of this verse “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. may be amplified by an alternate translation: “Don’t What therefore God hath joined together, let not man think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the put asunder” (Matt. 19:4–6). Prophets, I have come not to abolish but to complete, Using passages of scripture that the Pharisees to make their meaning full.”1 The Hebrew word Torah, pridefully considered themselves to be experts in, which literally means “teaching or doctrine,” is ren- Jesus confounded them by teaching the true doctrine dered in the New Testament by the Greek word intended in the law of Moses. nomes, which means “law.” Therefore, what Jesus was In Luke 14, Jesus relied on principles from the law conveying is that whenever He spoke of or taught of Moses (see Ex. 23:4; Deut. 22:4) to defend His heal- from the law of Moses, He would render a fuller or ing on the Sabbath day. When the rich young man more complete meaning. The law had been given to asked what he must do to have eternal life, Jesus re- Moses by Jehovah, who was now upon the earth in ferred to several of the Ten Commandments found in His mortal ministry as Jesus Christ; therefore it was Exodus 20 (see Mark 10:17–19). In Matthew 18:15–17, His prerogative to make the meaning of the law, the Jesus said that the law of witnesses (see Deut. 17:6, teachings, and the doctrine “full” and “complete.” 19:15) should be applied in resolving disputes. He also

50 used the law of witnesses in John 5:31–38 to defend declarations of His divine sonship and in John 8:1–11 to withhold judgment on a woman taken in adultery. Luke chose to tell us of two incidents that, like book- ends, at the beginning and at the end of His mortal min- istry, illustrate Jesus’ role in fulfilling the law of Moses. “This day is this scripture fulfilled [completed and its meaning made full] in your ears” (Luke 4:21), He said at His first public discourse. Then in an upper room following His Resurrection, He said to His Apostles: “These are the words which I spake unto you,

while I was yet with you, that all things must be ful- ANDERSON HARRY filled, which were written in the law of Moses, and BY , in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures [the Old Testament]” (Luke 24:44–45). Jesus did not reject the law of Moses—the Torah— BEHOLD MY HANDS AND FEET as found in the Old Testament. Rather, He used it to affirm its own truthfulness and give a more complete Appearing to His disciples after the Resurrection, Jesus opened their understanding to the meaning of Old Testament teachings meaning. concerning His divinity.

TESTIFYING OF THE SAVIOR to understanding the Old Testament. The Savior used The prophet Nephi has counseled us that the the Old Testament to show that He is its central fig- words of the Old Testament will be “plain unto all ure. To understand the Old Testament we must surely those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy” look for Him on every page, for “Moses did not only (2 Ne. 25:4). The Apostle John has clarified that “the testify of [His coming], but also all the holy prophets. . . . testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. “. . . They have testified of the coming of Christ, and 19:10). Therefore, a testimony of the Savior is crucial have looked forward, and have rejoiced in his day which is to come. “And behold he is God, and he is THE PSALMS with them, and he o book of the Old Testament is more Christian in its inner sense or more fully attested as did manifest him- “ such by the use made of it than the Psalms. Out of a total of 283 direct citations from the self unto them, Old Testament in the New Testament, 116 have been counted from this one book” (Bible Dictionary,N “Psalms,” 754–55). It should not surprise us, therefore, that Jesus loved and often quoted that they were re- from or alluded to the Psalms in His teaching. deemed by him; and they gave unto him glory” (Hel. NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO JESUS’ USE OF THE PSALMS 8:16, 22–23). Using the Old Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Psalm 37:11 Testament as the Matthew 5:35 “The city of the great King.” Psalm 48:2 Savior used it means Matthew 21:16 “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings.” Psalm 8:2 that we also will use Matthew 21:42 “The stone which the builders rejected.” Psalm 118:22–23 it to testify of Him. Matthew 22:44 “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand.” Psalm 110:1 NOTE Matthew 23:39 “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Psalm 118:26 1. David H. Stern, Mark 15:34 “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Psalm 22:11 Jewish New Testament Commentary (1992), 25. Luke 13:27 “Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” Psalm 6:8 Luke 23:46 “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Psalm 31:5 Thomas F. Olmstead is a member of the Palo Verde John 10:34 “I said, Ye are gods.” Psalm 82:6 Ward, Gilbert John 13:18 “He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.” Psalm 41:9 Highland Stake. John 15:25 “They hated me without a cause.” Psalm 35:19 Gospel topics: Jesus Christ, Old Testament

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 51

WHEN GRANDMA LOST HER ABILITY TO TALK, OUR FAMILY FOUND NEW WAYS TO KEEP OUR LOVING RELATIONSHIP ALIVE.

MORE THAN

WORDSCAN SAY

B Y M ARILYN D IMOND randma was wise and witty—a delightful con- those visits began to slip away. First to go was the versationalist. Folks flocked to her door for cherry pie. Then the fishing trips. Finally, worst of all, small talk and a piece of cherry pie. Our weekly the conversation. Helplessly we watched as age and ill- Gvisit to Grandma’s house became a family tradition. ness took their toll. Grandma struggled to keep mind Dressed in her Sunday best, she’d greet us at the door, and mouth in sync, but thought processes slowed and face alight. Every wrinkle was a smile, and her blue words got more and more garbled. Our attempts to eyes seemed to twinkle out of the creases. Then the fun communicate were awkward and, for the most part, began. We’d rattle off the events of the week while ineffective. We grew frustrated and Grandma was em- Grandma oohed and ahhed and showed us in a barrassed. Sometimes she wouldn’t even try but sat thousand ways how much she cared. She’d tell tight-lipped, wringing hands betraying her anxiety. of her visits to the doctor or her fishing The children were puzzled and hurt. What was trips with Uncle Reid and the boys. wrong? Why wouldn’t Grandma talk anymore? Then we’d troop into the kitchen for Te enagers started balking at the Sunday visits, certain a piece of homemade pie while she Grandma didn’t even know they were there. But she filled us in on the news of others knew. When we came into the room her eyes would

in our large and active family. light up. Sometimes her wrinkled hands reached out, Y MODELS Grandma was information grasping. Then, as if remembering she couldn’t com- central. From her we learned municate, her body would tense and she’d quickly of new babies, old illnesses, withdraw her hand, and herself, into a solitary shell. travels, and trials. She was How we longed for the old, easy rapport, the com- the hub—the sun around fortable family feeling with natural, spontaneous, and which our family revolved. satisfying conversation. How could we find it again? But as Grandma Even as we searched for answers, each visit grew neared 90, the joys of more tense and awkward than the last. PHOTO © PHOTODISC; PHOTOGRAPHY POSED B

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 53 LILAC LOTION jokes, then laughing out loud. Taking her cue from us, Grandma’s outstretched hand was our first clue Grandma smiled tentatively at first. Then, as she caught that she wanted to touch and to be touched as a way the spirit, she laughed right along with the rest of us. of feeling our concern and love. We began to hold her Discomfort and anxiety were forgotten as the healing hand, to stroke and pat it gently. It was Aunt Fern power of laughter bound us together even more tightly. who first thought of the lotion. Grandma was always Then, almost by accident we stumbled on a way to primped and powdered and perfumed. The soft, carry on a “two-way conversation” with Grandma: we fresh fragrance that surrounded her had long been decided to pretend. We girls used to carry on one- part of Grandma’s charm. So we lavished sweet- sided conversations with our dolls by just inventing smelling lotion on Grandma’s their responses. Why not do the hands, then held them up to her same with Grandma? We knew her face so she could savor the lilac fra- well and could easily predict what grance. With a little prompting, she she would say. So we pretended. learned to respond with an appre- We’d tell her the news of the day, ciative “Aaaaah.” pausing often to imagine her reply. We hugged Grandma often and Then we’d go on, explaining and made sure our visits began and exclaiming, just as if she’d re- ended with the kisses she’d come to sponded. It was like a play. We expect. The warmth began to return gave Grandma her cues, and to our relationship. Marked by the prompted her when she “forgot” lingering scent of lilacs, our after- her lines. The kids caught on fast, noons with Grandma became—even telling about school, sports, and more than before—a celebration of friends. Again Grandma was up-to- our love, with touch playing an im- date on the latest happenings. portant part. “You should have seen Holly all dressed up for the prom. She looks pretty in blue, just like you do. . . . PHOTO BY KELLY LARSEN KELLY PHOTO BY ADDING MUSIC That’s right, she’s a senior in high One day Grandma was sitting in ith dramatic vibrato, Uncle school. . . . I can hardly believe it, her chair, stone still, hands folded in Reid sang “Old Man River” either. . . . Yes, I know about the her lap. Uncle Reid jumped up im- Wto Grandma. dances you used to go to, how you pulsively and burst into a boisterous polished Uncle Bill’s shoes and rendition of “Old Man River.” His singing voice was helped with his chores so he’d take you along. . . . not particularly impressive, but his performance was You got acquainted with Grandpa at a dance, didn’t dedicated entirely to an audience of one—Grandma. you?” He stood on tiptoe to reach the high notes and Once we got the hang of it, it was easy and fun. pressed chin to chest for the low notes. His whole We could rattle on for a long time, filling in the body quivered with the dramatic vibrato. Grandma blanks, hardly noticing that Grandma wasn’t really was spellbound. Her eyes sparkled and her face came talking. She was listening, though. We could tell be- alive with an animation we hadn’t seen for months. cause she watched us closely, head cocked with her Mouth open, body swaying, she strained to be a part good ear forward, trying to catch every word. Going of the song. to visit Grandma became pleasurable again. The So music was incorporated into our visits––favorite Sunday afternoon tradition survived. hymns, children’s songs, even old standbys like “I’ve Within a few months, Grandma had passed away. Been Workin’ on the Railroad.” Grandma joined in, Those last joyful visits were a family treasure. Real her head bouncing in time to the music. Sometimes communication had been achieved. Love was ex- she clapped her hands. Always she smiled. Never pressed and understood. mind that she couldn’t carry the tune or come up Late in life, Grandma had ceased to be a fascinat- with the right words. She was in on the action, and ing conversationalist, but she was still the focal point that was what mattered. of our family connection. Thanks to the imaginative use of everyday means of communication, our loving LAUGHING AGAIN relationship not only survived, it flourished. Marilyn Dimond is a member of the Hunter Second Ward, Salt Lake We’d read that laughter was valuable in treating ill- Hunter Stake. ness and pain, so we started telling tall tales and silly Gospel topics: aging, family unity, tolerance

