FOR YOUTH OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS THE New EraMAY 2011 SPECIAL SECTION— GENERAL CONFERENCE AND YOU Getting Real 24 The First Presidency: Thomas S. Monson, Elyssa J. Kirkham Henry B. Eyring, I got too caught up in playing video games. Dieter F. Uchtdorf I needed to get back to the real world. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, Mormonad: Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Foul Language 27 Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Following the Leader 28 Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen Sally Johnson Odekirk Editor: Paul B. Pieper Learning to be a good leader takes Advisers: Stanley G. Ellis, learning to be a good follower. Christoffel Golden Jr., Yoshihiko Kikuchi Managing Director: The Worst Cake Ever 32 David L. Frischknecht Marie Elwood-Hendricks Evaluation, Planning, and Editorial Director: The cake was disgusting, but making it Vincent A. Vaughn taught a memorable lesson. Graphics Director: Allan R. Loyborg Managing Editor: The Extra Smile 35 Brittany Beattie Assistant Managing Editor: GENERAL CONFERENCE IS Janet Thomas FOR YOU p. 2 Do the Math 36 Associate Editors: David A. Edwards, Richard M. Romney Paul VanDenBerghe One plus one makes two who were deter- Publications Assistant: Sally J. Odekirk General Conference Is for You 2 mined to make their quorum grow. Editorial Intern: Excerpts, quotes, and responses from our Whitney Hinckley Editorial Staff: Susan Barrett, readers about the April general conference. Reaching for the Summit 41 Ryan Carr, Mindy Raye Friedman, Jenifer L. Greenwood, R. Val Rjani Kaya as told to Kerri Smith Johnson, Adam C. Olson How I Know: A champion bowler compares life to Art Director: Brent Christison The Right Decision 20 succeeding in her sport. Senior Designer: Fay P. Andrus Laura Ward Design and Production Staff: Collette Nebeker Aune, Eric P. How did I know if I was making the right Johnsen, Scott M. Mooy, Jane Prayer in the Projection Booth 42 Ann Peters, Scott Van Kampen decision? The Spirit let me know. Kenneth Hurst Prepress: Byron Warner I asked the Lord if I should continue to work Printing Director: Questions and Answers 22 on Sundays. The answer to my prayer was Craig K. Sedgwick Distribution Director: “My friend isn’t 16 yet, but she’s dating clear. Evan Larsen and lies about it. How can I help her see © 2011 by Intellectual that dating so early isn’t a good thing to do?” Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Periodicals Postage Paid at Salt Lake City, Utah. The New Era (ISSN 0164-5285) is published monthly by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 50 E. North Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3220, USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Distribution Services, Church Magazines, P.O. Box 26368, Salt Lake City, UT 84126- 0368, USA. Canada Post Information: Publication Agreement #40017431. FOLLOWING THE LEADER p. 28 New Era THE WORST CAKE EVER The New Era Magazine p. 32 Volume 41, Number 5 May 2011 Official monthly publication for youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Editorial Offices: New Era 50 E. North Temple St. Rm. 2420 Salt Lake City, UT 84150-0024, USA E-mail Address: [email protected] To Change Address: Send old and new address information to: Distribution Services P.O. Box 26368 Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA. Please allow 60 days for changes to take effect. Cover: See the report from general conference starting on page 2. Weighed Down, Lifted Up 45 Cover photography: Leslie Nilsson (front) D. Lowell Brown Making time for prayer and scripture study eased my burdens. TO SUBMIT MATERIAL: Instant Messages 46 Send stories, articles, photos, poems, and ideas online Mom knew what is right; three words helped at newera.lds.org. Click me in school and life; losing baseball and Submit Your Material, and fill in the form. Or e-mail or mail finding music. them to the Editorial Offices address above. For return, include a self-addressed, We’ve Got Mail 48 stamped envelope. TO SUBSCRIBE: By phone: Call 1-800-537- Poem: 5971 to order using Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, The Butterfly 49 or American Express. Online: Go to store.lds.org. Karen Downs By mail: Send $8 U.S. check or money order to Distribu- tion Services, Photo 49 P.O. Box 26368, Salt Lake City, UT Matt Reier 84126-0368, USA. Text and visual material in the New Era may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use. Visual material may not be copied if restrictions are indicated