New Era

As a young man growing up in a small branch of the Church in Owensboro, Kentucky, my two brothers and I were the only members of the Church in a town of 60,000 people. We looked forward to the New Era to see other Latter-day Saints and read their stories of staying faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I particularly remember the articles of those young men and women making sacrifices to serve full-time missions for the Church.

Their stories inspired me to make the decision to serve a full-time mission when many others did not understand why I would "waste" two years of my young life. It was through the stories and experiences portrayed through the New Era that gave me the courage and the faith to keep the standards of the Church to qualify myself as a servant of the Lord. 

My brother and I were the first missionaries from our small branch to serve missions in over 15 years. He served in Germany and I in Scotland. It was the New Era that gave me a sense of belonging to the youth of the Church and gave the faith and desire to serve a full-time mission. The New Era is a truly indispensable magazine in every Latter-day Saint home.

As the only member of the Church in my family, things can get a little difficult. I have questions that my parents cannot answer, and so it is nice to have the New Era, which provides some of those answers. Also I like having something good that I can read that helps me in my daily life. The articles really help me to understand Church principles and also inspire me to do more things that I should be doing. I didn’t start receiving the New Era until someone mysteriously ordered a subscription for me, and it has been one of the best things for me. I look forward to it each month.

Ballet was life when I was 16. I thrived on ballet classes, religiously attending them every weekday (up to three classes a day). I constantly thought about previous classes, what my teachers had told me in class, watched the videos Mom recorded of me in class, counted down the hours to the next class, watched famous ballerinas, and devoured ballet biographies. Although I faithfully attended church, read the scriptures, and prayed, my heart was riveted on ballet. One evening after a hard workout, I picked up a copy of the New Era. I don't remember the actual stories I read, but I remember the Spirit. It flooded over me so powerfully that I wept out loud. I felt so good. I realized that I had been missing out on what should have been the most wonderful part of my life and filling it with something that could never be as fulfilling. There was nothing wrong with ballet itself, but the Spirit reminded me that I had allowed my love for it to take priority over my love for the Lord. I took that reminder to heart and felt the Spirit much more consistently the rest of that summer.

I remember the benefits of the New Era as a teen, living with a divorced, inactive mother. Sometimes the only contact with spiritual things outside of church was the New Era. I could read it, feel the Spirit, and know that I was a child of God, that somehow He was there and was aware of me too.

Ensign

As a divorcee raising young children, I became inactive. Despite my inactivity, I still welcomed visiting and home teachers. One of the home teachers asked if he could leave a copy of the Ensign with me. I politely said “sure” but never opened the magazine. He continued to bring them each visit, and one day he said there was an article in the latest issue that “I think you’ll enjoy.” Out of curiosity, I read the article and found that it was about a particular trial I was experiencing at the time. I had always been careful to never divulge information about my personal life to the home and visiting teachers, so I wondered how the home teacher knew to recommend that article. As the months went by, other articles were recommended and each time they applied to challenges I was having. I came to a realization that even though the home teacher knew nothing of my trials, Heavenly Father did and He was giving me guidance and direction through the inspired home teachers. I have long since become active, and the Ensign continues to be a great blessing in my life.

Wallye Gene Day
Parkwood Ward
Austin Texas Oak Hills Stake

I received the Ensign every month while I was away from home at college. I found time during breaks from class and studying to read the articles about such things as faith, perseverance, tolerance, and love. Reading the Ensign was the most uplifting part of each week, and it kept me focused on correct principles in a climate where promiscuity, drinking, worldliness, and secularism were evident. I am grateful that I had the Ensign during a critical time in my life. Because of this wonderful magazine and other positive influences in my life, when I met my future husband during the last year of college, I was worthy to be married in the temple. Today, with five wonderful children, the Church magazines continue to be an uplifting influence in our lives.

Jill Loertscher
Taylorsville 28th Ward
Taylorsville Utah South Stake

Friend

A few months ago I fell and cut myself. My mom and dad decided I needed to go to the doctor and get stitches. I was really scared and did not want to go because I knew the doctor was going to give me a shot.

Before we went to the doctor’s office, my dad gave me a blessing. The Holy Ghost comforted us and whispered to us that we should bring the Friend to read while we were waiting.

When we got to the doctor’s office, I was scared. I didn’t want to get stitches. I was crying a little bit. While the nurse was getting the doctor, I started to read from the Friend. It made me feel a lot better. I got six stitches, and it hurt a little. But I wasn’t scared anymore. I'm grateful that we listened to the Holy Ghost and took the Friend with us. I know that the Friend is my friend.

Tanner Allred, age 7, with help from his family
Las Vegas, Nevada