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People Listen

There are only three LDS high school students in the North Beach School District in Washington state, but when they speak people listen. All three took prizes in the local Voice of Democracy contest. Jody Powell of Ocean Shores took first place, Cheryl Shelton placed second, and Eric Holliman placed third. The theme on which they spoke was “Youth—America’s Strength.”

On the junior high level, Scott Lay came in first in the local contest. All are members of the Hoguiam Ward, Centralia Washington Stake.

Leading the Way

The Bracebridge Ontario Canada Branch wanted to participate in the stake sports activities, but they lived so far from other members of the stake that they didn’t get to play in as many games as they wished. The approximately 25 young people in the branch formed a volleyball and basketball team with a cheerleading team for support. Then they proposed to play the local high school teams. The plan was a resounding success. The branch teams often came out the victors, and they have encouraged individual school spirit and good sportsmanship. The sports director says he is often complimented on the good manners and conduct of his branch teams. The sports teams have also included nonmembers.

Besides their involvement in community activities, the branch teams have come out on top in stake and regional play.

Wool Winner

Laurel Monroe of Flagstaff, Arizona, won the Arizona State competition of the Make It with Wool contest. She went on to place in the top five at the national competition. Her winning entry was a suit of black wool crepe in a popular tuxedo style.

Laurel is the president of her Laurel class in the Flagstaff Second Ward.

Personal Progress in Spanish

Visitors to the April 1983 general conference in Salt Lake City took advantage of the displays and presentations made in various departments. The Young Women General Board made a presentation on the Personal Progress program in the Lion House in the very room where Brigham Young organized the first Young Ladies’ Retrenchment Association. For the first time, this presentation was made in Spanish as well as English.

The presentation introduced the next year’s theme, “Behold, my joy is full” (3 Ne. 17:20). The program gave leaders a better understanding of youth leadership opportunities and activities.

Freedom Award

Richard Nicholes of American Fork, Utah, was selected as a recipient of the George Washington Honor Medal for Youth from the Freedom Foundation.

Richard is an honor student and has excelled in athletics. He was student chairman for Honor American Fork Day and has twice taken first place in the American Fork Youth Historical Writing contest.

Richard has served in the American Fork 23rd Ward as assistant to the bishop and youth choir president.

Getting to Know You

The members of the youth committee of the Little Rock Arkansas Stake wanted to fellowship and get acquainted with the Special Interests and Young Special Interests in their stake. They planned an evening dinner and program, but first the Special Interests were invited to attend the Super Saturday seminary lesson.

Over 230 youth, chaperones, and Special Interests attended and enjoyed the dinner the youth prepared and served as well as the talent show, skits, and readers’ theater.

LDS Beauties

Several LDS young women around the United States have been selected to reign as representatives of their various states or cities.

Utah is represented by Junior Miss Elayne Wells. Elayne demonstrated her vocal talent with a song sung in Spanish. She enjoys music and is looking forward to attending Stanford University. Elayne went on to take second runner-up at the national Junior Miss Pageant.

The Junior Miss title is getting to be something of a family tradition. Elayne’s sister, Sharlene, was selected as Utah’s Junior Miss last year. Elayne is the daughter of Elder Robert E. Wells of the First Quorum of the Seventy and is in the Holladay 12th Ward in Salt Lake City.

Vanessa Sluss of Corbin, Kentucky, has been selected as Kentucky’s Junior Miss. She represents her state in the national competition. Vanessa is a member of the Corbin Branch of the Lexington Kentucky Stake.

Kimberly Hawes is the reigning Miss Idaho United Teenager. Kimberly is an honor student at Marsh Valley High School. She is a counselor in the Laurel presidency of the Lava Hot Springs Ward, McCammon Idaho Stake.

Debbie Wride from Westlake, Ohio, was selected as the Greater Cleveland Miss Teen. In addition to the title, Debbie won a talent award for her singing. Debbie is president of her Laurel class in the Cleveland First Ward.

Speaking Out

Rick Jeske, 13, has netted quite a collection of trophies and plaques as a result of his interest in public speaking. Since the age of ten, he has entered the annual Conservation and Environmental Awareness speaking contest in Wisconsin. Rick was the state winner in 1980, was third-place winner in 1981, and returned as the state winner again in 1982. Rick is a member of Lyndhurst Branch, Wausau District of the Milwaukee Wisconsin Mission, where he serves as deacons quorum president.

