Over the years I have had many single adult friends say that the reason they don't like singles wards is because there are so many people in them, which makes it impossible not to fall through the cracks.

However, I have also heard this said about school and even work where the numbers of people differ. So, if it is not necessarily the number of people involved that brings this unwanted phenomenon about, then what is it that causes more and more people to feel this way? Even more important, how do we stop this from happening?

As I have pondered these two questions, I have come to the conclusion that it is not the environment, but rather the attitude and choices of the person involved which decided whether or not they "fall through the cracks" As they call it.

So, if it is in the individuals hands, then what can he or she do to keep this from happening? I have three suggestions:

1. Instead of waiting for others to seek you out to meet and get to know you, be the first to act.

Chances are that the other person feels the same way that you do. Imagine how many friends are just a smile and a friendly hello away.

2. When you join a new ward, don't wait to receive a calling and Home Teaching/Visiting Teaching assignment. Again, be proactive and go up to your new bishop and Elders Quorum/Relief Society President and ask to be given a calling and assignment right away.

Serving is not only a good way to make true and enduring friends, but is also a way to quickly find your place.

3. Participate in church Activities.

Church activities are a time and place to relax, and have fun. They are also a great place to mingle and get to know lots of people, who you usually see in passing at church.

Yes, all of these suggestions require one to be proactive and put themselves forward, but if you will do so there is no way you will get lost in the cracks.

“While the word proactivity is now fairly common in management literature, it is a word you won't find in most dictionaries. It means more than merely taking initiative. It means that as human beings, we are responsible for our own lives. Our behavior is a function of our decisions, not our conditions.” Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey

I will always be grateful for the missionaries who taught my Father's family the gospel just before he was born, and for the missionaries who taught my mother and aunt the gospel when they were in their teens.

I cannot help but think that, if my parents had not been taught the gospel then:

- Mom and Dad would never have attended BYU, and subsequently they probably would have never met, and gotten married.

- I would have never been born nor my six other siblings. (And if I was born) My life would have been much different, and probably not for the better.

- Mom and Dad would have led drastically different lives, which would have affected what kind of parent they would have become.

Like I said, I will forever be grateful to these four amazing men. They each will hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life.

Each one of these young men made the sacrifice to take two years out of the prime of their young adult lives to serve The Lord and their fellow men. It is not easy to leave your family, and friends to go far from home, forget about themselves, and think instead of God and their fellow men. They spent countless hours every day giving service wherever service was needed, teaching those who would receive them, and endlessly praying to God for guidance, inspiration, and help in their work.

But even before they left on their missions these young men paid the price to be worthy for the service they were called of God to give.

"Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men…" Doctrine and Covenants Section 121:34-35

Each of the young men also paid the price to be prepared to serve. This preparation is not something that can be done over night. It takes time, discipline, and desire to pay the price to follow the counsel given by the Lord to those who desire to teach His gospel.

"Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men." Doctrine and Covenants Section 11:21

Like these four young men who have so incredibly blessed my family through service, so many years ago, I am overjoyed every time I see another one of my young adult friends make the choice to live worthily, be prepared, and leave on missions of their own. For I know that there are so many out there in search of the gospel like Amos prophesied, and who as the Lord put it are kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.

"Now is the moment in the timetable of the Lord to carry the gospel farther than it has ever been carried before. . . . Many a person in this world is crying, knowingly and unknowingly, 'Come over . . . and help us.' He might be your neighbor. She might be your friend. He might be a relative. She might be someone you met only yesterday. But we have what they need. Let us take new courage from our studies and pray, as did Peter, 'And now, Lord, . . . grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.' (Acts 4:29)" (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball [1982], 546)

Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called Mormon Church), championed globalism.

One of his early associates, Wilford Woodruff (who later became the fourth president of the Church), recalled a meeting held in the 1830s. In it, Joseph Smith spoke of the worldwide destiny of the Church:

“The Prophet called on all who held the Priesthood to gather into the little log school house they had there. It was a small house, perhaps 14 feet square. But it held the whole of the Priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who were then in the town of Kirtland. … When we got together the Prophet called upon the Elders of Israel with him to bear testimony of this work. … When they got through the Prophet said, ‘Brethren, I have been very much edified and instructed in your testimonies here tonight, but I want to say to you before the Lord, that you know no more concerning the destinies of this Church and kingdom than a babe upon its mother’s lap. You don’t comprehend it.’ I was rather surprised. He said, ‘It is only a little handful of Priesthood you see here tonight, but this Church will fill North and South America—it will fill the world.’”
("Chapter 11: The Organization and Destiny of the True and Living Church,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 135–47.)

In another setting, Joseph Smith affirmed:

“I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the whole world.” (“Chapter 44: The Restoration of All Things: The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 507–16.)

Joseph Smith had a global vision. The Church began in the United States, then Joseph Smith sent missionaries to Canada, and later went himself in 1833. In 1837 he sent missionaries to Great Britain. From there, it branched out to the rest of Europe, and then the world.

However, some people see the Church and Joseph Smith as a local or national phenomenon. Scholar Harold Bloom wrote, “Mormonism is a purely American Gnosis” (The American Religion, 123). To an extent, that is true. I cannot imagine Joseph Smith and the Church of Jesus Christ arising in any other country besides America. Despite the persecutions and the Extermination Order, no other country is as religiously free as the United States.

On the other hand, if Joseph Smith was merely a permutation of Jacksonianism, then why does the Church have 27,475 congregations with 13 million members worldwide?

Howard W. Hunter, the fourteenth president of the Church, explained:

“Mormonism, so-called, is a world religion, not simply because its members are now found throughout the world, but chiefly because it has a comprehensive and inclusive message based upon the acceptance of all truth, restored to meet the needs of all mankind.” (Howard W. Hunter, “The Gospel—A Global Faith,” Ensign, Nov 1991, 18.)

I am a part of this global phenomenon. I am from California, and I served my mission in Portugal. While there, I had a companion who was Portuguese, I worked with a local church leader from Mozambique, and had a Brazilian mission president. We were a mini-United Nations.

This globalization has also affected the Church on a general level. The second counselor in the First Presidency (the supreme governing council of the Church), is from Germany. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has been a worldwide Church leader in various positions since 1994.

Not only are there Europeans in high office, but also people from other areas as well. From 1990 to 1995, Helvécio Martins, a black Brazilian, was a general authority of the Church. On the worldwide level, the Church has leaders from all nationalities.

I have met both of these men, President Uchtdorf and Elder Martins, and am grateful that the Church has so much to offer people from all nationalities and races. Yes, the Church is headquartered in the United States of America, but it is a global phenomenon.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in the eternal nature of the soul and the importance of the temple to provide eternal connections with Heavenly Father. We believe in the unchanging nature of God that provides all the same blessings for His children, no matter the age in which they live, as long as they will turn to Him. That means we can be recipients of God's blessings through the power of the priesthood, which provides man with the keys to act in God's name in righteousness. This priesthood power provides us with a living prophet and other worldwide and local leaders who can lead and guide us back to Heavenly Father's presence. This priesthood power is also used within the temple to allow us to make covenants with Heavenly Father.

So, how does the Latter-day Saint view the temple? What is its place in his life and heart? It can and should be a place we go often to reconnect with heaven. It should represent our hopes and ideals for becoming more like the Savior. It is a symbol of His love for us.

Even at an early age, Christ showed us an example of the importance of the temple. He lingered there, learning and growing in the things of the Spirit. He returned often, honoring the temple's place within the Jewish religion. He cleansed it when His Father's spirit had been driven from it by those who would take it lightly and defile its sacred purposes. Christ valued the temple, and so should His people.

This is one of the sweet lessons I learned from my guide Helaman. Within the city of Tulum, the temple is the very eastern point, and the focal point of the entire village. It stands on a cliff, overlooking the Caribbean Sea. It also marks the only safe passage way through that sea to the village. It took the Spaniards a long time to pass the barrier reef surrounding the area because they did not know the significance of the building on the hill. Those who lived there knew: if you want safe passage, look to the temple.

