"News of the Church," Ensign, Oct. 2005, 72
President Gordon B. Hinckley visited members in seven cities and dedicated a temple in Aba, Nigeria, as he traveled around the world in July and August, adding several thousand miles to his extensive travel as Church President.
President Hinckley's meetings with members ranged from small groups gathered on airport runways to thousands of Latter-day Saints participating in cultural celebrations.
Vladivostok, Russia
While making a brief stopover for plane refueling in Russia, President Hinckley greeted 200 members at an airport in Vladivostok. President Hinckley's visit to the city was the first by a President of the Church.
"Live the gospel and establish the work in this great place," President Hinckley said to the group.
President Hinckley told the members that they reminded him of a small congregation of Saints he met in Korea 50 years ago. He said that group of Saints now numbers in the thousands and told the Russian Saints he believes that in the future, thousands of Saints would live in their town. President Hinckley said if they would be true and faithful the Lord would bless them.
Seoul, South Korea
President Hinckley spoke in Seoul, South Korea, to members gathered for a regional conference. The meeting was broadcast throughout the country and to locations in the United States and Australia.
President Hinckley spoke of previous stopovers in Korea. He apologized for missing a cultural celebration involving 1,500 adult and youth performers the evening prior to the conference due to a travel mishap.
He said: "God has poured out His blessings upon this people, and the security and the peace and the well-being of this nation rests on the righteousness of the nation. I believe with all my heart that if the Saints will live the gospel they will be spared from war and other afflictions."
Taipei, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, China
While visiting in Taipei, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, China, President Hinckley met with members, and he dedicated Church office buildings in both cities. Both buildings have chapels, classrooms, and Church office space.
In the meeting with members in Hong Kong, he described receiving inspiration about the Hong Kong China Temple being part of a multistory building; it was a pattern, he said, that was used again for the Manhattan New York Temple. President Hinckley also expressed his gratitude for the members. He said, "I just want to tell you how much I love you. You are wonderful people."
Aba, Nigeria
When President Hinckley arrived in Nigeria on August 6, the day before dedicating the Aba Nigeria Temple, Latter-day Saints in Nigeria welcomed him by lining the street leading to the temple grounds. They also performed "The Day of Rejoicing," a cultural event to celebrate the arrival of the prophet and the completion of a new temple.
The program involved nearly 1,500 youth and children who had prepared for almost a year practicing music and dance routines. Youth from five stakes in Nigeria participated in the event. The audience, including local Church leaders, parents, and the prophet, sat on chairs or stood on a sloping hill just below the temple for the program.
The day after the cultural celebration President Hinckley dedicated the Aba Nigeria temple. The temple is the third operating temple in Africa and the Church's 121st operating temple worldwide. (See accompanying article on p. 73.)
A Million Miles
During the trip President Hinckley also met with small groups of members during brief stops in Delhi, India, and Nairobi, Kenya. He told the members during these visits to continue "keeping the faith, living the gospel, doing what they ought to do, taking care of their families, providing for them, giving them spiritual strength."
President Hinckley has traveled more than one million miles since becoming President of the Church in 1995.
Church News contributed to this report.
[photo] President Hinckley attends a meeting in Korea. (Photograph by Greg Hill, Church News.)
Apia Samoa Temple
"News of the Church," Ensign, Oct. 2005, 73
After fire destroyed the original Apia Samoa Temple, members waited two years for a new temple to be built. Their wait ended on September 4, 2005, when a new temple was dedicated on the same ground where the original temple had stood.
The Apia Samoa Temple today has more than 16,000 square feet (1,486 m2), slightly larger than the former temple built in 1983.
After two decades of attending a temple close to their homes, members in and around Samoa said they have learned gratitude from traveling to a temple farther away for two years. While the temple was being built in Samoa, members had to travel 475 miles (760 km) to the Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple.
"I believe members now have learned to be more appreciative of having the new temple," said Uele Va'aulu, Church public affairs representative in Samoa. "They are now more eager to do their family history and are filled with the Spirit of Elijah."
Newport Beach California Temple
The Newport Beach California Temple was dedicated on August 28, 2005, becoming the Church's 122nd operating temple. Before the dedication more than 150,000 people attended the temple open house. Newport Beach stake president Weatherford Clayton said many visitors commented on the beauty of the temple. "I believe they can appreciate why it is an incredibly sacred building for us," said President Clayton.
