Magazine Content and Sketches

For this project, I have gathered my content together that I will be using to create a 2 page spread for an LDS magazine called the New Era. I chose this particular magazine because I felt that it was a story that those who are in High School could easily relate to. I also felt that it could inspire them to read the Book of Mormon for themselves and gain their own testimony of it. I have posted my story and images that I will be using for my magazine spread along with some ideas of how I want to layout my content.

Story: Cover to Cover

In my life I have learned that some of the best testimony building experiences occur during times of trial and hardship. This was especially true during my sophomore and junior years of high school. While the things I went through don’t even come close to the trials others have had to endure, it was something that was difficult specifically for me.

During my sophomore year, my dad had been diagnosed with cancer. It was something our family never expected to happen. I remember very clearly the day my dad told my older sister and I. I cried for hours because I was so scared that his life could be taken so soon. If my dad hadn’t had an unwavering faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ, I don’t think our family would have endured it as well as we did. After about a year of countless doctor’s appointments and surgeries, a miracle happened and my dad went into remission. Only a few months later he was diagnosed with a completely unrelated, second cancer. This time it was even more severe and chemotherapy and radiation were needed on top of surgery.

While this was all going on, I had made a decision to be a part of a program that allowed me to attend both high school and community college at the same time. Even though it was a smart decision and one that has helped me throughout my college years, it took away from my high school experience. I would frequently stay home to help take care of my dad which caused me to fall behind in school work. I had 2 or 3 close friends that I saw occasionally, but things felt dark and lonely as I watched my dad suffer through his sickness.

On top of this, I saw my faith decrease as I questioned why this had to happen to my dad who hadn’t done anything to deserve it. However, I knew something needed to change. I felt strongly that I needed to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover because it was something that I hadn’t accomplished yet.

I started from the beginning and read one chapter every day. This went on for a couple of months but the stories and testimonies became so interesting that I found myself reading multiple chapters at a time.

I remember one day I was riding the bus to a tennis match. I had loved tennis in my past years but this year I didn’t have any good friends on the team so I mostly just kept to myself. We had a 3-hour long bus ride to our tennis match and luckily I had brought my Book of Mormon with me. I was in 3 Nephi and I started to read. I read the entire way there, I read while waiting to play my match, and I read on the ride back even though it was getting dark and hard to see, I kept on reading.

On our way back, I finally finished the last few words while on the Bridge of the Gods in Washington which has an incredible view. I hadn’t even followed the invitation in Moroni 10:4 yet which says to pray and ask if the words are true because I had already felt that burning feeling in my heart. Immediately after finishing, I listened to the song “This is the Christ” by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. While the rest of the team was around me talking about worldly things, I was receiving light and knowledge of the power of God. I wanted to share my feelings with everyone, but kept it quietly to myself.

The testimony that I received in that moment helped strengthen me and even the members of my family as we continued to press forward through my dad’s cancer. I know the Book of Mormon is the true word of God and I know it can change lives forever, as it did mine.

Quote:

“Life moves all too fast. When you feel weak, discouraged, depressed, or afraid, open the Book of Mormon and read. Do not let too much time pass before reading a verse, a thought, or a chapter.”

-Boyd K. Packer

Sketch:

Images:

Image Sources:

The Book of Mormon: Original image by Hannah (Morgan) Taylor

The Bridge of the Gods: https://www.pcta.org/wild/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/Bridge-of-the-Gods.jpg