O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2

T H E

COVER STORY:SACRAMENTSERVICE,P. 20

ABOUT YOURBISHOPP. 10

ESCAPING ADEADLY TRAPP. 34

2 T H E N E W E R A

26

The New Era Magazine

Volume 32, Number 10

October 2002

Official monthly publication for youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Editorial Offices:New Era50 E. North TempleSalt Lake City, UT 84150-3225

E-mail address:cur-editorial-newera@ldschurch.org

To Subscribe:Send $8.00 check or moneyorder for the New Era toChurch Magazines Salt Lake Distribution CenterP. O. Box 26368Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0368

Subscription helpline:1-800-537-5971 Credit card orders (Visa,Mastercard, AmericanExpress) may be taken byphone.

Cover: Taking the

sacrament to members

who are sick is a sacred

priesthood duty. See

“Sacrament Service” on

p. 20.

Cover photography:

(front), Matthew Baker,

(back),Welden C.

Andersen

34

ome

Aaronic

Priesthood

bearers dress

neatly in white

shirts, ties,

hospital gowns,

masks . . . See

“Sacrament

Service,” p. 20.

SS

C O N T E N T S

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 3

Words of the Prophet:

Forget Yourself and Go 4President Gordon B. Hinckley

Out of a spirit of appreciation and

gratitude and a sense of duty, each

young man should choose to serve

a mission.

Taking My Own Advice 8Benjamin C. Tyau

I was telling my friend how to get

answers to her prayers, then I

tried my own advice.

Your Friend the Bishop 10Elder Henry B. Eyring

When it’s time to meet in a one-on-

one interview with your bishop, you

won’t find someone scary, you’ll find

a friend.

What Great Brothers Do 14Matt Bennett

My older brothers taught me what

it takes to be a good athlete and a

great man.

Q&A:

Questions and Answers 16One of the deacons in my quorum is so

disruptive that it is nearly impossible to

learn anything from the lessons or enjoy

quorum activities. He never settles down.

How can I help him?

New Era Poster:

Don’t Try Bending

the Rules 19

Sacrament Service 20Matthew Baker

Taking the sacrament to hospital

patients gives these young men new

appreciation for this sacred

ordinance.

Freckles 24Amanda Thomas

My older sister let me know she loved

me by counting my freckles. I used her

unselfish example in letting the children

I was helping know I loved them.

The Voice of His Servants 26The modern prophets give their

testimonies of Jesus Christ as a

witness to this dispensation.

Of All Things 32

Danger Ahead! 34Pornography is spiritually destructive.

Here’s advice on how to avoid it and

how to escape if you are hooked.

Idea List:

Home Improvement 40How can you do your part in making

your family close and loving? Here

are some suggestions.

The Extra Smile 41

What You Are Meant to Be 42Margaret D. Nadauld

Even before this earth life, you were

a son or daughter of God. He trusts

you to perform a grand and glorious

mission during our time here on earth.

Someone’s Angel 46Benjamin Ireland

She had prayed for help and comfort.

Who knew that we would be her

angels?

Reader’s Guide 49

We’ve Got Mail 50

Poem:

Loving Still 51Holly Jo Weston

Photo of the Month 51Lana Leishman

Everything in the New Era may be copied for

incidental, noncommercial Church or home

use unless otherwise indicated. Other uses

require permission of the copyright owner.

The First Presidency

Gordon B. HinckleyThomas S. MonsonJames E. Faust

The Quorum of the Twelve

Boyd K. PackerL. Tom PerryDavid B. HaightNeal A. MaxwellRussell M. NelsonDallin H. OaksM. Russell BallardJoseph B. WirthlinRichard G. ScottRobert D. HalesJeffrey R. HollandHenry B. Eyring

Editor

Dennis B. Neuenschwander

Advisers

J. Kent Jolley W. Rolfe KerrStephen A. West

Curriculum Department Administrators

Managing DirectorRonald L. Knighton

Editorial DirectorRichard M. Romney

Graphics DirectorAllan R. Loyborg

Editorial Staff

Managing EditorLarry Hiller

Assistant Managing EditorJanet Thomas

Associate EditorLaury Livsey

Editorial AssociatesShanna GhaznaviMatthew Baker

Editorial InternArianne Baadsgaard

Design Staff

Magazine Graphics ManagerM. M. Kawasaki

Art DirectorBryan Lee Shaw

Senior DesignerBrent Christison

Printing Director

Kay W. Briggs

Distribution Director(Subscriptions)

Kris T. Christensen

© 2002 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Allrights reserved. Periodicals PostagePaid at Salt Lake City, Utah, and atadditional mailing offices. U.S. subscription rate $8.00 yearly, inadvance. Non-U.S. subscription rate isthe U.S. equivalent in local currency.

THE NEW ERA (ISSN 0164-5285) ispublished monthly by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 50East North Temple, Salt Lake City,Utah 84150-3225. Sixty days’ noticerequired for a change of address.Include address label from a recentissue. Changes cannot be made unlessold address, as well as new one, isincluded. Unsolicited manuscripts arewelcomed, but no responsibility isassumed for them. Sufficient postageand self-addressed envelope mustaccompany all manuscripts.

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Distribution Services, Church Magazines, P. O. Box 26368, Salt Lake City, Utah 84126-0368.

4 T H E N E W E R A

FORGET Y

By President

Gordon B. Hinckley

W O R D S O F T H E P R O P H E T

ANDYOURSELF

GO

I promise you that whatappears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investmentthat you will ever make.

here may be a few young men who may be wondering, ever so seriously, whether they should go

on missions. There may be a scarcity ofmoney. There may be compelling plansfor education. There may be thatwonderful girl you love and feel youcannot leave. You say to yourself, “Thechoice is mine.”

That is true. But before you make adecision against a mission, count yourblessings, my dear friend. Think of all the

TT

OPhotography by Jed Clark.

great and marvelous things you have—your very life, your health, your parents,your home, the girl you love. Are theynot all gifts from a generous HeavenlyFather? Did you really earn them alone,independent of His blessing? No, thelives of all of us are in His hands. All ofthe precious things that are ours comefrom Him who is the giver of every goodgift.

I am not suggesting that He willwithdraw His blessings and leave youbereft if you do not go on a mission. ButI am saying that out of a spirit ofappreciation and gratitude, and a senseof duty, you ought to make whateveradjustment is necessary to give a little ofyour time consecrating your strength,your means, your talents to the work ofsharing with others the gospel, which isthe source of so much of the good thatyou have.

I promise that if you will do so, youwill come to know that what appears

C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 5

6

ur young

sisters

are not

under obligation

to go on missions.

You will be as

highly respected,

you will be

considered as

being as much in

the line of duty,

your efforts will

be as acceptable

to the Lord and

the Church

whether you go

on a mission or

do not go on a

mission.

OO

today to be a sacrifice will prove insteadto be the greatest investment that youwill ever make.

Let there be no hesitancy in yourdecision. Live worthy of a call, andrespond without hesitation when that callcomes. Go forth with a spirit ofdedication, placing yourself in the handsof the Lord to do His great work.

To you younger boys, may I encourageyou to save money now for a futuremission. Consecrate it for this greatpurpose, and let it not be used for anyother. Prepare yourselves. Attendseminary and institute. Prayerfully readthe Book of Mormon.

The Church needs you. The Lordneeds you. There are many out therewho need exactly what you have to offer.They are not easy to find, but they willnot be found unless there are those whoare prepared and willing to seek themout. God bless you each one, every oneof you, that a mission may be a plannedand essential part of the program of yourlives (from Ensign, May 1986, 40–41).

Prepare nowPrepare yourself now to be worthy to

serve the Lord as a full-time missionary.He has said, “If ye are prepared ye shallnot fear” (D&C 38:30). Prepare toconsecrate two years of your lives to thissacred service.

Of course your time is precious, andyou may feel you cannot afford two years.But I promise you that the time youspend in the mission field, if those yearsare spent in dedicated service, will yield agreater return on investment than any

T H E N E W E R A

other two years of your lives. You will cometo know what dedication and consecrationmean. You will develop powers ofpersuasion which will bless your entire life.Your timidity, your fears, your shyness willgradually disappear as you go forth withboldness and conviction. You will learn towork with others, to develop a spirit ofteamwork. You will draw nearer to the Lordthan you likely will in any other set ofcircumstances. You will come to know thatwithout His help you are indeed weak andsimple, but that with His help you canaccomplish miracles.

What a tremendous foundation all of thiswill become for you in your latereducational efforts and your life’s work.Two years will not be time lost. It will beskills gained (from Ensign, Nov. 1995,51–52).

The girl you marryShe will wish to be married to someone

who loves the Lord and seeks to do Hiswill. It is well, therefore, that each of youyoung men plan to go on a mission, to giveunselfishly to your Father in Heaven a titheof your life, to go forth with a spirit of totalunselfishness to preach the gospel of peaceto the world wherever you may be sent.

If you are a good missionary, you willreturn home with the desire to continue toserve the Lord, to keep Hiscommandments, and to do His will. Suchbehavior will add immeasurably to thehappiness of your marriage (from Ensign,May 1998, 51).

To the young womenI wish to say that the First Presidency

f you serve

a mission

faithfully,

you will be a

better husband,

you will be a

better father, you

will be a better

student, a better

worker in your

chosen vocation.

You will come to

know your

Redeemer as your

greatest friend in

time or eternity.

II

and the Council of the Twelve areunited in saying to our young sistersthat they are not under obligation to goon missions. I hope I can say what Ihave to say in a way that will not beoffensive to anyone. Young womenshould not feel that they have a dutycomparable to that of young men.Some of them will very much wish togo. If so, they should counsel with theirbishops as well as their parents. If theidea persists, the bishop will know whatto do.

I say what has been said before, thatmissionary work is essentially apriesthood responsibility. As such, ouryoung men must carry the majorburden. This is their responsibility andtheir obligation.

We do not ask the young women toconsider a mission as an essential partof their life’s program. Again to thesisters I say that you will be as highlyrespected, you will be considered asbeing as much in the line of duty, yourefforts will be as acceptable to the Lordand to the Church whether you go on amission or do not go on a mission.

I certainly do not wish to say orimply that your services are not wanted.I simply say that a mission is notnecessary as a part of your lives (fromEnsign, Nov. 1997, 52).

Member missionariesThe gospel is nothing to be ashamed

of. It is something to be proud of. . . .Opportunities for sharing the gospel areeverywhere.

The process of bringing new people

into the Church is not the responsibilityalone of the missionaries. They succeedbest when members become the source from which new investigators arefound (from Ensign, May 1999, 105–106).

You will . . . You will bless the lives of those you

teach and their posterity after them. Youwill bless your own life. You will bless thelives of your family, who will sustain youand pray for you.