With more than 770,000 Church members in California, the state has the largest population of Latter-day Saints in one state, outside of Utah. The Newport Beach California Temple is the seventh operating temple in California, serving 50,000 members.
Aba Nigeria Temple
President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Aba Nigeria Temple on August 7, 2005. The temple is located near the Ogbor River. As part of the temple construction, the Church built a bridge over the river and a road leading to the temple.
During the dedication ceremonies, President Hinckley said the temple would be a blessing to the people just as the Accra Ghana Temple has been to African Saints since being dedicated in 2004.
Rexburg Idaho Temple
After waiting 19 months since President Hinckley announced that a temple would be built in Rexburg, Idaho, more than 8,000 members attended the temple's groundbreaking services held on July 30.
"Members and even some nonmembers are excited the day has arrived, and they are looking forward to watching the temple go up," said Farrell Young, a Church member in Rexburg.
The Rexburg Idaho Temple will join operating temples in Boise and Idaho Falls as the third temple in Idaho. A fourth temple for Idaho was announced for Twin Falls in October 2004. The Rexburg Idaho Temple will serve 17 stakes in the area. Rexburg's temple will also serve the almost 12,000 students attending Brigham Young University-Idaho.
[illustration] The Apia Samoa Temple was dedicated on September 4, 2005.
[photo] President Hinckley is greeted by members at the Aba Nigeria Temple.
"News of the Church," Ensign, Oct. 2005, 74
With the recent dedications of the San Antonio Texas, Aba Nigeria, and Newport Beach California Temples, the total number of operating temples around the world has now reached 122.
Since President Gordon B. Hinckley was called to lead the Church in 1995, the Lord has directed temple construction in a way few expected. In the last 10 years, 84 temples have been announced or dedicated-nearly double the 47 temples dedicated in the previous 118 years.
President Hinckley has said that the temple is a place where we can learn more about life after death and the purpose of this life.
"Every temple that this Church has built has in effect stood as a monument to our belief in the immortality of the human soul, that this phase of mortal life through which we pass is part of a continuous upward climb, so to speak, and that as certain as there is life here, there will be life there," he said. "That is our firm belief. It comes about through the Atonement of the Savior, and the temple becomes ... the bridge from this life to the next" ("Inspirational Thoughts," Ensign, Apr. 2002, 4).
The 122 operating temples include the Apia Samoa Temple, which was rededicated on September 4, 2005, after the original structure was destroyed by fire in 2003. An additional nine temples are under construction or have been announced.
Temples by the Numbers
1877
Year the St. George Utah Temple was dedicated, the oldest currently operating temple.
16
Temples dedicated in the following 100 years, ending with the São Paulo Brazil Temple in 1978.
26
Temples dedicated during the 1980s, the most in any decade until 2000-including the 25 dedicated in the 1990s.
34
Temples dedicated in 2000, the most in any year.
4
Temples dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley in an eight-day period from June 11-18, 2000, the most ever in that time span.
6
Countries with at least one dedicated temple in 1978.
40
Countries with at least one dedicated or announced temple in 2005.
40
Years the Salt Lake Temple was under construction.
4
Calendar years since 1980 during which no temple was dedicated: 1982, 1988, 1991, and 1992.
26
Years between the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple and the Laie Hawaii Temple, the longest span between dedications among currently operating temples.
4
Times two temples have been dedicated on the same day since the small temple building program was announced.
253,015
Square footage (23,500 m2) of the Salt Lake Temple (including annex), the largest temple in the Church.
280
Height, in feet (85 m), of the Washington D.C. Temple, the tallest in the Church.
"News of the Church," Ensign, Oct. 2005, 75-76
Operating Temples
Dedication Date
1
St. George Utah
April 6, 1877
2
Logan Utah
May 17, 1884
3
Manti Utah
May 21, 1888
4
Salt Lake
April 6, 1893
5
Laie Hawaii
November 27, 1919
6
Cardston Alberta
August 26, 1923
7
Mesa Arizona
October 23, 1927
8
Idaho Falls Idaho
September 23, 1945
9
Bern Switzerland
September 11, 1955
10
Los Angeles California
March 11, 1956
11
Hamilton New Zealand
April 20, 1958
12
London England
September 7, 1958
13
Oakland California
November 19, 1964
14
Ogden Utah
January 18, 1972
15
Provo Utah
February 9, 1972
16
Washington D.C.