54 n a recent visit to Utah, a friend and I made “The music leader praised and encouraged me. several trips to a local shipping store to send She convinced me I was a good singer, and I believed some purchases home. During our last visit to her—even when my mother quit going to church. My theO store, the young man behind the counter struck brother and I were eventually baptized. We later up a friendly conversation with us. He could tell from joined a choral group and toured with it. I went on a the items we were having him wrap and ship that we mission and returned with honor. I am now married were members of the Church, so he asked what in the temple and have several children born in the Church callings we held. My friend told him she was covenant. All of this is due in large part to one music a leader in the Young Women program and her hus- leader in the Primary and the love and encourage- band was the bishop in their ward. I laughed and said ment she showed me.” that my husband was a branch president but that I Tears filled my eyes as I thanked him for sharing was just a Primary music leader. his story. After that, whenever anyone asked me what The young man looked earnestly at me and said, I did in the Church, I said with confidence that I was “Please don’t say that. I know for a fact that you are the Primary music leader in my branch. Each Sunday, more than ‘just’ a music leader.” He then proceeded I had the opportunity to influence children by teach- to tell the following story: ing them to love music, the Lord, and themselves. I be- “When my brother and I were small, my mother gan to observe the children more closely and wonder was a single mom raising us. She took my brother and which were being influenced by my actions. I told me to Primary, and what we enjoyed most was the them I loved them. I had a chance to show them how singing time. The leader sang fun songs with actions music can invite the Spirit of the Lord into our and rewarded us for our efforts with stickers and other Primary meetings and into our homes. small trinkets. My mother eventually became less ac- I will always be grateful that I learned I was tive, but my brother and I were hooked—we loved the much more than “just” a Primary music leader. singing. We would take a taxi on Sunday mornings just Sherri Timmons is a member of the Borger Ward, Amarillo Texas Stake. so we could be there for singing time in Primary. Gospel topics: music, fellowshipping, callings, Primary

ust a MusicLeader? ROGER MOTZKUS BY ILLUSTRATED B Y S HERRI J T IMMONS

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 55 THEHOLY GHOST: GLORIFYING CHRIST

At the center of the gifts of the Holy Ghost is His unique witnessing to us of Christ’s atoning act, history’s greatest emancipation.

B Y E LDER N EAL A. MA XWELL In the Holy Ghost’s role in the Godhead, He Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles “witnesses of the Father and the Son” (2 Ne. 31:18; emphasis added), and further He actually glorifies he overall gift of the Holy Christ (see John 16:14). Ever relevant, this glorification Ghost truly is one of the great- of our Savior is so vital in the last days, when so many est blessings available to mem- esteem Jesus, the Lord of the Universe, as “naught” Tbers of the Church. We all need to (1 Ne. 19:7). Therefore, at the center of the gifts of the stress—for ourselves and for those Holy Ghost is His unique witnessing to us of Christ’s whom we teach—the vital connec- atoning act, history’s greatest emancipation: “To some tion with the gifts of the Holy Ghost. These gifts are it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ vital at every stage of an individual’s life and in every is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the situation of life. Members of the Church have received sins of the world” (D&C 46:13). the gift of the Holy Ghost, but in many it lies dor- There is such a difference between the admiration mant—somewhat like the ancients who had received and the adoration of Jesus! the gift but knew it not (see 3 Ne. 9:20).

Y CHARLES BAIRD Consider the statement of Elder Parley P. Pratt THE HOLY GHOST GLORIFIES CHRIST (1807–57) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “The Holy Ghost . . . quickens all the intellectual AND HIS ATONEMENT faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all Christ’s Atonement, of course, is for super sinners the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, and the midrange sinners and then good people who by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, make a lot of mistakes but are not wicked! Each of these develops, cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned acts of drawing upon the Atonement requires us to put sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections off the natural man. I am persuaded that so much of tak- of our nature” (Key to the Science of Theology [1978], 61). ing up the cross daily—daily, not quarterly or semiannu- What a promise! No wonder we are instructed to ally—consists of putting off the natural man (see Mosiah “seek ye . . . the best gifts” and their attendant joys (D&C 3:19). Doing this involves some arduous isometrics—the 46:8). We are not limited to just one gift, though that is old man working against the new spiritual man. That the minimum each is given. Since the realization of so natural man, as you know, will not go quietly or easily. many blessings does lie latent, the Apostle Paul urged us And even when he is put off, he has a way of hanging

RIGHT: PHOTO BY MICHAEL SCHOENFELD; ELECTRONIC COMPOSITION B PHOTO BY RIGHT: to “stir up the gift of God, which is in thee” (2 Tim. 1:6). around, hoping to throw his saddle on us once again.

56 he gift of the Holy Ghost Ttruly is one of the greatest blessings available to members of the Church.

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 57 May I call your attention to the word repentance and in our hearts more often, it will bring the special and the Greek word from which it came, which casts chemistry of contemplation, evoking an even deeper the concept in a broad and helpful light and which love for Christ and the Father and greater gratitude covers the ground so very nicely. If we understood the for what took place. Remember King Benjamin’s nature of repentance better, there would be more of it! words about knowing Christ in our hearts and minds The English word repentance is the rendering for (see Mosiah 5:12–13). Remember, too, one of the gifts a Greek word which means “a change of mind,” such of the Holy Ghost is that He glorifies Christ. as changing one’s view of himself, God, the universe, life, others, and so on (see Bible Dictionary, GREATER NEED FOR OUR PERSONAL SUBMISSIVENESS “Repentance,” 760). How good you and I get at re- penting will determine how good life is. Now, we often make some common mistakes Those who overcome this world by repenting will when applying the Atonement in our lives. I will in the process have formed character which will give mention several. God leaves us free to make these them “so much the advantage in the world to come” very mistakes. Yet each of these mistakes reflects a (D&C 130:19). greater need for our personal submissiveness. So much, therefore, of overcoming the world con- First, we make a mistake when we think we own sists of overcoming the proclivities of the natural man ourselves and that we own blocks of time. It’s a natural and woman. For example, submissiveness does not thing to do. But our faith in God includes faith in God’s come naturally to the arrogant natural timing, enough to be able to say, in effect, man. Meekness—which isn’t valued much e foolishly “Thy timing be done” (see D&C 64:32). as a virtue by the world—facilitates our wish to have We make another mistake when we submissiveness. For example, John W fail to realize how much serious disciple- the Baptist never had a greater spiritual some of life’s ship consists of downsizing our egos and size, in my opinion, than when he testified moments over and diminishing our selfishness! The bloated of Jesus’ emerging mission and said, done with, seasons natural man will resist any downsizing. “He must increase, but I must decrease” to be over with, But meekness is what has to happen. (John 3:30). Of John the Baptist, Jesus said ignoring the Another mistake we can make is that in turn, “Among those that are born of possibilities for we maybe don’t take life’s little quizzes women there is not a greater prophet” service that are seriously enough. We think we will cram than he (Luke 7:28). But we live in a world inherent in them. and pass the final exam! The infinite in which people don’t gladly “decrease” Atonement is there for our finite mistakes, so that someone else can “increase.” including the daily mistakes we tend to Jesus was at His perfect best when things were at make. It is understandable, of course, that we focus on their worst in Gethsemane and Calvary. There could the crunch times in our lives. We are mindful of these have been no Atonement without the character of spikes of suffering and stress, and we sometimes, Christ! None of the precious lines I am going to share ironically, let ourselves become overcome by relentless with you now and what occurred in connection with routineness—with what might be called the daily them could have occurred without Jesus’ perfect char- dampening of things spiritual. acter. He entered Gethsemane, and the agony by then We make another mistake. We fail to focus on and was so intense, so overwhelming that, at least initially, to develop patience as well as faith (see Mosiah 23:21). He “fell on His face” (Matt. 26:39). And then we read of These two attributes are in tandem; they go together. Him that He let His will be “swallowed up in the will of By the way, if we are meek, being tried means being the Father” (Mosiah 15:7), and He “poured out his soul developed. We don’t look at impatience in terms of its unto death” (Isa. 53:12; Mosiah 14:12). Think of the im- downside. When we are impatient, in effect, we do agery—pouring out His soul unto death and being not honor what is implied in the words “in process swallowed up in the will of the Father! of time.” We foolishly wish to have some of life’s mo- He confides in us, in my opinion, what perhaps ments over and done with, seasons to be over with, concerned Him most when He said, “Would that I ignoring the possibilities for service that are inherent might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink” (D&C in them. We are somewhat like airline passengers in 19:18). In that connection, He felt “the fierceness of the America who fly coast to coast and resent the space wrath of Almighty God” (D&C 76:107). I never recite or in between; but there are souls down there, not just read that line without some inner tremulation—“the sagebrush! Yet we want to fly over some experiences. fierceness of the wrath of the Almighty God,” during It is so likely we will miss the chance to be of service. which He stood in our stead and paid for our sins. If So it is with life’s seeming in-between and routine we will let the foregoing imagery rest upon our minds spaces! Impatience puts us at risk.

58 We may feel put upon by events and circum- “they.” We see this politically, in the corporate world, stances—another mistake we can make when not ap- in academic life, and so on. proaching the Atonement properly. Yet many of these Some people are so anxious to be politically cor- things that we feel put upon by actually constitute rect and to conform to the fashions of the world! What the customized curricula needed for our personal is worse, however, is when we see members of the development. Still, our tendency is to push away the Church try to conform eternal truths to the ways and necessary and prescribed courses of spiritual calis- thinking of the world. But it won’t work! As Paul thenics. We can’t withdraw from all of life’s courses warned, “The natural man receiveth not the things and still really stay enrolled in school! of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: Another mistake we make is that we foolishly neither can he know them, because they are spiritu- think we are free to choose, without wanting the ally discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14). It is a terrible mistake consequences of those choices! (see Alma 29:4). for us to try to please the world by twisting and con- Bainville, the French philosopher, said, “One must forming things that won’t fit in the secular matrix. want the consequences of what one wants.” Now, these mistakes are but a few we make; they Another mistake commonly made is that we play keep us from fully applying the Atonement to our lives. to the mortal galleries! We listen too much to the They are not worthy of Jesus and what He accomplished wrong peers. There is what I call the mystic “they,” in Gethsemane and on Calvary! who for some become ascendant. In terms of the To understand and have faith, therefore, in the choices they make, they want to please the mystic character and the purposes of God means that instead PHOTOS © PHOTODISC AND STEVE BUNDERSON

