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Naples, Noblesville, and the New Era

Thank you for a special magazine. Two years ago I was able to spend one year in the United States as an American Field Service exchange student. I stayed in Noblesville, Indiana, and it would take too long to say how much I enjoyed it! Toward the end of my stay, on my 18th birthday, my bishop gave me a one-year subscription to the New Era. That’s how I first got this magazine in my hands. Since then I’ve read every single issue and have just loved it! I’ve been a Mormon for four years now, and I feel like the happiest person in the world. So many good experiences have filled my life since I have been a member of this great church. Italy is a country where the Church is pretty new, and there are many people who have never heard about the Mormons. I feel I have a responsibility to share my happiness with them, and I’m trying to do as much member-missionary work as possible. I’ve learned to nourish my mind by reading only good things. I really think it works, because our deeds are the products of our thoughts. Thank you for this wonderful magazine. I’m thankful to all the people who are working to make it the best.

Tina De Luca
Naples, Italy

Plugging away

I enjoy reading the New Era and find all the departments uplifting. But the thing I enjoy most is the music. I like to play the piano and thoroughly enjoy your songs. The song in the June 1982 edition entitled “The Lord is My Strength” is one of the most beautiful songs you have printed. Please keep printing songs, and I’ll keep plugging away at them.

Tonya Andersen
Grover, Wyoming

My life hasn’t been the same

Yesterday I found an old August 1980 New Era lying around in our missionary apartment. In it was an article called “A Celestial Missionary.” It was about Elder Tolman of the Virginia Roanoke Mission. I would like to say to the family of this great man that in a sense I owe my life to Elder Tolman. My life has not been the same since I read that article. I am very thankful to his family for raising one of the most Christlike people I have ever read about. Thank you for touching me.

Elder Simon Keyte
Canada Toronto Mission

A large part of life

I would like to congratulate you on the fine quality of the New Era. Ever since I was made a deacons quorum president, the gospel has been a large part of my life. I recently read some of our old New Eras and was impressed, inspired, and motivated by many of the articles. Some of these were “The Heart of the Two-Mile Game” (September 1975), “Q and A” (May 1972), The June 1973 Missionary Issue, “Just for Today” (January 1975), and “Swifter, Higher, Stronger” in the September 1981 issue. I was just made a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood, and my brother was made the teachers quorum president. My faith and testimony of the gospel are growing because of the New Era. I am interested in any physical fitness articles you print because I am an avid sports enthusiast. Thank you for the inspiration the New Era gives all of us.

Sean Brotherson
Orem, Utah

It’s great, mate!

Thank you for the article “Before the Call” in the March 1982 New Era. As a young woman in the Church, I have been confused as to the right priorities concerning a mission and temple marriage. President Lewis’s advice to young women was particularly pertinent to me. He said to prepare for a mission, but if the opportunity to serve does not come and marriage presents itself instead, a young woman should consider this her important mission. The article also gave me some pointers on writing more uplifting letters to missionaries in the field. The New Era is great, mate!

Karen Lusty
Hazelbrook, New South Wales, Australia

A refreshing change

I was really happy to see the article about Sister Kanako Yamabuki in the June 1982 New Era. We in Japan are seeing the gospel message spread. Many, many people are cleansing themselves and becoming better people through the gospel. Today in the world the flood of bad magazines is rather too much to bear for our young people. The New Era is certainly a refreshing change and an important help. Thank you for your efforts in seeing that this magazine is so wholesome and uplifting.

Tohru Hotta
President, Japan Sapporo Mission

Under the dresser in Bicester

Thank you, New Era, for being yourself and for sitting under the dresser in our flat in Bicester. Because of separate car accidents, my companion and I can’t do any tracting for at least a month. We’ll be working with the members to get a good friendshipping program going, but that leaves quite a bit of time to spend reading, writing, and talking—or staring at the wallpaper. “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop,” and I expect these next 29 days to be one of the bigger tests of my mission.

A recently discovered bunch of Church magazines will be a welcome help. I’ve always enjoyed the New Era and the Ensign, but they’ll soon mean more than ever before. Thanks very much for the stories, photos, artwork, and poetry.

Elder William B. Quist
England Coventry Mission