November 19, 1974
17
São Paulo Brazil
October 30, 1978
18
Tokyo Japan
October 27, 1980
19
Seattle Washington
November 17, 1980
20
Jordan River Utah
November 16, 1981
21
Atlanta Georgia
June 1, 1983
22
Apia Samoa
August 5, 1983
23
Nuku'alofa Tonga
August 9, 1983
24
Santiago Chile
September 15, 1983
25
Papeete Tahiti
October 27, 1983
26
Mexico City Mexico
December 2, 1983
27
Boise Idaho
May 25, 1984
28
Sydney Australia
September 20, 1984
29
Manila Philippines
September 25, 1984
30
Dallas Texas
October 19, 1984
31
Taipei Taiwan
November 17, 1984
32
Guatemala City Guatemala
December 14, 1984
33
Freiberg Germany
June 29, 1985
34
Stockholm Sweden
July 2, 1985
35
Chicago Illinois
August 9, 1985
36
Johannesburg South Africa
August 24, 1985
37
Seoul Korea
December 14, 1985
38
Lima Peru
January 10, 1986
39
Buenos Aires Argentina
January 17, 1986
40
Denver Colorado
October 24, 1986
41
Frankfurt Germany
August 28, 1987
42
Portland Oregon
August 19, 1989
43
Las Vegas Nevada
December 16, 1989
44
Toronto Ontario
August 25, 1990
45
San Diego California
April 25, 1993
46
Orlando Florida
October 9, 1994
47
Bountiful Utah
January 8, 1995
48
Hong Kong China
May 26, 1996
49
Mount Timpanogos Utah
October 13, 1996
50
St. Louis Missouri
June 1, 1997
51
Vernal Utah
November 2, 1997
52
Preston England
June 7, 1998
53
Monticello Utah
July 26, 1998
54
Anchorage Alaska
January 9, 1999
55
Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Mexico
March 6, 1999
56
Madrid Spain
March 19, 1999
57
Bogotá Colombia
April 24, 1999
58
Guayaquil Ecuador
August 1, 1999
59
Spokane Washington
August 21, 1999
60
Columbus Ohio
September 4, 1999
61
Bismarck North Dakota
September 19, 1999
62
Columbia South Carolina
October 16, 1999
63
Detroit Michigan
October 23, 1999
64
Halifax Nova Scotia
November 14, 1999
65
Regina Saskatchewan
November 14, 1999
66
Billings Montana
November 20, 1999
67
Edmonton Alberta
December 11, 1999
68
Raleigh North Carolina
December 18, 1999
69
St. Paul Minnesota
January 9, 2000
70
Kona Hawaii
January 23, 2000
71
Ciudad Juárez Mexico
February 26, 2000
72
Hermosillo Sonora Mexico
February 27, 2000
73
Albuquerque New Mexico
March 5, 2000
74
Oaxaca Mexico
March 11, 2000
75
Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico
March 12, 2000
76
Louisville Kentucky
March 19, 2000
77
Palmyra New York
April 6, 2000
78
Fresno California
April 9, 2000
79
Medford Oregon
April 16, 2000
80
Memphis Tennessee
April 23, 2000
81
Reno Nevada
April 23, 2000
82
Cochabamba Bolivia
April 30, 2000
83
Tampico Mexico
May 20, 2000
84
Nashville Tennessee
May 21, 2000
85
Villahermosa Mexico
May 21, 2000
86
Montréal Québec
June 4, 2000
87
San José Costa Rica
June 4, 2000
88
Fukuoka Japan
June 11, 2000
89
Adelaide Australia
June 15, 2000
90
Melbourne Australia
June 16, 2000
91
Suva Fiji
June 18, 2000
92
Mérida Mexico
July 8, 2000
93
Veracruz Mexico
July 9, 2000
94
Baton Rouge Louisiana
July 16, 2000
95
Oklahoma City Oklahoma
July 30, 2000
96
Caracas Venezuela
August 20, 2000
97
Houston Texas
August 26, 2000
98
Birmingham Alabama
September 3, 2000
99
Santo Domingo Dominican Republic
September 17, 2000
100
Boston Massachusetts
October 1, 2000
101
Recife Brazil
December 15, 2000
102
Porto Alegre Brazil
December 17, 2000
103
Montevideo Uruguay
March 18, 2001
104
Winter Quarters Nebraska
April 22, 2001
105
Guadalajara Mexico
April 29, 2001
106
Perth Australia
May 20, 2001
107
Columbia River Washington
November 18, 2001
108
Snowflake Arizona
March 3, 2002
109
Lubbock Texas
April 21, 2002
110
Monterrey Mexico
April 28, 2002
111
Campinas Brazil
May 17, 2002
112
Asunción Paraguay
May 19, 2002
113
Nauvoo Illinois
June 27, 2002
114
The Hague Netherlands
September 8, 2002
115
Brisbane Australia
June 15, 2003
116
Redlands California
September 14, 2003
117
