“What’s Up?” New Era, July 2005, 38

What’s Up?

From Australia to Japan

Ammon Arvidson and Brooke Noble, two youth from the Maitland Ward, Newcastle Australia Stake, were chosen to represent Port Stephens, Australia, at the first World Child Summit, held in Kushiro, Japan, last summer. The theme was “The Natural Environment and Our Future.” To be chosen, they each had to present a 10-minute speech on the environment of Port Stephens, the problems facing the habitat, and their role in protecting the natural beauty of the world.

Speaking of the presentations he made at the summit, Ammon, 12, said, “It makes me very aware of the beautiful world our Lord has created for us to enjoy.” Then thinking about all the people, languages, and cultures created by the Lord, Ammon added, “It makes me look forward to serving a mission wherever Heavenly Father sends me.”

“It was so amazing to see another part of the world,” said Brooke, 15. “The people there were so kind, and it helped me to see my Heavenly Father’s love for us.” Brooke added that being so far away from home also strengthened her testimony of the gospel: “It really helped me to know that the gospel goes with you wherever you go. It was such a comfort to be able to kneel down and pray to my Father in Heaven.”

Beyond the Call of Duty

Try to see beyond the tasks you do in your quorums or classes and remember the people you are serving. “The Savior’s leadership was selfless,” said President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985). “He put himself and his own needs second and ministered to others beyond the call of duty, tirelessly, lovingly, effectively. So many of the problems in the world today spring from selfishness and self-centeredness in which too many make harsh demands of life and others in order to meet their demands. This is a direct reversal of the principles and practices pursued so perfectly by that perfect example of leadership, Jesus of Nazareth” (“Jesus: The Perfect Leader,” Ensign, Aug. 1979, 6).

Honoring the Pioneers

“Integrity, inclusion, cooperation, unity, unselfishness, sacrifice, and obedience … are as vital today as when they guided the actions of our pioneer forebears, early and modern. To honor those pioneers, we must honor and act upon the eternal principles that guided their actions. As President Hinckley [has] reminded us, … ‘We honor best those who have gone before when we serve well in the cause of truth.’ That cause of truth is the cause of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whose servants they were, and whose servants we should strive to be. I testify of this and pray that we, too, may be ‘true to the faith that our parents have cherished.’”
—Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Following the Pioneers,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 74.

Word Trek Crossword Puzzle

Illustrated by Shauna Mooney Kawasaki

Across

Woman’s hat; or on the front of a British car
Circle the _______!
Cricket feasters
More than one ox
Warm gathering place
Sweetwater and Platte
Non-round jig (two words)
The direction they trekked
Pioneer, Oregon, Overland
Staple food, sometimes rationed
Some used this instead of a wagon

Down

Inventor of “roadometer” to track mileage
“Come, Come, Ye ________”
Seagull feast
Sweet, buzzing symbol of industry
Pioneer children did this a lot
Independence stone?

Answers:

It Happened in July

July 8, 1775: Lucy Mack Smith (right), the mother of Joseph Smith, was born in Gilsum, New Hampshire.

July 10, 1804: Emma Hale Smith (right), wife of the Prophet Joseph and first president of the Relief Society, was born in Harmony, Pennsylvania.

July 8, 1912: The first Latter-day Saint to win an Olympic medal, Alma Richards, won a gold medal in the high jump.

July 31, 1920: President James E. Faust (left), Second Counselor in the First Presidency, was born in Delta, Utah.

Photographs courtesy of the Arvidson family

Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, by Heinrich Hofmann, courtesy of C. Harrision Conroy Co., Inc., may not be copied. The Martin Handcart Company Rescued by Volunteers, by Clark Kelley Price, may not be copied

Emma Hale Smith, by Lee Greene Richards, may not be copied

Photograph courtesy of the Faust family