in the credit line Visit us online at with the artwork. Copyright questions should be addressed to Intellectual Property Office, 50 E. www.NewEra.lds.org. North Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT 84150, USA; e-mail [email protected]. May 2011 1 GENERAL CONFERENCE IS FOR YOU WORDS OF THE Prophet Be Examples of Protection from Sin and Evil Integrity “What will protect you from the “We face many chal- sin and evil around you? I maintain lenges in the world today, that a strong testimony of our Savior but I assure you that our and of His gospel will help see you Heavenly Father is mind- through to safety. If you have not read ful of us. He loves each the Book of Mormon, read it. I will not of us and will bless us ask for a show of hands. If you do so President Thomas S. Monson as we seek Him through prayer and prayerfully and with a sincere desire strive to keep His commandments. to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will “We are a global church. Our manifest its truth to you. If it is true— ay we long “ membership is found throughout and it is—then Joseph Smith was a remember the world. May we be good citizens prophet who saw God the Father and the messages of the nations in which we live and His Son, Jesus Christ. The Church is M good neighbors in our communities, true. If you do not already have a testi- we have heard [at this conference],” urged reaching out to those of other faiths mony of these things, do that which is as well as to those of our own. May necessary to obtain one. It is essential President Monson. “As we be examples of honesty and for you to have your own testimony, we receive the issues of integrity wherever we go and in for the testimonies of others will carry the Ensign and Liahona whatever we do.” you only so far. Once obtained, a testi- magazines which will mony needs to be kept vital and alive contain these messages Caution in Movies and Music through obedience to the command- “Many movies and television shows ments of God and through regular in written form, may we portray behavior which is in direct prayer and scripture study. Attend read and study them.” opposition to the laws of God. Do not church. You young men [and women], This section points subject yourself to the innuendo and attend seminary or institute if such is out some messages outright filth which are so often found available to you.” especially pertinent to there. The lyrics in much of today’s music fall in the same category. The Temple Blessings for Youth youth and can help you profanity so prevalent around us today “Those who understand the in your study of general would never have been tolerated in the eternal blessings which come from the conference. not-too-distant past. Sadly, the Lord’s temple know that no sacrifice is too You can also view name is taken in vain over and over great, no price too heavy, no struggle video, download MP3s, again. I am sorry that any of us is too difficult in order to receive those subjected to profane language, and I blessings. or read the text of plead with you not to use it. I implore “Until you have entered the house conference online at you not to say or to do anything of of the Lord and have received all the conference.lds.org. NE which you cannot be proud.” blessings which await you there, you 2 New Era GENERAL CONFERENCE IS FOR YOU have not obtained everything the into the eternities. There is nothing Church has to offer. The all-important else to compare with it in all this and crowning blessings of member- world. Safeguard it, cherish it, love it, ship in the Church are those blessings live worthy of it [see Gordon B. which we receive in the temples of Hinckley, “Personal Worthiness to God. Exercise the Priesthood,” Ensign, May “Now, my young friends who are 2002, 52–59].” in your teenage years, always have the temple in your sights. Do nothing NEmore which will keep you from entering To view President Monson’s full address from the Sunday morning session, visit its doors and partaking of the sacred lds.org/go/511 or use a smartphone to and eternal blessings there. I com- scan the QR code below for quick access (see the back cover for instructions). mend those of you who already go to the temple regularly to perform baptisms for the dead, arising in the very early hours of the morning so you can participate in such baptisms before school begins. I can think of no better way to start the day.” The Gift of the Priesthood “It is up to each of us who hold the priesthood of God to discipline ourselves so that we stand above the ways of the world.