Accra Ghana
January 11, 2004
118
Copenhagen Denmark
May 23, 2004
119
Manhattan New York
June 13, 2004
120
San Antonio Texas
May 22, 2005
121
Aba Nigeria
August 7, 2005
122
Newport Beach California
August 28, 2005
Announced or under Construction
Announcement Date
A1
Harrison New York
September 30, 1995
A2
Kiev Ukraine
July 20, 1998
A3
Helsinki Finland
April 2, 2000
A4
Sacramento California
April 21, 2001
A5
Curitiba Brazil
August 23, 2002
A6
Panamá City Panamá
August 23, 2002
A7
Rexburg Idaho
December 20, 2003
A8
Draper Utah
October 2, 2004
A9
Twin Falls Idaho
October 2, 2004
"News of the Church," Ensign, Oct. 2005, 76
New interactive training available at www.lds.org uses e-learning technology to train members serving in Church callings. Online training is currently available for Church record keepers, Primary teachers, and Young Women leaders. Topics include learning to manage unit finances and membership records, teaching children reverence and appropriate behavior in Primary, and using Personal Progress.
The training lessons are presented in a downloadable slide show format and have been posted on the Internet to increase availability to members. Each slide show requires between 15 to 30 minutes to complete. Slide shows include video and audio clips, printable application questions, practice scenarios, interactive dialogues, and tables and charts with suggestions related to the training topic.
Training Clerks and Auditors
Eleven slide shows are available in English for clerks and local unit leaders learning to record and manage unit finances and membership records. Currently, German and Spanish translations of some of the lessons are available. The lessons will eventually be translated into 12 other languages: Cantonese, Dutch, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan, Swedish, and Tongan. Translations will be posted online as they become available.
The lessons mimic the personal training a newly called priesthood holder with record-keeping responsibilities might receive from his predecessor. A narrator guides each of the lessons, periodically asking viewers to answer questions, take notes, or participate in interactive learning activities.
Six of the lessons address the roles of bishops, stake presidents, stake auditors, stake audit committees, and stake and ward clerks in caring for historical, financial, and membership records. Other lessons discuss "how to" procedures for processing weekly donations, handling expenses, and updating membership records using the Member and Leader Services software.
By examining interactive forms and watching choreographed charts, clerks and auditors learn how to properly complete data fields on Church records and how to support their local priesthood leaders by keeping accurate records. Along with the lessons, clerks and auditors can download a 22-page question-and-answer sheet. The list of more than 60 questions and answers covers many of the basic questions that clerks and auditors ask upon beginning their callings.
To view this lesson, click on "Serving in the Church" listed in the left column at www.lds.org, click on "Melchizedek Priesthood," then "Record-Keeping and Auditing Training."
Teaching Children Reverent Behavior
Six slide shows in English provide teachers and leaders suggestions for overcoming common behavior concerns many Primary teachers face.
Topics covered by the training include dealing with disruptive and inattentive students, setting rules for acceptable Primary behavior, caring for students with special needs, responding positively to negative behaviors, talking to disruptive children, and using ward resources to encourage reverence.
Each lesson uses a real-life scenario to describe suggested approaches to teaching appropriate behavior.
