Studying the Old Testament, pp. 39–45 Your GuideCOVER to Using STORY the CreatingEnsign, p. 10 TheHeavenly New Gospel Principles ManualHomes , p. 28 Finding The ComfortFirst Sunday in King Relief SocietyBenjamins Meeting, Counsel, p. p.2532 Making the Most of Our Single Years, p. 26 COURTESY OF ORSON SCOTT AND KRISTINE A. CARD COURTESY Judgments of Job, by Joseph Brickey After Job’s property and children are destroyed, he is smitten with boils (see Job 1–2). Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, come to comfort him but soon begin to reprove him (see Job 4–5, 8, 11). Nevertheless, Job says, “Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. “Though [God] slay me, yet will I trust in him . “He also shall be my salvation” ( Job 13:13, 15–16). Contents January 2010 >WT]UM6]UJMZ FEATURES 10 Your Guide to Using the Ensign Don L. Searle Tips for getting the most out of your magazine. 39 Prophets of the Old Testament Artists depict some of the prophets whose stories teach lessons for modern living. 42 “Moses, My Son” 4 Elder Ronald A. Rasband Is God really interested in you? 46 Making Mountains Adam C. Olson A tour guide in Taiwan shows how mortal challenges help prepare us to reach our ultimate goal of eternal life. MESSAGES OUR HOMES, OUR FAMILIES FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE 4 Hold on a Little Longer 18 Coming to My Ancestors’ Aid Louise Skyles President Dieter F. Uchtdorf An amazing family-history VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE journey. 9 Becoming Self-Reliant 21 How We Learned about Happiness Lidia Evgenevna Shmakova Our family was falling apart. ON THE COVER Then we met the missionaries. Daniel in the Lions’ Den 22 By Clark Kelley Price LIVING AS LATTER-DAY SAINTS 22 The Best Is Yet to Be Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Finding faith for the future. 58 They Spoke to Us | What Should We Do When We Don’t Know What to Do? Elder Stanley G. Ellis How to act when we lack perfect knowledge. 60 Gospel in My Life | With A Life Hanging in the Balance Samantha M. Wills Danger is averted as a paramedic heeds the promptings of the Spirit. January 2010 62 38 TEACHING, LEARNING, SERVING DEPARTMENTS 28 The New Gospel Principles Manual Elder Russell M. Nelson 14 WHAT WE BELIEVE Introducing the new course of study for Priesthood God Is Truly Our Father and Relief Society in 2010 and 2011. How do we know there is a God? WE TALK OF CHRIST 32 Studying the Work of Relief Society 16 Julie B. Beck Walking through the Valley of the How the fi rst Sunday of the month Shadow of Death in Relief Society is different from Michael R. Blair other weeks. How hope in Christ gives me strength in my battle with cancer. BY STUDY AND BY FAITH 38 SERVING IN THE CHURCH 50 Gospel Classic | Solving Who, Me? Teach? Emotional Problems in the Lord’s Tips for teaching with confi dence and Own Way effectiveness. President Boyd K. Packer O vercoming emotional and 50 66 LATTER-DAY SAINT VOICES spiritual challenges. 70 FAMILY HOME EVENING IDEAS GOSPEL SOLUTIONS SMALL AND SIMPLE THINGS 52 The Courage to Comfort 71 Amy Weir NEWS OF THE CHURCH W hat can you do when a friend suffers a tragedy? 74 With a little courage, you can do a lot of good. 79 IN OTHER CHURCH MAGAZINES 54 Widows and Widowers: Moving forward 80 UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN with Faith “I Will be Found of You” Kersten Campbell Aaron L. West No matter how great the loss or deep the sorrow, Heavenly Father wants us to search for Him, happiness and healing come through the gospel of but He also wants us to fi nd Him. He knows Jesus Christ. how happy we will be when we do. PROVIDENT LIVING 62 Being Independent, Being Prepared Lisa Barton COMING IN FEBRUARY How these young adults are applying principles of ê-PPLJOHUPXBSEUIFUFNQMF preparedness to their busy, mobile lives. ê-FBSOJOHUPMPWFMFBSOJOH ê$ISJTUBOEUIFDVMUVSFPGUIF Old Testament 2 The Ensign ensign.lds.org Online AN OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS JANUARY 2010 VOLUMEН/6.#&R 1 Get more from your Church magazine experience—check out these extras (and others), available at ensign.lds.org. The First Presidency: 5IPNBT4.POTPO )FOSZ#&ZSJOH USING THE ENSIGN : %JFUFS'6DIUEPSG A look at how members of the Church are using their magazine. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: #PZE,1BDLFS -5PN1FSSZ SOLVING PROBLEMS: 3VTTFMM./FMTPO %BMMJO)0BLT Watch President Boyd K. Packer’s .3VTTFMM#BMMBSE 3JDIBSE(4DPUU 1978 address on which the article on p. 50 is based. 