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THE

DECEMBER201

F O R Y O U T H O F T H E C H U R C H O F J E S U S C H R I S T O F L A T T E R - D A Y S A I N T

COVER STORY:SPREAD THEGOSPEL AS THECHRISTMASGIFT, P.9

BECOMINGTHE LORD'SHANDS, P. 3,5

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My mom read some books

over and over. We found

old books that I remember

reading when I was a child, as

well as new books which looked

like they had hardly been opened.

We all took back the books that we had

given them and then divided the rest. I

stored mine in a box for several months

before I had a chance to go throughthem.

One day, while sorting through the

books, one of them caught my eye.

It looked brand new on the outside,

like it had never been opened. I put

it on my bookshelf and moved on,

thinking I should read it someday

when I have more time. Many

times I would walk by this book

and think, I should read this.

Just a short time ago, I stopped

and picked up the book and

began to read. I found

that my mom had

indeed read thebook, marked

her favorite

parts and had

highlighted

sentences. It was

M

y brothers and

sisters, I am honored

to be here with

you today. I have a great love

for BYU-Idaho. I love and

appreciate all of you students,

primarily because you keep me

young at heart. I know that

I will not teach you anything

new today. My hope is that I

will help you think a little more

about what you should do and

accomplish while here at BYU-

Idaho. I pray the Lords spirit

to be with me that I might be

able to share my thoughts and

my testimony with you, that my

heart may speak to your heart

and that you will feel of His

spirit here today.

After both my parents passed

away, my ve sisters and I had

reading when I was a child,

as well as new books which

looked like they had hardly

been opened. We all took

back the books that we had

given them and then divided

the rest. I stored mine in a

box for several months before

I had a chance to go through

them.

Lords hand in their lives.

I found that my mom

had indeed read the book,

marked her favorite parts

and had highlighted

sentences. It was as though

I could see what my mom

thought was important in

this book. The name of this

book is Everyday Miracles,

True Stories About Gods

Hand in Our Lives. It is

Hands are oneof the mostsymbolicallyexpressive partsof the body. InHebrew, yad, themost common wordfor hand, is alsoused metaphoricallyto mean power,strength, and might.

3 New Era December 201

BySisterDixieNordfelt

Becoming the

Lord's Hands

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So, how do we become the

most effective instrument to

do the Lords work? We are

taught I will give unto youa pattern in all things, that

ye may not be deceived

(D&C 52:14). The scriptures

teach us the pattern which

will help us navigate along

lifes path. One of my

favorite sections of

scripture tostudy is King

Benjamin.

His life

teaches

us how

to be

preparedto become

an instrument

and do His work by

serving and loving others.

I would like to show you

the pattern I see in King

Benjamins teachings.

Conversion

King Benjamin taught

his sons I would that

ye should remember to

search them (meaning

the records of scriptures)

diligently, that ye may

prot thereby (Mosiah

1:7). Our testimony andconversion comes through

diligent study and prayer.

When we are converted,

we can be a light to others.

Understanding the gospel

will help us be obedient

thus we become truly

converted.

Humility

But I am like as

yourselves, subject to all

manner of inrmities in

body and mindI have

been suffered to spend my

days in your service, even

up to this time, and have

not sought gold nor silvernor any manner of riches of

you. (Mosiah 2:11-

King Benjamin never thought

of himself as better than his

people and recognized that

he had his own weaknesses.

If we keep ourselves

humble, we canbe assured

that pride

will not

enter

into our

lives.

Our

humilityhelps us

to reach out to

others just as King

Benjamin reached out to his

people.

Service

And even I, myself,have labored with mine own

hands that I might serve

you, and that ye should not

be laden with taxes, and

that there should nothing

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