“Of All Things,” New Era, May 2002, 39
Of All Things
“We should commence our labors of love and kindness with the family to which we belong; and then extend them to others.”
(Discourses of Brigham Young, 271.)
—President Brigham Young (1801–1877)
Peace
“We need a more peaceful world, growing out of more peaceful families and neighborhoods and communities. To secure and cultivate such peace, ‘we must love others, even our enemies as well as our friends’ (History of the Church, 5:498–99). The world needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who are filled with the love of Christ do not seek to force others to do better; they inspire others to do better, indeed inspire them to the pursuit of God. We need to extend the hand of friendship. We need to be kinder, more gentle, more forgiving, and slower to anger. We need to love one another with the pure love of Christ” (Ensign, May 1992, 63).
—President Howard W. Hunter (1907–1995)
Sharing a Suit
While he was on a mission in Hawaii in 1854, President Joseph F. Smith lost most of his belongings in a fire. The fire destroyed his house, his books and journals, his clothing, and his trunk. All the belongings in his trunk were reduced to ashes except his missionary certificate. The certificate was scorched around the edges, but otherwise untouched—even though the book it was in was completely burned.
Since their clothes were destroyed in the fire, Elder Smith and his companion had to share a suit for a short while. One elder would wear the suit while the other waited at home for his turn to go to meetings. (Mission rules were a little different back then.)
There were many difficulties for Elder Smith on his mission—and not all of them as amusing as having to share a suit—but he said, “I am happy to say that I am ready to go through thick and thin for this cause in which I am engaged; and truly hope and pray that I may prove faithful to the end” (see Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, 76–77).
Louisiana Lights
One-hundred-and-fifty youth from the New Orleans and Baton Rouge stakes in Louisiana volunteered for three days at a youth program for a national spina bifida conference in New Orleans. While their parents were in classes, the children and teens with spina bifida were entertained by the Louisiana youth. They played games, read, did puppet shows, danced, and just chatted. Spending one-on-one time with the children and teenagers was challenging for the LDS youth at first, but by the end of their youth conference the youth realized that although they were setting a good example by serving, those they served were the real shining examples.
Goal Keeping
The Utah Valley Ranger soccer team is succeeding at something that’s difficult to do in the sports world. The Rangers are a top team, but they don’t play on Sundays. The team is made up of 17 deacons, only two of whom are from the same ward. The players train hard and arrange friendly games with out-of-state teams. Last year, the Rangers were Utah’s state champions. The boys travel for their games sometimes, but they set a goal to keep the Sabbath holy and be in church on Sundays.
Test Your LDS I.Q.
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What is another name for the Aaronic Priesthood?
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Who was the first person baptized by the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood in this dispensation?
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Joseph Smith Jr.
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Joseph Smith Sr.
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Oliver Cowdery
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David Whitmer
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How many offices of the priesthood are there?
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3
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4
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6
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10
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When President Brigham Young sketched the Salt Lake Temple for the temple architects, he told them there would be three towers on the east and three towers on the west, with the center towers being higher than those on the sides. What did he say the six towers would represent?
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The offices of the priesthood
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The First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric
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The dispensations of the gospel
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