September 2013 Ensign
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THE ENSIGN OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • SEPTEMBER 2013 How Justice and Mercy Free Us from Bondage, p. 16 The Way God’s Grace Really Works, p. 34 Hearing the Voice of the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants, p. 40 The Healing Balm of Hope, p. 62 “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him . springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14 Contents September 2013 Volume 43 • Number 9 FEATURES 16 The Justice and Mercy of God Elder Jeffrey R. Holland If we can repent of our sins and be charitable with the sins of others, the living Father of us all will reach down to bear us up. 22 Take My Yoke upon You A useful tool for harnessing animals became a central image in the Savior’s invitation to come unto Him. 24 Today’s Young Men Need Righteous Role Models Hikari Loftus Having worked through his own troubled youth, Todd Sylvester strives to reach out to today’s young men. 4 28 Still a Clarion Call “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” acts as a modern title of liberty, providing clarity and MESSAGES guidance to families. FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE 30 Christlike Mercy 30 Randy L. Daybell 4 Saints for All Seasons These scriptural President Dieter F. Uchtdorf accounts from the Savior’s life can teach us VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE ways to be merciful. 7 Self-Reliance 34 His Grace Is Sufficient Brad Wilcox The miracle of Christ’s grace is not just that we can return to heaven but ON THE COVER that we can change so The e nsign of T he ChurC h of Jesus ChrisT of LaTTer-day s ainT s • s epT ember 2013 Front: The Lost Lamb, we feel at home there. by Newell Convers Wyeth, reproduced by permission of 38 How Is Doctrine Established? the Colby College LaRene Porter Gaunt How Justice and Museum of Art. Mercy Free Us from Use this flowchart to understand more about how Back: Photograph Bondage, p. 16 The Way God’s Grace from iStockphoto/ Really Works, p. 34 God reveals doctrine to prophets and apostles. Hearing the Voice of the Lord in the Doctrine Thinkstock. and Covenants, p. 40 The Healing Balm of Inside front cover: Hope, p. 62 40 The Voice of Jesus Christ in the Doctrine and Photograph © iStock- Covenants photo.com/diephosi. Gordon B. Holbrook We can testify of Christ as we hear His voice in the Doctrine and Covenants. September 2013 1 72 DEPARTMENTS 8 April 2013 Conference Notebook 10 What We Believe: The Priesthood Must Be Used Worthily 52 12 Our Homes, Our Families: The Lord Never Shouted at Me Name withheld 46 Whither Shall We Go? 14 News of the Church Elder Kent D. Watson When we do our part, Heavenly Father is sure 72 Gospel Classics: to do His part in pointing the way. What Does Jesus Mean to Us Today? Elder David B. Haight 52 Rescued by the Gospel Lionel Hougnon 74 Teaching For the Strength of Youth: I was lonely and without hope, until I felt the Music and Dancing touch of the Master in my life. 58 1,000 Things to Be Thankful For 75 In Other Church Magazines Richard M. Romney The week we spent helping my daughter find 76 Latter-day Saint Voices things to be thankful for changed our family. 80 Until We Meet Again: 60 My Prayers of Gratitude The Longest Sacrament Meeting Christie Skrinak Okon Edet Effiong Our family was desperate for blessings. How could I be grateful amid such trials? 62 The Healing Balm of Hope 68 Vaughn E. Worthen Ten strategies for devel- oping hope in our lives. 68 Providing Care for Elderly Loved Ones Todd F. Cope The articles with this icon contain a sidebar or As we seek to assist in text that will help you answer questions from caring for elderly loved those not of our faith about the Church’s ones, here are some practices and beliefs. principles that can • How can personal revelation help me? guide us. p. 46 • What does it mean to be redeemed? p. 52 2 Ensign Family Home Evening Ideas This issue contains articles and activities that could be used for family home evening. The following are some examples. A MAGAZINE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS September 2013 Volume 43 • Number 9 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, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen Editor: Craig A. Cardon Advisers: Shayne M. Bowen, Bradley D. Foster, Christoffel Golden Jr., Anthony D. Perkins Managing Director: David T. Warner Director of Member and Family Support: Vincent A. Vaughn Director of Church Magazines: Allan R. Loyborg Business Manager: Garff Cannon BY CRAIG DIMOND PHOTO ILLUSTRATION