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 59 of complaining, we accept (more than we do) the have an organ in their home. This sweet sister writes menu of life and what is allotted to us. Sometimes with that though her husband’s memory was failing, he particular individuals that may seem to be the equiva- liked to sit in the overstuffed chair with his pet dog at lent of “Eat your spinach” and “Clean your plate.” his feet and listen to her play Church hymns, and Part of discipleship should be to become high-yield, when she did, he would clap. The son whom they low-maintenance members of the Church. These adopted many years ago died of cancer recently. He members are not high profile; they won’t be on the called the night before, long distance, and asked his six o’clock evening news when they die. But they have mother to tell his father good-bye and said good-bye to done what Heavenly Father has wanted them to do his mother. This sweet sister is emblematic of the kind meekly and humbly. of discipleship about which I am striving to speak. I’m going to mention two such sisters. Many years There is another sister, Sister Esther Packard, who ago, one wonderful sister, Roxie N. Rich, who had had 16 children. Her husband was on Wake Island as a been married for 11 years in 1944 and had no children, civilian worker. The Japanese took the island, and he prayed in the temple that she and her husband could was a prisoner of war for four and a half years. At the have a child. And then they were able to adopt a child. time he was taken prisoner, she was expecting their She noticed that when the birth certificate was finally 16th child. She was a remarkable woman. The special given to them, the birth of the child was on the day thing about the Packard family is they don’t know how she offered the prayer in the Salt Lake Temple. Soon good they are. They are truly meek and special, and they adopted three deserted children and sponsored yet, as things are measured, they are high achievers, two others from Europe—five children at once in high school. She said in her letter to me that “I felt like a real mother then.” Sister Rich is 92 years old now. Her husband, recently deceased, was a bishop and high councilor for 18 years. She wrote very mod- estly, almost offhandedly, that she had been a ward organist

PHOTOS BY STEVE BUNDERSON PHOTOS BY for 16 different bishops. They

60 spiritually distinguished. Among them are sister leaders, Jesus’ Atonement, and in the plan of salvation? Such stake presidents, mission presidents, temple presidents, faith should help us more than it is allowed to do by and one who served as a U.S. congressman for 18 years. us at times. We can also understand that as important Yet they are so meek and modest. I was told not long as our labors here are, they have to be put in perspec- ago by one of her sons serving as a stake president what tive in the context of that plan. his mother said as she lay dying. She said modestly as We do not control what I call “the great transfer she was soon to die, “I’ve been a good girl.” board in the sky.” The inconveniences that are some- Isn’t that similar to what we would like to have said times associated with release from our labors here of us? In the fifth chapter of Helaman we are reminded are necessary in order to accelerate the work there. of parents and what was said and written of them: “That Heavenly Father can’t do His work there, with 10 times they were good” (v. 6). This goodness is inherent in the more people than we have on this planet, without on two sisters I’ve attempted to describe so briefly, made occasion taking some of the very best sisters and broth- possible by the discipleship which draws regularly upon ers from among us. The conditions of termination here, the Atonement of Christ and which endures well—not painful though they are, are a part of the conditions of just survives but endures well. It is a wonderful thing to acceleration there. Thus we are back to faith in the tim- think of someone whose résumé wouldn’t impress the ing of God, and to our need to be able to say “Thy tim- world but who was ward organist for 16 bishops. And to ing be done,” even when we do not fully understand it. think of another sister with 16 children and over 100 I testify to you that the Church is led by a prophet grandchildren, who could say in her moment who was prepared for a long, long time of departure, “I’ve been a good girl.” before he became the President of the e need to Church. President Gordon B. Hinckley have faith in WE SHOULD GLORIFY CHRIST W is naturally bright and keen. He has a the timing of God fabulous memory and, most of all, is For you and me, to be part of this work and to be able to well connected with the Spirit. amid these kinds of people is a precious say “Thy timing The Church will pass through some thing. Since the Holy Ghost glorifies Christ be done,” even turbulence that lies ahead. We will be as indicated, so should we. One of the ways when we do not all right. However, do all you can to you and I can glorify Christ is by improving fully understand it. be connected with the gifts of the Holy and repenting, showing that we take seri- Ghost, and He will glorify Christ. He ously the proffered discipleship that comes will give you a precious reassurance from Him. We should care enough about it that it lies about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. at the very center of our lives. The world may miss it Faster than we realize, we are being more sharply altogether. The world may see the doctrines we teach as defined and are seen in ways that are significantly foolishness, but we know that doctrines drive disciple- different. We must measure up to our time and say ship and that the Spirit gives us so many gifts, including with the ancient prophet Nephi, as he thought upon the several I have enumerated here. the ministries of those who preceded him, “I am con- I conclude by sharing my growing feeling of signed that these are my days” (Hel. 7:9). These are appreciation for another reality of the gospel. What your days, brothers and sisters. And the intertwining we do on this earth is so vital, but it is actually a prepa- of your lives with the lives of others isn’t simply ration for our labors in paradise in the spirit world. reflective of this mortal second estate. I so testify to The scope in that spirit world is 10 times as large as are you! I seek to glorify Christ. I know it is my apostolic the demographics of this world. It is, though, a place duty, but it is also my delight. of peace, a place of intense devotion. One sees in sec- From a satellite broadcast address to religious educators in the Church tion 138 of the words that Educational System at the Salt Lake Tabernacle on 2 February 2001. tell us about the character of God. Not only will the Gospel topics: Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ, Atonement, submission gospel go to those who have never heard of it, but also included are those who have been in transgression, in rebellion, and who have rejected the prophets. LET’S TALK ABOUT IT No wonder on Judgment Day every knee will Most Ensign articles can be used for family home bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. evening discussions. The following questions are for that Those who have lived without God in the world purpose or for personal reflection: will confess that God is God. His mercy is supernal. 1. In what ways does the Holy Ghost bless our lives? Indeed, as the Book of Mormon says, His mercy “over- 2. How can we overcome the weaknesses that prevent powereth justice” (Alma 34:15). Remember Brigham us from fully applying the Atonement in our lives? Young’s statement about faith in Jesus’ character, in 3. In what ways can we personally glorify Christ?

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 61 LATTER-DAY SAINT VOICES

Being kind is more important The Case of the than being right, Doing right is more important than being right. Flat Tires I began to ask Heavenly Father By Marvin Kitchen to help me solve the problem. I al- ways received the impression to be y wife and I had just patient, and then my little verse started managing an would go through my head. apartment complex Although my wife and I were Mwhen our car got a flat tire in the frustrated that we could not re- driveway. I took it in stride, put solve the problem, we knew on the spare, and went to get the things would work out. We original tire fixed. As I tried to just kept asking Heavenly pay for the repair, I was told there Father to help us resolve it. would be no charge. When I A year after the asked why, the repairman told problem had started I me that he had just put the air became very sick. Our back in because there had been bishop rushed me to no leaks, just a small rock in the the doctor’s office, valve stem. That’s when the case where I found out I had of the flat tires began. appendicitis. I was admitted Over the next year we had to the hospital for an operation, repeated flat tires, and each time and after a short stay I was sent we found that someone had been home with strict instructions not letting out the air. Sometimes to put stress on my healing body. only one was flat, sometimes two. Shortly after I got home, my I had to purchase a hand pump wife helped me to bed and read to take care of the problem. My me to sleep. She then went to get wife and I tried to find out who me some essential medicine. The was letting out the air, but with next thing I knew, she was waking no success. However, we had a me up. strong suspicion that a certain “Marvin, all four tires on the 12-year-old boy living in our car are flat!” she exclaimed. “I need neighborhood was having fun to get your medicine—should I call at our expense. We thought of our home teacher?” approaching the boy’s mother After clearing my head of sleep, but couldn’t since we had no I said a short prayer asking for evidence he was letting out the help. Rather than asking the home air. We became very angry that teacher for help, I felt distinctly the inconvenience of flat tires prompted to ask the young boy! caused us to be late for meetings The impression shocked me! and work. I pondered this answer for al- Sometimes I would look up most half an hour before asking while fixing the tire and see the my wife back into the bedroom. boy. He seemed to be laughing, “Don’t call our home teacher,” I and while I wanted to yell at him, told her. “Instead, go visit the mother I knew that was not the kind of the boy. Explain to her what has thing to do. In recent years I had happened and ask if her son can improved my attitude about help you fix the tires I cannot.” kindness. In fact, I had developed My wife did so, and soon the a little saying to keep myself on tires were fixed and the medicine

ILLUSTRATED BY BRIAN CALL BY ILLUSTRATED track. I would say to myself: obtained. Later, I asked the boy to

62 his rapid decline in the few weeks since I’d seen him at Christmas. As I made my way down the hall, Dad heard my steps. He turned toward me, smiled, held out his arms, and said, “Julie’s home!” I held myself together for 20 minutes as we talked, then slipped into the kitchen and fell weeping quietly into my sister Kimberlee’s arms. The next morning, after very lit- tle sleep, I began to help my mother in her daily routine. This particular morning, my mom had an appoint- fter our repeated flat tires, we ment, and my sister Kimberlee and suspected that a certain 12-year- I were delegated the task of bathing A my father, rubbing him with lotion, old was having fun at our expense. and helping him into fresh pajamas. As Kim and I prepared warm, the house so I could thank him. we had no more flat tires. Once soapy water and gathered sup- I could tell he was uncomfortable again, I learned that being patient plies, I told her I was not sure I about the whole matter, but his and kind brings the best results. could do this without falling apart. mother was so proud of him. Marvin Kitchen is a member of the Pahoa Kim answered thoughtfully: “I re- A funny thing happened after Ward, Hilo Hawaii Stake. ally feel it is a privilege to care for that—the boy became a friend and Gospel topics: kindness, patience, inspiration someone who has given so much to me. I want Dad to remember me smiling and happy.” Kim, my junior by 12 years, was displaying a calm assuredness that At My Father’s Feet I did not feel but vowed to emulate. By Julene Jolley Finishing our preparations, I carried the basin, towel, and have never been a relaxed air- successful businessman who taught washcloth to the family room and, plane passenger. My heart us honesty, the value of hard work, kneeling before my father, began pounds frantically, my palms and the importance of enjoying to wash his feet and legs. At that becomeI damp, and my feet tap life’s journey. Now, just a year after moment I forgot my troubles. My rhythmically from takeoff to land- retirement, he was losing his battle thoughts turned to the Savior. ing. However, as I flew toward my with lung cancer. “He riseth from supper, and parents’ home near Sacramento, My father had given up smok- laid aside his garments; and took , on an overcast February ing 11 years earlier, but the damage a towel, and girded himself. day, the bumpy flight was the least had already been done. The morn- “A fter that he poureth water of my worries. A parent of five ing before my journey began, I into a bason, and began to wipe children, I was in the middle of a had received a call from my sister the disciples’ feet, and to wipe divorce, and my father was dying. telling me that Dad was not doing them with the towel wherewith My dad, simply put, was won- well and that I needed to come he was girded” (John 13:4–5). derful. He was handsome, funny, right away to say good-bye. It occurred to me that serving and kind, and he always put my I was not prepared for my fa- another in this way is an act of great mother and his five daughters first. ther’s frail appearance as I entered love and devotion. It is a privilege Although not a member of the my parents’ home. He was so thin! to symbolically wash away the dirt Church, he never missed a “daddy- His thick dark hair was gone because and grime of someone’s troubles, the daughter date” or a late night trip of the chemotherapy, and a hospital pain of a strained relationship, and to the stake center to retrieve us bed now held a prominent place in the cares of an unforgiving world. after a regional dance. He was a the family room. I was devastated by As I gently cleansed my dear

