One Starfish at a Time

Here is an excerpt from Elder Pope's letter this week, with words of encouragement specifically directed to his sister Anne, who will be leaving on her own mission soon:

Anne, I want you to know I love you and I am so proud of you and your choice to go and do what our Heavenly Father wants you to. I have seen the gosepl of Jesus Christ change peoples lives...

One day a man was walking along the beach, when he noticed a boy

picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, "What are you doing?"

The youth replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean.

The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back, they'll die."

"Son," the man said, "Don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?

You can't make a difference!"

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,

and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said:

I made a difference for that one."

...In the end we are all in this together. Hand in hand. Moving forward the best we can. ...Anne, one starfish at a time.

                                                             -Elder Pope