THE ENSIGN OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • JULY 2012 Covenants: Our Most Important Promises, p. 22 Four Keys to Teaching for Conversion, p. 30 Tender Moments in the Lives of Joseph and Emma Smith, p. 40 Martin Harris: Patterns of Humility and Repentance, p. 56 Ensign 2010 SANDRA B. RAST, MAY NOT BE COPIED MAY 2010 SANDRA B. RAST, © Miracle of the Quail, by Sandra B. Rast In 1846 the last of the Latter-day Saints were driven out of Nauvoo, Illinois, USA. Most of them were poor, sick, or aged. With few resources, they ferried across the Mississippi River and set up a temporary camp. Amid that suffering, hundreds of quail flew into and fell into the camp. They were so tame that the Saints could catch them with their hands, providing much-needed food for the starving Saints. Contents July 2012 Volume 42 • Number 7 FEATURES 10 Never Give Up Al and Eva Fry Thirty-five years. Countless prayers. One major miracle. 15 Facing the Future with Hope Elder José A. Teixeira How can we be positive about the present and the future? 18 Take Your Tents and Flee Kevin Hinckley Despite the growing wickedness in the world, we can find safety in the gospel. 21 Waiting on the Lord, Renewing Our Strength 4 Christy Nielson A verse in Isaiah taught me that “waiting on the Lord” is different from “just waiting.” MESSAGES 22 Understanding Our Covenants with God FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE An overview of our most important promises. 4 Always in the Middle 26 When Good Plans Don’t President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Work Out Stephanie J. Burns VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE Four young adults share how they found happiness 7 Demonstrating Our Discipleship through in following their “plan B.” Love and Service 36 The Strength of Our Heritage Elder L. Tom Perry ON THE COVER The e nsign of The ChurC h of Jesus ChrisT of LaTTer-day s ainT s • JuLy 2012 Front: Photo illustration Pioneer faith is needed as by Christina Smith. much in the world today as Back: Photograph by in any period of time. 22 Robert Casey. Covenants: Our Most Important Promises, p. 22 Four Keys to Teaching for Conversion, p. 30 Tender Moments in the Lives of Joseph and Emma: Joseph and Emma Smith, p. 40 40 Martin Harris: Patterns of Humility and Repentance, p. 56 Moments in Their Lives Art and artifacts associated with five events in the lives of Joseph and Emma Smith. 45 Poem: Pioneer Farewell Don L. Searle A pioneer lament on leaving Nauvoo intertwined with modern-day rejoicing Ensign at Nauvoo’s rebirth. July 2012 1 30 52 DEPARTMENTS 46 Public Affairs: Linking Church and Community Philip M. Volmar Reaching out to the community helps build up 8 APRIL CONFERENCE NOTEBOOK the kingdom of God. SERVING IN THE CHURCH 52 Abish: A Common Servant, a True Testimony Heather B. Moore 30 The Lesson Is inside the Learner When Abish finally was able to act on her Russell T. Osguthorpe testimony, hundreds of lives were changed. Four principles of effective learning and teaching. 56 The Life of Martin Harris: Patterns of Humility and Repentance WE TALK OF CHRIST Larry E. Morris The life of Martin Harris 34 A River of Peace illustrates that humility allows Lanise Heaton the Spirit to be with us and Despite my grief, I moved forward with my that repentance is the key to head held up in faith and hope in Heavenly remaining humble. Father and Jesus Christ. 62 When He Stopped Believing 65 FAMILY HOME EVENING IDEAS Name withheld After I learned that my hus- 56 LATTER-DAY SAINT VOICES band no longer believed in 70 the Church, I found spiritual healing through the Spirit. 74 NEWS OF THE CHURCH 66 In the Aftermath of the Tornado 79 IN OTHER CHURCH MAGAZINES Melissa Merrill How members of the Church in Joplin, Missouri, responded to the May 2011 tornado that struck UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN their community. 80 Unspotted from the World Julie Thompson I wondered why I was at the temple to clean COMING IN AUGUST when nothing was dirty. But I soon realized ● Commitment to duty in the life of that cleaning wasn’t really the point. President Thomas S. Monson ● Dealing with disaster ● Celebrating a day of service 2 Ensign moreOnline ENSIGN ONLINE A MAGAZINE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS If you’re looking to get more from your CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Church magazine experience, check out July 2012 Volume 42 • Number 7 additional features at ensign .lds .org. The First Presidency: Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring, Dieter F. Uchtdorf SEE YOUR FAMILY TREE IN A WHOLE NEW WAY The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, Discover a quick new way for you and Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, your