“Giulia and the Earthquake,” Friend, August 2024, 4–5.
Giulia and the Earthquake
It was the middle of the night, and Giulia’s room was shaking!
This story happened in Italy.
“Giulia! Marco! Come down for home evening!” Ma called up the stairs.
“Coming!” Giulia called back.
She came downstairs. After the prayer, Giulia saw that her parents had brought out backpacks, food, water, and other supplies.
“What’s this for?” Giulia asked.
“We’re doing something important for home evening,” Pa said. “There have been some small earthquakes recently. We want to be prepared in case a bigger one comes. We’re going to make emergency bags.”
Giulia looked at her brother, Marco. She was worried. She had felt the small shakes before. But the thought of a big earthquake scared her.
Ma held Giulia’s hand. “Don’t worry. We’ll do our best to prepare, and the Lord will help us. Before we make the bags, let’s read some scriptures.”
Her parents read them a story from 3 Nephi. There was a big storm with fires and earthquakes before Jesus Christ visited the Americas. The people felt scared and sad. But Jesus said He would heal and comfort those who came to Him.
“Jesus Christ blessed each of the little children,” Pa said. “He knows and loves both of you just like He loved them.”
The scriptures made Giulia feel calm and peaceful. She had faith that Heavenly Father would comfort her and her family.
As they made the bags, Ma told them what they should do if an earthquake came. “Get down in an open area or under a strong table. Then cover your head and neck with your hands. Stay where you are until the shaking stops.”
Giulia practiced what Ma said. She was glad they were prepared. If an earthquake did come, they would have what they needed.
A few weeks later, Giulia felt her room shake in the middle of the night. She sat up in her bed. The room was still shaking. It was an earthquake!
At first, she felt afraid. But then she looked at her Book of Mormon on her bedside table. She thought about how Jesus Christ promised to comfort the people in the Americas. A calm feeling came over her.
Giulia remembered what Ma told her to do. She huddled under her desk, covering her head and neck with her hands. After the shaking stopped, she ran to her parents’ room.
“Are you OK?” Ma asked. Her parents hugged Giulia and Marco tightly. Marco gave her a hug too.
“Yes, I’m OK! I knew what to do,” Giulia said. But then she saw the tears on her brother’s face. He was scared, just like she had been.
I know what will help him, she thought. Giulia got her Book of Mormon and opened to a picture of the Savior.
“Look, Marco. Jesus can comfort us, even when we’re scared.” Giulia gave her brother a hug. “Everything is going to be OK.”
Illustrations by Marina Pessarrodona