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 63 father, it did indeed become a privi- of the Sabbath. As I kept the Sabbath When I give my Sundays entirely lege for me. My father, who had day holy, I felt a new strength to do and unselfishly to Heavenly Father, given me so much and required so what was required of me during the He blesses the efforts I make the six little of me, had now provided me other days of the week. Our home other days. with an opportunity to do some- became more peaceful, and we were Beth Spencer Rice is a member of the Leeds thing that brought my heart closer to even blessed financially. Branch, Birmingham Alabama Stake. him and to my Savior, Jesus Christ. I learned that Heavenly Father Gospel topics: Sabbath, obedience, inspiration “For I have given you an exam- knows what all of us go through ple, that you should do as I have on a day-to-day basis and that we done to you” (John 13:15). can feel overwhelmed by the many My father passed away just two demands on our time. He set apart days later. When I think of those one day for us to replenish our spir- A Circle of Service last few days, I realize that I must itual reserves by attending Church By Colette M. Lunceford always follow the Savior’s example meetings, studying the scriptures, and take advantage of every oppor- writing in our journals, visiting everal months after serving tunity to serve others. those in need of encouragement, in the Air Force, my husband Julene Jolley is a member of the Jordan North and serving others in the manner and I moved with our three Second Ward, Jordan North Utah Stake. in which He directs us. This day is Schildren away from family and Gospel topics: Jesus Christ, service, parents not a punishment but a blessing friends to Phoenix, Arizona. It was that enriches our lives. a leap of faith because we were I began to view this command- without means and had no em- ment in the same light that I look at ployment waiting for us there. Time for the Sabbath the commandment to pay a tithe: My husband eventually found By Beth Spencer Rice

s a busy young mother, I was running on empty. I had an energetic 13-month-old daughter,A a home business, and a husband who was a student and worked two part-time jobs. We were also the resident managers of a storage facility. The spiri- tual reserves I relied on to carry me through my busy days didn’t seem to be deep enough. I just didn’t have enough in me to do all I needed to do. After months of disorg- anized attempts to run my business and household, I finally turned to Heavenly Father in prayer, asking for His guidance in becoming better or- ganized. The answer came, clear and simple: Keep the Sabbath day holy. Although I felt I needed more time to spend on household duties, I obeyed the prompting and put aside my weekly projects for a day. I soon gained a testimony of the blessings

64 employment, but at times we ran who had always seemed to know grandparent” program. Discouraged, out of money and food before the when we needed help. In the note, I asked Heavenly Father to open the month ended. Each time, just when I thanked the person for his or her way if this was the right thing to do. we needed help and before we help and said that now we were The next Sunday, I walked into the could speak to anyone about it, able to take care of our needs. chapel and saw an elderly woman my Relief Society president would Several weeks later our entire seated on the back row in a corner. It deliver a box of food from an anony- family felt an overwhelming was as if a spotlight were shining on mous person in the ward. It was prompting to be of service to others. her. I knew that the Lord had pro- a great blessing and a wonderful We wanted to demonstrate our vided a grandmother for us to adopt. demonstration to us that the Lord gratitude to the Lord. We pondered After church I excitedly told was aware of our needs. several ideas, but the one that stuck my family what had happened. We finally reached a point with me was the idea to “adopt a We invited this woman to our where our income was sufficient grandparent.” With both sets of home the next Sunday for dinner for the needs of our growing grandparents living in Utah, we and during the dinner asked if family. I gave a note to the Relief wanted our children to have this we could “adopt” her. She accepted Society president and asked her to kind of relationship where we lived our invitation, and our children deliver it to the kind ward member in Arizona. We also wanted to teach began calling her “Grandma.” them kindness and service by mak- Only after Sunday dinner did we ing time for an elderly person who discover some startling truths about uth accepted our invitation when was also away from family. Heavenly Father’s handiwork. Ruth Rwe announced we wanted to “adopt” I called a few retirement and had never had any children of her her as a grandmother. Then she surprised nursing home facilities, only to own. In addition, this dear sister who us with an announcement of her own. find that they had no “adopt a had agreed to be a grandmother to our children was the same person who had donated the boxes of food to us when we were struggling to make ends meet! She had not known who was receiving her gifts until the Relief Society president delivered my thank-you note to her. It has now been years since we adopted Grandma Ruth. She has been an important part of our family and a great source of joy. She rides to church with us, attends each week, partici- pated in the excitement of the birth and blessing of our fifth child, and often has one or two of the children spend time in her home. Many of her friends, not knowing the whole story, do not realize we are not blood- related. They only see the love we share and assume we are truly her children and grandchildren. Heavenly Father used all of us to bring many blessings full circle. This wonderful experience strengthened us as a family and helped us learn to rely on the Lord. Colette M. Lunceford is a member of the Shaw Butte Ward, Phoenix Arizona North Stake. Gospel topics: service, inspiration, family

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 65 CLIMBING O OUTF DEBT am suggesting that the time has come to get we spend watching television, thus limiting the “ our houses in order . . . ,” President Gordon B. advertisements or shows we view that would make Hinckley urged Church members during October us feel bad about the material things we don’t have. I1998 general conference. “Self-reliance cannot obtain Decreasing our wants makes it easier to avoid debt. when there is serious debt hanging over a household. One has neither independ- “We are beguiled by seductive advertising. ence nor freedom from bondage when Television carries the enticing invitation to he is obligated to others.” borrow up to 125 percent of the value of one’s home. But no mention is made of interest.” On these pages are excerpts from President Hinckley’s talk accompanied 4 Following principles of self-reliance. by personal accounts of how members Producing food in our garden and have followed his counsel. striving to purchase on-sale items for food storage have allowed us to save greatly on REALIZE IT ISASPIRITUAL MATTER food expenses. This has not only helped us to be more self-reliant, but also allowed Some years ago we had considerable “ ay off debt as quickly us to apply the money we saved toward debt from school loans and from pur- Pas you can, and free debt elimination. chasing a small business. We decided to yourselves from bondage.” 5Cultivating gratitude. Reflecting on invest in ourselves by paying off this the multitude of blessings we enjoy debt as quickly as we could. It was the and thanking Heavenly Father for them best financial decision we ever made. allows us to focus on that which we have rather than We carefully followed principles of frugality and on that which we have not. Recognizing all the bless- budgeting, but we have found that getting and staying ings we have reduces the desire to acquire material out of debt is largely a spiritual matter. The spiritual possessions.—Robert and Mary Merrill, East principles we’ve followed in eliminating our debt are: Wenatchee First Ward, Wenatchee Washington Stake 1Paying an honest tithing. Each month we always pay our tithing first. If we are to get out of debt, SEEK DIVINE HELP we really do need the Lord to “open . . . the windows of heaven, and pour [us] out a blessing, that there Recently I was going through a divorce and ex- shall not be room enough to receive it” (Mal. 3:10). periencing horrible financial problems. I wondered Often our financial efforts are hampered by mis- why I had acquired so many problems since I had fortune that devours our resources, such as unex- joined what I believed to be Heavenly Father’s true pected car and household repairs, illness, and so Church a few years earlier. Feeling very sad and forth. The Lord promises that He “will rebuke the de- burdened, I went to the temple, where I prayed for vourer for [our] sakes, and he shall not destroy the guidance and help. There the Spirit bore witness fruits of [our] ground” (Mal. 3:11). When we pay our to me that Heavenly Father loved me, that He had tithes, the Lord can bless us so that our unexpected not forgotten me, and that He would help me with challenges are minimized and so that we are better my problems. I returned home feeling my burdens able to manage the resources we have. eased. 2Paying a generous fast offering. When I was in As I sat down later that day to pay a pile of bills, I college, President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) began by praying and asking for help again. After my taught that the Lord would bless Church members if prayer, I again felt peace, and felt impressed to write they were able to double their fast offerings. We thus down a plan to improve my financial situation. I fol- made it a point, even while students, to pay more than lowed that plan with exactness. I continued to pay the cost of our meals as a fast offering. As our means an honest tithing with a joyful heart and sought have increased, we have increased our offerings, and Heavenly Father’s help through prayer, fasting, and the Lord has abundantly blessed us. temple attendance. I cut way back on all expenditures 3Giving time, talent, and energy toward build- and built up and used my food storage. I was amazed ing the kingdom of God. We have learned that as month after month, temporal blessings became when we are busy in the Lord’s work, losing our- available from unexpected sources. selves in serving others, we have less time to worry I still have a ways to go, but following these gospel about the things we don’t have. Material possessions principles has made all the difference in my finances, are seen in the proper perspective. and especially in my life.—Judith Nagy, Iona First For example, service greatly minimizes the time Ward, Iona Idaho Stake ILLUSTRATED BY RICHARD HULL BY ILLUSTRATED

