Feedback

Jews-Arabs

I am Jewish and have been a member of the Church for a little over a year, and I find that the answer to the question in the August “Q&A” on the Israeli-Arab conflict surely has helped me. Congratulations.

Gerri F. Klein
Brownsville, Texas

For and by nonmembers

The New Era covers are fantastic. I’ve had a lot of nonmember friends pick up the magazine and look through it just because of the attractiveness of the covers. I’ve found that this is one of the best ways to introduce friends to the Church, and I really suggest it to anyone who wants to show someone else what we’re like—give them a subscription to the New Era.

Donna Edgmon
Jacksonville, Florida

Last fall when I entered college, I knew nothing about the Mormon religion, but it turned out that my best friend and a male friend are both Mormon. Since then I have read a great deal about the Church, and I want to say thank you for the insight your magazine has given me.

Debbie Coughlin
Pittsfield, Massachusetts

A very close friend has a subscription to the New Era. I had never heard of your magazine until I happened to mention my intention of joining the Church. My friend said she would let me read the magazine. Since then, my intentions have been much stronger. I have been to many churches in my life, but never before have I been to one that has such a feeling of love and brotherhood with fellow humans. The magazine has helped answer some of my questions, and I know it has done the same for many people all over the earth.

Barbara Allen
Lynnwood, California

On showing emotions

In the August “Q&A” department, Sister Lenore Romney answered a question about being emotional when bearing testimony. I agree and would like to add this. I am emotional when I really feel the Spirit within me. My tears come easily when I feel humble. It is much easier for me to cry when I’m happy than when I’m sad. I never fail to cry when I witness a man standing and bearing his testimony with tears running down his face. This is so beautiful. Why should society think it unusual? Why should parents teach their sons not to cry because it looks sissy. It takes strength within a man’s soul for him to shed a tear. One of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon is 3 Nephi 17:14–24, [3 Ne. 17:14–24] where it tells of Christ falling to his knees and weeping. One of the greatest experiences is to go to a missionary testimony meeting, where the elders often shed tears. It isn’t because their feet hurt from tracting or because they have had doors slammed in their faces or because they don’t have any money to buy food. The best way I can say this is by relating an experience. Yesterday I was talking to Ron, a young man who has been a member all his life. His best friend, Larry, was just baptized last Saturday by Ron. Sunday Ron bore his testimony and told Larry he loved him. They both wept. Ron told me he can’t help but cry when he bears his testimony because it means so much to him. Larry, the new member, had only cried once in his life, years ago. His father told him that boys do not cry. I hope as youth that we will understand why we feel emotional and will not be afraid to be appropriately emotional. And I hope that when we have our own little boys, we won’t teach them that tears are bad but that they should take advantage of this beautiful gift to feel deeply what our Creator has given us.

Susan Patterson
Cincinnati, Ohio

Tall or short

Your witty articles on shortness and tallness seem to assume that short women and tall men have no problems. As a five-foot-one contemporary of Paul Cracroft, I can assure him that in my book he was the original “Big Man on Campus.” I was known affectionately as “the world’s tallest pigmy” and would like a nickel for every time a willowy type approached me with such comments as “Boy, are you short!” or “How do you like my new belt buckle?” When I sought advice on possible careers, I was told that I would make an excellent actress on six-inch television sets. I later found myself ill-equipped for the career I finally did choose—housewife—for the well-known reason that all kitchens are designed by tall men!

Mary L. Bradford
Arlington, Virginia

Your article on tallness gave me an added friendship—a girl in my Laurel class whom I was never close to but who has now become a great friend. I recently recovered from viral meningitis. While in the hospital for two weeks I found that my copy of the New Era gave me added courage to fight on and endure. The magazine made me feel closer to the General Authorities and closer to members of the Church. The article on war answered many questions and gave me added courage to be obedient to the laws of my country.

Marily Wilson
Burbank, California

President Smith

I cried quietly inside as I read the July “Talk of the Month.” The responses at the sides of the article were beautiful, and when I read the last, short paragraph, I cried. I knew then that Joseph Fielding Smith is a prophet. I didn’t before, but I do now. Something happened in me. May the Lord continue to bless all who write and all who read this magazine.

Michael J. Fisher
Sheffield, Yorkshire, England

Mormon troubadour

The modern ballad-type music and songs of Marvin Payne are so well done and convey so much meaning that it is nearly unbelievable [August].

Claudia Wanberg
Conrad, Montana

What tremendous potential as a missionary for feeding the hungry youth of our generation! How much I enjoyed the article, songs, and thoughts, and knowing that talent like this is developed within the Church.

Kathleen Wood
Keene, New Hampshire

Book of Mormon read-in

Several months ago I participated in a Book of Mormon read-in sponsored by our three seminary classes. We read the Book of Mormon nonstop until the concluding “Amen”—twenty-six hours and fifty-five minutes of a testimony-building experience. Afterwards, we joined in prayer, and everyone had a chance to offer their thanks to the group and to God, mingled with tears of joy. Not only do I challenge anyone to break this record, but also to deny that today’s youth do indeed have a spiritual side. After such a memorable experience, I wholeheartedly support the idea that Latter-day Saint youth “shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” I also want to commend the New Era Comment for supplying such an abundance of spiritual food. We youth shall not falter with such an inspired magazine.

Kathryn Judd
Sunnyvale, California

Personal environment

Articles in the August issue on room or apartment improvement were very interesting and contained many worthwhile suggestions. Also, I have looked in vain for the promised book reviews of current Church books. Please don’t abandon the idea!

Keith Lawrence
Summit, Utah

Comments on current books begin with this issue—see page 48.

Who’s the oldest?

The following note came to our offices: “They ordered the Ensign [Church magazine for marrieds or singles over 26], but I want the New Era! I’m single, and the New Era is just perfect for me. I love it. I’m 90 years old.” Signed, Miss Helena I. Mendel, Miami, Florida. What we want to know, is there an older subscriber somewhere?

Fiction

Let’s have more fiction. The one in the July issue was great!

S. Brown
Salinas, California

More fiction is coming, coming—on its way. But our supply is limited. Fiction writers—where’s your Mormon fiction?

Pen pals

Knowing that the New Era is read all over the world, I wondered if you could give some names of young people who would like to be pen pals?

Marjorie Anderson, Age 15
160 East 9th North
Bountiful, Utah

No, but interested persons now have your address.