And above and beyond all of this willcome that sweet peace in your heart thatyou have served your Lord faithfully andwell. Your service will become anexpression of gratitude to your HeavenlyFather.

You will come to know yourRedeemer as your greatest friend in timeor eternity. You will realize that throughHis atoning sacrifice He has opened theway for eternal life and an exaltationabove and beyond your greatest dreams.

If you serve a mission faithfully andwell, you will be a better husband, youwill be a better father, you will be a better student, a better worker in yourchosen vocation. Love is of the essenceof this missionary work. Selflessness is ofits very nature. Self-discipline is itsrequirement. Prayer opens its reservoirof power.

And so, my dear young brethren,resolve within your hearts today toinclude in the program of your livesservice in the harvest field of the Lord asa missionary of The Church of JesusChrist of Latter-day Saints (from Ensign,Nov. 1995, 52). NE

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 7

8

TTAKINGAKINGMY OWN

AAddvviicceeere I was, giving advice to

my friend Amberon how she couldgain a testimony.Suddenly, it hitme. I shouldpractice what Iwas preaching.When I did, theresult waswonderful.

By Benjamin C. Tyau

HH

ne night I was sending instant messages on the Internet to Amber, a friend of mine. I can’t

recall how we got started, but we werediscussing God and my religious beliefs.

“I’m telling you, Ben, I’ve tried to praybefore, and it doesn’t work. I just feel likeI’m talking to the wall,” Amber wrote.

Relying on everything I had beentaught since Primary, I responded,reassuring her that God does hear andanswer His children who humblyapproach Him. As I was reassuring her, Istarted to feel less sure myself. I began tofeel guilty since I had never actuallygotten down on my knees and prayedabout all these things. The conversationprogressed, and I became increasinglydistressed at my lack of a personaltestimony. My spiritual progression hadbeen on the back burner for too long.

As a lifelong member of the Church, Isometimes took the gospel for granted.Don’t get me wrong, I knew that being inthe Church was good, and I made sure Iwent to church every Sunday. However, Ialways depended on the testimonies ofothers to confirm that the Church wastrue. I always tried to be faithful, but Idid not actively seek to apply Moroni’spromise to myself. Life was toocomplicated, and I thought there wouldbe plenty of time for me to gain apersonal testimony of the Church atsome later point.

As I talked with Amber, I realized evenmore clearly what I was doing. I wasneglecting the more spiritual things inmy life in favor of trying to keep up with

OO

T H E N E W E R A

my hectic schedule. When was the lasttime I had read the scriptures? When wasthe last time I had a meaningful personalprayer? When was the last time I seriouslythought about going on a mission?

Preoccupation with trying to calm mylife’s storm by myself had taken awayfrom my focus on building a testimonyand having faith in the Lord. Ironically, asolid testimony would have served tomake everything else in my life fall intoplace.

“Amber, don’t give up on praying. Hewill answer you,” I wrote, while thinkingthat I should follow my counsel.

Before I went to bed that night, I goton my knees and prayed. I asked toknow if the gospel is true and if HeavenlyFather was hearing my prayer. I wantedto know Him and feel His presence in mylife. I realized then that I simply couldn’twait any longer to gain a testimony ofHim, especially during my turbulentteenage years. I prayed for a long timeand knelt in silence for even longer,listening and feeling for the Spirit.

Nothing happened right away, butafter I had sufficiently loosened my heartand made a concentrated effort to listenamidst the quiet darkness, I felt asensation of peace throughout my upperbody. As I held on to this definingmoment of joy, I knew His Spirit hadtouched me. Finally, I had a personaltestimony of Him that I could share withothers. Even though I knew my lifewould still be hard and full ofuncertainties, knowing that He was therefor me made all the difference. NE

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 9Illustrated by Dilleen Marsh

1 0 T H E

Your bishop wants what’sbest for you. He’s on anerrand from the Lord tohelp you prepare for theblessings of priesthoodservice.

By Elder

Henry B. Eyring

Of the Quorum

of the Twelve

deacon and I were

talking about a bishop’s interview. I asked, “What would you like to know about it?” He thought a minute and said, “I’d like to know what the questions will be.” He knew his bishop would beinterviewing him at least once a year, and he was anxious about the unknown.

But he wasn’t the only anxious Aaronic Priesthood holder I knew. An older boy was anxious about aninterview the bishop was trying toschedule with him. He tried to avoid itbecause he was “afraid he wouldn’t pass.”

Both of those boys would have beenless anxious—in fact they would have

AA

N E W E R A Photography by Steve Bunderson. Posed by models

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 1 1

Your Friend

THETHE BISHOPBISHOP

1 2 T H E

s the

president

of the

Aaronic

Priesthood and of

my quorum, he

could give me

some things I

couldn’t get

anywhere else.

He was the

person through

whom God could

call me or

withhold callings

from me.

AA

looked forward to a bishop’s interview—if they only understood why a bishoplooks forward to visiting with them. Ilearned the “why” of those interviews along time ago, on a Sunday afternoon. Itwas the only bishop’s interview I everhad that wasn’t in the bishop’s office, butit’s the one that taught me best what abishop is trying to do when he interviewsan Aaronic Priesthood holder.

The bishop’s companionIn those days, priesthood meeting was

in the morning, and sacrament meetingwas much later in the day. I was at home,thinking my priests quorum work wasdone for the day. The phone rang. It wasthe bishop. He asked if I would go withhim, as his companion, to visit a poorwidow who needed help. I jumped in thecar when he came by, nervous about theunknown but interested to see how abishop helped the poor.

I didn’t see any food in the car. Andmy surprise grew when we drove down adirt lane, in what I thought was a vacantlot, and pulled up in front of a housewith no paint and a broken sofa on thesagging wooden porch. We were invitedinto the dark living room by a woman ina faded and soiled dress. We sat at atable. The bishop began by asking, “Now,where is that budget form I gave you tofill out last week?” Then, for what seemedan hour, he worked that woman througha budget, a plan to repair her house, anda commitment to change her habits. Inever said a word. I realize now that thebishop was watching me out of thecorner of his eye the whole time.

We drove off in silence, the puzzledpriest and the thoughtful bishop. Hepulled into the driveway of my house,and we began to talk quietly. He askedme what I thought of what I’d seen. Itold him honestly that I had alwaysthought helping the poor meant givingthem something, not asking them to dosomething. And then he opened hisscriptures and a black notebook andtaught me something he called, “thewelfare principle.” He talked aboutbuilding self-reliance and told me how tohelp people develop it.

When I walked into my house thatafternoon, I didn’t know that I’d had aninterview with my bishop. I wonder now

N E W E R A

if he somehow knew that I wouldsomeday be a bishop. But whether heknew or not, he did somethingremarkable that your bishop or branchpresident wants to do for you.

First, he cared about me enough toplan that interview carefully to teach mepriesthood service. He didn’t need myhelp that day. His counselors or a hometeacher could have helped him more.The way he casually pulled open his littleblack notebook and opened it to thepages filled with scriptures andquotations showed he was anything butcasual in preparing to teach me how togive priesthood service.

Second, he turned from teaching toletting me talk about my goals forimproving my ability to serve. I realizenow he was urging me to prepare to behis assistant in the quorum, a call thatcame within months.

Finally, he learned how well I wasliving the gospel. His questions that dayweren’t as direct as they were in someother interviews. But on that afternoonhe asked if I had felt the Holy Ghostduring our visit. And I realize now mypositive answer probably told him whathe wanted to know about my personalworthiness.

Three thingsWhat he wanted, and what your

bishop wants, was to give me the bestchance he could to honor my priesthood.He knew that took at least three things:some understanding of how to use thepriesthood; a personal commitment touse the priesthood; and a life cleanenough, both by avoiding sin where Icould and repenting where I must, that Icould have the companionship of theHoly Ghost. He was wise enough, too, toknow that my parents had done much ofthat. They had taught me, they hadhelped me set goals, and they had urgedme to be worthy.

But as the president of the AaronicPriesthood and of my quorum, he couldgive me some things I couldn’t getanywhere else. He was the personthrough whom God could call me orwithhold callings from me. And he hadthe keys of repentance for the ward, andso for me. I know now how much hedidn’t want to fail the Lord on his errand

Originally printed in the June 1986New Era.

our

bishop will

ask you

questions. He’ll

listen to what you

say and pay

attention to your

feelings as much

as to your words.

And you should

ask him

questions. If you

are afraid to

admit what you

don’t know, you

won’t have the

chance to learn.

YY

to give me every chance to prepare forthe Melchizedek Priesthood, for mission-ary service, and for temple marriage. AndI know now how lucky I was to havesuch a bishop as Alvin R. Dyer.

InterviewsMy bishop never interviewed me the

same way twice, and your bishop will beinspired as he interviews you. There isn’ta fixed set of questions. But all bishopshave the same purpose: they are on anerrand from the Lord, as your presidentin the Aaronic Priesthood, to help youprepare in understanding, in experience,and in moral cleanliness for the blessingsof priesthood service. And they want thatservice to lead you through a missionand into the temple to start you towardan eternal family of your own.

The best interviews I ever had weremore like conversations. A realconversation means that two peoplelisten to each other and express honestfeelings. Your bishop will ask youquestions. He’ll listen to what you sayand pay attention to your feelings asmuch as to your words. And you shouldask him questions. If you are afraid toadmit what you don’t know, you won’thave the chance to learn. And if you aretimid about telling him about yourmistakes, you may miss the chance toclear away sin early, before it gains a holdthat’s harder to break. You might be ableto fool a bishop, since he is human andtherefore imperfect. But you will not fool God, and so to be dishonest to your bishop is to fool yourself, tragically and needlessly.

Try to remember that the bishop’spurpose in every interview with you is to teach. He will teach you, if you lethim, what he has been taught about thepriesthood and how to use it. He willgive you the calls that God has preparedfor you, and those calls will teach you.And even when he talks with you aboutpersonal worthiness, his whole intent isto teach you how to be clean throughrighteous living and through the powerof the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

The Lord taught His disciples withthat same intent. He said to them, inJohn 15:15: “Henceforth I call you notservants; for the servant knoweth notwhat his lord doeth: but I have called

you friends; for all things that I haveheard of my Father I have made knownunto you.”

Your bishop, your friendMemories of interviews long ago with

my bishop still guide me. He tried hardto teach me all that he had been taughtabout the priesthood. When I had a lastinterview with him, years later, I realizedthat conversations with my bishop hadbecome conversations with a friend. Ihope that happens to you, too.

