FYI:
For Your Information

Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrong.

—Charlotte Brontë

Toys for the Temple

At 5:30 A.M. on a chilly fall morning, 200 eager teens from the San Jose California South Stake arrived at the Camden chapel. Their mission: to turn a cultural hall full of saws, paint, brushes, sandpaper, and unfinished dollhouses into a room full of toys for the children’s waiting room in the Oakland Temple. Soon 400 hands were busy sewing, sanding, sawing, painting, gluing, cutting, quilting, and testing toy trains. After the work was completed, the stick horses, cars, trucks, and dolls were packed into real cars and trucks along with 200 helpers and they were all driven to the Oakland Temple. Said temple president Richard B. Sonne to the group, “I’m very impressed by what you’ve done. It will make many, many children happy.”

Presidential Scholars Honored

Congratulations to four outstanding young Mormons who were chosen as 1981 Presidential Scholars! In a White House ceremony, the four were awarded the Presidential Scholars medallion officially proclaiming them to be scholars recognized by the President of the United States. The award winners are Diana Lofgran of Lost River Ward, Moore Idaho Stake; Wayne Warren Williams of the Front Royal Ward, Winchester Virginia Stake; Heather Jordan Hasler of the BYU 108th Ward, BYU First Stake; and Marla Ireland of the Rosebud Branch, South Dakota Rapid City Mission.

Singing for Sacrament Meeting

Take 60 young men and women from the Emerson Second Ward, Paul Idaho Stake, get them singing, and what do you have? Not only lovely music, but a unified ward, too. In an activity that 100 percent of the ward’s young people participated in, they presented a sacrament meeting of music and talks. Most of them had never sung in four-part harmony before, and the ward’s 35-mile boundaries made it difficult for some to attend rehearsals, but it was well worth the effort. “I think Heavenly Father really helped us to sing our best,” said Paula Gibbons, one of the singers. “I’m glad I could be a part of it.”

First Woman President

Laura Elizabeth King believes in planning for the future. The first female president of her chapter of the Future Farmers of America, Laura also serves as president of her chapter of Future Teachers of America. A Laurel in the Temple Ward, Killeen Texas Stake, she was recently chosen outstanding senior in her graduating class. Laura is the only Mormon in her high school.

Military Scholar

John Scott Lindemer of the Hebron Branch, Chicago Heights Illinois Stake, was recently awarded a four-year Air Force ROTC scholarship and the Air Force Association Award. The recipient of various other awards, John plans to attend BYU (where he was awarded a dean’s scholarship) and plans to serve a mission after his first year of college.

Sam
by Jack Weyland
(Deseret Book, $6.95)

If you read Jack Weyland’s Charly and loved it, you’ll want to find out what happens to Sam, Charly’s husband. In this new book, we find him entering the world of the Special Interest, match-making for his home teacher, providing one of his first dates with a banjo and a few jam sessions, and feeling guilty over Brigham Young’s statement that any young man over 25 who isn’t married is a menace to the community. How does he cope? Just ask the returned sister missionary he starts dating. You’ll enjoy Sam for an evening of fun reading.

Basketball Whiz

Anne Handy of the Highland Ward, Ogden Utah East Stake, is very handy with a basketball. Not only has she received the award for the most outstanding female athlete for 1980–81 for the State of Utah, she was named most valuable player for the Utah high school all-star team. She’s also been named an All-American for the Basketball Congress International, and Converse All-American for 1981. Anne doesn’t make sports her sole interest, though. She has maintained a 3.8 (out of a possible 4.0) average throughout her four years of high school and is an officer in her Laurel class.

Early Morning Runner

Rhett Wyatt, a priest in the Gresham Fourth Ward, Gresham Oregon Stake, runs on a busy schedule. Each morning at 7:00 A.M. Rhett, who’s blind, runs two miles holding onto the arm of a classmate or gym teacher. He also works out on the trampoline, thanks to a safety invention of his brother, and ran a mile race in a Special Olympics track meet. Rhett recently performed in his school’s productions of Oklahoma and West Side Story and delivered a Bill Cosby routine at his senior class banquet. A stake missionary and member of the Gresham seminary executive council, Rhett plans to serve a mission soon.

High Jump Star

Do you ever feel a little jumpy? Melinda Lyn Clark often does. She recently won the 1981 Texas State High Jump Championship, setting a new Texas Conference AAAA (high school) record at 5′ 10″. Melinda is a Mia Maid in the Bryan Second Ward, Conroe Texas Stake, and really loves sports.

Searching for a Service Project?

Vicky Whiting of Milford, Utah, suggests writing personal histories for elderly or handicapped people who are unable to write their own. Helping a Scout troop with merit badges could also be useful, or cleaning up a community eyesore is another suggestion Vicky gives.

Don’t restrict your service to members of the Church, suggests Elder James R. Christiansen, Ohio Columbus Mission, and share your talents and time with older people, too, he says.

If you’re wondering how to raise money for your next service project, singing telegrams provided a fund-raising project for the Young Women of the Plainview First Ward, Plainview New York Stake. They provided the singing over the telephone for birthdays, Mother’s Day, illnesses, promotions, and various other occasions. The money was used for worthy projects.

If you have any good ideas for service projects, write to: FYI Editor, New Era (23rd Floor), 50 East North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150.

New Counselor and Apostle Named

The First Presidency of the Church announced that Elder Gordon B. Hinckley of the Quorum of the Twelve has been called to join President N. Eldon Tanner and President Marion G. Romney as a counselor to President Spencer W. Kimball. The four members in the First Presidency are the largest number since the late 1960s when there were also more than the traditional two counselors.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy was called to fill the resulting vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Marla Ireland; Wayne Warren Williams; Diana Lofgran