Feedback

The Presidents

Thanks so much for the January New Era. It was great! But I have a question: Are you sure that the picture on page 57 in the David O. McKay article is of President McKay and his bride, Emma? I would never have recognized her from that photo.

Jennifer Maybet
Kearns, Utah

You’re very observant and very right! Pictured are President McKay and his sister Jeanette McKay Morrell. Even the Church Historian’s Office (our source) goofed on this one.

The January issue was absolutely fantastic! For a long time now I’ve thought how little I knew about any of the prophets. You made them seem human and more real than I’ve ever imagined them. Thank you so much!

Paula Roberts
Grand Terrace, California

The record of the presidents of the Church was excellent. I just wish it were longer. Which brings me to my point: I think the New Era should make available for purchase certain books, records, and tapes. Some other low circulation, special interest magazines do it. Such a thing would be of service and would not make the magazine commercial.

Ray Seidel
Escondido, California

How I enjoyed the record! The first two messages were remarkably clear. We’re indeed fortunate to have had the technology to restore these two priceless recordings. I decided I wanted to keep the record out where I could replay it often. So to protect it, I fashioned a small record case from construction paper. Cardboard can also be used. Then I put the title of the record on the outside of the case.

Diane Carlin
Dallas, Texas

What an excellent effort by Brothers Bassett and Hartshorn. Congratulations to the staff for a soul-stirring and faith-promoting issue. I nearly read it from cover to cover at one sitting and was deeply moved and so proud to be a member of this great church. I feel an even stronger determination to follow in the footsteps of these powerful leaders and prophets. My deepest thanks.

Amy Chan
Winnipeg, Manitoba

One item of particular interest is the facsimile of the Kirtland Safety Society Bank Note on page 17. Even though these notes are rare, they do show up from time to time in collections and sales. What is of greater interest to me is that I have a note, #926, sold to O. Gaty on the same day as the one you photographed. This would indicate that Mr. Gaty purchased at least eleven notes, probably all $10 denomination. These notes are now worth from $150 to $250. Those countersigned by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball are worth about double that amount.

D. Reed Laker
Littleton, Colorado

Unusual dates

We just received here in Brazil the great September issue. The article on unusual dates reminded me of a real fun date I had once. It started when three friends and myself were crawling around a local mine near my hometown. We knew it was safe, and many people had visited it. The idea struck me as to how we could share all the fun we were having there. We finally came on the idea of having a restaurant in the mine for our dates. So one Saturday we arranged the event. Two of the fellows would be waiters one week, and the other two would bring dates. Then we’d reverse our roles. We spent the morning hauling up tables, chairs, silverware, china, radio, and other assorted equipment. This is easier said than done—the hike was two miles from the nearest road. All the equipment was put on pack boards on our backs. Then about 4 P.M., the dates came up (for what seemed to the girls to be a regular cave exploring trip). We spent the next several hours crawling around the mine, marveling at anything from small nuggets of gold to blind crickets. We all had a good time, and all precautions were taken—hard hats, ropes, three varieties of lights.

Then, on the way out of the mine, we were suddenly met by two waiters dressed in French-style clothes. We were led to a table complete with crystal and linen, candlelight and soft music. The menu was given—five different choices that were all the same but were written in five different languages. Appetizers, soup, salad, steaks, baked potatoes, dessert, and punch. The whole thing was cooked over an open fire outside the mine. The girls couldn’t believe it, and the rest of the hike down in the moonlight was a touch of fantasy also. The girls raved about it for weeks. The whole meal cost only $5 per couple.

Elder Gary E. Lewis
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Our own fashions

I enjoyed your article on fashions [October]. Brigham Young said, “Create your own fashions” when he spoke to Latter-day Saint girls. I want to know why we couldn’t do that. Why couldn’t the Church or some organization help girls find each other through correspondence or something—all the girls, that is, who would be willing to participate in raising money, individually and in groups, so we could make our own dresses and styles. Maybe we could be organized together in the different stakes so that we could get together and sew our own dresses.

Launa Randle
Hooper, Utah

Question of the arm

A question was asked in the October issue about whether putting your arm around a girl on the first date was going too far. Now who would ever ask a question like that in the first place? I think the New Era is a fantastic way of getting to youth. Until now, I never would have hesitated showing it to any nonmember friends. But I’d be embarrassed to have them read a question as unreal as that one. I’m no doctor or psychologist, just a youth, but I’d like to go so far as to say that if any sixteen- or seventeen-year-old is really concerned over a question like this, he’s going to have some real hang-ups in life. He’s going to need help. I’m not trying to tear down the goals of this magazine, but I am trying to let you know how I feel. There definitely was a lack of communication. Remember, the New Era is for the youth of the Church, not the readers of the Ensign or the Friend. Am I far out in left field in my thinking?

Al King
Provo, Utah

From Vietnam

As a serviceman stationed in one of the more remote areas of Vietnam, I want to thank you for the confidence, knowledge, and small touch of home your magazine brings to me and the members here in Phu Bai. Before arriving here, I was scared of the possibility of spending a year here away from family and Church, and I could imagine all types of long days ahead as a result. However, the anxiety was needless. Within a day I saw the chaplain and he referred me to other Latter-day Saints. On Sunday when we met, it was like coming home after a long trip. In the truest sense, members of the Church are one family, and I am always pleasantly surprised at the warm response given to all who seek them out. It is like an oasis in the desert. The gospel is truly a beautiful companion and guide; and here, away from all that is familiar to me, I’ve come to recognize that God is over all and that as long as we are faithful and do his will, we have a constant strength. Since I’ve come to know this, it has been much easier to forget myself and the time and to concentrate on what God would like to use me for here. Thank you for your magazine. We are all more fully aware of our responsibilities, our callings, and our obligations, especially in a place like this, because of it. Our branch is growing. We baptized two new converts last week. A group of us flew to the China Sea for the baptism, ferried by an all-Mormon helicopter crew.

SP4 Jerry D. Williams
Vietnam

School and university library

In recent weeks I’ve been having finals. One of my finals had to do with a composition consisting of a picture, poem, song, and theme paper. I remembered the June New Era and took a picture and poem from it. I had a question to ask the teacher, so I brought the New Era to school. The teacher was interested and wanted a subscription for the school. I told her I would get a subscription and donate it to the school. It seems to me that Mormon youth all around the world would want to do this for their schools and colleges. Thanks for making possible this good experience.

Carol Clawson
Los Altos, California