THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • JULY 2007 COVEROVER STORYS ORY Thee MormonM rm n Battalionattali n Fromro IowaIo a to Immortality:mm rtali : A TributeTribut to thee Mormonrm n Battalion,t ion, p.p 22 Talkingal in to YouthYo th aboutab u Pornography, p. 48 Believe, p. 10 COURTESY OF CHURCH HISTORY LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES LIBRARY COURTESY OF CHURCH HISTORY Celebration on July 4, 1847, Los Angeles, California, by Charles Brent Hancock Pioneer artist Charles Brent Hancock designed and created this image of the Mormon Battalion as part of a diorama. From July 20, 1846, to January 29, 1847, the battalion trekked some 2,000 miles from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to Los Angeles, California. JULY 2007 Contents VOLUME 37 • NUMBER 7 Thee missionariesi o i 32 on TempleT SquareSq r do noto knockk on doors,o s, teachc standardst lessons,less orr baptizep ze people. Butut theyh are armeda withw th a powerful messagees of hope.o THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • JULY 2007 COVER STORY The Mormon Battaliona From Iowa to Immortali y A Tribu e to the Mormon BattalionBatta ion p 22 Talking too You h about Pornography p 48 Believe p 10 4 19 ON THE COVER MESSAGES FEATURE ARTICLES Front: The Mormon Battalion Arrives on the Shores of FIRST PRESIDENCY Lay Hold upon the Word of God San Diego, by Sam Lawlor. MESSAGE 12 ELDER GARY L. POCOCK Back: Mormon Battalion cloth The Peril of Hidden When we “lay hold upon” the word of God, His words banner and personal gear back- 4 Wedges strengthen us against deception and temptation. pack, courtesy of the Museum PRESIDENT THOMAS S. of Church History and Art. MONSON All Charged Up Sometimes we take offense so 16 PAUL VANDENBERGHE easily. On other occasions we The gospel has brought together the members of the Benoni are too stubborn to accept a Second Branch—the first young single adult unit in Africa— sincere apology. Let’s remove as friends and fellow Saints. any hidden wedges that can do nothing but destroy. Burbank Boulevard: A Lesson in 19 Unimportant Differences VISITING TEACHING J. ROBERT NELSON MESSAGE Occasionally we put up artificial barriers between us and Practicing others. But in the gospel of Jesus Christ, differences such as 59 Holiness where we live or the color of our skin do not matter. 62 52 From Iowa to Immortality: A Tribute to the This, the Greatest of All Dispensations 22 Mormon Battalion 52 ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND ELDER LANCE B. WICKMAN We should watch for the signs of the Second Coming, but we These soldiers didn’t march just to San Diego. In every sense, must not be paralyzed just because that event and the events they marched into history. surrounding it are ahead of us somewhere. Indeed, we should live life more fully than we have ever lived it. It’s All Been Done 28 LORETTA EVANS Time Stood Still Even when your relatives have already done much work on 60 JOYCE HANSON WALLIN family history, you can still contribute. Here are some ideas. The fire engine came first, then a police car, then an ambulance, and then the coroner. I couldn’t believe this Tours and Testimonies was happening. 32 ANDY CARGAL As they teach visitors about Church history, missionaries on Before You Lose It All . Temple Square invite people to learn about the Savior. 62 JERRY MASON Many circumstances can result in so much debt that bank- Too Busy to Share the Gospel? ruptcy may seem to be the only option. But this decision is not 38 DONNA PIKE JONES one to make lightly. Here are a few things to consider. Our move was less than two weeks away. So why did my husband bother praying for missionary opportunities? Parables of the Master The sower, the lost sheep, the ten virgins—these and 40 DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL? other parables taught by the Savior are portrayed in art. The Ensign invites you to share your experiences with literacy in Three Tools to Build a Sacred Home the Church. How have you or others been blessed from learning 44 SHIRLEY R. KLEIN to read or write or from teaching someone to read and write? Opportunities to practice gospel living are sacred; these times Please label submissions “Literacy” and send them by August 17. help us grow spiritually and draw closer to the Savior. We also welcome other submissions that show the gospel of Jesus Christ at work in your life. Publication criteria are posted on Talking to Youth about Pornography the Ensign home page at www.lds.org. DAN GRAY Send submissions to [email protected] or Ensign Editorial, 50 E. North 48 Temple Street, Room 2420, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3220, USA. Include your As parents and leaders, we need to be bold in communicat- name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, ward (or branch), and stake ing the sacred nature of human intimacy. We must listen to (or district). Due to the volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge receipt. our youth and give them sound direction and guidance. Authors whose work is selected for publication will be notified. If you would like your material returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. 