Of All Things

“You are good. But it is not enough just to be good. You must be good for something. You must contribute good to the world.”
(Ensign, Jan. 1998, 72)
—President Gordon B. Hinckley

Circle of Friends

“I feel the Lord has placed … within our circles of friends and acquaintances, many persons who are ready to enter into His Church. We ask that you prayerfully identify those persons and then ask the Lord’s assistance in helping you introduce them to the gospel. And in your conversations, if you can’t think of anything you feel is important, you can say, ‘I know that God lives.’ That is the greatest testimony in the world” (Ensign, Feb. 1983, 4).
—President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985)

It Happened in January

Following are a few significant events that happened in Church history during the month of January.

January 18, 1827: The Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. married Emma Hale in New York state. The couple met while he was working in Pennsylvania and boarding with Emma’s family.

January 19, 1841: A revelation given at Nauvoo, Illinois, instructed the Saints to build a temple in Nauvoo (see D&C 124).

January 21, 28, 1900: The Salt Lake Stake, that included 55 wards, was divided, and the Jordan and Granite Stakes were created. This was the first stake division in the Salt Lake Valley since the pioneers arrived in 1847.

Write Away!

We want you to share all your great ideas for seminary devotionals. If you have an idea or six, send them to

New Era

50 East North Temple

Salt Lake City, Utah 84150

Or e-mail us at

[e-mail].

Leadership Tip

Serve and genuinely love those whom you are called to serve. “Those who are called to lead in the ministry of the Master are not called to be chiefs or dictators. They are called to be good shepherds. They are to be constantly training others to take their place and become greater leaders than their teachers. A good leader expects much, inspires greatly, and sets on fire those he is called to lead,” says President James E. Faust. President Faust suggests reading Doctrine and Covenants 121:41–43, where he says the keys of leadership can be found (Ensign, Nov. 1980, 35).

Teacher Feature

When the teachers in Kaiserslautern, Germany, begin to wonder if all the days of classes, grading papers, school lunch, and noisy students are worth it, the youth of the Landstuhl Ward like to remind them of their value. Each year for the last six years, the youth have honored their teachers with a teacher appreciation night.

The theme the Landstuhl youth chose for this year was “For the Strength of Youth.” They made a memory and quote book for their teachers and thanked them for their guidance, knowledge, and service. The youth also treated them to dinner in the cultural hall, which they decorated especially for the occasion, and they put on a show that kept them entertained. On each dinner table were copies of For the Strength of Youth for the teachers to take home with them. Their teachers really appreciate being appreciated.