THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • FEBRUARY 2008 COVER STORY The Power of a Balanced Life, p. 64 Life-Changing Leadership, p. 23 Dating and the Eternal Perspective, p. 60 Mansion House, by Al Rounds The Mansion House (right) in Nauvoo, Illinois, was home to the Prophet Joseph Smith and his family beginning in August 1843. Here Joseph and Emma hosted important visitors and provided temporary housing for incoming Saints. In June 1844 the Saints came here to view the bodies of Joseph and his brother Hyrum, who had been martyred by a mob. FEBRUARY 2008 Contents VOLUME 38 • NUMBER 2 23 THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • FEBRUARY 2008 COVER STORY The Power of a Balanced Life, p. 64 Life-Changing Leadership p 23 Dating and the Eternal Perspective p 60 4 11 ON THE COVER MESSAGES FEATURE ARTICLES Photographs by Robert Casey FIRST PRESIDENCY In Bethlehem MESSAGE 10 SHARON PRICE ANDERSON Feeding His Lambs A poem showing the words of Abraham twice fulfilled. 4 PRESIDENT HENRY B. EYRING Our Son’s Choices NAME WITHHELD We covenant to nourish each 11 other spiritually. Are we We never gave up on our son. Neither did the Lord. working now to help those Spiders and Spiritual Help who are tender in the gospel? 19 DON L. SEARLE What my grandson’s cry for help taught me about faith and VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE Heavenly Father’s kindness. The Family Is Central Life-Changing Leadership 69 to the Creator’s Plan 23 Latter-day Saints share testimonies of how strong leadership skills can help build the Church. 50 60 Band of Brothers Tempering Our Tempers 28 ELDER JOSEPH B. WIRTHLIN 54 DOUGLAS E. BRINLEY What do great leaders have in common? Mastering our tempers can bring peace and love to our homes. Questions and Answers A Battle of Pride 34 How can I make Easter more Christ centered 58 DALE SMITH for my family and me? Although I knew the Book of Mormon contained little on the kinds of problems I was facing, I decided to see if there might Joseph and Emma’s Family be a message for me. 39 A look at the family of Joseph and Emma Hale Smith. Dating and the Eternal Perspective Starting from Scratch 60 KIMBERLY REID 42 CONSTANCE PALMER LEWIS A battle rages against the family, undermining our attempts If you are the first to gather your family history, this article to find an eternal partner. But we have reason to hope. is for you. Living a Balanced Life Helping Children Cope with Traumatic Situations 64 ELDER ROBERT F. ORTON 46 JANELE WILLIAMS Lessons I learned as a young adult about balance. Our newborn daughter was the one who was sick, so why was our toddler struggling? DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL? About Trauma Parents, teachers, and leaders: How have the Church magazines helped 49 CLAIGH H. JENSEN you in your responsibilities? Do you use articles and other resources in the Some tips for helping those who have experienced traumatic magazines as you carry out your duties? How have they affected you or those with whom you work? Tell us about your experiences—the more spe- situations. cific, the better. Please label your submission “Using Church Magazines” and send it by March 31. Changing Behavior—One Verse at a Time We also welcome other submissions that show the gospel of Jesus Christ 50 DEBRA L. ADAMS at work in your life. Ensign Magazine Writers’ Guidelines are posted at Before my husband died, our family had tried studying the http://ensign.lds.org under “Resources.” scriptures. Now we needed them more than ever. Send submissions to [email protected] or Ensign Editorial, 50 E. North Temple Street, Room 2420, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3220, USA. Include your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, ward (or branch), and stake Beetle Traps and Scripture Study (or district). Because of the volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge JANA TROSETH receipt. Authors whose work is selected for publication will be notified. If you 53 would like your manuscript, photos, art, or other material returned, please I didn’t neglect my garden. Why was I neglecting include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. my testimony? The Ensign can be found on the Internet at http://ensign.lds.org 2 FEBRUARY 2008 VOLUME 38 • NUMBER 2 AN OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS The First Presidency: Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring 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, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook 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 Assistant Managing Editor: LaRene Porter Gaunt Senior Editors: Linda Stahle Cooper, Michael R. Morris, Judith M. Paller, Joshua J. Perkey 58 14 Assistant Editor: Melissa Merrill Editorial Staff: Susan Barrett, Ryan Carr, Jenifer L. Greenwood, USING THIS ISSUE R. Val Johnson, Adam C. Olson, DEPARTMENTS GOSPEL TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE Laurel Teuscher Effectively leading. Do you Editorial Intern: Jennifer Lynn Williams LESSONS FROM THE Adversity, 46 Leadership, 23 Senior Secretary: Christy Banz remember an influential leader Sally J. Odekirk BOOK OF MORMON Agency, 11, 20, 54 Love, 46, 75 Publications Assistant: in your life? After reading “Life- Balance, 64 Marriage, 60 Marketing Manager: Larry Hiller Changing Leadership” (p. 23) After the Manner Book of Mormon, Missionary Work, Managing Art Director: M. M. Kawasaki and “Band of Brothers” (p. 28), of Happiness 73 70, 73, 74 Art Director: J. Scott Knudsen 14 Church History, 39 Music, 75 Senior Designers: C. Kimball Bott, think about what made the ELDER JOHN B. DICKSON Colleen Hinckley Comfort, 19 Obedience, 14, Design and Production Staff: leader you remember an effec- The closer we come to living Communication, 74 20, 71 Cali R. Arroyo, Collette Nebeker Aune, tive one. For tips on leadership in accordance with the Contention, 54, 58 Parenthood, 11, Thomas S. Child, Eric P. Johnsen, Jane Ann Peters, Randall J. Pixton, in your own responsibilities, visit patterns and principles Covenants, 60 46, 54, 69 Scott Van Kampen Dating, 60 Patience, 46 the “Serving in the Church” link Heavenly Father has set, the Printing Director: Craig K. Sedgwick happier and more complete Easter, 34 Prayer, 11 Distribution Director: Randy J. Benson on LDS.org. Faith, 4, 11, 14, 19, Pride, 58 Choosing happiness. Both we will be. © 2008 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. 28, 50, 71 Priesthood All rights reserved. The Ensign (ISSN Elder John B. Dickson and Elder Choosing Liberty Family, 50, 54, Blessings, 72 0884-1136) is published monthly by The Craig A. Cardon of the Seventy and Eternal Life 69, 74 Priorities, 28 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 20 Family History, 42 Protection, 71 50 E. North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, testify of the happiness that ELDER CRAIG A. CARDON UT 84150-3220, USA. Periodicals Postage Family Home Repentance, 11, Paid at Salt Lake City, Utah. comes from obeying the com- Choosing liberty and eternal Evening, 75 54 To subscribe: By phone, call 1-800-537- mandments (see pp. 14 and life brings the greatest Friendship, 28, Reverence, 74 5971 to order using Visa, MasterCard, 20). As you study the Book of happiness we can know. 60, 70 Scripture Study, Discover Card, or American Express. Happiness, 14, 50, 53, 58 Online, go to ldscatalog.com. By mail, Mormon in Sunday School, look send $10 U.S. check or money order to 20, 64 Service, 23 for patterns that reflect this. LATTER-DAY SAINT Distribution Services, P.O. Box 26368, Salt 70 VOICES Holy Ghost, 4, 64 Sharing Time, 75 Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA. Consider discussing in your next Inspiration, 58 Teaching, 4 To change address: Send both old and family home evening the corre- Blessings of the priesthood, Jesus Christ, Unity, 28 new address information to Distribution the Holy Ghost, the Book of 10, 34 Young Adults, Services at the above address. Please allow lation between obedience and 60 days for changes to take effect. happiness, citing examples from Mormon, and missionary Joseph Smith, 39 60, 64 work. Text and visual material in the Ensign may the Book of Mormon. be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use. Visual material may Finding answers. Several arti- RANDOM not be copied if restrictions are indicated SAMPLER in the credit line with the artwork. Copyright cles in this issue focus on the 74 COMING IN MARCH questions should be addressed to Intellectual answers members found when Writing to missionaries, Property Office, 50 E. North Temple Street, An issue exclusively about Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3011; e-mail: they turned to the scriptures teaching music, helping [email protected]. the Savior Jesus Christ: (see pp. 50, 53, and 58). children to be reverent, and POSTMASTER: Send address changes to How do you feel when you drawing closer as families. apostolic and scriptural Distribution Services, P.O. Box 26368, Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA. find specific answers to your witnesses, personal testimony, NEWS OF THE Canada Post Information: Publication challenges in the scriptures? 76 CHURCH artwork, and more. Agreement #40017431 ENSIGN FEBRUARY 2008 3 FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE Feeding His Lambs BY PRESIDENT HENRY B. EYRING Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.