For example, one segment shares Sister Pond's approaches to dealing with a disruptive student. Sister Pond learns that teaching Primary means becoming an example to the children as well as teaching lessons. Viewers watch as Sister Pond obeys promptings from the Spirit to enhance preparation for her lesson and prayers for her students. The online training pauses several times to ask viewers how they would respond in Sister Pond's situation.
To view this lesson, click on "Serving in the Church" listed in the left column at www.lds.org, click on "Primary," then "Help Children Behave Appropriately."
Using Personal Progress
Eight slide shows in English are now available online to help leaders and parents encourage young women to use Personal Progress to remain temple worthy and prepare to become future leaders, wives, mothers, and homemakers.
The set of lessons opens with a video clip from Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He relates the Savior's parable of the 10 virgins and teaches of the importance of preparation. In the same slide show, viewers can click on a map of seven areas around the world to hear young women testify about how Personal Progress helped them prepare for the future.
In another lesson, viewers observe a conversation between Sister Chan, a Young Women leader, and Lin, a young woman in her class. Viewers review how Sister Chan learned and recognized Lin's interests and helped Lin set Personal Progress goals that matched her interests. At the end of the lesson, visitors are asked to apply the lesson's principles to members of their own class.
A conversation in another lesson teaches leaders how to meet with parents and introduce the Personal Progress program. Viewers watch a ward Young Women president ask Maria about her future goals and then suggest how Personal Progress could help her reach those goals.
Other topics addressed in the lessons are how to modify a value experience, how to use Mutual to support Personal Progress, how Young Women leaders can gain a testimony of Personal Progress by earning their Young Womanhood Recognition award, and how to encourage young women to continue setting Personal Progress goals.
To view this lesson, click on "Serving in the Church" listed in the left column at www.lds.org, click on "Young Women," then "Encouraging Young Women to Work on Personal Progress."
[photo] The Church is using the Internet to provide interactive training.
By Chad Phares, Church Magazines
Chad Phares, "News of the Church," Ensign, Oct. 2005, 78
There was a time when Nolan Crabb of the Jefferson City Ward, Columbia Missouri Stake, rarely commented on anything out of the manual during priesthood meeting. When he did, it wasn't because he had read it.
But that was before the Church introduced downloadable and printable Braille curriculum on www.lds.org.
Now Brother Crabb, who has been blind since birth, is able to search the manual using a specialized computer about the size of a laptop. He uses the device to read downloaded curriculum during class.
"This is just about as revolutionary as the Gutenberg press," Brother Crabb said, comparing the way modern technology has opened scriptures to the blind with the way early printing equipment opened the Bible to the masses.
Thanks to the online Braille resources that the Church introduced last year, Brother Crabb and many other Church members who are visually impaired have easy access to the curriculum and scriptures that many members have had for years.
"With new technology, we knew providing Braille resources online was a possibility," said Doug Hind of Special Curriculum.
In addition to the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price, Braille versions of the Friend, New Era, and Ensign are also available online. Each First Presidency Message and Visiting Teaching Message since August 2004 can be found as well.
"This is a great blessing for those who have the technology," Brother Hind said.
In addition to having easier access to Church curriculum, people can save storage room with online Braille resources. Because Braille type requires more space than regular type, books in Braille are larger. The Braille Book of Mormon alone is five volumes long.
"I teach Sunday school, and I tell my children to bring their scriptures," said Don Mitchell, of the Columbia Heights Ward, Vancouver Washington Stake. "But I can't bring mine because if I did, I'd have to carry them around on a cart."
Although Brother Mitchell doesn't own a special device from which he can read Braille, he is able to choose the curriculum he wants to bring to church and print it on an embossing printer, thus eliminating the need to lug bulky books.
The Church is currently prioritizing what curriculum material to post online in Braille. Meanwhile, visually impaired members are excited for what is to come.
"It's a whole new era for people who are blind," said Brother Crabb.
By Walter Cooley, Church Magazines
Walter Cooley, "News of the Church," Ensign, Oct. 2005, 78
The life and mission of Joseph Smith are the subjects of a new Church Web site featured at www.josephsmith.net. Presented in a multimedia format, the site is a compilation of history, art, and academic research about the Prophet's life, the places he lived, and the events he influenced.
The Church has launched the site during the bicentennial year of the Prophet's birth to increase members' access to commentaries, testimonies, and artwork about the Prophet. Much of the information was previously unavailable online.