A Taste of Culture

International students from Weber State College in Ogden, Utah, spent an evening with the Young Men and Young Women of the North Ogden Third Ward fixing dishes from their native countries using everything from dried mushrooms to seaweed.

The students came from Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, and Nigeria. It was an opportunity for the ward’s youth to get a firsthand look into some of the world’s cultures. And the international students, in turn, had the opportunity to rub shoulders with some typically American kids.

The language barrier caused some amusing moments at first, but by the end of the evening friendship overcame any language inadequacy. The fact that there was very little food left over was proof of the success of the event, and both groups left feeling like they knew the other a little better.

Explorer President

His name may bring visions of snow-covered hills, but he is the new national Explorer president. “Chilly” White was elected to the post, and he hopes to use his leadership abilities to help promote the Exploring program.

Lee “Chilly” White is an Eagle Scout, has his On My Honor award, and has participated in area and national Explorer conferences.

Chilly is a member of the Bend First Ward, Bend Oregon Stake, and has served as first assistant to the bishop.

He’s a Lifesaver

Chris Baird was busy changing his clothes after school when he heard a loud crash in front of his home in Utica, New York. He looked out the window and saw a three-car accident. One of the cars was his mother’s.

As he rushed up to the car, he saw that his mother’s face was covered with blood and she was in obvious pain. Chris drew upon his first-aid training from Scouting and used a compress on her head to stop the bleeding and helped wrap her in blankets as a treatment for shock.

Chris called the police and then his father before returning to help his mother, Beverlee. He took care of her until she could be taken to a hospital. She suffered not only the cut on her head but also damaged ribs and two broken legs.

Both his parents and others at the scene of the accident praised Chris for his quick thinking and for doing such a fine job in an emergency.

Chris is a deacon in the Utica Ward.

Checking Enzymes

Merlin Bruening of the Liberty Missouri Stake was awarded first place in the botany division of the Missouri Science and Engineering Fair and second place all-around for the same project. His work involved investigating the enzymes in geranium leaves. Because of his award, he was entitled to attend a national symposium in Boston.

Also, Merlin was one of 16 youths selected nationally to board a naval cruiser and tour naval laboratory installations in Hawaii.

Merlin is a football player, has lettered in tennis, and serves as stake seminary president and assistant to the president of his priests quorum.

High Scorer

The sports page of the newspaper in Cottonwood, Arizona, often contained the name of Robin Connally, a senior from Mingus Union High School. Robin was consistently mentioned as high scorer or outstanding player for her basketball team. She led the group to the state AA championship.

Besides her athletic abilities, Robin is an excellent student and was selected as “Queen of the Court” at a school activity. She and her family are members of the Cottonwood Second Ward, Camp Verde Arizona Stake.

Wrestling Champ

Stuart Vickers of the Parma Ward, Nyssa Oregon Stake, recently won his second Idaho State wrestling championship. He also lettered in football, baseball, and track his senior year in high school. Stuart served as seminary president and has held several offices in his priesthood quorums.

Stuart’s favorite quotation by a Church leader is from Heber J. Grant: “That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing itself has changed, but that our power to do is increased” (Gospel Standards, comp. G. Homer Durham, Salt Lake City: Improvement Era, 1941, p. 355).

Dolls for Christmas

Every little girl should have the thrill of a new doll on Christmas morning. The Young Women of the Hughson Ward, Modesto California Stake, wanted to make sure such dreams came true for children of needy families. As a service project they dressed dolls and donated them to the community-wide Christmas basket project. Ward members donated the dolls, and the girls outfitted them in clothes of their own design.

Primary Pals

The children shuffled in as usual, the timid ones clinging to their mothers’ skirts, the bold ones smiling happily on the front rows. Everything seemed normal—except who is that playing the music? Someone different is conducting, and look at all those teenagers scattered among the children.

In the Vancouver 9th Ward, Vancouver Washington Stake, the Young Men and Young Women took over the Primary for one day. The adult members of the ward had been called to attend a special meeting with the bishop. The young people gladly accepted the assignment as substitute teachers and music leaders. Both the children and the youth loved the experience as they learned from each other.

Cumulative Talent

The Beehive girls of the Richland 5th Ward, Richland Washington Stake, wanted to learn a new skill. They chose to learn to crochet. As they each learned the basic stitches, they created different colored granny squares. Their efforts were combined into a colorful afghan which was presented to an older couple in their ward. Now each girl is working on a granny-square afghan of her own.

That best portion of a good man’s life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.

—William Wordsworth

Elayne Wells; Kimberley Hawes

Venessa Sluss; Debbie Wride