68. Our Country's Birthday

A short talk given by five-year-old Mary in the Primary of the Bountiful Twentieth Ward on Sunday morning, July 1, 1990, and published in the Family Journal on Monday, July 16, 1990. Our country was celebrating its 214th birthday on July 4, 1990. In another two months Mary would begin Kindergarten.

This Wednesday is the Fourth of July, our country’s birthday. In the Book of Mormon it tells us how Heavenly Father has blessed this land and made it a special place.

It says: “Behold, this is a choice land and it shall be free from all other nations if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ.”

I hope we can celebrate our country’s birthday, not only with fun and fireworks but also by following Jesus and keeping His commandments.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

67. Because of Jesus, We Will Live Again

A short talk given by seven-year-old Eliza on Sunday morning, May 20, 1990, in the Primary of the Bountiful Twentieth Ward. The talk was printed in the May 21, 1990, Family Journal. Eliza at the time was just about to finish her Kindergarten year in school.

Last Monday my dad’s brother [Ray] died. I went to see him. It looked like he was asleep. His spirit went up to the spirit world. The spirit makes you run and jump and play.

Because of Jesus our spirits will come back. Each of us will die, and because of Jesus we will get resurrected.

I’m thankful for Jesus. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

66. Easter

A talk given by eight-year-old Camilla in the Primary of the Bountiful Twentieth Ward on the morning of Easter Sunday, April 15, 1990. The talk was printed on the cover of the Family Journal on Monday, April 16, 1990. Camilla at the time was a second grader at Bountiful Elementary.

When Jesus was being crucified in Jerusalem, there were many things happening in America. There were floods and earthquakes and storms, and it was dark for three whole days. The people could not see the sun or light candles, and they were scared.

After three days the darkness was gone, and then they could see. They looked around and saw that many people had died.

Then they heard a voice. It was Heavenly Father. He said, “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him” (3 Nephi 11:7).

And then they looked up and saw a bright light and saw a man coming down from the light. He said:

“Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

“And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning” (3 Nephi 11:10–11).

He showed the people his hands and his feet. He taught them many things. And he blessed the children. It was a very happy time.

I know that Jesus lives and loves us and wants us to keep His commandments. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.