“Contents,” New Era, Feb. 2000 New Era February 2000 Volume 30, Number 2 Contents The Message: Personal PurityElder Jeffrey R. HollandYou and I have been given a precious power, but it can be used only under the most serious and sacred of restrictions. Faith and $45James PedersenI thought my sacrifice for the building fund meant giving up my dream trip. Idea List: Reach OutHelp! I want my friends to feel accepted at church, but how? Everyday Heroes: Storms of ServiceElyssa Renee MadsenLoralee Anderson sent out an SOS and hundreds of Salt Lake Valley teens answered the call. Q&A: Questions and AnswersI like surfing the Internet on our computer, but my parents are worried about it. Aren’t they overreacting? Mormonad: Don’t Let Chance Determine Your Choices Aussie OdysseyLisa M. G. CrockettThe rest of the world may see Australia as an exotic location. But for the LDS youth there, it’s a place of family and friendship. The Three QuestionsDenalee ChapmanOur parents seemed so demanding, but when trouble hit, we were glad they knew where to find us. The Power of TwoMarvin K. GardnerWhen they have to stand up for righteousness, these two young men from Soweto, South Africa, stand together. UpliftedEric D. SniderI couldn’t hold the barbell a moment longer. I needed a friend’s help now! Mormonisms Of All Things Fiction: The Wrong NotesGayle L. OlsenWe turned our bad day into something worse. We spread it to others. Sage’s StoryShanna GhaznaviHaving been terribly burned as a child, Sage Volkman of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a great example to her friends, family, and even those who only read about her. He HearsAlisa HyerWe couldn’t understand a word of that prayer, but suddenly I realized that someone understood perfectly. We’ve Got MailLetters to the editors Poem: Grandma, with LoveTeresa Bateman Photo of the MonthStacy L. Witman