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 67 “So many of our people are living on the very edge of going to that debt to the next creditor, thus creating a their incomes. In fact, some are living on borrowings. . . . snowball effect, gradually increasing the rate at which I am troubled by the huge consumer debt which hangs we were able to pay off each successive debt. over the people.” When we sometimes felt overwhelmed in our ef- forts, we felt comforted knowing that we weren’t in BUDGET, ELIMINATE ACQUIRED DEBT, SAV E this alone—the Lord would help us. We also envi- sioned how great it would feel to have everything paid A few years ago we came to a sobering realization: off and to purchase things we needed with cash rather without the extra money Garrett was earning by work- than credit. ing overtime hours, we would not be able to pay our We were amazed when after only one year, to our monthly bills. We rechecked the figures many times, joy we became debt free! We feel so much more secure but there was no denying the seriousness of our situa- and at peace at not having to worry about debt all the tion. We were thousands of dollars in debt, without time. We soon experienced the freedom promised by any savings or even enough regular income to meet prophets when, for the first time, Garrett felt free to ac- our expenses. cept a job in which he could spend more time at home. We began asking ourselves serious questions, and He had wanted to spend more time with our family, soon it became apparent how deeply in debt we had but felt obligated to work overtime to pay the bills. Had become. Our criteria for making purchases was simply we not been out of debt, we would have had to let this whether we “deserved” something, whether we opportunity pass by. “should” be able to afford it, or whether it was a sale We have continued to live our proven way of finan- “too good to pass up.” We spent money when we had cial management and now put 10 percent of our earn- it and bought on credit when we didn’t. ings into savings. When household items unexpectedly Our many financial discussions led us to something break down or we need to purchase something, we use more important than just an understanding of our fi- our savings to pay for things with cash rather than nances. For the first time, we felt the power of being credit. It feels wonderful to be out of debt, and we’re united. With this new strength, we became firmly com- determined to stay that way.—Garrett and Cheryl mitted to getting out of debt. We both knew we were Anne Merrick, Mapleton Seventh Ward, Mapleton trying to do what the Lord desired of us, and therefore Utah North Stake we knew He would help us. Together we developed a financial plan that would “Look to the condition of your finances. I urge you daily guide us, following the principles found in the to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves pamphlet One for the Money: Guide to Family Finance in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible.” (item no. 33293, no charge) by Elder Marvin J. Ashton (1915–94) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. First, AVOID NEW DEBT we made a budget, listing our monthly income then deducting from that amount our tithing, fast offerings, After completing college several years ago I obtained and basic bills such as food, housing, utilities, car ex- a good job, but instead of paying off my school loans I penses, and insurance. We then recorded how much began to spend money frivolously. I took many costly we spent each month in each category. vacations, financed expensive clothing and recreational By setting a limit on how much we would spend, equipment, and ate out at restaurants nearly every day. we became more accountable and were amazed by Before long, I had racked up large credit card debts. how much our expenses dropped! Instead of justifying Fortunately, two things happened that helped me to impulse buying, now we asked ourselves if the pur- learn financial discipline: I met my wife, who is very chase could wait until we were out of debt. We found responsible financially, and I attended a stake provi- that most things really could wait. Instead of resent- dent living fair. Both taught me principles of overcom- ing a budget because of the financial restriction we ing and avoiding debt, and now I’ve paid off my credit thought it would place on us, we found we wanted a cards and school loans. budget because of the financial safety and freedom it Developing a love for simple pleasures is one of the was providing! things that has helped me most. As I endeavored to Once we had freed up some money to use for elimi- cut back on spending and pay off my debts, I increased nating debt, we made a list of all our creditors, how my appreciation for things of a higher value and pur- much we owed them, and what their interest rates pose—things that don’t cost money. I learned that a were. We focused on paying off our smaller debts with clean, orderly home brings as much peace and content- the highest rates first. Once we had paid off one credi- ment as a home filled with expensive furniture. Instead tor, we would then apply the amount that had been of going on extravagant trips, I enjoyed taking walks,

68 reading more, attending the temple, and visiting We enjoyed fixing up our new home, so much so friends and family. My grandpa recently passed away, that soon our remodeling projects required a second and I wouldn’t have been able to strengthen our rela- mortgage. We also had a great time filling the house tionship before he died had I still been taking all those with new items, using credit cards at every store we vacations. visited, and before long we had acquired thousands It is all too easy to get wrapped up in an expensive of dollars of consumer debt. lifestyle. I’ve learned that you don’t have to spend a lot One day my mother came to visit, and I showed her of money to enjoy life to the fullest.—Dale Cooper, the progress of our latest project while I complained Garden Lakes Ward, Phoenix Arizona West Maricopa about living in a half-remodeled house. I’ll never forget Stake how she told me that she had been married 25 years and didn’t have everything that she TEACH CHILDREN TO LIVE wanted for her home. She lovingly ex- plained to me that I should not ex- WITHIN FAMILY MEANS pect to have my ideal house in One of the things such a short period of time. parents can do to She was right. We were avoid debt is to teach “ hat a wonderful feeling feeling the heavy weight of their children to live it is to be free of debt, to debt on our shoulders and within the family’s haveW a little money against the nagging hopelessness means. There is a a day of emergency put it can bring. I wondered mistaken belief away where it can be how I was going to be able that giving chil- to stay home with our fu- dren everything retrieved when necessary.” ture children since my in- they want is show- come was necessary just to ing love. Bowing make monthly payments. to materialistic de- I realized I needed to mands of children look inside myself to see can create ingratitude how I got into this situation. and selfishness in I realized that I had a lot of them, and resentment pride, wanting to live in a per- and hopelessness in par- fect house, eat out in restaurants ents. Parents better serve with every friend, and keep up ap- their children when they say, pearances. I purchased clothing on a “We have this much money, and whim, we took expensive trips whenever this is how we need to spend it.” the occasion permitted, and we purchased un- When our children were young, we avoided buying necessary gifts. I began to realize that I should have for them what everyone “had to have” to fit in, hoping found my satisfaction in living within our means and instead to instill in our children the idea that confi- in successfully managing income and spending. I had dence comes not from having what everyone else has, told myself that I “deserved” it when it came to having but in being themselves.—Holly Robinson Ashby, everything I wanted, whenever I wanted it. But what I Dana Ranch Ward, Mesa Arizona Kimball Stake really deserve is freedom from nagging debt and the ability to stay home with our children. “I recognize it may be necessary to borrow to get a home, I changed my outlook and behavior toward money. of course. But let us buy a home that we can afford and This change included fasting and praying, budgeting, thus ease the payments which will constantly hang discipline, using food storage, eliminating debt, and over our heads without mercy or respite for as long as saving for the future. I no longer spend money for 30 years.” things I cannot afford. I have realized greater happiness in my life since CHOOSE AN AFFORDABLE HOME I have had a change of heart and habit when it comes to money matters. It is a blessing to know we are in Before our first child was born, my husband and I financial bondage to no one.—Christine W. Bowman, purchased our first home. It needed a lot of fixing up, Miramont Ward, Loveland Colorado Stake but it had great potential. Because the house was larger Each quotation in this article comes from Gordon B. Hinckley, than any of the apartments we had rented, we didn’t “To the Boys and to the Men,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 51–54. even use a few of the rooms. Gospel topics: financial management, debt, self-reliance

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 69 can’t remember the asking his forgiveness. problem that started the And that night, I would fireworks that day. My hus- fix him one of his favorite bandI and I have had little contention meals, with the apple pie that he in our marriage, but that particular morn- liked so much for dessert. This left ing we were both feeling stress, and we said me at peace with myself because I was some very unkind things to each other. going to try in my own way to rectify I left in a huff, and as I drove to the the mistake I had made. I looked forward elementary school where I taught, I to the evening and fulfilling my resolve. was blinking back tears. My mind About 11 A.M., there was a knock on the was full of frustration and self-pity. door of my classroom. When I opened it, Everything that had happened was I found a florist holding a large flower box. my husband’s fault, I thought. Why Inside it there were a dozen red roses and couldn’t he have said he was sorry? a note that said: “I’m so sorry about this Driving into the school parking lot, morning. What happened was all my fault. I tried to get control of my feelings, Please forgive me. Your loving husband.” knowing I had to face a classroom full I was teary eyed for only a mo- of eight-year-olds in less than an hour. ment, then managed to regain my As I said a silent prayer to help composure. Later, I fixed him that me prepare to meet my students, special dinner I had planned and my anger and frustration seemed made my own apology. to drain away. These emotions We both learned a very hum- were replaced by remorse as I tried bling lesson that day about the im- to review the events of the morning portance of taking responsibility for objectively; I came to the conclusion our own actions rather than placing that our confrontation had not been the blame for difficulties on the other my husband’s fault. It had been mine. person. A simple “I’m sorry” from either Oh, how I regretted sending him off of us that morning could have quickly with my unkind words still in his mind! and happily resolved the situation. I wanted to call him at work and It is a lesson we have not forgotten. Now apologize, but the only telephone when some disagreement arises, we available was in the school’s of- each try to ask ourselves if we fice, and I knew that when would rather be loving to some- I heard his voice I would cry. one we will live with for eternity Crying in front of the office or be right in this particu- staff, parents, and children lar instance. Being loving would not project the keeps winning out. image of stability I tried to Kathleen Chambers, a member foster as a teacher. Instead, of the Pocatello Sixth Ward, I resolved that I would Pocatello Idaho East Stake, write my husband a lov- passed away in 2000.

ILLUSTRATED BY DILLEEN MARSH BY ILLUSTRATED ing note later that day Gospel topics: communica- tion, love MAKING IT UP TO ach ther E B Y K A THLEENOC HAMBERS

70 ILLUSTRATED BY AMY HINTZE MESSAGE TEACHING VISITING 3 Nephi22:13: one another.” to loveoneanother, andtoserve yewillteachthem and soberness; dren] towalkinthewaysoftruth Mosiah 4:15: down, andwhenthourisestup.” est bytheway, andwhenthouliest thine house,andwhenthouwalk- talk ofthemwhenthousittestin gently untothychildren,andshalt teach [thewordsoftheLord]dili- 6:7: Deuteronomy children? nurturing concerning taught What haveprophets invite thoseyouteachtodothesame. your experiencesandtestimony, and ings fromourChurchleaders.Share R of God”( can give,andthechoicestblessings thehighesthonorthatman deserves through generationstocome, . . . ters, whoseinfluencewillbe felt healthy, beautiful sonsanddaugh- who rearssuccessfullyafamilyof plaudits ofmankind;butshe theadmirationand deserves book thatwillinfluencemillions paint amasterpieceorwrite calling intheworld.Shewhocan motherhood thenoblestofficeor it insouldevelopment,make .toexpress love, andeagerness properly torearchildren,thegift 1970): Pr shall bethepeaceofthychildren.” be taughtoftheLord;andgreat and JoyinWomanhood F esident DavidO. McKay(1873– inding NobilityinMotherhood “[The] abilityandwillingness questions, scriptures, andteach- ters youvisit,anddiscussthe ead thefollowingwithsis- Gospel “Ye willteach[chil- “ All thychildrenshall “Thou shalt [1954], 453–54). “ E ness thoushaltreceive.” ually, andacrownofrighteous- K ness, andbewareofpride.. Continue inthespiritofmeek- covenants whichthouhastmade. and rejoice,cleaveuntothe others:“Liftupthyheart struct strengthen, encourage,andin- the DoctrineandCovenantsto herandwasrecordedin struct strengthen, encourage,andin- The revelationwasgivento a revelationforhiswife,Emma. P 25:13–15: Doctrine andCovenants better fulfillourGod-givenpurposes? How canweassistersinthegospel daughter inZion.” asa to perform rophet JosephSmithreceived eep mycommandmentscontin- sacred mission sacred ach ofushasa. In July1830the and misery” (“Rejoice, Daughters and misery” enrich aworldfilledwithdarkness fieldswherewecan us intofruitful the MasterandallowHimtolead fore. Itistimetogiveourselves than haveeverbeenknownbe- greater sympathyandempathy ness, greaterloveandcompassion, with greaterkindnessandgentle- tiny torejoiceaswefilltheearth daughter inZion..Itisourdes- asa sacred missiontoperform “Each ofushasavitalrole,even R EllenW.Mary Smoot,former Sisters,” (“Privileges andResponsibilitiesof it mightbeinmoretranquiltimes” influence todaycanbetenfoldwhat righteous woman’sstrengthand is anespeciallynoblecalling.The the secondcomingofourSavior, ing upscenesonthisearth,before righteous womanduringthewind- glorious thinginanyage.To bea To be gratefultoawoman!. (1895–1985): Pr of Zion,” elief Societygeneralpresident: esident SpencerW. Kimball bearighteouswomanis Society, thePossible Dream humbly asktheLordwhat he wouldhaveyoudoand why youareuniquelysuited “I suggestthatyou. and begintoweave”( pose andreasonforbeing. to serve. Askyourself to serve. questions like these:‘What forth. We eachhavepur- [address deliveredatthe Every sisterhasathreadto Every can Icontribute?’‘Whywas time. Discoveryourthread sisters inmyward?’andso can Idotostrengthenthe I chosentobethemother weave in the tapestry of weave inthetapestry of thesechildren?’‘What Ensign, Ensign, 1998 BrighamYoung ”Each ofyoushould University women’s conference]). Nov. 1978,103). T HE Nov. 1999,94). E NSIGN /J ULY R 2002 71 elief RANDOM SAMPLER