2 JULY 2007 VOLUME 37 • NUMBER 7 AN OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS The First Presidency: Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, James E. Faust Quorum of the Twelve: 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, Henry B. Eyring, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, David A. Bednar Editor: Jay E. Jensen Advisers: Gary J. Coleman, Yoshihiko Kikuchi, Gerald N. Lund, W. Douglas Shumway Managing Director: David L. Frischknecht Editorial Director: Victor D. Cave Senior Editor: Larry Hiller Graphics Director: Allan R. Loyborg Managing Editor: Don L. Searle 44 10 Assistant Managing Editor: LaRene Porter Gaunt Senior Editors: Linda Stahle Cooper, USING THIS ISSUE Michael R. Morris, Judith M. Paller, DEPARTMENTS Joshua J. Perkey Teaching in the home, Assistant Editor: Melissa Merrill through the home. In “Three LESSONS FROM LATTER-DAY SAINT Editorial Staff: Susan Barrett, Ryan Carr, THE NEW TESTAMENT Monica L. Dickinson, Jenifer L. Greenwood, Tools to Build a Sacred Home” 70 VOICES R. Val Johnson, Adam C. Olson Believe Lessons from the pioneers, Editorial Intern: Natalie R. Ross (p. 44), Shirley R. Klein points Senior Secretary: Christy Banz out that “everyday routines have 10 VICKI F. MATSUMORI preservation through prayer, Publications Assistant: Sally J. Odekirk great power in our lives.” In The Lord’s counsel to Thomas and fulfilled promises. Marketing Manager: Larry Hiller your next family council or fam- holds true for each of us. It is Managing Art Director: M. M. Kawasaki our faith, belief, and under- RANDOM Art Director: J. Scott Knudsen ily home evening, discuss ways 74 SAMPLER Senior Designers: C. Kimball Bott, your family can experience the standing of the Atonement Colleen Hinckley and the Resurrection that Teaching families about ances- Design and Production Staff: Cali R. significance of these patterns. Arroyo, Collette Nebeker Aune, Thomas S. give us perspective and hope. tors, starting your home storage, Child, Eric P. Johnsen, Jane Ann Peters, Managing household finances. positively managing a class- Randall J. Pixton, Scott Van Kampen “Before You Lose It All . .” (p. 62) Mine Errand from room, and organizing family Printing Director: Craig K. Sedgwick 66 the Lord home evening. Distribution Director: Randy J. Benson includes several tips for avoid- © 2007 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. ing and eliminating debt. For ROWLAND E. ELVIDGE All rights reserved.The Ensign (ISSN NEWS OF THE 0884-1136) is published monthly by The additional information, review Church callings are part of 76 CHURCH Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the new online course “Peace the process the Lord uses to 50 E. North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3220, USA. Periodicals Postage in Your Hearts,” available at refine us and help us reach Paid at Salt Lake City, Utah. www.providentliving.org. our full potential. To subscribe: By phone, call 1-800-537- 5971 to order using Visa, MasterCard, Learning eternal truths. Discover Card, or American Express. Online, go to ldscatalog.com. By mail, After reading “Lay Hold upon send $10 U.S. check or money order to Distribution Services, P.O. Box 26368, Salt the Word of God” (p. 12), con- Lake City, UT 84126-0368. sider how the formula of “study, GOSPEL TOPICS Family, 44, 48 Peace, 60 IN THIS ISSUE Family History, 28, 74 Pioneers, 70 To change address: Send both old and ponder, and pray” has helped new address information to Distribution Family Home Evening, 75 Pornography, 48 Services at the above address. Please allow you withstand the attacks on Accountability, 66 Finances, 62 Prayer, 12, 71 60 days for changes to take effect. faith that are common today. Activation, 70 Forgiveness, 4 Preparedness, 62, 74 The Ensign can be found on the Internet at Consider why all three compo- Adversity, 4, 60, 70 Gratitude, 52, 71 Promptings, 71 www.lds.org, under Gospel Library. Agency, 4 Holy Ghost, 12 Reverence, 75 Text and visual material in the Ensign may nents are essential to the Arts, 40 Hope, 10 Sacrifice, 22 be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use. Visual material may process. Belief, 10 Jesus Christ, 10, 32, 40, Scriptures, 12 not be copied if restrictions are indicated Callings, 66 52, 60 Second Coming, 52 in the credit line with the artwork.