"Josephsmith.net takes the most authoritative statements about the role of the Prophet in restoring the gospel and consolidates them into one location," said Steven Olsen, assistant managing director of the Church's Family and Church History Department.
Content on the site is divided into five sections that detail Joseph Smith's mission as a prophet to restore the Church, the historical events of his life, and comments from Joseph Smith's contemporaries.
The "Mission of the Prophet" section includes information on seven important events and blessings of the Restoration, such as temples, the translation of the Book of Mormon, and the restoration of priesthood authority.
In the "Life of the Prophet" section, visitors can choose one of 14 categories describing time periods in Joseph's life, including his call from God, his trials and persecutions, his marriage to Emma Smith, his role in temple building, and his Martyrdom.
The "Witnesses of the Prophet" section includes 45 testimonies, including statements from all 14 Presidents of the Church since Joseph Smith and testimonies from the present First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Sections contain six tabs that allow visitors to navigate extra resources: quotes about Restoration events from Joseph Smith and his contemporaries; responses on why each event is significant; and a list of further readings from the scriptures, Church curriculum, and academic papers. Each section also has a multimedia slide show displaying images of the Prophet's letters or journal entries and artists' depictions of Restoration events, places, and people.
Brother Olsen said the site is designed in multiple layers to allow members to research according to the degree of information they need. The site includes a topical search function to help visitors easily locate quotes or statements.
Josephsmith.net also features 21 virtual tours of Church history sites, including the Sacred Grove; the Peter Whitmer home, where the Church was organized in 1830; and the room at Carthage Jail where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred in 1844. The virtual tours were included so that members who may never be able to visit the sites can see the locations of the Restoration.
The site, created by the Family and Church History Department, is just the beginning of attempts to increase members' access to information from the Church's library and historical archives.
Many of the scanned images of the Prophet's original writings were available only upon special request at the Church archives in Salt Lake City. Previously, only a handful of authorized visitors saw these documents each year. Brother Olsen said he anticipates additional original-document images will be added to the site in the future.
"This is the best site to get information on the Prophet and his role in the Restoration," said Brother Olsen.
A Sacred Gift
"Comment," Ensign, Oct. 2005, 79
Thank you for your July 2005 article "The Body, a Sacred Gift." For more than seven years an eating disorder has been the lens through which I see my body. My battle to turn to the Lord and the healing power of the Atonement was considerably aided by your article and its timing. I appreciate your constant sensitivity to today's problems and your courage in addressing them.
Name Withheld
"Strengthening Future Mothers"
I am currently serving as a bishop, and I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated the article "Strengthening Future Mothers" in the June 2005 Ensign. We have had discussions about this article in our ward, and it has had a beneficial impact here. I appreciate the tone of the article and the specific messages it presented.
James N. Ricks, Highland 21st Ward, Highland Utah South Stake
Inner City Hope
I want to thank you for the article "Building Hope in the Inner City" (Aug. 2005). I was born and raised in East St. Louis, and the article gave me hope for the city. My family moved out of East St. Louis in the early '70s. I joined the Church with my husband in 1979 in Minnesota. The article made me proud to have been from East St. Louis. I hope I will be able to visit and see the chapel there.
Cathy Whiteside Johnson, Pietown Branch, Eagar Arizona Stake
Shayla's Helper
Thank you so much for the inspirational article on helping children with special needs in your August issue ("Embracing Members with Special Needs"). I have been called to be "Shayla's helper" during Primary, and it is the most humbling calling I have ever held. Shayla has many health problems and is in a wheelchair. My being Shayla's helper allows her mother and father to have their own callings because Shayla needs constant care. Sometimes when Shayla is ill and not able to go to church, I go to her home after sacrament meeting to be with her so her mother and father can attend their meetings.
Shayla is an amazing daughter of God, and He loves her so much. Shayla's Primary class includes her in activities during class time and Sharing Time. It is wonderful to see how kind and loving the other children are toward her. Without knowing it, Shayla teaches others about compassion, patience, long-suffering, and other virtues needed in this earth life.
Your article inspired me to try to do more for Shayla. She has taught me so much, and I love her as my own.
Annette Tucker-Matkin, River Fifth Ward, South Jordan Utah River Stake