children don’t need to call home several Preparing Youth times a week. 5. Teach your child Financially to pay tithing and other donations. n the past few years, our two Encourage teens daughters left home to fur- to pay tithing on ther their education and whatever modest training.I Since financial obligations amount they earn. If appli- were a big part of this transition, cable, share your testimony we started to prepare early. From about how you paid tithes and our experiences we learned several fast offerings when you were ways to help our teenagers manage young and money was tight. their finances so they were better Through your example they prepared to leave home. can realize the blessings of 1. Teach your child to save and living this commandment, budget early. It is difficult for especially during lean times. teenagers to save all the money 6. Help your child pay taxes. for a four-year college education Paying taxes is a new responsibil- or other schooling and training. ity for many young people. Help But they can pay a portion and them prepare their returns for the should start saving as soon as pos- first year or two, then discuss the sible, ideally in their early teens. results so they can plan for future Help them develop a budget, and withholdings and tax liability. periodically talk about their fi- 7. Prepare for unexpected expenses. nances. Don’t be afraid to ask if Eventually, your child may ask for they have financial problems. more money. An unexpected bill When on their own, they may feel may arrive, or an opportunity may too embarrassed to say anything a budget has been exhausted and arise that requires an immediate until their once-small financial should not be used to finance lux- deposit. Before teens leave home, problems become calamities. Your uries unrelated to schooling. explain your financial circum- experience and advice can be as 3. Don’t purchase a car unless it stances and ability to help. When important as your dollars when is necessary. Teens do not neces- more money is needed, discuss your teenager is starting out. sarily need a car at school, though what it will be used for and 2. Discourage credit card use and they may be accustomed to driv- whether it is a loan or gift. Arrange AKER unessential student loans. Easy credit ing one at home. Encourage your access to their bank account be- is a great temptation, especially if son or daughter to use a bicycle forehand, not to pry but to help your child’s friends often use or public transportation instead. with emergency transactions. credit cards and seem to have a lot 4. Write letters or use e-mail. Financial security does not nec- of money. Teach about the conse- Supply your child with note cards essarily come from amassing large

quences of debt, which can occur and stamps when they leave amounts of money but from BETH WHITT BY : ILLUSTRATED with frequent credit card use, es- home, or use e-mail. Public li- managing what you have. Begin pecially for students using their braries and many universities and preparing your children in their first cards. Encourage your teen to military bases have free e-mail ac- early teens for the time they will budget available funds and enjoy cess. Using the telephone to make leave home. It is satisfying to pre- the blessings of debt-free living. long-distance calls to you or their pare them financially and help With inflating college costs, stu- friends can create a significant them achieve their goals.—Debbie dent loans are sometimes needed, financial burden. An occasional Woodward, Elder Creek Ward,

but they should be used only after telephone call is a treat, but Grove California Stake JOE FLORES; RIGHT BY ILLUSTRATED LEFT:

72 Reclaiming Monday Nights

n the past, our family was “hit children’s understanding by lis- enough food, water, candles, and and miss” with family home tening to them and then dis- blankets. However, we had no evening. By the time we had cussing the articles they have batteries for our radios, so we dinnerI and gathered everyone to- chosen. were not able to track the storm’s gether, we generally fell into the Family Preparedness Night. progress. Will we be prepared habit of playing a game and eating As a family we discussed our next time? Yes! ice cream. As our children have preparedness needs, and every- Prophet Night. We have en- grown older, we have needed a one selected an emergency- joyed learning about President more structured, gospel-centered preparedness topic to research. Gordon B. Hinckley’s life as we family home evening. Shortly We then planned which night we have read the books written by after a letter from the First would each present a topic. Our him or about him. We also watch Presidency was read in Church teenager chose fire safety. She conference addresses so we can urging families to reclaim Mon- charted fire-escape routes for our listen to our prophet’s voice. days for family home evening, we home and made sure we bought Family Friendshipping Night. set a family goal to “get serious” new fire extinguishers. During Our family is relatively new to about family night. We use the one Family Preparedness Night our area, so we have started Family Home Evening Resource Book when we had planned to talk inviting other families to share (item no. 31106, U.S. $5.00), Gospel about poison safety, we inadver- our fourth Monday. We have a Principles (31110, U.S. $2.75), and tently learned about tornadoes lesson, an activity, and a treat. We other Church materials to plan instead! In Idaho tornadoes are have made many new friends, our lessons. We also add ideas to not common, but that evening and it’s a great way to share meet our family’s needs. Follow- we experienced a severe storm. gospel discussions with others. ing are some of our favorite activi- We learned firsthand that we had During this evening, we also look ties that help us to hold family for opportunities to serve others home evening regularly: and share the gospel. Inviting Magazine Monday. This is our nonmembers and less-active favorite activity! We each read members for a fun-filled evening our age-appropriate Church is an effective way to befriend magazine in advance. and fellowship them! Then we each report on Our family has been our favorite article. We blessed as we have re- have had many won- claimed Monday evenings derful gospel discus- for family night. Each sions based on the week we look forward to articles we have learning the gospel to- read. It’s hard to gether, building our end these home testimonies, strength- evenings, since ening our family— someone usually and, yes, eating ice says, “Wait. I have cream!—Joy M. just one more thing Sorensen, Wood- I want to share!” We haven Ward, Taylor have gained many Mountain Idaho insights into our Stake

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 73 NEWS OF THE CHURCH

Lubbock temple came dedicatory prayer. “They shortly after the announce- have served with such de- ment of the formation of votion that today hun- the Texas Lubbock Mission. dreds of thousands of Thy “I think that people in the sons and daughters have area will be much more entered the waters of bap- open to learning about tism and have thereafter the Church since the walked in faith before Thee. dedication of the temple,” “We are grateful for the said Lubbock temple many temples which grace president Jay B. Jensen. this land. . . . Marvelous is “Approximately 21,000 peo- the work which is going ple attended the temple forward in these holy open house, and many left houses. And now to the CH NEWS saying, ‘I know now that many others that have what I’ve been taught been erected, we today about this church not add this beautiful edifice.” being Christian is not Accompanying correct.’ ” President Hinckley at

PHOTO BY GREG HILL, CHUR PHOTO BY the dedication were Elder The new Lubbock Texas Temple has already changed local misper- THE MONTERREY TEMPLE Henry B. Eyring of the ceptions about the Church, says temple president Jay B. Jensen. Quorum of the Twelve President Hinckley Apostles and members dedicated the Monterrey of the Mexico North President Hinckley Dedicates temple—Mexico’s 12th—in Area Presidency, Elders four sessions on 28 April. Lynn A. Mickelsen, Gary J. Temples, Meets Mexican President The event marked the 75th Coleman, and Adrián resident Gordon B. of its people, and that righ- time President Hinckley Ochoa. Hinckley dedicated two teousness may reign in the has dedicated a temple. The new temple will Ptemples in April, one in land.” “We express apprecia- serve nearly 91,000 mem- Texas and one in Mexico, President Hinckley tion for the many mission- bers in 31 stakes and dis- bringing the total number was accompanied by Elder aries who have labored in tricts in northeastern of operating temples to Joseph B. Wirthlin of the this great nation in teach- Mexico. More than 12,600 110. While in Mexico, he Quorum of the Twelve ing the eternal truths of members attended the also met with Mexican Apostles and by Elder Thy gospel,” President temple’s dedication. president Vicente Fox. F. Burton Howard of the Hinckley said in his The Monterrey temple The Lubbock Texas Seventy, President of the Temple was dedicated in North America Southwest four sessions on 21 April. Area. “Our dear Father, as we The Lubbock temple is dedicate this house we the third in Texas, joining dedicate ourselves that we those dedicated in Dallas may more faithfully serve in 1984 and in Houston in Thee as those called to 2000. Church leaders have work in Thy great king- announced plans for a dom,” President Hinckley fourth Texas temple to be said in his dedicatory built in San Antonio. The prayer. Lubbock temple will serve NEWS CHURCH “We invoke Thy bless- 13,545 members in four ings upon this community, stakes in west Texas and upon this state, upon this one stake in eastern nation. Bless this chosen New Mexico. Some 4,130

land that it may remain for- members attended the SWENSEN, JASON PHOTO BY ever free, that peace and dedication. Second only to the U.S. in its number of members and temples, liberty may bless the lives The dedication of the Mexico gained its 12th temple with the dedication in Monterrey.

74 President Hinckley Speaks to Children through New Video magine what it could do photos of President for the children of the Hinckley appear in the ChurchI to have President video. The presentation Gordon B. Hinckley visit concludes with President each ward’s Primary. This Hinckley’s personal testi- is now possible through a mony and blessing for the new Church video titled children of the Church.

