DevanJensen

About ten years ago, I was working as an editor at the Ensign magazine. While there, I proofread talks for the conference issues of the magazine. What a joy it was to read through the words of living prophets and apostles—and to get paid to do it! I testify that their words are modern scripture, representing the will of the Lord, the mind of Lord, the word of the Lord, the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation (see D&C 68:4). One day while proofreading, I was surprised to note that many General Authorities had referred to several gifts of God as “the greatest.” For example, Elder Alexander B. Morrison of the Seventy wrote, “At this season of gift giving and gift receiving, this season of rejoicing in the great gifts that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have given us, it is most fitting to ponder their greatest gift of all —the gift of life.” [i] Of course, I saw wisdom in that statement, because the gift of life allowed us to receive a body and th...

A high school student named Steve was having difficulty in school and had been kicked out of several classes. A kind seminary teacher finally allowed him into his sixth-period class. One day, the teacher planned a special lesson. He asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. The teacher asked, “How many push-ups can you do?” Steve replied, “I do about two hundred every night.” “Two hundred?” the teacher said. “That’s pretty good. Do you think you could do three hundred?” Steve answered, “I don’t know—I’ve never done three hundred at a time.” The teacher said, “Can you do three hundred in sets of ten?” “Well, I think I can,” Steve answered. “Yeah, I can do it.” “Good! I need you to do this on Friday.” Well, Friday came, and Steve went to class early and sat in front. When class started, the teacher pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren’t the normal kinds of donuts. They were the big, extra-fancy kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Ever...