I bear you my testimony that theAaronic Priesthood was restored throughJohn the Baptist, and that our bishopstoday are called by God throughinspiration. God honors their calls. Yourlife will be blessed as you honor theircalls. And you will learn to look forwardto your interviews with a bishop. NE

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 1 3

1 4 T H E

By Matt Bennett

DO

WHAT

The greatest things I’velearned in life havecome from following myolder brothers and doingthe things they havedone.

s a skinny 12-year-old, I watched through a chain-link fence as my two older brothers

earned all-state baseball honors. Life was exciting because they were

my brothers. The guy wearing numbereight and striking out three batters in arow, and the player hitting home runsover the centerfielder’s head were thesame guys I shared a basement bedroomwith. They were the ones who firsttaught me about putting gel in my hairand how to start a campfire. We weregood friends.

The feelings of inadequacy kicked inbecause as a five-foot-three, 98-poundweakling, I could not understand how Iwould ever be able to fire an 80-mile-per-hour fastball or hit towering home runs.

On one hot summer afternoon, myoldest brother could see something wasbothering me. After he encouraged me totell him what was on my mind, I said in

AA

N E W E R A

muffled tones, “How will I ever become agreat baseball player like you?”

“Matt,” he said in his usual cheerfulvoice, “you’ve just got to do the thingsthat great baseball players do.” Afterthinking about this, I came to realize thatgreat baseball players aren’t onlynaturally talented, but they makethemselves skilled through hours ofpractice. I committed myself to do all Icould.

Three broken noses and six years later,I was a starter on the varsity baseballteam and had just signed a national letterof intent to play college baseball.

I started my freshman year at college,and everything was going great. Great,that is, until an all-too-familiar feeling ofmy personal shortcomings began tosettle in my stomach. My second-oldestbrother, who was not only co-captain ofmy college team but also my roommate,had just come home from the missionfield. He told extraordinary stories aboutliving in England and preaching thegospel.

I read letters from the missionpresidents of both of my older brothersdescribing what a good missionary “ElderBennett” was and how blessed theywould be because of their obedience andfaith. Again, I began feeling inadequate.How could I ever measure up to theirhigh level of missionary success?Although my body had grown several

inches taller and my muscles haddoubled in size, my testimony had notgrown proportionately.

I confided in my brother androommate, “What can I do to prepare tobe a great missionary like you were? Howcan I change people’s lives like you did?”Again I received simple counsel. “Do thethings that great missionaries do. Be niceto people, read your scriptures, and praydaily.”

I took the advice to heart and couldfeel my spiritual growth begin to catchup with my physical body.

Finally the day came for me to servemy mission, and being a missionarywasn’t nearly as glamorous as I hadimagined from my brother’s stories. Iquickly realized I was a small seedlingamong tall oaks of spirituality. I turned tomy mission president for advice. “Tostrengthen your testimony and thetestimonies of those around you, followthe example of our Savior. Do the thingsthat he did. Jesus Christ’s life is anexample for us in every way,” he told meas we were driving together oneafternoon.

The greatest things I’ve learned in lifehave come from following my olderbrothers and doing the things they havedone. My ultimate goal is to follow JesusChrist. I know the way to fulfill that goalis to do the things that He who isgreatest of all has done. NE

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 1 5Photography by Christina Smith and courtesy of the Bennett family

1

QQ&&AABe an example. Don’tjoin in his jokes whenit isn’t appropriate.

Talk to him in private.

Be kind as you try tohelp him understandthe importance ofbeing reverent andrespectful.

Try to love him eventhough you dislike hisactions.

If you are in aleadership position,bring up the topic ofreverence during aleadership meeting.

As a quorum, decideon a set of rules forbehavior duringquorum meetings andactivities.

Q U E S T I O N S & A N S W E R S

“One of the deacons in my quorum is so disruptive that it is nearlyimpossible to learn anything from the lessons or enjoy quorum

activities. He never settles down. How can I help him?”

When someone else’s behavior iskeeping you from learning or making itdifficult for you to enjoy an activity, it canbe extremely frustrating. What’s evenmore frustrating is when the personcausing the problems is one of yourpeers.

There is a time when joking around isappropriate, but when someone can’tfigure out when that time is, it isannoying.

Irreverent behavior takes away theSpirit and makes it difficult to learnanything. “The first order issued by acommander mounting a military invasionis the jamming of the channels ofcommunication of those he intends toconquer,” said President Boyd K. Packer,Acting President of the Quorum of theTwelve. “Irreverence suits the purposesof the adversary by obstructing thedelicate channels of revelation in bothmind and spirit” (Ensign, Nov. 1991, 22).

Many people who act up are doing itto get attention. This could be themotivation of your quorum member. Orit could be that he doesn’t realize his

NN E W EE R A

6 T H E N E W E R A

Approach him privately and tell him the way he is acting is inappropriate behavior for church, and he is driv-ing away the Spirit. Be kind and explain to him the church is the Lord’s house and he must act reverently.Chris Howell, 17Petersburg, New Jersey

I have experienced this also with the younger girls mov-ing up to Young Women. You just have to treat them with kindness. Moving from Primary to the deacons quorum or Young Women is a big step, and the younger kids justwant to be accepted. Show them theyare loved, and eventually they willgrow out of it.Amelia Guffey, 15Huntersville, North Carolina

RR E A D E R S

Photography by Jed Clark. Posed by models O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 1 7

1

NN E W EE R A

“ rue

reverence

is a vital

quality, but one

that is fast

disappearing in the

world as the forces

of evil broaden

their influences. We

cannot fully

comprehend the

power for good we

can wield if the

millions of

members of

Christ’s true

church will serve

as models of

reverent behavior”

(The Teachings of

Spencer W.

Kimball, 224).

—President

Spencer W.

Kimball

(1895–1985)

TT

WHAT DO YOU THINK?Send us your answer to the questionbelow, along with your name, age,and where you are from. Pleaseinclude a snapshot of yourself that is 1 1/2 by 2 inches (4 by 5 cm) or larger.

Q&A, New Era50 East North TempleSalt Lake City, Utah 84150

QUESTIONI turn 19 next year, and I’m prepar-ing to be a missionary. I don’t knowmuch about the Melchizedek Priest-hood, though. How will my exper-iences serving in the MelchizedekPriesthood differ from those I’ve had

behavior has gotten to the point wherehe is annoying others. He might justthink he’s being funny.

Be an example. It’s important that yoube on your best behavior so the youngman acting up has a model to look up to.Don’t join in his jokes when it isn’tappropriate.

Talk to him in private. Don’t make abig deal about it during class. Be kind asyou try to help him understand theimportance of being reverent andrespectful. Remember to try to love himeven though you dislike his actions.

Talk to your quorum leaders oradvisers. Ask them if they have any ideasor if they would be willing to talk to theentire quorum or teach a lesson onreverence.

If you are in a leadership position,bring up the topic of reverence duringone of your leadership meetings to see ifanyone else has ideas.

We go to church to worship. Butsometimes the time spent in church canturn into more of a social occasion.President Gordon B. Hinckley has talkedabout the Church as a “great socialorganization” but reminds us that weneed to be reverent and respectfulduring church services. “We are friends.We love one another. In fact, we love oneanother so much that we can’t be veryreverent in sacrament meeting. We arealways talking to one another insacrament meeting. It’s all right to talkwith one another out in the foyer, butwhen we are in the chapel we ought tobe quiet, reverent, and respectful and notirreverent” (Ensign, Sept. 1998, 76).

Although President Hinckley is talkingabout sacrament meeting, the sameprinciples of reverence apply to allchurch meetings, especially those held inthe chapel.

As you work to help your friend learnwhen reverence is appropriate, don’tforget to pray for guidance and to showlove and kindness. NE

8 T H E N E W E R A

Answers are intended for help andperspective, not as pronouncements ofChurch doctrine.

I think a great way to calm an obnoxious person down is to ask them the question, “Would you be acting this way if Jesus were here?” Thinking of Christ keeps us focused on His gospel and keeps us from being rowdy.Jason Farrell, 15Danville, California

I’ve been in that situation before. If they’re obnoxious and annoying, it might be that they are in need of afriend. Just be kind to him and let him know you care.Kim Edstrom, 15Salem, Utah

As a teachers quorum pres-ident, if there were a person messing around, I would go up to that person after church and talk with him privately. If the prob-lem continued, I would talk with his leader or parents.Todd Wise, 15Claremont, California

RR E A D E R S

in the Aaronic Priesthood, and howcan I best prepare to receive it?

Please respond by December 1, 2002.

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 1 9

SURE, YOU CAN BEND THE RULES,

BUT YOU END UP GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

(See 2 Ne. 9:41.)

Photography by John Luke

DON’T TRY

BENDINGBENDINGTHE

RULESRULES

Sacrame

2 0 T H E

SacrameSERVICE

By Matthew Baker

Preparing the sacramentcan sometimes becomeroutine. For this quorum,serving in the hospital, itbecame something more.

saac Ernsten pulls on a pair of rubbergloves while one of the other young men in the quorum helps tie a

hospital gown over his white shirt andtie. They all put on surgical masks andmake sure they have both the sacramenttrays before they walk into the hospitalroom. The man in the bed is one of manywho has requested that the young men

I

N E W E R A

bring the sacrament to him.Each Sunday, patients in the Salt Lake

Regional Medical Center who can’t makeit to church have church brought tothem by the young men from the SaltLake Emigration Stake. During themonths of January and July, it’s theresponsibility of the young men from the21st North Ward.

“In church, some people take thesacrament just because it’s a part of thesacrament meeting,” says Isaac, a priestwho helps bring the sacrament tohospital patients. “These people have torequest that the sacrament be brought tothem. I think it means a lot to them.Some of them are so happy to see uswhen we get there. I can tell that theyreally want the sacrament.”

Most of the young men will admit thatsometimes it makes them a bit nervousto be around people who are seriouslyinjured or dying, but they feel it is theirduty, and they enjoy doing it. And eventhough the man in the hospital bed doesnot feel well, he is happy to see themcome in.

Not so routineThe stained glass windows around the

small chapel glow with the bright lightfrom outside. The hospital branch uses achapel that was built by the CatholicChurch when the hospital was known asHoly Cross Hospital. More than half the

Photography by the author and Welden C. Andersen

nt

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 2 1

nt

2 2 T H E N E W E R A

Him by serving other people.” NE

“ hen

you

are in

a hospital, I think

you have a lot of

time to think

about life. People

start thinking

about what

they’ve done in

the past and start

thinking more

about Heavenly

Father and the

gospel. I think

taking the

sacrament for the

people in the

hospital can

mean more for

them than for

many people . . .”

WW

congregation is made up of the youngmen from the 21st North Ward, andthere are fewer than a dozen of them.Others in attendance include the branchpresidency, Relief Society presidency, afew patients who feel well enough toleave their beds, and some hospital staff.