3PCFSU%)BMFT +FGGSFZ3)PMMBOE %BWJE"#FEOBS 2VFOUJO-$PPL A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PARAMEDIC: Watch video about %5PEE$ISJTUPGGFSTPO /FJM-"OEFSTFO Samantha Wills and her work as a paramedic. (Her story Editor:4QFODFS+$POEJF appears on p. 60.) Advisers:,FJUI,)JMCJH :PTIJIJLP,JLVDIJ 1BVM#1JFQFS GETTING STARTED WITH FAMILY Managing Director: HISTORY: Want to begin your family his- %BWJE-'SJTDILOFDIU tory but aren’t sure how to start? Materials Editorial Director:7JDUPS%$BWF Graphics Director:"MMBO3-PZCPSH in our beginner’s kit may help. Managing Editor: Don L. Searle Assistant Managing Editor: -B3FOF1PSUFS(BVOU Senior Editors: .BUUIFX%'MJUUPO -BSSZ)JMMFS .JDIBFM3.PSSJT +PTIVB+1FSLFZ Assistant Editor: .FMJTTB.FSSJMM Editorial Staff:4VTBO#BSSFUU 3ZBO$BSS +FOJGFS-(SFFOXPPE 37BM+PIOTPO "EBN$0MTPO -BVSFM5FVTDIFS Editorial Intern: )BZMFZ(:BUFT Senior Secretary:"OOJF-+POFT Art Director:+4DPUU,OVETFO Senior Designers:$,JNCBMM#PUU $PMMFFO)JODLMFZ HOW WE KNOW: Read weekly stories of members’ Design and Production Staff: conversions to the gospel of Jesus Christ. $BMJ3"SSPZP $PMMFUUF/FCFLFS"VOF 5IPNBT4$IJME &SJD1+PIOTFO DID YOU KNOW? You can tune 4DPUU..PPZ +BOF"OO1FUFST 4DPUU7BO,BNQFO into Mormon Channel, an online Prepress:#ZSPO8BSOFS radio service, 24 hours a day for Printing Director:$SBJH,4FEHXJDL Church-sponsored programming, Distribution Director:3BOEZ+#FOTPO podcasts, and downloadable © 2010 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. shows. Go to radio.lds.org. All rights reserved. The Ensign (ISSN JTQVCMJTIFENPOUIMZCZ5IF $IVSDIPG+FTVT$ISJTUPG-BUUFSEBZ4BJOUT &/PSUI5FNQMF4USFFU 4BMU-BLF$JUZ include your name, address, telephone num- 65 64"1FSJPEJDBMT1PTUBHF DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL? ber, e-mail address, ward (or branch) and 1BJEBU4BMU-BLF$JUZ 6UBI Can you tell us about a time that family prayer made a difference in your day? How stake (or district). To change address:4FOECPUIPMEBOE PLEASE SUBMIT ARTICLES through OFXBEESFTTJOGPSNBUJPOUP%JTUSJCVUJPO has maintaining consistent habits of holding 4FSWJDFTBUUIFBCPWFBEESFTT1MFBTFBMMPX family prayer blessed your family over time? ensign.lds.org, or send them to Ensign Edi- EBZTGPSDIBOHFTUPUBLFFGGFDU Please label your submission “Family Prayer” torial, 50 E. North Temple St., Rm. 2420, Salt Lake City, UT, 84150-3220, USA. We regret 5FYUBOEWJTVBM and submit it by February 19. Copyright information: that we cannot acknowledge receipt or NBUFSJBMJOUIFEnsignNBZCFDPQJFEGPS We also welcome submissions on other JODJEFOUBM OPODPNNFSDJBMDIVSDIPSIPNF topics showing the gospel of Jesus Christ at return manuscripts. Authors whose work is VTF7JTVBMNBUFSJBMNBZOPUCFDPQJFEJG work in your life. On each submission, please selected for publication will be notified. SFTUSJDUJPOTBSFJOEJDBUFEJOUIFDSFEJUMJOF XJUIUIFBSUXPSL$PQZSJHIURVFTUJPOT TIPVMECFBEESFTTFEUP*OUFMMFDUVBM1SPQFSUZ SUBSCRIBE TO OR RENEW THE ENSIGN MAGAZINE 0GGJDF &/PSUI5FNQMF4USFFU 4BMU -BLF$JUZ 65FNBJM Online: Go to ldscatalog.com. By phone: Call 1-800-537-5971 to . [email protected] order using Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, or American Express. POSTMASTER:4FOEBEESFTTDIBOHFTUP By mail: Send $10 U.S. check or money order to Distribution %JTUSJCVUJPO4FSWJDFT 10#PY 4BMU -BLF$JUZ 65 64" Services, P.O. Box 26368, Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA. Canada Post Information:1VCMJDBUJPO "HSFFNFOU January 2010 FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency HoldA LITTLE LONGER on One of the enduring lessons of the Kirtland period is that our spirits need constant nourishment. We need to stay close to the Lord every day if we are to survive the adversity that we all must face. ast summer my wife and I the plan of salvation, priesthood took our twin grandsons authority, the Word of Wisdom, to Kirtland, Ohio. It was a tithing, the temple, and the law of Lspecial and precious opportunity consecration. 1 for us to spend time with them It was a period of unparalleled before they left on their missions. spiritual growth. Indeed, the Spirit During our visit there, we of God like a fire was burning. learned to better understand the Moses, Elijah, and many other circumstances of the Prophet Joseph Smith heavenly beings appeared during this time, and the Saints who lived in Kirtland. That era including our Heavenly Father and His Son, of Church history is known as a time of severe the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. 2 trials but also supreme blessings. One of the many revelations Joseph BY DEL PARSON; PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTINA SMITH PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DEL PARSON; In Kirtland the Lord bestowed some of received in Kirtland was a revelation he called the most remarkable heavenly manifestations the “olive leaf . plucked from the Tree of and spiritual gifts this world has ever expe- Paradise, and the Lord’s message of peace to rienced. Sixty-five sections of the Doctrine us” (introduction to D&C 88). This remarkable and Covenants were received in Kirtland and revelation includes the sublime invitation, surrounding areas—revelations that brought “Draw near unto me and I will draw near new light and knowledge about topics such unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find THE LORD APPEARS IN THE KIRTLAND TEMPLE, THE LORD APPEARS IN KIRTLAND as the Second Coming, caring for the needy, me” (D&C 88:63).