family to see the names in your M. Russell Ballard, Richard G. Scott, new.familysearch.org family tree. Visit Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, createfan.com to print a colorful D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen fan chart of your pedigree. Editor: Paul B. Pieper Advisers: Keith R. Edwards, Christoffel FIND ANSWERS TO BASIC Golden Jr., Per G. Malm GOSPEL QUESTIONS Managing Director: David L. Frischknecht Do you wonder what to say Editorial Director: Vincent A. Vaughn when someone asks you ques- Graphics Director: Allan R. Loyborg tions about the basic beliefs of Managing Editor: R. Val Johnson The Church of Jesus Christ of Assistant Managing Editor: Latter-day Saints? Visit mormon LaRene Porter Gaunt Senior Editors: Melissa Merrill, .org/faq/ to find simple and concise informa- Michael R. Morris, Joshua J. Perkey tion to help you answer more than 30 of the Associate Editor: Lia McClanahan most frequently asked questions about the Editorial Staff: Susan Barrett, Ryan Carr, Church and our beliefs. Jenifer L. Greenwood, Adam C. Olson, Faith Watson, Melissa Zenteno Editorial Intern: Stephanie S. Smith SHARE YOUR TALENTS Create photos, videos, music, and other Managing Art Director: J. Scott Knudsen Art Director: Scott Van Kampen media and share them with the Church Senior Designers: C. Kimball Bott, and other members. Visit lds.org/service/ Colleen Hinckley, Eric Johnsen, Scott M. Mooy volunteer-and-contribute/create. Production Staff: Collette Nebeker Aune, Howard G. Brown, Julie Burdett, Kathleen Howard, Denise Kirby, Ginny J. Nilson, Jane DO YOU HAVE A STORY Ann Peters TO TELL? Prepress: Joshua Dennis We welcome donated submissions showing Printing Director: Craig K. Sedgwick the gospel of Jesus Christ at work in your Distribution Director: Evan Larsen life. On each submission, please include your © 2012 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. name, address, telephone number, e-mail All rights reserved. The Ensign address, and the name of your ward and (ISSN 0884-1136) is published monthly by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stake (or branch and district). 50 E. North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT Please submit articles through ensign 84150-0024, USA. Periodicals Postage Paid at .lds.org, or send them to Ensign Editorial, 50 Salt Lake City, Utah. E. North Temple St., Rm. 2420, Salt Lake City, Copyright information: Text and visual UT 84150-0024, USA. Authors whose work is material in the Ensign may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home selected for publication will be notified. use. Visual material may not be copied if restrictions are indicated in the credit line with the artwork. Copyright questions SUBSCRIBE TO OR RENEW TO CHANGE ADDRESS should be addressed to Intellectual Send both old and new address information Property Office, 50 E. North Temple Street, THE ENSIGN Salt Lake City, UT 84150-0018; e-mail: Online: Visit store.lds.org. to Distribution Services, P.O. Box 26368, Salt [email protected]. By phone: In the United States and Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA. Please allow POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Canada call 1-800-537-5971. 60 days for changes to take effect. Distribution Services, P.O. Box 26368, By mail: Send U.S. $10 check or money Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA. order to Distribution Services, P.O. Box Canada Post Information: Publication 26368, Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0368, Agreement #40017431. USA. July 2012 3 FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency ALWAYS IN THE Middle y many world calendars, July marks the middle always being in the middle of their missions will embolden of the year. While the beginnings and endings of and energize these faithful representatives of the Lord. As it Bthings are celebrated and remembered, the middle is with full-time missionaries, so it is with all of us. of things often goes unnoticed. Beginnings are times for making resolutions, for creating We Are Always in the Middle plans, for bursts of energy. Endings are times for winding This change in perspective is more than a simple trick down and may involve feelings of completion or loss. But of the mind. There is a sublime truth behind the idea that with the proper outlook, considering ourselves as in the we are always in the middle. If we look at our location on middle of things can help us not only to understand life a map, we are tempted to say we are at a beginning. But a little better but also to live it a little more meaningfully. if we look more closely, wherever we are is simply in the middle of a larger place. The Middle of Missionary Work As it is with space, so it is with time.