It takes one deacon only a fewminutes to pass the sacrament toeveryone. Then the young men put onthe sacrament meeting program. Theygive the talks, offer the prayers, and fill inwherever else they are needed.

“In our home ward, preparing thesacrament can sometimes becomeroutine,” says Abe Daris, a priest who hashelped prepare, bless, or pass thesacrament at the hospital since he was adeacon. “Not that it should be routine,but here it is something more. It makesme realize how important the sacramentis. Even if there are only one or twomembers who show up, it’s stillimportant enough for a whole quorumto help out a branch president andconduct a sacrament meeting. It’simportant that members renew theircovenants every week and feel theSpirit.”

After the meeting, the young men visitthe individual rooms of people who haverequested the sacrament. “That’s myfavorite part,” Abe says. “It makes merealize how important the sacrament isto people. When we come with thesacrament, they just light up, and they’reso excited.”

What they giveAll of the priesthood holders can

remember specific people andexperiences in the hospital thatstrengthened their testimonies. Aberemembers a woman who was very ill.“She had a lot of trouble breathing,” hesaid. “She couldn’t talk at all and couldbarely move. Even though we couldn’tcommunicate verbally, we could see inher eyes that she was happy to receivethe sacrament. We smiled at her, and shesmiled back. We could feel the Spirit andknew she appreciated it. It’s hard toexplain. You had to be there.”

One of Abe’s brothers, Jeremiah, ateacher, remembers helping a womanwho couldn’t move to take thesacrament. “I had to hold the sacramentwater out and pour it into her mouth,”he says. “That was probably one of themore memorable experiences. I washelping someone who couldn’t do it forherself. She was really happy to get thesacrament. I’m sure she was glad I wasthere.”

Before they bless the sacrament andpass it to the patients, Simon Williams,one of the teachers, enjoys visiting.“There are all sorts of people there.Sometimes we visit new mothers, andsometimes we visit older people,” hesays. “When you are in a hospital, I thinkyou have a lot of time to think about life.People start thinking about what they’vedone in the past and start thinking moreabout Heavenly Father and the gospel. Ithink taking the sacrament for the peoplein the hospital can mean more for themthan for many people because a lot of thepeople in the hospital are going to havesome pretty big changes in their lives.”

What they getEach week as the young men give

service in the hospital, they receivesomething themselves. One thing they allagree on is that their assignment hasgiven them a greater understanding ofthe importance of the sacrament. “A lot oftimes in my home ward I don’t really takethe chance to think about what thesacrament means because I’m focused onpassing it,” Simon says. “Sometimes wetake the sacrament for granted. But itreally stands for something amazing.”

The youth feel it is their duty to serveothers. But no matter how much theygive, they say they are the ones who arerewarded most. “We have such a goodtime doing it that it’s not really like it’s asacrifice,” Abe says. “When you’ve beengiven so much, you have to serve andhelp other people. This has just beenanother way for us to give back, and notonly to help other people, but to growourselves. Our duty to God is to serve

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 2 3

2 4 T H E N E W E R A

ff rr ee cc kk

ll ee sst was a simple

thing—kind of

silly, in fact.

But my sister’s act

of love and caring

set an example

I’m still using

myself.

By Amanda Thomas

II

Illustrated by Bryan Lee Shaw

efore I was five years old, I had discovered that the walkway of vinyl between our dining room and

our kitchen was a good place to sulk,especially when I wanted mydissatisfaction to be noticed. I would sitthere for a long time and feel that no oneunderstood or loved me.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. Myteenage sister, Rebecca, found me thereone evening before dinner. She kneltdown and quietly said to me, “Manda,let’s go count your freckles.”

It was a simple suggestion but sokindly put forth that I forgot my frownsand followed her to the bathroom mirror.She set up a stool for me so I’d be tallenough to see my nose up close in themirror. With her chin resting on my head,she started with number one, and Ihelped her as high as I could count. Iremember proudly entering the kitchenwith the announcement that I had morethan a thousand freckles, and we hadn’teven finished counting.

With just a small investment of hertime and energy, my sister had changedmy black mood. And, although mysulkiness that night probably wouldn’thave lasted very long, by giving me somepositive attention, Rebecca insured meagainst the next time I felt unhappy.

A few months ago I was able to workin an elementary school, helping to teachstruggling first graders how to read andwrite better. One boy I worked with,Steven, acted quiet and uninterestedevery time we got the books out. I wasn’tsure how to help him. Nothing I triedworked. I just desperately wanted to letthis boy know how important reading

BB

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and writing were.One day I sat there next to him, both

of us silent as the rest of the class buzzedaround us. Steven was slumped halfwayaround in his chair. As I surveyed hisuntied shoelaces and the dirt and streaksof grass stains on his clothing, a pictureof myself at the same age sulking on thekitchen floor came to my mind. I realizedthat for Steven to trust me he needed toknow that I cared about him and not justhis reading and writing ability.

“Wow, you sure are dirty,” Icommented to his back. “You must be areally good soccer player at recess.”

Steven looked at me sideways and said,“No, I got in a fight.”

I was quiet for a few moments before Iasked, “Are you okay?”

And then, still without really looking atme, Steven started to tell me about hisday. We spent the whole half hour talking.By the end of our time, I knew Stevenwould be more excited to see me in thefuture. And, in a few days, we wereworking on his reading skills.

When I was five, I never thought tothank my sister for loving me. It wasn’tuntil I had the experience with Steventhat I remembered how preoccupied Iwas with myself when I was his age. Thethings I learned early in life shaped how Ifeel about myself now, and my oldersibling’s constant love was, and still is, apositive influence in my life.

I want to pass that on. I’m not a parentyet, but even as a teenager, I’ve foundhow joyful and how fun it can be to tellmy little sisters, nieces, and nephewsabout freckles or big feet or any othersimple reason why I love them. NE

C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 2 5

All through the ages

the prophets have

testified of Jesus

Christ—of His divinity,

of His birth, death,

and Resurrection,

and of His Atonement.

In this final

dispensation also, the

testimonies and the

lives of latter-day

prophets stand as

special witnesses for

Christ, and we are

reminded that

“whether by mine own

voice or by the voice

of my servants, it is

the same” (D&C 1:38).

2

The VoiceOF HIS SERVANTS

Joseph Smith“We saw theLord standingupon thebreastwork ofthe pulpit,before us;and under hisfeet was apaved workof pure gold,in color likeamber.

“His eyeswere as a

flame of fire; the hair of his head waswhite like the pure snow; hiscountenance shone above the brightnessof the sun; and his voice was as the

6 T H E N E W E R A

sound of the rushing of great waters,even the voice of Jehovah saying:

“I am the first and the last; I am hewho liveth, I am he who was slain; I amyour advocate with the Father” (D&C110:2–4).

“And now, after the many testimonieswhich have been given of him, this is thetestimony, last of all, which we give ofhim: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the righthand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the OnlyBegotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, andof him, the worlds are and were created,and the inhabitants thereof are begottensons and daughters unto God” (D&C76:22–24).

“And now, after the

many testimonies

BrighamYoung

“I testify that Jesus is theChrist, the Savior andRedeemer of the world;I have obeyed Hissayings, and realized Hispromise, and the know-ledge I have of Him, thewisdom of this worldcannot give, neither canit take away.

“My faith is placedupon the Lord JesusChrist, and my know-ledge I have received from Him”(Discourses of Brigham Young, 26).

which have been given

of him, this is the

testimony, last of all,

which we give of him:

That he lives!”

(D&C 76:22).

Editor’s Note: Capitalization

and spelling have been

standardized in all quotes.

John Taylor

“TheAtonementmade byJesus Christbroughtabout theresurrectionfrom thedead, andrestored life.And henceJesus said: ‘Iam the

resurrection, and the life; he thatbelieveth in me, though he were dead,

O C T O B E R

yet shall he live;’ (John11:25) and Jesus Himselfbecame the first fruits ofthose who slept. . . .How far does thatprinciple extend and towhom is it applicable? Itextends to all the humanfamily; to all men ofevery nation” (TheMediation andAtonement of Our Lordand Savior Jesus Christ,178).

Wilford

Woodruff“I have always lookedupon the life of ourSavior—who descended beneath allthings that He might riseabove all things—as anexample for Hisfollowers. And yet it hasalways, in one sense ofthe word, seemed

strange to methat the Sonof God, theFirst Begottenin the eternalworlds of theFather, andthe OnlyBegotten inthe flesh,should haveto descend tothe earth andpass throughwhat He

did—born in a stable, cradled in amanger, persecuted, afflicted, scorned, ahiss and byword to almost all the world,and especially to the inhabitants ofJerusalem and Judea. . . . There issomething about all this that appearssorrowful; but it seemed necessary forthe Savior to descend below all thingsthat He might ascend above all things”(The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, 4).

2 0 0 2 2 7

2

“No person can study

this divine

personality, can

accept His teachings

without becoming

conscious of an

uplifting and refining

influence within

himself.”

Lorenzo

Snow

“Some two or threeweeks after I wasbaptized, one day whileengaged in my studies, Ibegan to reflect uponthe fact that I had notobtained a knowledge ofthe truth of the work—that I had not realizedthe fulfillment of thatpromise, ‘he that doethmy will shall know ofthe doctrine,’ (see John 7:17) and Ibegan to feel very uneasy. . . . I had beenaccustomed, at the close of day, to retirefor secret prayer, to a grove a shortdistance from my lodgings, but at thistime I felt no inclination to do so. Thespirit of prayer had departed and theheavens seemed like brass over my head. At length, realizing that the usualtime had come for secret prayer, Iconcluded I would not forgo my eveningservice, . . .

“I had no sooner opened my lips inan effort to pray, than I heard a sound,just above my head, like the rustling ofsilken robes, and immediately the spiritof God descended upon me, completelyenveloping my whole person, . . . and Othe joy and happiness I felt! No language

8 T H E N E W E R A

can describe the almostinstantaneous transitionfrom a dense cloud ofmental and spiritualdarkness into arefulgence of light andknowledge, that Godlives, that Jesus Christ isthe Son of God, and ofthe restoration of theHoly Priesthood, and thefulness of the gospel”(The Presidents of theChurch, 139–140).

Joseph F.

Smith“I bear my testimony toyou, that I have receivedan assurance which hastaken possession of mywhole being. It has sunkdeep into my heart; itfills every fiber of mysoul; so that I say beforethis people, and wouldbe pleased to have

the privilegeof saying itbefore thewhole world,that God hasrevealed untome that Jesusis the Christ,the Son of theliving God,the Redeemerof the world; . . . I know, asI live, that this

is true, and I bear my testimony to itstruth. If it were the last words I shouldever say on earth, I would glory beforeGod my Father that I possess thisknowledge in my soul” (in ConferenceReport, April 1901, 72).

