New Era

October 2001

Volume 31, Number 10

Contents

• Words of the Prophet: You Can Be Forgiven
  President Gordon B. Hinckley
  Repentance is one of the first principles of the gospel. It offers hope and happiness for the future.

• Spiritual Crocodiles
  President Boyd K. Packer
  Spiritual crocodiles can kill or mutilate your soul. Fortunately, there are guides in life to prevent this from happening.

• Everyday Heroes: Friend Power
  Shanna Ghaznavi
  One invitation between friends led to the waters of baptism.

• Q&A: Questions and Answers
  In school I am always surrounded by words that are offensive to me. Every day I hear these words, and now they are repeated in my head subconsciously and I don’t like it. How do I avoid these words and get them out of my head?

• New Era Poster: Standing Tall

• My Family, My Friends
  Janet Thomas
  In the Weirich family of Fredericksburg, Texas, the brothers and sisters are making friends for eternity.

• New Era Classic: Every Soul Is Precious
  President Joseph Fielding Smith
  What does it mean to be sealed? And what will eternity be like?

• Carry On, Recruit
  Aaron J. Letteer
  When the going got tough, my mom always said to sing. But in the middle of boot camp?

• Everyone Said It
  Jeniann Jensen
  I didn’t have a vision as Joseph did, but I could feel that the Church was true.

• Your Special Purpose
  Elder H. Burke Peterson
  Your mission on this earth is unique and distinctive for you. Find out what your purpose is.

• Idea List: Rough Day?
  Here are some things to do to help your days go right.

• I Broke My Promise
  Name Withheld
  I promised never to date someone who did not believe as I did.

• The Extra Smile

• Storm Warning
  Elder Neil L. Andersen
  How to build your spirituality on a good, strong foundation to survive life’s storms.

• How the Spirit Works
  Elder Douglas L. Callister
  The Spirit of God can tell you the truth. You need to learn how to listen.

• Reader’s Guide

• We’ve Got Mail

• Poem: Eternal Questions
  Adele Maurine Marcum

• Photo of the Month
  Crystal Christison

Cover: Victor Weirich of Fredericksburg, Texas, takes care of the puppies his family raises together. See “My Family, My Friends” on p. 20. Cover photography: Janet Thomas (front), © 1997 PhotoSpin (back).