PHOTO COURTESY OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT PHOTO COURTESY Sharing Time with President A copy of the video President Hinckley and Mexican president Vicente Fox discuss Gordon B. Hinckley. was recently mailed to what the Church is doing to bless the lives of the Mexican people. “In recent years Church units throughout President Hinckley has the world so that it can be is the realization of many to Mexico; Javier given special talks to the used in various Primary hopes and dreams for local Moctezuma Baragan, youth, mothers, and fa- settings, including Shar- Latter-day Saints, said Alfa Mexican minister of reli- thers of the Church. Now ing Time, lessons, and Casanova of the Contry gious affairs; and Jeffrey he has chosen to speak to Achievement Days. But Ward, Monterrey Mexico Jones, a Latter-day Saint every child of the Church Sharing Time with President Roma Stake. “We’ve waited member of the Mexican through this video,” says Gordon B. Hinckley (item a long time for this,” said senate. Gayle M. Clegg, second no. 53331; U.S. $3.00) can Sister Casanova, who in The conversation be- counselor in the Primary also be purchased for years past traveled 25 tween President Hinckley general presidency. home use. Coleen K. hours to the nearest temple and President Fox focused The eight-minute Menlove, Primary general in Mesa, Arizona. “Now on the Church’s efforts to video features President president, says, “We can we can come to the temple assist people in Mexico— Hinckley teaching children see it being used beyond often to perform the saving both Church members in Primary Sharing Time. Primary settings. Parents ordinances that we have so and members of other The President shares can play it and see Presi- long hoped for.” faiths. President Hinckley with the children his own dent Hinckley teaching Some 40,325 people at- explained the Church’s childhood experiences in their children in their tended the temple open Perpetual Education Fund, learning and living the own home.” house from 3–20 April, in- in which President Fox ex- principles of the gospel. He The video is available cluding business, govern- pressed interest. President speaks of tithing, temples, in 22 languages. To obtain ment, and civic leaders as Hinckley also spoke of a the blessings of Church a copy, contact your local well as officials from other Church-funded instruc- membership, and eternal distribution center or religious faiths. tional program in weld- families. As he shares his visit the Church Web site ing at the Technological experiences, childhood www.ldscatalog.com. MEETING WITH MEXICAN University of Santa PRESIDENT VICENTE FOX Catarina in Monterrey. Finally, President On the day following Hinckley presented the Monterrey temple ded- President Fox with a do- ication, President Hinckley nation from the Church met with Mexican presi- Humanitarian Fund for dent Vicente Fox in the Vamos México, a charita- presidential residence in ble organization for needy Mexico City. Also attend- children championed by ing the meeting were Elder Mexican first lady Marta Eyring; Elder Richard H. Sahagun de Fox. President Winkel, President of the Fox gratefully accepted Mexico South Area; Elder the contribution on behalf Benjamin de Hoyos, Area of his wife, saying it Authority Seventy; Jeffrey would be most helpful to A scene from the new video in which President Hinckley shares Davidow, U.S. ambassador her charitable work. with children his own experiences in living the gospel as a child.

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 75 Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota, he was part of President Monson Honors a team of physicians that built a heart-lung machine Scouts, Receives Scout Honor used in the first open- heart operation in the he spirit of Scouting Calling the Eagle state. During the Korean is alive and well, Scouts “true champi- War, he served in surgical TPresident Thomas S. ons,” President research, visiting MASH

Monson, First Counselor Monson said: “You NEWS units and field hospitals as in the First Presidency, told truly give, for you a U.S. Army officer. a gathering of 1,000 Eagle give of yourselves. Later, as an assistant Scouts and their parents And when you do, professor of medicine at and Scout leaders in April. you give to God.” the University of Utah PHOTO BY TOM SMART, TOM SMART, PHOTO BY “Here you see a monu- The Church leader President Monson greets a Scout Medical School, he built ment in these Eagle Scouts, also praised Scoutmasters at a meeting honoring the Church his own heart-lung ma- a monument which be- for their efforts in teach- leader and new Eagle Scouts. chine. The machine was speaks patience, en- ing and mentoring young used successfully in an durance, encouragement, men. served on the National open-heart operation in and accomplishment,” he In turn, the Scout coun- Executive Board of the Boy 1955, making Utah the said at an annual breakfast cil honored President Scouts of America (BSA) third state in the United sponsored by the Great Monson by presenting him since 1969. He is the recipi- States where such surgery Salt Lake Scout Council to with its annual America’s ent of BSA’s Silver Beaver was successfully per- honor those who had re- Champion Award for be- and Silver Buffalo Awards formed. The machine was cently earned their Eagle ing a “wonderful Scouter and international Scout- used for some time until Award. The event was held and champion of youth.” ing’s highest award, the commercially manufac- in Sandy, Utah. President Monson has Bronze Wolf. tured machines became available. Elder Nelson went on to become director of the thoracic surgery residency Elder Russell M. Nelson Is Given at the University of Utah, chairman of the division American Heart Association Award of thoracic surgery at Salt

DESERET NEWS Lake City’s LDS Hospital, lder Russell M. Nelson his goodness, his kindness, president of the Society for of the Quorum of the his professionalism, and his Vascular Surgery, director TEwelve Apostles has re- contributions,” said Dr. of the American Board of ceived the American Heart Donald B. Doty, an associate Thoracic Surgery, chair- Association’s 2002 Gold in cardiac surgery who pre- man of the Council on

Heart Award for his pio- sented the lifetime achieve- SCOTT WINTERTON, PHOTO BY Cardiovascular Surgery neering achievements in ment award at an April Elder Nelson accepted the award for the American Heart thoracic research and open- banquet in Salt Lake City. at a banquet in Salt Lake City. Association, and president heart surgery. After the others had of the Utah State Medical His accomplishments in paid tribute to Elder Nelson enumerate them. . . . Association. Throughout medicine have ranged from at the banquet, President “You have gone across his career, Elder Nelson helping military surgeons in Gordon B. Hinckley spoke. the earth imparting your helped train many sur- the field to building heart- “You are a man of great skills to surgeons in many geons and published more lung machines for early learning, recognized over lands. . . . Through faith you than 100 scientific papers. open-heart operations. the world for your medical have moved ever forward He also served as a Since being called as skills,” he said to Elder and upward in the remark- stake president, Sunday a member of the Twelve, Nelson in his address. able course of your life.” School general president “Dr. Nelson has been out “Your achievements in Elder Nelson received for the Church, and a re- of practice for 18 years, but medicine are so very many, his M.D. degree at the gional representative be- there are a large number of and your contributions University of Utah. While fore being called to the surgeons in our specialty have been so remarkable completing his medical Quorum of the Twelve who still remember him for that we cannot possibly residency and earning a Apostles in 1984.

76 CONVERSATION like to contribute? A: Most people don’t re- “COULD I BE YOUR FRIEND FOR LIFE?” alize the practical or logisti- cal difficulties of packing Not long ago, Humani- churches [in Indonesia]?’ relief items, transporting tarian Services received this I told her that she didn’t them, and getting them into report from Sister Norma bomb the churches and ex- a country. The food stored Smith, serving in Indonesia pressed how grateful I was by members in America or with her husband, Richard, for her service to the chil- Europe, for example, may as a missionary with a hu- dren and the great work not be part of the local diet manitarian assignment. she is doing. She said, ‘But where the disaster has After visits to two orphan- I just don’t understand. taken place. And there is of- ages, Sister Smith received a No Christian has ever of- ten very little time for gath- call from the director of one. fered to help us.’ I told her PHOTO BY DON SEARLE PHOTO BY Garry R. Flake ering and packing. Usually Verifying that the missionar- that our church believes in when we send commodi- ies were Christians, the di- helping all people, no mat- ties, we draw on items al- rector of the orphanage ter what their religion. She Offering Aid ready packaged and ready asked again about the work thanked me again and for shipment. In many cases of Latter-day Saint Charities, again, then said, ‘Mrs. in Times of Need it is more practical and and then “she inquired, ‘But Smith, could I be your cheaper to buy commodi- why would you come to a friend for life?’ ” Sister hen disaster strikes or ties in the area and dis- Muslim orphanage? Don’t Smith ended her report: a drought or famine is tribute them immediately you hate us because of the “Life can’t get any better rWeported somewhere in the where they are needed. In bombings of Christian than this!” world, many Church members addition, certain foods can- feel the generous impulse to not be shipped into selected the Red Cross, knowing donating to the humanitar- aid those in need. To find out countries. It is generous of that the Church is only ian fund, what are some how Latter-day Saints can members to want to donate a part of the solution in other ways members best extend aid to others in what they have at hand, any emergency situation. might help? these situations, the Ensign but it is always disappoint- Sometimes our shipments A: There are nearly 50 talked with Garry R. Flake, ing if they gather a lot of are distributed through Deseret Industries stores, director of Humanitarian donations that we can’t get these agencies. The orga- spread over seven states in Services for the Church’s into a country. nization that the Church the western : Welfare Services Department. Q: How is it that provides worldwide Arizona, California, Idaho, Question: What is the Church shipments seem makes us the envy of Nevada, Oregon, Utah, best way for members to to get through so quickly many other disaster re- and Washington. Much of help the Church extend and effectively? sponse organizations. the clothing donated to disaster relief or emer- A: They are carefully Q: In addition to these stores is eventually gency aid to others? packed for the safest, Answer: The best way most effective imme- CHURCH HUMANITARIAN SERVICE SINCE 1985 is to make ongoing contri- diate transport. The butions to the humanitar- Church is viewed as Cash donations: more than $73 million ian fund. When Church an excellent relief members offer regular do- agency in the world nations through their ward because of the quality Value of material assistance: more than $370 million or branch, it gives the of our response in dis- Church the greatest flexibil- aster situations, and a Countries of service: 147 ity in response. Because the part of that response is small administrative over- our ability to pull to- Food distributed: nearly 39,000 tons (more than head we have in handling gether a local delivery 35,000,000 kilos) these donations is paid by system using mem- the Church, every dollar bers under priesthood can help those in need. direction. And we Surplus clothing distributed: nearly 44,000 tons Q: What if people have learned to work (more than 40,000,000 kilos) have food or other emer- well with other relief gency supplies they would organizations, such as

