January 2009 Ensign
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THE ENSIGN OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • JANUARY 2009 COVER STORY Witnesses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 10 Joseph Smith: An Apostle of Jesus Christ, p. 16 Places of Revelation, p. 40 Nauvoo Temple, by Martin J. van Hemert Speaking of the Nauvoo Temple, the Lord says in Doctrine and Covenants 124, “And verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people; “For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times” (D&C 124:40–41). JANUARY 2009 Contents VOLUME 39 • NUMBER 1 16 4 23 ON THE COVERS Front: I Saw a Light, by Jon McNaughton, MESSAGES FEATURE ARTICLES courtesy McNaughton Fine Art. Back: Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, FIRST PRESIDENCY Witnesses of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Gary Smith. MESSAGE Modern prophets and Apostles bear testimony of the 1 0 Let Us Raise Our Voice prophet of the Restoration. 4 of Warning IN MEMORIAM PRESIDENT HENRY B. EYRING Joseph Smith: An Apostle A special insert on the Love, example, and 1 6 of Jesus Christ life and service of Elder testimony: those have been ELDER DENNIS B. NEUENSCHWANDER Joseph B. Wirthlin, keys whenever I have been Joseph Smith’s apostolic testimony who passed away blessed to hear and then was borne of experience, divine on December 1, 2008, heed the warning of a command, and instruction. will be included in next servant of the Lord. month’s issue of the Drawn to the Temple magazine. MICHAEL R. MORRIS VISITING TEACHING 2 3 MESSAGE As a child, Aric Finucane was curious about the Washington D.C. Temple. When he joined the Church as an adult, he Stand Strong and became determined to receive his endowment there. 6 1 Immovable in Faith 31 62 Faith to Ford the River Left with a Violin and a Hymnbook ADAM C. OLSON LINDA REHART 2 6 5 8 Rafael had crossed the river every day for 12 years, The re had consumed nearly everything. What were we but today was different. going to do? Peaches, Pruning, and Spiritual Progress Gardenias in January ROBIN RUFF VAN WAGENEN WENDY FOUTZ MCKINNEY 3 1 6 0 I should have pruned our peach tree before the winds came. I didn’t know that Anita loved gardenias. But Heavenly Father knew. My Guilt Was Swept Away GEORGE D. DURRANT 3 4 Bipolar Disorder: My Lessons in Love, Hope, My family lines were traced back as far as possible; and Peace 6 2 I was certain I could do no more. NAME WITHHELD Receiving the diagnosis was devastating. What kind of Putting My Hand in the Lord’s future would I have? DIANE TERRY WOOLF 3 6 I came to know that God loves me, that I have a mission to perform, and that I can trust in His power and in DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL? His plan for me. That is the power of adversity. How have you been blessed by effective home teachers? What about them made a difference in your life? Was it a lesson they taught? Service they Doctrine and Covenants Revealed performed? Concern they showed? Perhaps it was that they consistently KENNETH R. MAYS visited you every month. How did their commitment to home teaching 4 0 View a few of the sites where sections of the Doctrine and make a difference for you? Please share your story with us. Submissions Covenants were revealed. should be between 500 and 2,000 words. Please label your manuscript “home teachers” and submit it by February 29, 2009. You can nd this and other calls for articles online at http://ensign.lds. Enriching Your Study of the Doctrine and org . Ensign Magazine Writers’ Guidelines are posted on the same page Covenants 4 6 under “Resources.” THE SUNDAY SCHOOL GENERAL PRESIDENCY Send submissions to [email protected] or Ensign Editorial, 50 E. You can get more out of Sunday School. Here’s how. North Temple Street, Room 2420, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3220, USA. Include your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, ward Nourishing the Soul through Institute (or branch), and stake (or district). Because of the volume of submis- Students who sacri ce to attend institute discover how sions we receive, we cannot acknowledge receipt. Authors whose work is 5 4 much the Savior loves them and wants to bless them. selected for publication will be noti ed. If you would like your manuscript, photos, art, or other material returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. THE ENSIGN CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT http://ensign.lds.org 2 JANUARY 2009 VOLUME 39 • NUMBER 1 AN OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS The First Presidency: Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring, Dieter