Managing Editor: R. Val Johnson Assistant Managing Editor: “Christlike Mercy,” page 30: Read the to keep track of their blessings during the LaRene Porter Gaunt article ahead of time and then highlight the week, and at your next family home evening Administrative Assistant: Faith S. Watson main points during family home evening. ask them to share what they found. To end Writing and Editing: Susan Barrett, Discuss with your family the lesson, you could sing Ryan Carr, David Dickson, David A. Edwards, what it means to extend “Count Your Blessings” Matthew D. Flitton, Mindy Raye Friedman, APPLYING LESSONS Lori Fuller, Garrett H. Garff, Jennifer G. Jones, Christlike mercy. Consider (Hymns, no. 241). Michael R. Morris, Richard M. Romney, Paul inviting family members While I was growing up, we VanDenBerghe, Julia Woodbury took turns teaching the family “The Healing Balm Editorial Interns: Allie Crafton, to tell about a time when Katherine Nelson someone showed mercy home evening lesson. I remem- of Hope,” page 62: Begin by asking family Managing Art Director: J. Scott Knudsen to them or when they ber when I was 9 or 10, I taught Art Director: Tadd R. Peterson showed mercy. You may a lesson on compassion. A members what hope Design: Jeanette Andrews, Fay P. Andrus, want to select one of the few days later, as I was doing means to them. You C. Kimball Bott, Thomas Child, Nate Gines, my chores, my older brother could then discuss the Kerry Lynn C. Herrin, Colleen Hinckley, five principles presented in Eric P. Johnsen, Susan Lofgren, Scott Mooy, the article, such as helping wouldn’t stop bothering me, definitions and benefits Brad Teare others in need, and talk and I yelled at him. Hearing of hope presented in the Intellectual Property Coordinator: about how your family me, my mother asked, “What article. Briefly summarize Collette Nebeker Aune did you just teach the family the author’s 10 strategies Production Manager: Jane Ann Peters can apply it. Production: Kevin C. Banks, Connie Bowthorpe about?” I was embarrassed to for cultivating hope and Bridge, Julie Burdett, Bryan W. Gygi, Denise “1,000 Things to Be say, “Compassion.” She used ask how these ideas Kirby, Ginny J. Nilson, Gayle Tate Rafferty Thankful For,” page 58: this opportunity to reinforce the could help strengthen Prepress: Joshua Dennis Read the article as a fam- your family. Then make Printing Director: Craig K. Sedgwick principles we had discussed. Distribution Director: Stephen R. Christiansen ily and then discuss how I am grateful that my parents a goal to practice one or © 2013 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All you might find “some- valued family home evening and two of the strategies in rights reserved. The Ensign (ISSN 0884-1136) thing each day to rejoice helped us make the lessons part your family during the is published monthly by The Church of Jesus in.” Invite family members next week. Christ of Latter-day Saints, 50 E. North Temple of our lives. Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-0024, USA. Lynelle Merritt, Utah, USA Periodicals Postage Paid at Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright information: Text and visual material in the Ensign may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use. Visual material may not be copied if restrictions are indicated in the credit line with the artwork. SUBSCRIBE TO OR RENEW TO CHANGE ADDRESS DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL? Copyright questions should be addressed to THE ENSIGN Send both old and new address We welcome donated submissions Intellectual Property Office, 50 E. North Temple Online: Visit store.lds.org. information to Distribution Services, showing the gospel of Jesus Christ at Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-0018; email: By phone: In the United States and P.O. Box 26368, Salt Lake City, UT work in your life. Please submit articles [email protected]. Canada, call 1-800-537-5971. 84126-0368, USA. Please allow 60 through ensign.lds.org. Authors POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS (see By mail: Send U.S. $10 check or days for changes to take effect. whose work is selected for publication DMM 707.4.12.5). NONPOSTAL AND MILITARY money order to Distribution Services, will be notified. FACILITIES: Send address changes to Distribution P.O. Box 26368, Salt Lake City, UT Services, Church Magazines, P.O. Box 26368, 84126-0368, USA. Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA. Canada Post Information: Publication Agreement #40017431. September 2013 3 FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE By President Dieter F.