HeberJ.Grant

“I know that God lives, Iknow that Jesus is theChrist, I know thatJoseph Smith was aProphet of God, . . . Godlives; Jesus is the Christ,and He is the chiefcorner stone of this greatwork—He is directing it,and He will continue todirect it” (Testimonies ofOur Leaders, 50).

“I know that He came

into the world to

redeem the world

from sin, and through

the Atonement made

by Him all men are

redeemed from

death.”

GeorgeAlbertSmith

“I have beenbuoyed upand, as itwere, liftedout of myselfand givenpower notmy own toteach theglorioustruthsproclaimedby theRedeemer of

the world. I have not seen Him face toface but have enjoyed the companion-ship of His Spirit and felt His presence

O C T O B E R

in a way not to bemistaken. I know thatmy Redeemer lives andgladly yield my humbleefforts to establish Histeachings. . . . Every fibreof my being vibrateswith the knowledge thatHe lives and some dayall men will know it.

“The Savior died thatwe might live. Heovercame death and thegrave and holds out toall who obey Histeachings the hope of aglorious resurrection”(Testimonies of OurLeaders, 53).

David O.McKay“What you sincerely inyour heart think ofChrist will determinewhat you are, will largelydetermine what your

acts will be.No personcan study thisdivinepersonality,can acceptHis teachingswithoutbecomingconscious ofan upliftingand refininginfluencewithinhimself ”

(Cherished Experiences from the Writingsof President David O. McKay, 24).

“There is not a principle which istaught by the Savior of men but isapplicable to the growth, development,and happiness of mankind. Every one ofHis teachings seems to touch the truephilosophy of living. I accept themwholeheartedly. I like to study them. It isa joy to try to live them” (ImprovementEra, Nov. 1961, 818).

2 0 0 2 2 9

3

“I believe that through

His atoning sacrifice,

the offering of His life

on Calvary’s Hill, He

expiated the sins of

mankind. I believe in

the reality and the

power of His

Resurrection.”

JosephFieldingSmith

“Like Job, I can say, ‘Iknow that my Redeemerliveth, and that He shallstand at the latter dayupon the earth’ (see Job19:25). I know that Hecame into the world toredeem the world fromsin, and through the Atonement made byHim all men are redeemed from death. . . . I know that Jesus of Nazarethwas the Only Begotten Son of God in theflesh, with life in Himself as His Fatherhas life in Himself. Because of thiswonderful truth, it was possible for Himto redeem us from death and the grave,and, on condition of our repentance,from our individual sins” (Testimonies ofOur Leaders, 165).

Harold B. Lee“I say, with all the conviction of my soul,I know that Jesus lives. I know that Hewas the very Son of God. And I knowthat in this church and in the gospel ofJesus Christ is to be found the way tosalvation.

“I came to know as a witness morepowerful than sight, until I could testify

0 T H E N E W E R A

with a surety that defiedall doubt, that I knewwith every fiber of mysoul that Jesus is theChrist, the Son of theliving God, that Helived, He died, He wasresurrected, and todayHe presides in theheavens, directing theaffairs of this Church,which bears His namebecause it preaches Hisdoctrine. I bear thattestimony humbly andleave you my witness”(Teachings of Harold B.Lee, 636–37).

“I know thatJesus Christ isthe Son ofthe livingGod and thatHe wascrucified forthe sins ofthe world.

“He is myfriend, mySavior, myLord, myGod.

“With all my heart I pray that theSaints may keep His commandments,have His Spirit, and gain an eternalinheritance with Him in celestial glory”(Ensign, Nov. 1978, 73).

Spencer W. Kimball

“Jesus is the Christ, the

Son of the living God

. . . He lived, He died.

He was resurrected,

and today He presides

in the heavens,

directing the affairs of

this Church.”

Ezra Taft Benson

“Jesus Christ was and isthe Lord GodOmnipotent (see Mosiah3:5). He was chosenbefore He was born. Hewas the all-powerfulCreator of the heavensand the earth. He is thesource of life and lightto all things. His word isthe law by which allthings are governed in the universe. Allthings created and made by Him aresubject to His infinite power.

“Not only was Jesus born in a humblesetting in Bethlehem and crucified on across on Golgotha, but on the third dayHe arose from the grave. Today He lives!Of that I personally testify. I know it. Heis close to His Church and to Hisservants. The knowledge that He lives isthe most priceless knowledge in theworld” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson,6, 468).

Howard W. Hunter“I give to you my solemn witness thatJesus Christ is in fact the Son of God. Heis the Messiah . . .

“It is by the power of the Holy Ghostthat I bear my witness. I know of Christ’s reality as if I had seen with my eyes andheard with my ears. I know also that the Holy Spirit will confirm the truthfulness

O C T O B E R

of my witness in thehearts of all those wholisten with an ear offaith” (Ensign, Jan. 1984,70).

GordonB.Hinckley

“I believe in the LordJesus Christ, the Son ofthe eternal, living God . . . .

“I believethat throughHis atoningsacrifice, theoffering ofHis life onCalvary’s Hill,He expiatedthe sins ofmankind,relieving usfrom theburden of sinif we willforsake evil

and follow Him. I believe in the realityand the power of His Resurrection. . . .

“He is the Savior and the Redeemer ofthe world. I believe in Him. I declare Hisdivinity without equivocation orcompromise. I love Him. I speak Hisname in reverence and wonder. I worshipHim as I worship His Father, in spirit andin truth. I thank Him and kneel beforeHis wounded feet and hands and side,amazed at the love He offers me” (Ensign,Nov. 1986, 50–51). NE

2 0 0 2 3 1

3

O F A L L T H I N G S“a

pattern of

piety”

LOVE AT HOME

onday nights were set aside as the official night for familyhome evening in October of

1970, but the Church’s family homeevening program has been around since1915, when it was instituted by PresidentJoseph F. Smith.

When President Smith started theprogram, he promised that love in ourhomes would increase if we would havefamily home evening. “Faith will bedeveloped in the hearts of the youth ofIsrael,” he said, “and they will gain powerto combat the evil influence andtemptations which beset them”(Messages of the First Presidency, 4:339).Make a goal this month to contribute tothe lessons and activities in your home asmuch as you can.

MM

2 T H E N E W E R A

“his heart is

pure”

THE FIRST BISHOP

dward Partridge was the first Presiding Bishop of the Restored Church. Born in 1793, he became

dissatisfied with the religions of his daywhen he was in his twenties. And, in1830, after investigating the Church, hewas baptized by the Prophet JosephSmith. The Prophet said of Edward, “hewas a pattern of piety, and one of theLord’s great men, known by hissteadfastness and patient endurance tothe end” (“History of Joseph Smith,”Times and Seasons, 15 Sept. 1843, vol. 4,320).

Edward became the Presiding Bishopof the Church less than two months afterhis baptism, and he certainly needed the“patient endurance” mentioned by theProphet Joseph. He and his family wereharshly persecuted by the mobs inMissouri and then in Nauvoo. On oneoccasion he was dragged from his homeand tarred and feathered by a mob ofmore than 200 men. But BishopPartridge’s faith carried him through histrials.

The bishop died when he became veryill in Nauvoo. He was only 46. Of EdwardPartridge, the Lord said, “his heart is purebefore me, for he is like unto Nathanaelof old, in whom there is no guile” (D&C41:11). And in the Doctrine andCovenants we learn that the Lordreceived Edward Partridge unto himself(see D&C 124:19).

EE

“Friendshipscannot endure

if they arebased on the

sands of

HOLIDAY MAGIC

sn’t it amazing how you magically weigh a few pounds extra after New Year’s Day? Well, not so magical

when you remember the approximately50 pounds of cakes, candies, and otherholiday treats you’ve been eating for theprevious two or three months.

With the holiday season fastapproaching, now might be the perfecttime to resolve to practice moderationand to stay fit over the next few months.It’s a lot easier and healthier to stay awayfrom excessive amounts of the unhealthyfoods that abound during the holidayseason than to try to make those extrapounds disappear after New Year’s Day.Alakazam!

II

selfishness.”(Improvement Era, Dec. 1967, 46)

—President Howard W. Hunter

(1907–95)

LEADER-SHIPTIP

et organized. A notebook

or calendar is a greatway to keep track ofwhat you’resupposed to bedoing and whereyou’re supposed tobe. If you’re havingtrouble doing all youneed to do,remember todelegate. If you’reunsure of whatyou’re supposed tobe doing to fulfillyour calling, talk toone of your leaders.

GG

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write!

WRITE AWAY!

e want to hear your true stories about how your family has helped you stay close to

the gospel and the Savior, or about howyou and your family overcome challengestogether. Please send your submissionsto:

New Era50 East North TempleSalt Lake City, Utah 84150

or

cur-editorial-newera@ldschurch.org

WW

C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 3 3

3 4 T H E

DDAANNGGEERRAAHHEAEADD!!AVOIDING PORNOGRAPHY’S TRAP

The edges of the

crevice are

incredibly

slippery and

crumbly. There is

no safe way to

satisfy curiosity

without risking

disaster.

Why is pornographyconsidered such a bigdeal? We let three youngmen tell their stories ofentrapment, struggle,and despair. And of howthey were finally rescued.

t has been an incredible day on the snow-covered mountain, the most challenging climb you and

your buddies have ever attempted.Nearing the peak, you spot a deepcrevice just ahead—the kind of crevicethat can swallow up a hiker and leaveno trace. Will you walk to the edge of theslippery slope and risk everything? Willyou warn those behind you or let themtake their chances?

Pornography is like that crevice. Oneof its greatest dangers is that you mightnot even realize how treacherous it isuntil you are caught in its trap. Threeyoung Latter-day Saints have sharedtheir stories anonymously. We will callthem Blair, Ryan, and Rob. They hopetheir experiences will help others avoidthis trap. And, for anyone with a similarstruggle, they give advice on how toescape.

Blair: I grew up in the Church and havea testimony. However, there is a part of

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N E W E R A

my life that few people know. At ageseven I often saw a pornographic posteron a teenage neighbor’s wall. It left animpression in my mind that I could notforget. Unworthy thoughts led me todevelop an unworthy habit I felt Icouldn’t break.

Ryan: When I was about 12 years old Iwent to a friend’s house and found himand a bunch of neighborhood boysgathered around the computer. I joked,“Hey, are you guys looking atpornography?”

They said, “How did you guess? Comecheck this out.”

That was the beginning of a problemin my life. I soon began using our familycomputer to find more and more images.

