THE ENSIGN OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • SEPTEMBER 2008 Learning by the Spirit, p. 24 Be a Missionary All Your Life, p. 44 Staying Active When a Spouse Is Not, p. 58 How Do You Feel about the Ensign? p. 79 COURTESY OF THE MUSEUM OF CHURCH HISTORY AND ART, FROM THE 2006 INTERNATIONAL ART COMPETITION, ART FROM THE 2006 INTERNATIONAL AND ART, OF THE MUSEUM CHURCH HISTORY COURTESY 36" X 48" NOT BE COPIED. ORIGINAL OIL ON CANVAS DALL, MAY © 2005 ROSE DATOC Joseph and Emma, by Rose Datoc Dall On January 20, 1840, Joseph Smith wrote to his wife, Emma, from Chester County, Pennsylvania: “My dear Emma, my heart is entwined around you and those little ones. I want you to remember me. Tell all the children that I love them” ( Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 242). Contents SEPTEMBER 2008 70-6.&Н/6.#&3 Hope and Healing in Recovering from Abuse, p. 36 THE ENSIGN OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS tSEPTEMBER 2008 Learning by the Spirit, p. 24 Be a Missionary All Your Life, p. 44 Staying Active When a Spouse Is Not, p. 58 How Do You Feel about the Ensign? p. 79 418 ON THE COVER MESSAGES FEATURE ARTICLES Photograph by Jerry Garns FIRST PRESIDENCY “My Dear and Beloved Companion”: MESSAGE 10 The Letters of Joseph and Emma Smith $"30-$03/8"--."%4&/ Be One The love Joseph and Emma expressed through their letters 4 13&4*%&/5 sustained them through many challenges. )&/3:#&:3*/( We can experience unity in My Father, My Hero this life and qualify to have it 16 (3&()6%/"-- forever in the world to come. When a stranger called my dad a hero, I began to realize what I could learn from him. VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE Spiritual Promptings 18 Inspiration from the Holy Ghost can bless The Gospel of Jesus and protect us. 65 Christ Teaches the Eternal Potential of the Toothpaste on the Mirror Children of God 23 #3:$&31&5&34&/ Small things have a way of growing large when we dwell on them. ENSIGN SEPTEMBER 2008 1 44 55 The Power of Diligent Learning Primary Songs Blessed Me 24 ELDER JAY E. JENSEN 55 JENNIFER A. LYNN Get more out of your Church classes by learning how to learn. It was not until after my stroke that I realized the long- reaching effects my calling had in my life. Chalk It Up 29 ROBB JONES Questions and Answers Often underappreciated, the chalkboard can be a powerful 58 What are some ways I can strengthen myself and teaching tool. progress spiritually when my spouse is not supportive of my Church activity? My Neighbor’s Magazine 35 LAURA PILCHER Ensign Reader Survey I knew little about the Latter-day Saints until the mailman 79 Do you have feedback to offer about the Ensign? We accidentally delivered an Ensign magazine to our mailbox. want to hear from you. Hope and Healing in Recovering from Abuse 36 SARAH E. MILLER DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL? A therapist suggests answers to some questions commonly The Ensign invites you to submit how-to articles for Random asked by those who have been abused. Sampler. (See page 66 for examples.) Articles should not exceed 500 words and might focus on any of these topics related to A Time of Harvest practical gospel living: Joys of the harvest portrayed in art. 40 Н5FBDIJOHJEFBTGPSIPNFPSDIVSDI FTQFDJBMMZGPSGBNJMZIPNF Be a Missionary All Your Life evening Н1FSTPOBMPSGBNJMZԣOBODJBMNBOBHFNFOUUJQT 44 ELDER QUENTIN L. COOK Our challenge is to share the eternally signifi cant gospel so our Н(FOFSBMIFBMUIBOEQIZTJDBMԣUOFTTUJQT brothers and sisters can fi nd peace, happiness, and exaltation. Н)PNFQSPEVDUJPOBOETUPSBHFJEFBT Н(PTQFMSFMBUFEIPMJEBZUSBEJUJPOTUIBUCVJMEUFTUJNPOZ Coming to Church, Becoming Converted Please label submissions “Random Sampler” and send them by 50 DALE M. VALENTINE /PWFNCFS I asked seven converts what single factor contributed most to :PVDBOԣOEUIJTBOEPUIFSDBMMTGPSBSUJDMFTPOMJOFBUIUUQ their conversion. Their answers surprised me. ensign.lds.org. Ensign.BHB[JOF8SJUFSTД(VJEFMJOFTBSFQPTUFE on the same page under “Resources.” I Do My Part, and God Does the Rest Send submissions to [email protected] or Ensign&EJUPSJBM &/PSUI 52 JENNY PIDERIT DE LA MAZA 5FNQMF4USFFU 3PPN 4BMU-BLF$JUZ 65 64"*ODMVEFZPVS What Mother taught me about perseverance in our callings. OBNF BEESFTT UFMFQIPOFOVNCFS FNBJMBEESFTT XBSE PSCSBODI BOETUBLF PS EJTUSJDU #FDBVTFPGUIFWPMVNFPGTVCNJTTJPOTXFSFDFJWF XFDBOOPUBDLOPXMFEHF Casual Gratitude SFDFJQU"VUIPSTXIPTFXPSLJTTFMFDUFEGPSQVCMJDBUJPOXJMMCFOPUJԣFE*GZPV XPVMEMJLFZPVSNBOVTDSJQU QIPUPT BSU PSPUIFSNBUFSJBMSFUVSOFE QMFBTFJODMVEF 54 ARLENE CALKINS BTFMGBEESFTTFE TUBNQFEFOWFMPQF As my grandson screamed from a burn, I wanted to suffer in his place. Then I remembered who had suffered in my place. THE ENSIGN CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT http://ensign.lds.org 2 SEPTEMBER 2008 VOLUMEН/6.