June 2002 Ensign
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THE ENSIGN OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • JUNE 2002 Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, p. 62 Putting Family First, p. 8 After the Martyrdom, by Gary Smith This poetic representation of the Martyrdom captures the heavy sadness felt after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum in 1844. Somber colors veil the scene. A tomblike Carthage Jail, its height exaggerated, looms over the Saints standing with heads bowed low. “Joseph Smith . lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and . sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum” (D&C 135:3). JUNE 2002 • VOLUME 32, NUMBER 6 2 FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE A Little Child Shall Lead Them President Thomas S. Monson 8Putting Family First E. Jeffrey Hill 12 GOSPEL CLASSICS Father, Consider Your Ways The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 17 LATTER-DAY PROPHETS SPEAK Righteous Fathers in the Home 18 Eli and His Sons Elder Paulo R. Grahl Putting Family 21 A King for Israel Peggy Furniss Lee First 24 Finding Jesus Christ in the Old Testament 8 Andrew C. Skinner 29 LORD = Jehovah Keith H. Meservy 30 Do You Have a Song for Us? Randal Thatcher 32 To Acquire Knowledge and the Strength to Use It Wisely Elder Richard G. Scott 38 ON-SITE “No Place I Would Rather Be” Jason H. Hay 44 Singles in the Ward Family Kathy Grant 49 QUESTIONS &ANSWERS Helping family members who are not interested in the Church come closer to God Father, Consider 52 Sharing the Gospel with Sensitivity Your Ways Elder R. Lloyd Smith 12 56 A Priceless Pearl: Alma O. Taylor’s Mission to Japan Reid L. Neilson 60 Arizona Dirt, Pennsylvania Soil Barbara Murphy Likovich 62 Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration Elder Tad R. Callister 67 VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE Strengthening Our Marriages, Families, and Homes 68 LATTER-DAY SAINT VOICES 72 RANDOM SAMPLER SAINTS IN “No Place I Would 74 Joseph Smith: Rather Be” Louisville, Kentucky Prophet of the 38 75 NEWS OF THE CHURCH 62 Restoration 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, Salt Lake City, 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, Utah, Brian K. Kelly POSTMASTER: ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITORS: and at additional mailing offices. Send address changes to A Priceless Pearl: 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 Alma O. Taylor’s ASSOCIATE EDITORS: order for the Ensign (pronounced N’sign) to Judith M. Paller, Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA. 56 LaRene Porter Gaunt, Linda Stahle Cooper Church Magazines at address at right. Credit Mission to Japan 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 A Little Child Shall Lead Them B Y P RESIDENT mother and father of a child. Accusations were made, T HOMAS S. M ONSON threats hurled, and anger displayed as parents moved First Counselor in the here and there on the international scene with the First Presidency child spirited away from one continent to another. A second story told of a 12-year-old lad who was uring the Galilean minis- beaten and set on fire because he refused a neighbor- try of our Lord and Savior, hood bully’s order to take drugs. the disciples came unto Still a third report told of a father’s sexual DHim, saying: “Who is the greatest in molestation of his small child. the kingdom of heaven? A physician once revealed to me the large number “And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set of abused children who are being brought to the him in the midst of them, emergency rooms of local hospitals in “And said, Verily I say unto you, your city and mine. In many cases guilty Except ye be converted, and become as parents provide fanciful accounts of the little children, ye shall not enter into know of no child falling from his high chair or stum- the kingdom of heaven. I more touching bling over a toy and striking his head. “Whosoever therefore shall humble passage in scrip- Altogether too frequently it is discovered himself as this little child, the same is ture than the that the parent was the abuser and the in- greatest in the kingdom of heaven. account of the nocent child the victim. Shame on the per- “And whoso shall receive one such Savior blessing petrators of such vile deeds. God will hold little child in my name receiveth me. the children, as such strictly accountable for their actions. “But whoso shall offend one of recorded in these little ones which believe in me, it 3 Nephi. CHILDREN ARE PRECIOUS TO THE LORD were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that When we realize just how precious , BY DEL PARSON , BY he were drowned in the depth of the children are, we will not find it difficult to sea” (Matt. 18:1–6). follow the pattern of the Master in our association with them. Not long ago, a sweet scene took place at THE MANY FACES OF CHILD ABUSE the Salt Lake Temple. Children, who had been ever so tenderly cared for by faithful workers in the temple Some time ago, as I read the daily newspaper, my nursery, were now leaving in the arms of their moth- thoughts turned to this passage and the firm candor ers and fathers. One child turned to the lovely women of the Savior’s declaration. In one column of the who had been so kind to the children and, with a newspaper I read of a custody battle between the wave of her arm, spoke the feelings of her heart as she CHRIST AND THE BOOK OF MORMON CHILDREN THE ENSIGN/JUNE 2002 3 exclaimed, “Good night, angels.” In a meeting, I once told of a dentist in my ward The poet described a child so recently with its who each year visited the Philippine Islands to work Heavenly Father as “a sweet new blossom of his skills without compensation to provide corrective Humanity, fresh fallen from God’s own home to dentistry for children. Smiles were restored, spirits flower on earth.”1 lifted, and futures enhanced. I did not know that the Who among us has not praised God and marveled daughter of this dentist was in the congregation to at His powers when an infant is held in one’s arms? which I was speaking. At the conclusion of my remarks, That tiny hand, so small yet so perfect, instantly she came forward and, with a broad smile of proper becomes the topic of conversation. No one can resist pride, said, “You have been speaking of my father. How placing his little finger in the clutching hand of an in- I love him and what he is doing for children!” fant. A smile comes to the lips, a certain glow to the In the faraway islands of the Pacific, hundreds who eyes, and one appreciates the tender feelings which were near-blind now see because a missionary said to prompted the poet to pen the lines: his physician brother-in-law, “Leave your wealthy clientele and the comforts Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting: of your palatial home and come to these The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star, special children of God who need your Hath had elsewhere its setting, skills and need them now.” The ophthal- And cometh from afar; mologist responded without a backward Not in entire forgetfulness, glance. He has commented quietly that And not in utter nakedness, this visit was the best service he ever But trailing clouds of glory do we come rendered and the peace which came to From God, who is our home.2 his heart the greatest blessing of his life. hen we Tears came easily to me when I read When the disciples of Jesus at- realize just of a father who donated one of his own tempted to restrain the children from howW precious kidneys in the hope that his son might approaching Him, He declared: children are, we have a more abundant life.