Years ago, I had the impression I should write a song, but I had no idea how I could accomplish such a task. Yes, I’d had musical training in voice and piano, but very little theory training, and even less in musical composition. Worse, I’d only been married for a few years and didn't own a piano. I simply couldn't do it, and even if I could, why would God want me to do it?

I pondered that problem for some time and finally confessed my struggles to my husband. He said, “If the Lord told you to do something, He’ll help you find a way.”  His convictions gave me the courage to move forward, but still I wondered “why.”

Finally, after months of personal study, struggle, and prayer, I completed it. After that, still trying to find the answer to “why,” I performed the song in church and family settings, but I still didn't’t receive a confirmation of its purpose. I was beginning to wonder if the only reason I’d been “assigned” to write it was so I could learn more about music. One day, the answer came: I needed to give the song to a relative I barely knew. It was meant for her. Again, “why?”

Like I said, I barely knew the girl, so I still don't know why I needed to write and give it to her, but I did feel like my gift touched her heart, at least a little, and reminded her that Heavenly Father was aware of her.

I learned a profound principle through that experience: the worth of the soul is great in the sight of God. Think of it. Writing that song was not easy for me. I had to struggle and study. I had to invent ways to compensate for my lack of resources. I had to pray. And when I completed the “assignment,” I learned its “only” purpose was to touch, perhaps, the heart of one soul. Needless to say, that witness humbled me.

I have since gathered a few “Worth of Soul” quotes I’d like to share here. Most, if not all, you may have heard before, but like the simple testimony of the song, “I am a Child of God,” their repetition and simplicity do not negate their power.  

1) Jesus Christ:

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

"And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

“And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:4–7.)

 2) President Thomas S. Monson:

“In March of 1967, early in my service as a member of the Council of the Twelve, I was attending a conference of the Monument Park West Stake in Salt Lake City. My companion for the conference was a member of the General Church Welfare Committee, Paul C. Child. President Child was a student of the scriptures. He had been my stake president during my Aaronic Priesthood years. Now we were together as conference visitors.

“When it was his opportunity to participate, President Child took in hand the Doctrine and Covenants and left the pulpit to stand among the priesthood brethren to whom he was directing his message. He turned to section 18 and began to read:

“’Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.

“And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!’”

“President Child then raised his eyes from the scriptures and asked the brethren: ‘What is the worth of a human soul?’ He avoided calling on a bishop, a stake president, or a high councilor for a response. Instead, he selected the president of an elders quorum—a brother who had been a bit drowsy and had missed the significance of the question.

"The startled man responded, ‘Brother Child, could you please repeat the question?’

"The question was repeated: ‘What is the worth of a human soul?’

“I knew President Child’s style. I prayed fervently for that quorum president. He remained silent for what seemed like an eternity and then declared, ‘Brother Child, the worth of a human soul is its capacity to become as God.’

“All present pondered that reply. Brother Child returned to the stand, leaned over to me, and said, ‘A profound reply; a profound reply!’

3) Elder Boyd K. Packer:
“no greater ideal has been revealed than the supernal truth that we are the children of God, and we differ, by virtue of our creation, from all other living things” (Ensign, May 1992, p. 67).

The fourteen through eighteen-year-olds in our stake recently attended a pioneer trek youth conference. They, like our ancestors, faced torrential rain, lack of food and sleep, difficult terrain, and frequently altered courses due to the weather; but also like our forebears, they learned a vital, eternal lesson: we, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are all in “this”—life, the church, and furthering God’s work—together.

There are many steps to achieving this accord, such as unified prayer, repenting of our sins, and forgiving others; but another important but often overlooked requirement is receiving, accepting, and fulfilling callings from our Priesthood leadership. In truth, how we respond to our callings holds at least three eternal consequences.

1) Consider the scriptural account of Christ gathering his disciples. While walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus Christ called to Simon called Peter and Andrew and told them to follow Him, and “they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him” (Matthew 4:18-22). Then in Luke 6:13, we read, “And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles” (bold added).

In the preceding texts, I bolded the words “follow,” “called,” and “chose,” because they indicate that before Christ can “choose” his elect, he will first “call” them: “There has been a day of calling, but the time has come for a day of choosing; and let those be chosen that are worthy. And it shall be manifest unto my servant, by the voice of the Spirit, those that are chosen; and they shall be sanctified” (D&C 105:35-36). Thus, if we do not initially accept the call to follow Him, how can we hope to be sanctified among His elect at the last day? The parable of the ten virgins in which half were excluded from the bridegroom’s feast reveals similar repercussions (Matt. 25:1-13).

