Comment

My Own One-Hour History

Many thanks for publishing “One-Hour Life History” (June 1994). I have often meant to do my own personal life history but didn’t know how to properly get started. The task ahead of me seemed to take on monumental proportions and became an awesome responsibility.

During my children’s school summer holidays, I decided to achieve a personal goal each day. With that in mind and that article to guide me, I have succeeded in writing a “potted version” of my life in just a little more than one hour. The author said it would be fun, and it was! It was also so easy. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and have set aside other days to add to it.

My husband is so impressed with my enthusiasm that he is going to take an hour and do his history too.

Jan Whitefield
Cambs, England

Studying English, Studying the Prophets

I began studying English in 1981 at school in East Germany when I was thirteen. I remember my teacher asking each of the students why studying English was so important. I could not give an answer then, but now I know the real answer: studying the scriptures and magazines in English brings an overwhelming joy into my life, my wife’s life, and the lives of our children.

We especially enjoyed studying the July and August issues. We could feel a close love for President Ezra Taft Benson, and an especially close love to President Howard W. Hunter. We know this church is the work of Jesus Christ, and we see the Lord’s hand in the selection of the next prophet.

Thank you for the two biographies of these men so we could know them better.

Henry Gottschald
Jena, Germany

Consequences and Decisions

“Guidance for Unwed Parents” (Sept. 1994) was excellent. I would like to add my feelings as a father. When this happened to my daughter, I was serving as a counselor to a wonderful bishop who guided my daughter through the difficult decisions she was facing. To this day, I cannot adequately thank him, the counselor at LDS Social Services, or the Lord in helping her through it.

The day the child was born was the saddest day of my life, seeing the terrible anguish that my daughter was in. It should have been one of the happiest days of our lives! I could not kiss her and make it better or fix it for her. If only every young man and young woman would stop to think of the consequences of their actions. Sometimes these consequences last forever.

Name Withheld

Update

The family featured on the cover of the September Ensign is the Abraham and Rosa Martinez family of the Broadway Second (Spanish-speaking) Ward, Houston Texas Stake. Their children, Abraham, Michael, and Lemuel, are also pictured.