April 2005 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

PHOTOGRAPH BY WELDEN C. ANDERSEN
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Surgical instruments similar to these were used to operate on
the boy Joseph Smith’s leg.
Jensen said. “It will bring
Joseph Smith to life for
them.”
Materials used are from
the Joseph Smith collection
in the Church History Library
and Archives, the Harold B.
Lee Library Special Collections
at Brigham Young University,
and the Community of Christ
Special Collections Library.
In order to make the
exhibit accessible to more
people, video clips and item
explanations throughout the
exhibit are available in
Spanish as well as English.
The exhibit is only one
part of the celebration of the
200th anniversary of the
Prophet’s birth. A new film
about Joseph Smith’s life will
be shown at the Joseph Smith
Memorial Building later this
year, and the Church will
sponsor international and
national recognitions of the
Prophet’s bicentennial
throughout the year.
The Library of Congress
and Brigham Young
University will jointly hold an
academic symposium on May
6–7 in Washington, D.C.,
titled, “The Worlds of Joseph
Smith.”
American Red Cross Honors Church
for Measles Vaccination Aid
Members of the First
Presidency presented
American
Red Cross President and CEO
Marsha J. Evans with a US$1
million check on February 4
that went to the Measles
Initiative, a Red Cross vaccination
program for children in
Africa that is expected to save
1.2 million lives.
Out of gratitude for the
donation, which was the second
part of a US$3 million
total commitment by the
Church, the Red Cross honored
the Church with its
highest recognition for
donors, the American Red
Cross Circle of Humanitarians
award.
In the African countries
most seriously plagued by
measles, one in every 100
children dies from the disease.
Those involved hope
that the initiative can eliminate
the disease from the
continent.
Presiding Bishop H. David
Brigham Young
University is currently
working on a
project to create a
comprehensive collection
of all documents
associated
with the Prophet.
About 12 volumes
of the project are
scheduled to be
released by the end
of 2005.
The Church magazines
will feature the Prophet and
the Restoration throughout
the year.
Elder Jensen said Joseph
Smith is worthy of such
recognition.
“John Taylor said Joseph
‘has done more, save Jesus
only, for the salvation of men
in this world, than any other
man that ever lived in it’
[D&C 135:3],” Elder Jensen
said. “Joseph’s legacy will be
found in his work. His work
will show he is a true
prophet.”
The exhibit runs through
January 15, 2006. ■
Burton said the Church
decided to take part in the
program because the initiative
is committed to helping others
and also because the
Church has a large population
of members in Africa. He said
participating in the initiative
provides “the opportunity for
many of our local congregations
to volunteer and participate
in the program.”
American Red Cross
Senior Health Adviser Dr.
Mark Grabowsky estimates
that approximately 90 percent
of all African children
need to be immunized in
order to eradicate the disease
from Africa. By 2006, the
Measles Initiative program is
scheduled to have vaccinated
more than 200 million children
in Africa.
Since 1986, the Church has
partnered with the American
Red Cross, supporting domestic
and international relief
efforts and initiatives. “We
have a long, distinguished
partnership with the
American Red Cross,” Bishop
Burton said. “It’s a partnership
we cherish.” ■
Church
Offers Relief
after Flood,
Mudslide
After heavy rains and
torrential flooding in
Arizona, California,
Nevada, and southern Utah
destroyed or damaged more
than 200 homes, members in
those areas continue to work
to get their lives and homes
back in order or help others
do so.
Flooding in Arizona,
Nevada, and Utah affected
members in seven stakes,
destroying 25 member
homes and damaging 117
more. Although no lives
were lost there, the floodwaters
ravaged a considerable
amount of farmland,
particularly in southern
Utah.
The St. George Utah
Green Valley Stake was
hardest hit. In that stake