Rob: You usually don’t realize you have aproblem until you are in so deep you canno longer see the light. That’s whathappened with me. I was curious andjustified my involvement withpornography by reminding myself thatguys at school were involved with it too,and it didn’t seem like a big problem forthem.

Just Looking or Getting Hooked?Pornography first appeals to curiosity.

Somehow, just looking doesn’t seem allthat dangerous. Every one of us hasgone into a store just to look—not tobuy. But this is a huge store, with almostunlimited merchandise. Once we are inthe store, the invitations to satisfy our

curiosity are endless. And so curiosity isnever satisfied.

There are lots of things in life—likerattlesnakes or abandoned mine shaftsor drugs—that we may be curiousabout. But knowing how dangerousthey are, we walk away or leave theparty or turn off the computer.

Actually, with pornography, there isno such thing as just looking. Looking isthe problem. Viewing pornographytriggers sexual feelings. We can easilyget hooked on those pleasurablefeelings, especially if they seem torelieve stress or anxiety—and we canstart a cycle of addiction just asdifficult to break as an addiction todrugs or alcohol.

Rob: Curiosity turned to interest, andinterest developed into a strong habit.Soon I was addicted. I would get homefrom school, go straight to thecomputer, and be there for hours. Mysocial life suffered. So did myschoolwork, family ties, and—mostimportant—my spirituality.

At the very time I most needed thepromptings of the Spirit in my life, Iwas less and less able to feelanything. Life became a constantstruggle against depression.

My soul hungered, but the only thingI fed it offered no nourishment. I wouldget down on myself, so I would delveinto pornography to feel better. But thepornography would upset me evenmore.

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 3 5Illustrated by Paul Mann

3 6 T H E N E W E R A

Remember, when

Potiphar’s wife

tried to lure Joseph

into an immoral

situation, he didn’t

linger. He ran! (See

Genesis 39:12.)

It takes more than

just trying to

refrain. To

successfully resist

this widespread

evil, you must fill

your life with

positive influences

like prayer and

scripture study,

seminary and

Mutual. Study For

the Strength of

Youth.

STAYING FAR FROM DANGER

It is both dangerous and wrong todeliberately view things that stimulatesexual thoughts. Our environment is full ofsuch things. And because they are oftenlegal and common, it is sometimesimpossible to avoid seeing them.

But you don’t have to let them trap you.If you put on the full armor of God everyday by praying, studying the scriptures, anddoing your best to keep the commandments,you will develop the strength to withstandthis and any temptation.

Here are some other ways you can stayfar from the lethal spiritual crevice calledpornography.

1. Know it when you see it. A simpledefinition is this: Pornography is anyentertainment that uses immodest orindecent images to stimulate sexual feelings.So even a mainstream television program oradvertisement can be pornographic. Ifimages trigger sexual feelings in you, youshould avoid them.

2. Break the emotional connection.There is a connection between any addictivebehavior and emotions such as stress,anxiety, and depression. If you are feelingstressed or anxious, try to deal with thosefeelings directly—rather than usingpornography or any other destructivemeans to cover them up. Prayer, scripturestudy, exercise, positive friends, and regularChurch attendance can all help. A parent, aChurch leader, or another trusted adult canbe a lifeline if problems seem too big toresolve alone.

3. Surf smart. If you have the Internet at home, ask your parents to install anInternet filtering service. But don’t rely onthe filter alone; it may fail you. The onlyreal control is self-control. Do keep yourcomputer out of your bedroom; keep itwhere others will be around.

4. Be a modern-day Joseph. Rememberwhat Joseph did when Potiphar’s wife triedto trap him in an immoral situation? Joseph“fled, and got him out” (Genesis 39:12). Inother words, he ran. When you are exposedto pornography, leave immediately—whether by a mouse click, a channelchange, or a quick exit from a friend’shouse.

5. Get the most powerful help of all.Don’t let your spirit grow weak from lack ofspiritual food. A steady diet of righteousinfluences—such as prayer, scripture study,Mutual, seminary, and a careful study of Forthe Strength of Youth—can give you thestrength you need to navigate through aworld that has spiritual crevices at every turn.

If you’ve become

trapped, you

need help. Rob,

Ryan, and Blair

all learned the

same lesson:

Trying to go it

alone delays the

healing. All three

young men began

to find strength,

peace, and

healing when they

talked honestly

and openly with

their bishops.

Totaling the DamagesGuilt, fear, and depression are

common emotions for those involvedwith pornography—guilt, because theyknow what they are doing is wrong;fear, because they are terrified theirsecret will be found out; and depression,because they no longer feel the Spirit.Relationships with family, friends,Church leaders, and the Lord aredamaged.

Blair: My self-confidence dwindled inchurch, school, and everywhere. Manytimes I felt very alone, awkward, andunworthy. If a girl liked me, I wouldthink, “She wouldn’t like me if she reallyknew me.” I would shy away from beingsocial.

Rob: Through all those years I attendedchurch, but I was mentally inactive. Ikept going to church so I wouldn’t upsetmy parents. But I knew the lifestyle I wascaught up in was wrong. I noticed achange in my own countenance day byday, year by year. I became calloused andhardened. I found myself lying to myparents, my bishop, everyone aroundme. Inside I was going through personalturmoil and spiritual torment.

The Key to ChangeAs these young men struggled with

their addiction to pornography, eachtried to overcome it on his own. But likea hiker trapped in a dangerous crevice,each needed help. Talking to the bishopbecame the key to changing thedirection of their lives.

Blair: I prayed for strength to leavethese temptations alone. I made a list ofthings like prayer, scriptures, and cleanthoughts that would help me draw closeto God. But although I worked hard, itdidn’t solve my problems.

The thought of confessing to thebishop made me cringe. I felt it would bebetter to tell the bishop about theproblem when it was in the past. But Ifinally realized it wasn’t ever going to be

in the past if I didn’t confess. If Godalready knew my struggles and I feltcomfortable talking about them in prayer,why not talk face to face with God’sservant? Once I finally decided to confess,I felt a reassuring peace that it was theright thing to do.

If you are using pornography, you arenot morally clean, even if you haven’tdone anything else immoral. Rob talksabout realizing that he wasn’t worthy togo to the temple or on a mission.

Rob: I humbly bowed before the Lord intears and pled for strength beyond myown. Night after night I prayed, andfinally I knew I had to talk to my bishopabout it. That was the hardest part—admitting to someone else that I had aproblem. I kept thinking I could handle itmyself and no one would ever have toknow. I wanted it to be something justbetween God and me. But I finallymatured to the point that I realized thatwas impossible. I approached my bishopand began a long and difficult repentanceprocess.

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 3 7

3 8 T H E

President Gordon B. Hinckley

One former

bishop says:

“Besides my own

family, I don’t

think I loved

anyone in my

ward quite as

much as I loved

those who came

to me with

broken hearts

seeking

forgiveness and

peace. I rejoiced

when they were

clean and whole

again. And after-

ward, I never

looked at them as

former sinners—

only as beloved

brothers and

sisters.”

Repentance may have been difficult,but it was also comforting and filledwith hope.

You Are Not AloneSpeaking of those who struggle with

this problem, one bishop says: “Help isavailable. The repentance process is justthat—a process. It takes time to breaknegative patterns, and each smallvictory must be acknowledged,reinforced, and celebrated along theway. Sometimes those I have workedwith still struggle, but at least they arenot hiding anymore. They have begun tobuild a support system. They haverealized they don’t have to face thischallenge alone.”

A former bishop explains: “Besides myown family, I don’t think I loved anyonein my ward quite as much as I lovedthose who came to me with brokenhearts, seeking forgiveness and peace.They cared more about what the Lordthought of them than what any personthought. I respected their courage anddesire to make things right. I shed tearsover them. I rejoiced when they wereclean and whole again. And afterward Inever looked at them as formersinners—only as beloved brothers andsisters.”

“Trust in the Lord,” counseled ElderRichard G. Scott of the Quorum of theTwelve Apostles. “He knows what He isdoing. He already knows of yourproblems. And He is waiting for you toask for help” (Ensign, May 1989, 36).

How Is Blair Now?I felt relief when I stopped pretending.

Sharing the burden with my bishop andmy family meant I no longer had to dealwith this addiction alone. Now I hold onto this support system.

A problem that dominated my youthcould not be overcome overnight. Thisroad has been long and hard—and itcontinues. It isn’t enough anymore tolook happy. I want to be happy. I amcoming to know Christ and theAtonement with much deeper and more

N E W E R A

A PROPHET’S WARNING

“I plead with you boys . . . to keepyourselves free from the stains of the world.You must not indulge in sleazy talk atschool. You must not tell sultry jokes. Youmust not fool around with the Internet tofind pornographic material. You must notdial a long-distance telephone number tolisten to filth. You must not rent videos withpornography of any kind. This salaciousstuff simply is not for you. Stay away frompornography as you would avoid a seriousdisease. It is as destructive. It can becomehabitual, and those who indulge in it get sothey cannot leave it alone. It is addictive.

“It is a five-billion-dollar business forthose who produce it. They make it as . . .attractive as they know how. It seduces anddestroys its victims. It is everywhere. It is allabout us. I plead with you young men notto get involved in its use. You simply cannotafford to.

“The girl you marry is worthy of ahusband whose life has not been tainted bythis ugly and corrosive material” (Ensign,May 1998, 49).

Scientificresearch—including newbrain-scantechnology—isbeginning toshow that

The best way to

avoid a

problem with

pornography is

to stay as far

away from it as

possible.

personal meaning. The Atonement givesme the strength I need so my self-confidence and self-respect grow step bystep each day.

And Ryan?I was honest with my bishop. And

when my dad talked to me about theInternet sites I was visiting, I was honestwith him too. We worked on theproblem together. We decided not tohave the Internet in our home for awhile. That was a big help.

I’m turning 16 soon, and I’m glad Idecided not to let pornography controlmy life. I feel better about myself, and Ithink about young women differentlythan I did before. With my bishop’s help,I’m preparing now for the temple, amission, and a great marriage one day.

And Rob?It took a lot of time and sincere effort

to break bad habits. Eventually I wasjudged by my priesthood leader asworthy to serve a mission. The bestfeeling in the world was to go throughthe temple and know I am clean. TheSpirit I wanted to feel during all thoseteenage years came flooding into myheart and life. I am so thankful for theAtonement of Jesus Christ.

The adversary still works on me, tryingto get me to backslide. But I havelearned to put on the armor of Godevery day. I know Jesus Christ loves me,and I love Him.

And You?The best way to avoid a problem with

pornography is to stay as far away fromit as possible. But if you are strugglingwith pornography or any unworthyhabit, please talk to your bishop orbranch president. He loves you, he willbe discreet, and he can help you put thepower of the Atonement to work in yourlife. With the help of the Savior and Hisservants, you can gain the strength youneed. You can become clean and worthyin every respect. NE

pornographymay causephysical andchemicalchanges in thebrain similar tothose caused bydrugs.

ANOTHER DRUG?Pornography can be powerfully addicting.Scientific research—including new brain-scantechnology—is beginning to show thatpornography may cause physical and chemicalchanges in the brain similar to those causedby drugs. The only sure way to avoid thedanger is to stay away from pornography inthe first place.

If you have become addicted, you mustseek help. The first person to see is yourbishop or branch president. He can help youbring the Savior’s redeeming and healingpower into your life. He can also help youobtain professional help as necessary. Pleasedon’t try to go it alone.

Pornography isn’t just available, it is beingpushed and marketed. Nobody—no adult, noreturned missionary, no one—is so mature orso strong that he or she can risk deliberateexposure. Plan to be on guard your entire life.And that is even more true for those whohave had a previous problem withpornography. It’s like being recovered from adrug or alcohol addiction. You must notreturn for even a taste because you can beoverwhelmed in a moment.

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 3 9

I D E A L I S T

4 0 T H E N E W E R A

HOMEHOME IMPROIMPROVEMENTVEMENT

BB e there

for

your

family. If

someone has

something

special they

are involved

in, like a

performance

or a sport,

support them

by being there.

Build up and

encourage

each other.

Contribute

to the spirit of

your home by

living so as to

have the Holy

Ghost with you

at all times.

Springville Junior High Seminary

YY ou might be only one in a large family, or it could just be you and one parent who make up your

family. Whatever your situation, you candefinitely be an influence for good. Hereare some suggestions from BrotherDarren Glathar’s seminary classesadjacent to Springville (Utah) Junior Highon how you can strengthen your family.

• Be a willing and helpful participantin family home evening. If you need to,encourage your family to hold a familyhome evening as the prophets havecounseled. You could even offer toprepare the lesson.

• Help bring the family together forfamily prayer each morning and night.

• Stay awake and participate duringfamily scripture study. Be a good exampleto your younger brothers and sisters byhaving a positive attitude about it.

• Organize a family activity. It could besomething as simple as playing a game orgoing for a walk together.

• Go to church, firesides, and thetemple together.

• Listen to and obey your parents (seethe fifth commandment in Ex. 20:12).

• Always treat your family memberswith respect, even if you sometimes getannoyed with your siblings. Do your bestto be patient with them, and alwaysremember you love them.

• Serve members of your familyanonymously. Instead of complainingabout how messy your sister is, youcould help her by making her bed.

• Visit family members who don’t livewith you, such as your grandparents.

• Cheerfully complete all the choresyou have been assigned.

• Be there for your family. If someonehas something special they are involvedin, like a performance or a sport, supportthem by being there. Build up andencourage each other.

• Contribute to the spirit of yourhome by living so as to have the HolyGhost with you at all times.

• Plan a family service project.• Spend one-on-one time with your

family members to get to know them andlove them better. NE

Photography by Steve Bunderson. Posed by models

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 4 1

T H E E X T R A S M I L E

Val Chadwick Bagley

Arie Van De Graaff

Ryan Stoker

“Elder Conley cookedtonight. Maybe we

should bless it twice.”

“There is sunshine inmy soul today.”

4 2 T H E

WHAT YOU ARE

MEANTMEANTTOTO BEBE

By Margaret D. Nadauld

Young Women

general president

You inherited greatpotential for good fromyour heavenly home.May you grow to becomeall you were meant to be.

t is a remarkable blessing to be a daughter of God today! We have the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are blessed to have the priesthoodrestored to the earth. We are led by aprophet of God who holds all of thepriesthood keys. I love and honorPresident Gordon B. Hinckley and all ofour brethren who bear the priesthoodworthily.

I am inspired by the lives of good andfaithful women. I know our HeavenlyFather loves His daughters very much.From the beginning of time the Lord hasplaced significant trust in them. He hassent us to earth “for such a time as this”

II

N E W E R A

(Esth. 4:14) to perform a grand andglorious mission. The Doctrine andCovenants teaches about the “noble andgreat ones.”

“Even before they were born, they,with many others, received their firstlessons in the world of spirits and wereprepared to come forth in the due timeof the Lord to labor in his vineyard forthe salvation of the souls of men” (D&C138:56).

What a wonderful vision that gives usof our purpose on earth! We must alwaysremember that where much is given,much is required (see D&C 82:3). OurHeavenly Father asks His daughters towalk in virtue, live in righteousness, sowe can fulfill our life’s mission and Hispurposes. He wants us to be successful,and He will help us as we seek His help.

Divine differencesThat women were born into this earth

female was determined long beforemortal birth, as were the divinedifferences of males and females. I love

Photography by Steve Bunderson. Posed by models

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 4 3

4 4 T H E

rateful

daugh-

ters of

God guard their

bodies carefully,

for they know

they are the

wellspring of life

and they

reverence life.

They don’t

uncover their

bodies to find

favor with the

world. They walk

in modesty to be

in favor with

their Father in

Heaven.

GG

the clarity of the teachings of the FirstPresidency and the Quorum of theTwelve in the Proclamation on the Family.They state: “Gender is an essentialcharacteristic of individual premortal,mortal, and eternal identity andpurpose.” From that statement we aretaught that every girl was feminine andfemale in spirit long before her mortalbirth.

God sent women to earth with somequalities in extra capacity. PresidentJames E. Faust of the First Presidencyobserved that femininity “is the divineadornment of humanity. It findsexpression in your . . . capacity to love,your spirituality, delicacy, radiance,sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness,gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. Itis manifest differently in each girl orwoman, but each . . . possesses it.

Femininity is part of your innerbeauty” (Ensign, May 2000, 96).Our lives reflect that for which we

seek. If, with all our hearts, we truly seekto know the Savior and be more like

Him, we shall be, for He is ourdivine, eternal Brother. ButHe is more than that. He is

our precious Savior, our dearRedeemer. I ask, with Alma of old, “Have

ye received his image in yourcountenances?” (Alma 5:14).

Recognizing themYou can recognize young women who

are grateful to be daughters of God bytheir outward appearance. Theyunderstand their responsibility over theirbodies and treat them with dignity. Theycare for their bodies as they would a holytemple, for they understand the Lord’steaching: “Know ye not that ye are thetemple of God, and that the Spirit of Goddwelleth in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16). Youngwomen who love God would never abuseor deface a temple with graffiti. Norwould they throw open the doors of thatholy, dedicated edifice and invite theworld to look on. How even more sacredis the body, for it was not made by man.It was created by God. We are thestewards, the keepers of the cleanlinessand purity with which it came fromheaven. “If any man defile the temple of

God, him shall God destroy; for thetemple of God is holy, which temple

ye are” (1 Cor. 3:17).

N E W E R A

Grateful daughters of God guard theirbodies carefully, for they know they arethe wellspring of life and they reverencelife. They don’t uncover their bodies tofind favor with the world. They walk inmodesty to be in favor with their Fatherin Heaven. They know He loves themdearly.

You can recognize young women whoare grateful to be daughters of God bytheir attitudes. They know the errand ofangels is given to women, and theydesire to be on God’s errand, to love Hischildren and minister to them; to teachthem the doctrines of salvation; to callthem to repentance; to save them inperilous circumstances; to guide them inthe performance of His work; to deliverHis messages. They understand they canbless their Father’s children in theirhomes and neighborhoods and beyond.Young women who are grateful to bedaughters of God bring glory to Hisname.

You can recognize young women whoare grateful to be daughters of God bytheir abilities. They fulfill their divinepotential and magnify their God-givengifts. They are capable, strong youngwomen who bless families, serve others,and understand the glory of God isintelligence. They are young women whoembrace enduring virtues in order to beall our Father needs them to be. Theprophet Jacob spoke of some of thosevirtues when he said their “feelings areexceedingly tender and chaste anddelicate before God, which thing ispleasing unto God” (Jacob 2:7).

Grateful daughters of God love Himand will teach others to love Him withoutreservation and without resentment.They will grow up to be like the mothersof Helaman’s youthful army who hadgreat faith and “had been taught by theirmothers, that if they did not doubt, Godwould deliver them” (Alma 56:47).

MotherhoodWhen you observe kind and gentle

mothers in action, you will see women ofgreat strength. You will observe that theirfamilies can feel a spirit of love andrespect and safety when they are nearher as she seeks the companionship ofthe Holy Ghost and the guidance of HisSpirit. You will see they are blessed byher wisdom and good judgment. The

Adapted from an October 2000general conference address.

elebrate the

fact that

girls are

different from

boys. Be thankful

for the position

you have in God’s

grand plan.

Remember all

that you are and

must be, all that

you are prepared

to be in royal

courts on high by

God Himself.

CC

husbands and children, whose livesthese mothers bless, will contribute tothe stability of societies all over thisworld. Grateful daughters of God learntruths from their mothers andgrandmothers. They teach theirdaughters the joyful art of creating ahome. They seek fine educations fortheir children and have a thirst forknowledge themselves. They help theirchildren develop skills they can use inserving others. They know that the waythey have chosen is not the easy way, butthey know it is absolutely worth theirfinest efforts.

They understand what Elder Neal A.Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelvemeant as he said, “When the real historyof mankind is fully disclosed, will itfeature the echoes of gunfire or theshaping sound of lullabies? The greatarmistices made by military men or thepeacemaking of women in homes and inneighborhoods? Will what happened incradles and kitchens prove to be morecontrolling than what happened incongresses?” (Ensign, May 1978, 10–11).

Grateful daughters of God know it isthe nurturing nature of women that canbring everlasting blessings, and they liveto cultivate this divine attribute. Surelywhen a woman reverences motherhood,her children will arise up and call herblessed (see Prov. 31:28).

Always remember that women of God

can never be like women of theworld. The world has enough

women who are coarse; weneed women who are refined.We have enough women offame and fortune; we needmore women of faith. Wehave enough greed; we needmore goodness. We haveenough vanity; we needmore virtue. We haveenough popularity; weneed more purity.

Reaching your potentialHow I pray that every

young woman will grow up tobe all the wonderful thingsshe is meant to be. I hopethat as a daughter of Godyou honor the priesthood

and sustain worthy priesthoodholders. I hope you understand yourown great capacity for strength in thetimeless virtues that some would scoff atin a modern liberated world for women.

May you understand the greatpotential for good you inherited fromyour heavenly home. We, as women,must nourish our gentleness, ournurturing nature, our innate spiritualityand sensitivity, and our bright minds.Celebrate the fact that girls are differentfrom boys. Be thankful for the positionyou have in God’s grand plan. And alwaysremember what President Hinckley said:“Woman is God’s supreme creation. Onlyafter the earth had been formed, afterthe day had been separated from thenight, after the waters had been dividedfrom the land, after vegetation andanimal life had been created; and afterman had been placed on the earth, waswoman created; and only then was thework pronounced complete and good”(Ensign, Sept. 1988, 11).

Remember all that you are and mustbe, all that you were prepared to be inroyal courts on high by God Himself.Thankfully consider how you can usewith gratitude the priceless gifts you havebeen given to lift others to higherthinking and nobler aspirations. NE

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 4 5

4 6 T H E

AANGNGELEL

By Benjamin Ireland

“ ord, help

me,” she

had

prayed. “I don’t

know if I can

handle this!

Please, please

send an angel or

something.”

LL

Sister Jones was prayingfor help. We were prayingto know where we shouldgo. Thank goodness bothour prayers wereanswered.

isit Sister Jones” is what was written down for 1:00 P.M. Sister

Jones was a member of theward who we had visited a few times inthe California Arcadia Mission, but shehad not been to church for a long while.She had a good husband and threeadorable little daughters. Every time wesaw her, we asked her to come to church,but she had not come yet.

VV“

N E W E R A

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 4 7Illustrated by Sam Lawlor

4 8 T H E

began to cry.

For one

thing, I had

never been called

an angel before.

I am just me—

a simple

missionary. But

for one short

afternoon, we

were someone’s

angels.

II

I had often thought and prayed about

how we could encourage her to comeback to church and was beginning todoubt if we would ever succeed. Isuggested to my companion that we gotracting instead. He agreed that tractingwas important, but he seemed inspired inhis suggestion to follow through with ourplan. I swallowed my pride and said asilent prayer. The Spirit whispered to methat following our plan was what Godwanted us to do.

We biked to Sister Jones’s place, andas we pulled up she was taking out thetrash. When she looked at us she seemeddiscouraged. She did not seemparticularly thrilled to see us.

“Hello, Sister Jones,” I said cheerfully.“How are you doing?”

“Okay,” she responded halfheartedly. Iknew something was not quite right. Thelast time we visited she had commentedhow hard it was to keep up on herhousework because of an illness she hadcontracted. I wondered if this was thecause of her unhappy countenance. TheSpirit whispered again to me. Withoutleaving room for argument weannounced, “We’re here to do yourdishes.”

She was taken aback and a littlereluctant to let us help. I could see shewas longing for some relief. She led usinside, and immediately I went to a sinkfull of almost every dish in the house.Meanwhile my companion started

N E W E R A

vacuuming. All Sister Jones could manageto do was sit down on the couch,exhausted, watching us gratefully. Wefinished the vacuuming, my companiondried the dishes, and soon the house wassparkling. Sister Jones expressed herappreciation with a teary smile.

“Thank you, Elders. I really neededthat today.”

“No problem, Sister Jones. We’realways glad to help. You know that,” mycompanion said. She smiled, and we letourselves out.

The following Sunday I was surprisedto see her in the congregation at church.It warmed my heart. It was fast andtestimony meeting, but what added tomy surprise was Sister Jones getting upto bear her testimony.

After bearing her testimony of thetruthfulness of the Church, she added,“This week I was having a really hardtime. I’ve been sick and not able to doeverything. One day when it wasparticularly difficult, I began to pray.‘Lord help me, I don’t know if I canhandle this! Please, please send an angel,or something. Please.’ And right then,two of his angels pulled up on theirbicycles and asked if they could help. Iwas so touched. It was exactly what Ineeded.”

I began to cry. For one thing, I hadnever been called an angel before. I amjust me—a simple missionary. But for oneshort afternoon, we were someone’sangels. Still, I cannot take credit for it. Inthat fast and testimony meeting, the HolySpirit once again whispered to me withthe sweet comfort that comes fromfollowing God’s will. It is not always whatwe want to do. It is not always what wethink is best. But God’s way is alwaysright. We may not have reached our goalfor tracting hours that week, but wereached a much higher standard—thestandard of doing what our all-wiseFather above wanted us to do. NE

R E A D E R ’ S G U I D E

Index of Topics

Avoiding Temptation 34

Bishop’s Interviews 10

Caring 24Example 14, 16, 24Families 14, 24, 40Home 40Individual Worth 24Jesus Christ 14, 26Missionary Work 4,

46Personal Testimony 8Pornography 34Potential 42Prayer 8Priesthood 10Prophets 26Respect 42Reverence 16Sacrament 20Sacrifice 4Service 46Testimony 26Womanhood 42

Creativeideas forusing thisissue of the New Era.

Personal Improvement■■ Read “What Great Brothers Do” (page

14) and think about someone who is a goodexample in your life, perhaps a sibling or afriend in your ward. Identify a specificquality that person has and set two or threeshort-term goals that will help you developthat quality in your life.

■■ Taking the sacrament is a privilegemany of us take for granted (see “SacramentService” on page 20). This Sunday, take amoment to thank a deacon or anotherpriesthood holder in your ward for theservice they provide in passing thesacrament each Sunday.

■■ When was the last time you spentsome one-on-one time with a sibling? Read“Freckles” on page 24 for inspiration, andmake a “date” to spend some time doing afun activity with a brother or sister.

Family Home Evening Idea■■ “See No Evil” on page 34 deals with

the serious topic of pornography, and theease with which it can enter our homes.Under the guidance of your parents at yournext family home evening, discuss strategiesfor avoiding unwholesome entertainment.Read D&C 121:45 together and discuss itsmeaning.

Value Project Idea■■ Our prophets have given us numerous

testimonies of the Savior, a few of which arecontained in “The Voice of His Servants”

(page 26). If appropriate, ask your parentsor other members of your family to writetheir testimonies of Christ. Put them alltogether in a file. Don’t forget to includeyour own testimony.

Aaronic Priesthood and Young WomenMutual Ideas

■■ Two missionaries discovered thatsimple acts of service were the best way tolet a sister know she was loved (see page46). Is there a member of your class orquorum who could use some help with hishomework? A ride to an activity? Somespecial attention? Spend a portion of yournext Mutual night planning a service activityfor someone who is less active.

■■ Is reverence an area where your classor quorum could improve? Read Q&Atogether (page 16) and then, with yourteacher, brainstorm some ideas to improvereverence in your Sunday meetings. After amonth of implementing your ideas, evaluateyour progress. If you feel you’ve improved,celebrate with a treat.

Seminary Devotional Idea■■ Read “Taking My Own Advice” on page

8, and summarize it in your own words foryour class. Ask class members to write short notes expressing their testimonies togive to friends. Then, instead of giving thenotes away, invite them to keep the notes asa reminder to work on their testimoniesdaily.

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 2 4 9

W E ’ V E G O T M A I L

“The prophethas asked usto be grateful,and I amgrateful forthe New Eraand all thework thatgoes into it.”

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Really inspiredI would like to say the article “Everyone But

Me” (April ‘02) really inspired me because itmade me think back to when I felt alone andnot needed. Thank you again for the magazine.It’s the only thing I read when I feel down.

Joel MaldonadoNaples, Florida (via e-mail)

GratefulThe prophet has asked us to be grateful,

and I am grateful for the New Era and all thework that goes into it. My favorite thing toread is the scriptures, but the New Eracomes in a close second. Many of the articlestouch me and I appreciate the inspiring,knowledgeable, and encouraging words.

Alyssa HansenRidgefield, Washington (via e-mail)

Loved the trekI am a 12-year-old Beehive in the Rawlins

Wyoming First Ward. I would like to thank youfor printing the article, “Walking inRemembrance,” in the July 2002 issue. It wasreally fun to read because Martin’s Cove is only40 miles from my home, and I have been theremany, many times. I was even privileged toattend the dedication. It was also extra specialbecause I received my copy of the New Era theday before we left on our own bi-ward trek.

Rachel RussellRawlins, Wyoming (via e-mail)

Different perspectiveWhen I received my August 2002 issue, the

first article I read was “Carving A Character.”About half-way through diabetes jumped off thepage at me. Before I continued, I called mysister to come listen to the rest of Matt Rogers’sstory. My sister was diagnosed with type-1diabetes when she was four years old. Eventhough she has had the disease for four years,lately she has become very depressed about herillness. She feels like no one else understandswhat she is going through, and she tries toignore her illness, hoping it will disappear. Iloved reading her the scripture Matt mentioned(Ether 12:27); his diabetes had been something

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to help shape his life. It gave my sister adifferent perspective. Now she tells me shewants to be a sculptor!

Kassandra GreerWalkersville, Maryland (via e-mail)

Not the only oneI just want to say that I loved reading the

article “Rising Above the Blues” in the April2002 edition. It helped me feel that I wasn’talone. I have depression, and at times I feel sohelpless and guilty that I don’t want to exist.Now I realize I’m not the only one, and that ifJesus Christ suffered all things, I can survive.This article really made me feel better.

Name WithheldUtah (via e-mail)

The same thingsI love reading the New Era. It is so inspiring

and helps me to feel the Spirit while I read. As Iread the stories they help me know I am notalone, that there are other faithful teenagersaround the world who have to go through a lotof the same things I go through. The New Erais the best magazine because it brings the Spiritof the Lord with it, which is something thatcould never be found in other teen magazines.

Kristy Rae RowberryHenderson, Nevada (via e-mail)

CorrectionThe picture we ran in Of All Things in the

August 2002 issue is of George Albert Smith,eighth president of the Church. We shouldhave run a photo of George A. Smith of Zion’sCamp. We apologize for the mistake and anyconfusion it may have caused.

We love hearing from you. Write us at New EraWe’ve Got Mail50 E. North TempleSalt Lake City, Utah 84150

Or e-mail us at

cur-editorial-newera@ldschurch.org

Submissions may be edited for length and clarity.

By Lana Leishman

P H O T O O F T H E M O N T H

Loving StillBy Holly Jo Weston

It seems likeevery intricate detailof our last conversation should beetched—no, chiseled—in my soul.But when I close my eyes,I can’t even picture your face,and it hasn’t been thatlong since . . .When I was young, I ran to hug thegraham-cracker, strawberry-jam,grandmother-scented you.As I’d close my eyes,how comforting to feelthe love-peckon my delicate cheek,and it must have been,as I’d run offto play in your flowers.It seems likeI should have hugged youlonger.And when I close my eyes,all I can feelare gentle tearswarming my face.Or is it you?Loving still.

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“It makes me

realize how

important the

sacrament is

to people.

When we

come with the

sacrament,

they just light

up, and

they’re so

excited.”

See

“Sacrament

Service,”

p. 20.