That message still holds true today. The disciple of Christ longs to become as close to him as our weaknesses will allow us. The best way to do this is to look to the temple. An LDS temple is not open to the general public. To many it is a place of beauty, and perhaps secrets, but it has little to do with them personally. They may be having a difficult time making it through the rocky patches of life because they are missing a valuable secret about what a temple can do for them. Even those who are members of the church do not have free access to these places, it is a privilege earned with worthiness through obedience to God's commandments. Why? For the same reason Christ lingered and cleansed. It is God's house on earth. It is where we, as His children, can touch His presence and understand our worth to Him. It is where we go to make promises with Him that we will live our lives as He would have us. It is where we bind ourselves together as families. It is the source of our salvation, our safe haven, and the center of our commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If it isn't right now, perhaps we should take a look around and reorient ourselves to what matters. The Mayan’s knew this. Even after they lost the memory of the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, they still knew that the temple mattered.

Things unfolded quickly after Christ’s triumphant exit from the Garden of Gethsemane. Even as He told His friends to sleep on and take some rest (Matthew 26:45), a group of men came to take Him. This group included chief priests and elders, all men of the Jerusalem Temple who acted almost like a police force in keeping the peace. Unfortunately these men had evil in their hearts, and were determined to rid themselves of the man who claimed to be the Son of God.

How delighted they must have been when one of His own devoted followers approached them. Remember, Judas left quite a while ago, even knowing Christ was aware of His coming betrayal.

“And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said” (Matthew 26:21-25).

Judas could have repented. He could have humbled himself, and asked for forgiveness. Instead his heart became hardened. Anger and hatred took hold, and he committed one of the most appalling acts this world has known: for thirty pieces of silver he betrayed his Lord.

The following events occur so quickly it’s easy to dismiss some important points. Judas led the group of men to the Garden, a place Jesus had taken his disciples to many times to teach, ponder, and pray. Judas knew this was where He would be, and led the priests and elders there.

Let’s stop here for a moment. Try to recall what the Christ had just gone through. He probably didn’t look like the same man. His robes were probably filthy, His face and hands encrusted with His blood mixed with sweat. Of all the men standing there I would think He looked the least like a man who could be the literal Son of God. Yet this is the man Judas approached and kissed.

In today’s time a kiss is often given without thought. It was not always so. The kiss is significant in Old and New Testament times. As Andrew Skinner, who currently serves as dean of Religious Education and professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, tells us in his book Golgotha, the kiss could mean a reconciliation between people who had been estranged, separated for a long time, or fighting (Look up Genesis 33:4; Exodus 4:27; Genesis 45:15). A kiss could be a token of respect. Religious and educational leaders were often greeted with a kiss by those who were taught. In 1 Thessalonians 5:26 Paul counseled the brethren to greet one another with a ‘holy kiss.’

For Judas to greet the Master with a kiss was a great contradiction. There was no love in it, only betrayal. Could Judas have been more properly reprimanded than for the Lord to have called him, “Friend…” (Matthew 26:50).

Though the timing is not confirmed, just before or after this betrayal Christ asked the men who had accompanied Judas whom they were seeking.

“They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he” (John 18:5).

At this point the men stepped back and fell to the ground. They were so stunned not one of them said a word. Once again Christ asked whom they were seeking, and again they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Why were these men so surprised at Jesus’ answer? Andrew Skinner gives us an idea.

“The translators of the King James Version of the Bible added the word he after each use of the phrase “I Am” in this passage, believing it rounded out the translation. Without that added word, however, we can understand more readily why the chief priests and elders responded as they did, for when they heard Jesus utter those words, they fell backward to the ground – as might anyone who has had the wind knocked out of him because God himself has just responded to his inquiry” (Skinner, Andrew C., Golgotha, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002, p.11).

I think there is one more aspect to Christ proclaiming the words, “I Am.” He’s literally just gone through what no other man on earth could ever hope to accomplish. He rose triumphant, having accomplished the first part of the Atonement. As the words “I Am” came from His lips, I would think there was such determination, such knowledge, such power behind those two words.

It was at this point Jesus was seized by the temple men. Peter, who always seemed to allow his heart to rule his head, pulled out his fisherman’s sword and cut off the ear of one of the men to protect his Lord. Christ, ever mindful of what needed to happen, rebuked Peter. “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?” (Matthew 26:53-54.) A legion in the time of Christ included 6,000 soldiers. Could you imagine having 72,000 angels coming at you?

Christ’s mission was not yet completed, as He tried to remind His friends. At this point He healed the guard (a blessing seemingly ignored by those who would kill Him), and meekly submitted to being bound and taken away.

Jesus must have been physically, mentally, and emotionally worn out at this time, yet His thoughts were ever on the welfare of others. He didn’t fight back when the soldiers took Him, knowing precisely what was still to come.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly referred to as the Mormon Church, claim that The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ was translated from gold plates. To substantiate this claim, they usually cite Joseph Smith’s own testimony of the gold plates, and the testimony of the Three and the Eight Witnesses.

However, there are two more witness to the physical gold plates. The first is Mary Whitmer. She was the wife of Peter Whitmer, Sr. and mother of several of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon: Christian, Jacob, David, and Peter Jr.

Here is her account, as told by her grandson John C. Whitmer:

“One evening, when (after having done her usual day's work in the house) she went to the barn to milk the cows, she met a stranger carrying something on his back that looked like a knapsack. At first she was a little afraid of him, but when he spoke to her in a kind, friendly tone and began to explain to her the nature of the work which was going on in her house, she was filled with inexpressible joy and satisfaction.”

“He then untied his knapsack and showed her a bundle of plates, which in size and appearance corresponded with the description subsequently given by the witnesses to the Book of Mormon. This strange person turned the leaves of the book of plates over, leaf after leaf, and also showed her the engravings upon them; after which he told her to be patient and faithful in bearing her burden a little longer, promising that if she would do so, she should be blessed; and her reward would be sure, if she proved faithful to the end. The personage then suddenly vanished with the plates, and where he went, she could not tell. (Andrew Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia 1:283)

I’m impressed with this opportunity she had. I’m sure it strengthened her faith. And she probably needed it. As the record shows, the events surrounding the translation and the publication of the Book of Mormon taxed the power and patience of the people involved.

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church, referring to these trying times, wrote:

"Now my wife had written some for me to translate, and also my Brother Samuel H. Smith. But we had be come reduced in property, and my wife’s father was about to turn me out of doors and I had not where to go. And I cried unto the Lord that he would provide for me to accomplish the work whereunto he had commanded me." (1832 History. Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 14. Standardized.)

His prayer was answered. God raised up people to help him. Not just men, such as Oliver Cowdery and the Whitmer men, but also women. In addition to Mary Whitmer, there was also Joseph Smith’s wife Emma. She served as a scribe between Martin Harris’s departure and the coming of Oliver Cowdery.

She was not exactly a witness of the gold plates, but she was almost a witness. Here is her story, as told to her son Joseph Smith III:

“The plates often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen tablecloth, which I had given him [Joseph Smith, Jr.] to fold them in. I once felt of the plates, as they thus lay on the table, tracing their outline and shape. They seemed to be pliable like thick paper, and would rustle with a metallic sound when the edges were moved by the thumb, as one does sometimes thumb the edges of a book. … I did not attempt to handle the plates, other than I have told you, nor uncover them to look at them. I was satisfied that it was the work of God, and therefore did not feel it to be necessary to do so. … I moved them from place to place on the table, as it was necessary in doing my work.” (The Saints’ Herald, 1 Oct. 1879, p. 290; spelling modernized.)

So the plates were there, but covered. Like the Eight Witnesses, she handled them, and moved them around as she kept house. Her testimony reflects her unique position as wife of Joseph Smith. It has a folksy charm about it. You can picture Emma sliding the heavy plates around the table as she is dusting.

And as both a wife of the prophet and a scribe of the Book of Mormon, I find her testimony compelling:

“My belief is that the Book of Mormon is of divine authenticity—I have not the slightest doubt of it. I am satisfied that no man could have dictated the writing of the manuscripts unless he was inspired; for, when acting as his scribe, your father [Joseph Smith] would dictate to me hour after hour; and when returning after meals, or after interruptions, he would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him. This was a usual thing for him to do. It would have been improbable that a learned man could do this; and, for one so ignorant and unlearned as he was, it was simply impossible.” (Ibid.)

I am glad that God raised up these women to help move the Lord’s work along. I have read the Book of Mormon scores of times, and appreciate their part in bringing forth the keystone of our religion, and this new witness of the divinity of Christ.