F. Uchtdorf The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson Editor: Spencer J. Condie Advisers: Gary J. Coleman, Kenneth Johnson, Yoshihiko Kikuchi, W. Douglas Shumway Managing Director: David L. Frischknecht Editorial Director: Victor D. Cave Graphics Director: Allan R. Loyborg Managing Editor: Don L. Searle Assistant Managing Editor: LaRene Porter Gaunt Senior Editors: Matthew D. Flitton, Larry Hiller, Michael R. Morris, Judith M. 54 50 Paller, Joshua J. Perkey Assistant Editor: Melissa Merrill Editorial Staff: Susan Barrett, Ryan Carr, Jenifer L. Greenwood, R. Val Johnson, USING THIS ISSUE DEPARTMENTS GOSPEL TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE Adam C. Olson, Laurel Teuscher Enhance your study. Pages Adversity, 36, 58, Joseph Smith, Editorial Intern: Meagan D. Lake Senior Secretary: Christy Banz 46–53 highlight the Doctrine LESSONS FROM 60, 62 10, 16 THE DOCTRINE AND Agency, 28 Journals, 68 Managing Art Director: and Covenants, the 2009 course Atonement, 72 Knowledge, 54 M. M. Kawasaki COVENANTS Art Director: J. Scott Knudsen of Gospel Doctrine study. Book of Mormon, Learning, 36 Senior Designers: C. Kimball Bott, You can nd additional guides 10 Love, 4, 62 Colleen Hinckley Con dence in the Children, 68 Missionary work, Design and Production Staff: online at LDS.org. Select Presence of God Cali R. Arroyo, Collette Nebeker Aune, 2 8 Church history, 4, 50 Gospel Library, then Lessons, ELDER MICHAEL JOHN U. TEH 40, 50 Music, 58, 68 Thomas S. Child, Eric P. Johnsen, Commitment, 28 Obedience, 68 Scott M. Mooy, Jane Ann Peters, then Sunday School. What can we do to gain Scott Van Kampen God’s trust? Conversion, 23 Parenthood, 4, Share your testimony of Death, 36, 60 31, 68 Printing Director: Craig K. Sedgwick the Prophet Joseph Smith. Example, 4 Peace, 62, 72 Distribution Director: Randy J. Benson Pages 10–22 include powerful Treasuring the Faith, 4, 23, 28, Perfection, 62 © 2009 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Doctrine and 34, 36 Prayer, 71 All rights reserved. The Ensign (ISSN witnesses of the mission of the 5 0 Family, 62 Preparation, 68 0884-1136) is published monthly by The Covenants Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Prophet Joseph Smith. How is ELDER STEVEN E. SNOW Family History, 34 Priesthood, 62, 71 50 E. North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, your life different from what The Doctrine and Family Home Primary, 68 UT 84150-3220, USA. Periodicals Postage Evening, 68 Prophets, 4, Paid at Salt Lake City, Utah. it might otherwise be because Covenants—marvelous First Vision, 10 50, 68 To subscribe: By phone, call of the work of the Prophet truths, inspired counsel. Friends, 62 Repentance, 31, 1-800-537-5971 to order using Visa, of the Restoration? Consider Goals, 68 70, 72 MasterCard, Discover Card, or American RANDOM SAMPLER Gospel, 46 Resurrection, 60 Express. Online, go to ldscatalog.com. By sharing the articles—and your Heavenly Father, 62 Revelation, 50, 68 mail, send $10 U.S. check or money order to Helping children Distribution Services, P.O. Box 26368, Salt testimony—with a friend. 6 8 Holy Ghost, 54, 60 Self-reliance, 46 learn hymns, setting Home Storage, 68 Scripture, 50 Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA. Sign up for institute. Young provident living goals, and Hope, 36, 62 Teaching, 46 To change address: Send both old and adults from around the world Hymns, 68 Temples, 23 new address information to Distribution keeping a more meaningful Services at the above address. Please allow share the blessings they’ve journal. Illness, 60, 62 Testimony, 4, 60 days for changes to take effect. Institute, 54 16, 54 experienced because they have Jesus Christ, 4, Word of Wisdom, Text and visual material in the Ensign may attended institute in “Nourishing LATTER-DAY SAINT 16, 50, 62, 72 70 be copied for incidental, noncommercial VOICES church or home use. Visual material may not the Soul through Institute” 7 0 be copied if restrictions are indicated in the Latter-day Saints nd peace credit line with the artwork. Copyright (page 54). To nd a class near COMING and hope through the Savior questions should be addressed to Intellectual you, visit www.ldsces.org, or IN FEBRUARY Property Office, 50 E. North Temple Street, and His Atonement. Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3011; e-mail: talk to your bishop or branch Look for articles on: [email protected]. president. NEWS OF THE • Functional families POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CHURCH • The gift of adoption Distribution Services, P.O. Box 26368, Salt 7 4 Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA.