"It was obvious that a missionary was coming off a plane, because the whole airport was crawling with conspicious looking missionary relatives. There was a father who did not look particularly comfortable in a suit. He seemed to be a man of the soil, a man of the outdoors. He was tanned, had large, work-scarred hands. He wore a white shirt, that he probably did not choose to wear, except on Sundays.
"There was a mother, who was quite thin. She looked like she had worked very hard in her life. She had shredded tissue in her hands.
"There was a girl on the verge of cardiac arrest, and two or three little kids. The kids were sort of noisy and they were trying to keep them quiet.
"I rushed past and was headed for the gate. I thought, this is one of the great human dramas of all time. So I stopped to observe.
"The missionaries were getting off the same plane I had gotten off and I had seen half a dozen of them. They still had their tags on and were working on the stewardess.
"I wondered who would break first. I really thought that the girl would want to, but that might not be discreet. My guess was, from looking at that handkerchief, that the mother needed to do something to release the pressure. I really thought that it would be the little kids.
"I saw him coming down the stairs. He looked like Captain Moroni. Clean cut and handsome, he probably had known the work his father and mother had known, before he was a missionary, but he had his hair trimmed again and looked like he had a reasonably new coat.
"He started down off the steps and started across the apron towards that building. Then, indeed, somebody broke. It wasn't the mother. It wasn't the girlfriend. It wasn't the children.
"This big, slightly awkward, bronzed, scarred, giant of a man, put an elbow into an United Airlines attendant, and ran. Just ran out onto that apron. He grabbed that boy. I guess he could have crushed him. The missionary was about 6'2" or so, but this big bear of a man just grabbed him and held him.
"For the longest time nothing happened. It seemed like half an eternity went by. They just held each other. The boy dropped his briefcase and put a coat on top of it and they just hugged each other."

"Years ago there was a little one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of Virginia where the boys were so rough that no teacher had been able to handle them.
"A young, inexperienced teacher applied, and the old director scanned him and asked: 'Young fellow, do you know that you are asking for an awful beating? Every teacher that we have had here for years has had to take one.'
"I will risk it,' he replied."
"The first day of school came, and the teacher appeared for duty. One big fellow named Tom whispered: 'I won't need any help with this one. I can lick him myself.'
"The teacher said, 'Good morning, boys, we have come to conduct school.' They yelled and made fun at the top of their voices. 'Now, I want a good school, but I confess that I do not know how unless you help me. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell me, and I will write them on the blackboard.'
"One fellow yelled, 'No stealing!' Another yelled, 'On time.' Finally, ten rules appeared on the blackboard.'
"'Now,' said the teacher, 'a law is not good unless there is a penalty attached. What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?'
"'Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on.' came the response from the class.
"'That is pretty severe, boys. Are you sure that you are ready to stand by it?' Another yelled, 'I second the motion,' and the teacher said, 'All right, we will live by them! Class, come to order!'
"In a day or so, 'Big Tom' found that his lunch had been stolen. The thief was located--a little hungry fellow, about ten years old. 'We have found the thief and he must be punished according to your rule--ten stripes across the back. Jim, come up here!' the teacher said.
"The little fellow, trembling, came up slowly with a big coat fastened up to his neck and pleaded, 'Teacher, you can lick me as hard as you like, but please, don't take my coat off!'
"'Take your coat off,' the teacher said. 'You helped make the rules!'
"'Oh, teacher, don't make me!' He began to unbutton, and what did the teacher see? The boy had no shirt on, and revealed a bony little crippled body.
"'How can I whip this child?' he thought. 'But I must, I must do something if I am to keep this school.' Everything was quiet as death.
"'How come you aren't wearing a shirt, Jim.?'
"'He replied, 'My father died and my mother is very poor. I have only one shirt and she is washing it today, and I wore my brother's big coat to keep me warm.'
"The teacher, with rod in hand, hesitated. Just then 'Big Tom' jumped to his feet and said, 'Teacher, if you don't object, I will take Jims licking for him.'
"'Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?'
"Off came Tom's coat, and after five strokes the rod broke! The teacher bowed his head in his hands and thought, 'How can I finish this awful task?' Then he heard the class sobbing, and what did he see? Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. 'Tom, I'm sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!'
"To lift a phrase from this simple story, Jesus, my Redeemer, has taken 'my licking for me' and yours for you."

"We have been very concerned with the modesty of our young women. We prayed and prayed to know what to do because it seems that what they are taught just goes in one ear and out the other and doesn't pierce their hearts. We had decided to ask a certain sister to come to our stake and talk because she had just given a devotional...that was right to the point and we felt our young women needed that.

"We contacted her to come, and she declined. She told us that she had received her message for the young women [she had responsibility for] and that we should present to our stake what we were inspired they needed to hear. We were quite taken back by this but nonetheless taught. So we went to work, and the experience that followed was phenomenal. I have never in my life felt the Lord use me as an instrument in His hands as strongly as this. We felt guided in every step. It was filled with beautiful music. We had a delightful night, and one that I KNOW was what the Lord wanted for the young women in [our stake] at this particular time. We CAN be inspired for our stake's needs...Just wanted to share that with you. It was a life changing experience for me."

Two years ago, about this time, I had been on the Fort Peck Reservation for several days with the brethren, solving the problems connected with our work among the Lamanites. Many questions arose that we had to settle. There was no precedent for us to follow, and we just had to go to the Lord and tell Him our troubles, and get inspiriation and help from Him. On this occasion I had sought the Lord,...and that night I received a wonderful manifestation and impression which has never left me...I saw myself here with you. I was told there was another privilege that was to be mine; and I was led into a room where I was informed I was to meet someone. As I entered the room I saw, seated on a raised platform, the most glorious being I have ever conceived of, and was taken forward to be introduced to Him. As I approached He smiled, called my name, and stretched out His hands toward me. If I live to be a million years old I shall never forget that smile. He put His arms around me and kissed me, as He took me into His bosom, and He blessed me until my whole being was thrilled. As He finished I fell at His feet, and there saw the marks of the nails; and as I kissed them, with deep joy swelling through my whole being, I felt that I was in heaven indeed. The feeling that came to my heart then was: Oh! if I could live worthy, though it would require fourscore years, so that in the end when I have finished I could go into His presence and receive the feeling that I then had in His presence, I would give everything that I am or ever hope to be!"