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 77 baled for shipment to areas Humanitarian Center, 1665 need for quilts and blan- where there is an emer- Bennett Road, Salt Lake kets. We will take infant re- gency need. We dis- City, UT 84104. They can ceiving blankets and quilts Family and tributed 13 million pounds also find the directions in any size, any color, any of clothing last year in for the kits through the time. Church History about 50 countries. We’re Church’s Internet site Q: Are there other always in need of warm www.lds.org. On the needed items members Department winter clothing, and we al- home page, they should could donate? ways need children’s click successively on “Other A: It is possible some Receives clothing. We also send out Resources,” then “LDS members might know of with each shipment a Foundation,” “Ways I Can bulk medical supplies that Two Awards quantity of used shoes. Give,” “Welfare Services could be donated. These he Family and Q: What can members and Humanitarian Aid,” would be useful in the Church History do if they don’t live near a and finally “How Can I emergency medical mod- TDepartment recently Deseret Industries store? Help with Humanitarian ules we keep on hand. We received two awards for A: They can put to- Service Projects?” The infor- put together 700-pound its FamilySearch Web site gether personal hygiene mation can also be obtained medical modules that can and for its publication kits, school kits, or newborn at www.desnews.com/cn/ be shipped immediately to Denmark: Finding Records kits and deliver or send humanitarian/guidelines an area where an emer- of Your Ancestors, Part A. them to a bishops’ store- .htm. We’ve tried to match gency exists. These mod- The Computerworld house. These three items our hygiene kits very ules include 25 basic items Honors Program honored are in great demand around closely to emergency kits that can be used by any the department for its use of the world. We never have that the United Nations hospital—things like gauze information technology in enough of them. Members or other organizations and bandage material, ster- its FamilySearch.org Web can obtain directions for would offer, so it is impor- ile gloves, syringes, stetho- site, one of the largest ge- producing these kits by call- tant to follow the directions scopes and blood pressure nealogical research sites on ing 801-240-6060 or by writ- carefully. cuffs, surgical gowns, and the Internet. Information ing the Latter-day Saint We also have a constant soap. about the site will now be included in the more than 150 libraries, museums, and universities throughout the world that make up the Washington, D.C., Computerworld Honors Archives. Multifunction The Intermountain Chapter of the Society for Center Dedicated Technical Communications presented the department four-story Church a merit award for Denmark: facility in a historic Finding Records of Your AWashington, D.C., neighbor- Ancestors, Part A. The hood opened its doors on workbook provides step- 12 April. Tenants in the by-step, user-friendly di- PHOTO BY JON STEPHENSON PHOTO BY newly renovated building The new facility hosts a Church Public Affairs office, an institute rections for beginning include the Public Affairs of religion, a local branch, and living quarters for interns from BYU. researchers of Danish ge- office for Washington, an nealogy. The same format institute of religion, a local Merrill J. Bateman, a mem- pointing out how the four is being used by the Family branch, and Brigham Young ber of the Seventy and BYU groups involved will benefit and Church History University student interns president, offered the dedi- from their associations. Department in the devel- who will live on the top two catory prayer following re- Elder Bateman expressed opment of similar work- floors. marks from representatives the hope, for example, that books for research in other An open house attracted of each Church department the BYU students will enroll genealogical backgrounds, diplomats, White House housed in the building. in institute classes and including Eastern and officials, members of the Each speaker commented spoke of the close coopera- Western European, Asian, United States Congress and on the unique combination tion between BYU and African-American, federal judiciary, and neigh- of functions brought to- Church Public Affairs American Indian, and boring residents. Elder gether under one roof, efforts. Pacific Islander.

78 visually impaired, the cen- I realized more clearly ter’s president was so im- that we are to liken the In the Spotlight pressed that he added Comment scriptures unto ourselves information about Church (see 1 Ne. 19:23). I also re- curriculum materials for New Visiting Teaching alized that stories are not STAKE RELIEF SOCIETY OFFERS Messages the visually impaired to his Inspired usually “one HUMANITARIAN SERVICE next informational brochure. size fits all.” We When the each have dif- Relief Society sisters of CALIFORNIA CHURCH MEMBER new format for ferent circum- the Westland Michigan IS “SANTA’S HELPER” the visiting stances and Stake pulled together in teaching mes- backgrounds, March to offer humanitar- Emory Sonderegger re- sages came and it makes ian service in various ways. cently led members of his out, I was dis- a visit more The sisters spent an Irvine California Stake in appointed. I’d meaningful if entire Saturday making a project to make 1,200 always looked we can share fleece blankets, knitting wooden toys for children forward to the with each leper bandages, painting in need. Some 65 families personal story other our toy cars, donating blood, enjoyed helping Brother that went along with the own stories. I left Relief and stuffing envelopes for Sonderegger by sanding messages, and when I dis- Society feeling grateful an organization that assists and painting wooden covered that the new for- that Heavenly Father cares the visually impaired. Half trucks and cars in their mat no longer included about each of our needs. of the 126 blankets com- own homes. The toys were stories, but only scriptures Christine Hall pleted were sent to the donated to the humanitar- and quotations from Oahu, Hawaii Pordenone Military ian center, which then dis- Church leaders, I won- Thanks for Your Voices Branch, Trieste Italy tributed the toys to refugee dered if I could teach the Recently I made a goal District, whose members camps in Afghanistan and message. I told my teach- to read every issue of the occasionally take donated to homeless shelters, or- ing companion, “I’m not Ensign cover to cover. I supplies to a refugee camp phanages, and hospitals in sure how to use these new want to thank the authors near Zagreb, Croatia. The other parts of the world. messages. I always liked of the various articles pub- other blankets, along with Brother Sonderegger, 71, centering my lesson lished in this wonderful the bandages, were do- has been making and do- around the story.” magazine. Reading it every nated to the Latter-day nating wooden toys for the A sister in my ward morning has really helped Saint Humanitarian Center past seven years and now must have been listening me have the Spirit of the in Salt Lake City. The toys completes dozens of toys to the Spirit when she Lord with me while prose- were given to the Happy on his own each month, prepared a Relief Society lyting as a full-time mis- Factory, an organization including automobiles, lesson on how to share sionary. I especially enjoy that distributes toys to airplanes, bags of blocks, visiting teaching messages. the Latter-day Saint Voices needy children worldwide. and doll cradles. “I’m re- She gave each of us a copy section of the magazine. After the sisters stuffed tired now, so this is my of a recent message and Reading others’ conver- 1,500 envelopes for an in- way of rendering service,” asked us to read each sion stories in this section formation center for the he says. scripture and quotation has truly strengthened my and to discuss each one. As testimony. we did so, I realized that Elder Jacob Harmon experiences from my own Georgia Atlanta Mission life were coming to mind. We wanted to say The other sisters also had thank you for the articles personal stories to share published in the Ensign. that related to the mes- We especially enjoy the sage. The Spirit bore wit- ones found in Latter-day ness that this was how Saint Voices. Many of the the lessons were intended stories are shared with the to be taught—using the entire family during home word of the Lord through evenings or in gospel dis- scriptures, quotations cussions. Keep the great from Church leaders, articles coming.

PHOTO BY HUNG LEUNG WONG PHOTO BY and personal experiences Evelina and Sterling Day Emory Sonderegger loves to make and donate toys to needy children. of our own. West Valley, Utah

THE ENSIGN/JULY 2002 79 Responding to the Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost has a Making the Most “remarkable capacity to bless us,” yet we often don’t utilize this gift as we should, says of This Issue Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve JULY 2002 Apostles. How can we allow the Holy Ghost to operate • Curious about con- King Solomon and the prophet more fully in our lives? struction details of the Elijah. See pp. 40–45. See p. 56. new Nauvoo Illinois • Since the Savior is our Home Teachers and Te mple? Stories and perfect example in all things, Visiting Teachers photos give you a find out how you can use look at the build- the Old Testament more Find the monthly messages ing, followed by effectively in your home by on pp. 2 and 71. comments from learning how the Master Did You Know? President Gordon B. Te acher used it, p. 46. Hinckley, pp. 14–25. Occasionally you may see Debt Got You Down? an article in the Ensign by Divine Inspiration from Find out what some mem- “Name Withheld”—an author Building a Stronger Family the Nauvoo Era bers did to follow Church whose name is not • Do Sundays seem busy Some of the most powerful leaders’ counsel to get out— disclosed. Allowing and hectic rather than reju- words penned by the Prophet and stay out—of debt, someone to tell venating and restful? Read Joseph Smith came as he p. 66. a personal story “Time for the Sabbath,” and presided over Saints in the without being start a family discussion on city of Nauvoo. Read one Eternal identified— how you can truly make the of his most remarkable letters, Marriage— or identifying Sabbath a delight. See p. 64. part of which has become Starting Today anyone else • What would you do scripture. How much of What can you involved in the about the neighborhood boy this letter have you already do today to help situation—makes it possi- who kept letting the air out memorized? See p. 26. strengthen your ble for an individual to share of your tires? See what one marriage for eternity? valuable spiritual lessons couple learned about the Treasures of Wisdom and Faith For one-day-at-a-time ideas learned in the course of value of patience, p. 62. • How’s your Old Testament that have helped other mem- overcoming life’s challenges. • Uncle Reid jumped up reading progressing? If you’re bers build enduring marriage GOSPEL TOPICS and burst into a boisterous in 1 Kings 2–19, you’ll enjoy relationships, see p. 36. rendition of “Old Man River.” broadening your understand- Aging, 52 Kindness, 62 Articles of Faith, Love, 36, 70 Who would have guessed this ing and application of gospel 26 Marriage, 36 would be a way to communi- principles from the stories of Atonement, 56 Miracles, 43 cate with Grandma? See p. 52. Book of Mormon, Missionary work, • It’s not just another 33 26 Monday—it’s Magazine Callings, 55 Music, 55 Charity, 36 Nauvoo Illinois Monday! This and three Church history, 8, Temple, 8, 14, 24 other themed activities have 26 Obedience, 64 helped one family hold regu- Communication, Old Testament, 40, lar home evenings. See p. 73. 70 43, 46 Debt, 66 Parents, 63 • How can you help your Elijah, 43 Patience, 62 teens prepare financially for Endurance, 2 Pioneers, 2 leaving home? One family Faith, 2, 43 Primary, 55 shares seven helpful tips, p. 72. Family, 64 Sabbath, 64 Family history, 8 Sacrifice, 2 Nauvoo Temple—Old and New Family unity, 52 Self-reliance, 66 Fellowshipping, 55 Service, 36, 63, 64 • How did the “penny Financial manage- Signs, 43 subscription” help raise ment, 66 Solomon, 40 funds for the original Holy Ghost, 33, 40, Submission, 56 56 Temples, 8, 14, 24 Nauvoo Temple? For a his- Inspiration, 62, 64 Testimony, 33 tory of that building so dear Jesus Christ, 46, Tolerance, 52 to pioneer Latter-day Saints, 56, 63 Wisdom, 40 see p. 8.

80 Brigham Young and Others on Ensignby Valoy Peak, Eaton

On 26 July 1847, President Brigham Young and seven others ascended an unusual dome-shaped hill rising up in the north end of the Salt Lake Valley. President Young, who had seen this prominent peak earlier in a vision, named it Ensign Peak.

COURTESY PETER HUNTSMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY WELDEN C. ANDERSEN C. WELDEN BY PHOTOGRAPHY miniscent of the artistry in design and archi- tecture that characterized the original temple, tecture re skylight in the new Nauvoo Illinois Temple is Temple skylight in the new Nauvoo Illinois A year, offers a tribute to the pioneers who laid the founda- year, tunity for their spiritual heirs to carry on that work today. dedicated in 1846. The new temple, dedicated in June this tions for the Lord’s work in this dispensation and an oppor- tions for the Lord’s

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