Row Together

By Elder Terence M. Vinson

Of the Seventy

“Teach me to know of the things that are right; Teach me, teach me to walk in the light” (Children’s Songbook, 177).

As a young boy in Australia, I played a lot of sports. I ran track, and I also played rugby and cricket. I really liked team sports. In those sports, it wasn’t just me playing but a group of people working together. One of the harder sports I tried was rowing.

My friend and I took out a boat called a “tub pair” on the river. I rowed on one side, and he rowed on the other. As we rowed, we tried to prove we were stronger than each other. The boat turned in one direction and then another. We zigzagged up the river. It was slow going. We didn’t work together very well.

After that, we got a coach to help us. He told us what to do and how to help each other. We practiced the things he taught us. Eventually we became very good and won many races.

When I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I realized that I couldn’t work just on my own. There was a lot I didn’t know about the gospel. I needed to work with my bishop and my leaders. Most importantly, I needed to work with Heavenly Father to know what He wanted me to do. I studied the scriptures and prayed. I listened to my leaders. I practiced and worked hard—just like with rowing.

Heavenly Father guided me when I wasn’t sure what to do. That helped me grow. God has taught me many things as I’ve tried to do what He asks. He’s helped me to help others as well as myself. As we try to work with others and with God, we can do many great things.

Helping Each Other

Find the friends in the picture that can help each other. What can they do together?

Bonus: How many boomerangs can you find? How many rugby players (the ones with numbered jerseys)? And how many oars for rowing? See below.