#&R 9 AN OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 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, Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson Editor: Spencer J. Condie Advisers: Gary J. Coleman, Kenneth Johnson, Yoshihiko Kikuchi, W. Douglas Shumway Managing Director: David L. Frischknecht Editorial Director: Victor D. Cave Graphics Director: Allan R. Loyborg Managing Editor: Don L. Searle Assistant Managing Editor: LaRene Porter Gaunt Senior Editors: Linda Stahle Cooper, Larry Hiller, Michael R. Morris, 50 66 Judith M. Paller, Joshua J. Perkey Assistant Editor: Melissa Merrill Editorial Staff: Susan Barrett, Ryan Carr, Jenifer L. Greenwood, R. Val Johnson, USING THIS ISSUE DEPARTMENTS GOSPEL TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE Adam C. Olson, Laurel Teuscher Editorial Intern: Megan Tate Wyman Sing Primary songs. In Activation, 52, 58 Jesus Christ, Senior Secretary: Christy Banz LESSONS FROM THE Atonement, 36, 54 36, 67 “Primary Songs Blessed Me” BOOK OF MORMON Callings, 55, 67 Joseph Smith, 10 Managing Art Director: Children, 54, 67 Journals, 71 M. M. Kawasaki (p. 55), Author Jennifer Lynn Art Director: J. Scott Knudsen Men of a Sound Church Magazines, Learning, 24, 29, 65 talks about the power of music in Senior Designers: C. Kimball Bott, 32 Understanding 35 Love, 4, 10, 71 Colleen Hinckley her life. Did you know that you DANIEL K JUDD Compassion, 54 Marriage, 4, 10, Design and Production Staff: Conversion, 35, 23, 58 Cali R. Arroyo, Collette Nebeker Aune, What does it mean to become can order the Primary songbook, 44, 50, 52 Missionary Work, Thomas S. Child, Eric P. Johnsen, men and women of “a sound 44, 50 Scott M. Mooy, Jane Ann Peters, as well as recordings of the music Courage, 62 Scott Van Kampen understanding?” Divine Nature, 65 Music, 55, 66 (with or without words) online? Endurance, 10 Parenthood, 10, Printing Director: Craig K. Sedgwick Distribution Director: Randy J. Benson Visit www.ldscatalog.com. Looking to the Lord Faith, 58, 62 16, 58, 65 MARY N. COOK Family, 66 Peace, 62 © 2008 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Remember your conversion. 62 All rights reserved. The Ensign (ISSN Let the Lord expand your Family History, 68, Primary, 52, 55 69, 70 Prophets, 32 0884-1136) is published monthly by The Several articles in this issue focus vision. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Family Home Repentance, 32 50 E. North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, on the power of personal conver- Evening, 67 Reverence, 67 UT 84150-3220, USA. Periodicals Postage RANDOM Fatherhood, 16 Sacrament, 4 Paid at Salt Lake City, Utah. sion (see pp. 44, 50, 52, and 58). SAMPLER 66 Fellowship, 66 Scriptures, 32 To subscribe: By phone, call Think about your own conver- Reaching out to a ward, to Fidelity, 10 Self-Reliance, 40 1-800-537-5971 to order using Visa, sion and record your thoughts grandchildren, and in a Forgiveness, 23, 36 Service, 16, 62 MasterCard, Discover Card, or American choir; helping children be Friendship, 67 Single Adults, 62 Express. Online, go to ldscatalog.com. 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Visual material may not 4, 10, 16, 23, and 58 for ideas be copied if restrictions are indicated in the NEWS OF THE credit line with the artwork. Copyright on and examples of nurturing 73 CHURCH COMING IN questions should be addressed to Intellectual relationships. OCTOBER Property Office, 50 E. North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3011; e-mail: Look for articles on: [email protected]. Н1SPUFDUJOHPVSGBNJMJFTJO POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the last days. Distribution Services, P.O. Box 26368, Salt Н5IFCMFTTJOHTPGWJTJUJOH Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA. UFBDIJOH Canada Post Information: Publication Н#FDPNJOHDPOWFSUFE Agreement #40017431 ENSIGN SEPTEMBER 2008 3 FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE BY PRESIDENT HENRY B. EYRING of Adam and Eve had become subject to the BeFirst Counselor in the First Presidency Onetemptations of Satan.