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Good old-fashioned goof-up

In the July New Era on page 33 a “Good Old-Fashioned Summer Cool-off” recipe calls for one quart cream and 1 1/2 quarts milk. The instructions also say to use a four-quart ice cream freezer. The question I have after trying the recipe (which, by the way, is delicious) is, should the instructions call for a six-quart freezer? I wasn’t able to use any of the milk called for. In fact, I couldn’t even get all the mixture into the freezer by omitting the milk. Perhaps that is why it was so good and creamy!

Susan Porter
Salt Lake City, Utah

Oops! There is no use crying over spilt milk, but the New Era apologizes to Sister Porter and any other reader whose 4-quart freezer runneth over. Editor.

Coming true

The New Era is the most superb magazine to which I have ever subscribed. I look forward to receiving it each month because it shows the true spirit of the Church. I am not a member, but after reading “Fairy Tales Can Come True” in the May New Era, I have decided to be baptized into the Church.

Theresa M. Plonkey
Opelika, Alabama

“The Old Man Who Sang”

I am writing to thank Kathryn Wouden for her story “The Old Man Who Sang” in the September New Era. I couldn’t even finish it without crying. In fact, I have read it quite a few times and have not yet gotten through it without crying. I have made a few resolutions since reading that story. One of my resolutions is to try to bring more happiness into the lives of people I’m around. This story has touched my life greatly, and I’m going to try to share it with as many people as I can.

Robin Gordon
Sacramento, California

Tear-stained pages

I read “The Old Man Who Sang” by Kathryn Wouden (September issue) and left the pages tear-stained. I’m so glad for people like Kathryn who take an interest in the old folks. We should all bless the lives of the elderly more often. I have had the opportunity to go with my husband to home teach a sweet old lady, and he would take her the sacrament once a week. We took our baby and 2 1/2-year-old each time. You’d have thought we were a parade going to her room; we were greeted joyfully, and those lonely people in the nursing home reached out to my baby to touch him. We always left there feeling blessed and happier than when we came. When this dear sister died, a special part of our Sundays was gone. Thank you, Kathryn, for your story. I’m glad you shared that special experience with us.

Anita Hahn
Delta, Colorado

Recipes, rebellion, and R.N.’s

I have been receiving and avidly reading the New Era for two years. In this time I have not voiced any of my opinions, but with the September issue at hand, I feel that I ought to. To be quite frank, I was disappointed with it. “Religion, Rebellion, and Rebecca” was good enough in its own right, but I don’t feel that it is the kind of story that the Church ought to promote. The youth are told, “Be thou an example,” and I have always assumed that this means a good example. Be a good example and everybody will admire you, respect you, etc., etc. The king of rebellion converting the epitome of virtue and conformity is wrong (a refreshing difference, but wrong).

“An Old Family Recipe” was neither here nor there, and the only lasting impression that it leaves with the reader is that it ought to be in a Relief Society manual. How many of your readers do you suppose really enjoyed it? It just isn’t that interesting reading about some family cooking. It should have been half as long with more emphasis on the family’s involvement in the Church. This is a Church magazine!

I quite enjoyed “The Old Man Who Sang” until I reached the part about the head nurse. May I say that head nurses are not wicked witches? Their pleasure in having somebody—anybody—visit a patient is second only to that of having the patient involved with any sort of hobby. This is especially true of nurses in nursing homes.

But I enjoy the New Era on the whole, and I didn’t write this letter just to be difficult. I wrote it because I really am disappointed when the articles don’t reach your usual high standards.

Lani Davis
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

You’re being watched

I just finished reading “Religion, Rebellion, and Rebecca” in the September issue. What a special story it is! It says a lot to people who wonder if their actions are seen by others. It goes to show that people do watch you as an example, and they admire you for the special qualities you have. I have been receiving the New Era for about four months now, and I feel so good and uplifted when I read it. Some of the most inspirational messages I’ve received have been from this beautiful magazine.

Judi Stevenson
Redding, California

In love with September

I enjoyed reading the September New Era very much. “Called of God by Prophecy” answered a lot of questions that came up in a recent discussion I had with a friend. “To Every Man in His Own Tongue” made me appreciate my own efforts at learning a second language and encouraged me to continue. I could compliment each story or article, but I’ll let it suffice to say that I loved them all. One in particular was of special interest to me since I enjoy cooking, and that was “An Old Family Recipe.” A family-compiled cookbook was mentioned in the article. I’m very interested in getting one if I can and would appreciate any information you could give me pertaining to that.

Lori Thompson
Provo, Utah

The Martell Family has published five different cookbooks. For more information write Martell Family Cookbooks, Prize Publications, P.O. Box 281, Port Hueneme, California 93041. Editor.

60 candles and a first

By the time you get this letter I will have passed my 60th birthday, and this is my first letter to an editor. My wife and I thoroughly enjoy reading the New Era and the Ensign. They are without question the best magazines in our home. This letter was prompted by Dian Saderup’s article “Zion: A Legacy” in the August New Era. As a boy of 14, my grandfather, Wyllys Darwin Fuller, and another 14-year-old boy walked and drove a small herd of milk cows from Winter Quarters to the Salt Lake Valley with the Perrigrine Sessions Company. Granddad made the statement that no one could tell him how far it was from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake because he had stepped it off all the way.

May I suggest that Dian’s great-great-grandmother can be justly proud of her descendant? It is refreshing to see a young woman as beautiful as Dian who has her head on straight and knows where she is going and how to get there.

Stanley R. Fuller
Higley, Arizona

A greater gift

I am not a member of the Mormon church, but I really like the New Era and the inspiring articles it has each month. However, I wouldn’t be enjoying the New Era if it weren’t for my Mormon friend who has given me several subscriptions. She has also given me an even greater gift than the New Era. She has set such a fantastic example for me by living the Church’s high standards that she has really helped me in leading a clean and spiritual life, which I might not have done otherwise. So thank you, Vicki, and thank you, New Era.

Osei Joseph
Sokehs Mwaloe Ponad, Caroline Islands

Shots by Schulthess

May I add one more comment about “All’Italiana” in the March New Era? The author was credited with all the photographs, but my brother-in-law Douglas Schulthess took all of them except the one of the open-air market. He left one set of slides with the mission when he came home in April of 1977 but had a second set made for himself. These are the same pictures we saw at his home.

Bishop Gary L. Anderson
Red Bluff, California

Dark blue suits in Sweden

I want to thank the New Era for “The Dark Blue Suit” in the July New Era. Many girls and boys in Sweden strive to be good examples for their nonmember parents. The story gave me an extra push to hang in there.

G. Magnuson
Stockholm, Sweden

After searching and searching

I couldn’t wait to sit down and write how much I appreciated “Keys, Contacts, and the Purpose of Prayer” in the August New Era. This article has inspired me to put more meaning in my prayers and to understand them better. I, like the teenager in the story, have contacts, and I have lost them several times. After searching and searching I have prayed but have not found them. I blamed God, but this article has helped me understand. I feel that the article was truly inspired, and I know that it has helped many people besides me.

Sara Wiltbank
Beeville, Texas