2) Christ said, “whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38). Thus, any calling we receive through Priesthood authority is an invitation from Christ to follow Him, to become like Him, to learn to know Him. President Howard W. Hunter described it this way:

"The Lord’s invitation to follow him is individual and personal, and it is compelling. We cannot stand forever between two opinions. Each of us must at some time face the crucial question: “Whom say ye that I am?” (Matt. 16:15) Our personal salvation depends on our answer to that question and our commitment to that answer. . . To follow an individual means to watch him or listen to him closely; to accept his authority, to take him as a leader, and to obey him; to support and advocate his ideas; and to take him as a model.”

3) As the parable of the talents implies, we each have gifts and abilities only we can magnify to lift others and further the Lord’s Kingdom. In fact, those are the purposes for those gifts:

"And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God. Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling; and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need of the feet; for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand? Also the body hath need of every member that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect" (D&C 84:109-110).

True, callings in the church frequently come at inconvenient or uncomfortable times; and often, they seem beyond our abilities to accomplish them, but are those satisfactory reasons not to accept them? Each of us, just like our forefathers, must answer that question for him or herself; but I hope, before we do, we will ponder this statement by President James E. Faust: 

"To stay on the right track, we must honor and sustain those who hold the presiding priesthood keys. We are reminded that many are “called, but few are chosen.” When are we chosen? We are chosen by the Lord only when we have done our best to move this holy work forward through our consecrated efforts and talents."

They’re everywhere: faithful yet heart-broken Latter-day Saints sitting alone in Sacrament Meeting because their family members have chosen “other paths.” I know because I’ve not only seen them, I’m one of them.

One learning experience came while I, as a Young Women’s leader, was attending a Stake Young Women’s girl’s camp. I was participating in a familiar, spiritual activity in which all the participants were blind-folded, given a “name” (actually, I think it was something like an animal sound), told we needed to find the rest of our “family,” and then while holding them close to us, complete a specific task which brought us “Home.” As luck would have it, shortly after I found my family I lost them again. For the rest of the activity, I was a lone person in the field.

Until the end. That was when, after all other groups had succeeded with their tasks, someone noticed I was lost and sent my “family” to retrieve me. Finally, tearfully, I returned “Home.” But I wasn’t tearful because I was embarrassed that I was the last one on the field (though I slightly was); it was because one of Christ’s parables had suddenly become alive in me:

Matthew 20:1-16

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

I love General Conference. Always have. Even when I was a kid. Because of that, I wanted my children to learn to love conference, too, in spite of the other, conflicting influences that surrounded them. So this is what I did. And it worked!

Ever since my children have been old enough to read and write, we have made one conference day a "candy day;" meaning, while we listen to both sessions, we take notes. All of us. I take my notes, however, in the form of questions.

When each session is over, I then ask my questions and they take turns answering them. I ask many simple ones, like what was the opening song? Who spoke first? And, "so and so said we should do what if we need help?" (Pray).  But I also occasionally ask more complicated ones of the older children, related to specific stories and scriptures. When they answer correctly, I give them a piece of candy (fun sized candy bars, usually). They love it!

And so do I. Not because of the sugary treats (which I also enjoy!), but because I not only have the opportunity to go over—and sometimes reteach—every talk from that session, but I see that my children now have fond, family memories of conference as they've learned to feast on the real "treats" of the gospel.  

This activity was amazing! One of the young women's mother told me her daughter, who's usually not very vocal about our activities, couldn't stop talking about it when she returned home that night. To me, that's success!

What we did:
1. They (the Young Men's organization was in charge) gathered random information (description, likes, where serving, etc.) about the current and recently returned missionaries in our ward.
2. They had men from the ward who went to those missions or parents of the missionaries prepare and bring a food item to share with the youth.
3. They had each "mission" set up in a different room throughout the building, and had the youth rotate between the rooms to not only learn a little about that country and eat their food but also guess which ward missionary was currently serving in that country.
4. The Young Men began the evening by quoting Section 4 from the Doctrine and Covenants.

If you try this activity, let me know how it went. I'd love to hear about it.

Although this wasn't an "original" idea, going bowling has been one of our most successful yw/ym combined activities. Even the expense was little compared with the success of the event, for we had youth attend who have never attended a mutual activity before. We even had a non-member relative join us.
Another great thing about this activity was it gave the youth and the leaders a chance to "let their hair down." Sure, the boys were competitive (they still had fun), but the girls just enjoyed their time together by visiting, trying goofy ways to bowl, and laughing. LOTS OF SMILES that night. It was amazing.