The Kimballs Planted a Seed

Perhaps you are one of those fortunate people who, during the days of youth, befriended a loving family in addition to your own. That home away from home was important, not because there was anything wrong with your family, but because young people instinctively thrive on friends and mentors. A second family can be a second witness to the keys of happiness.

One of the foremost truths in human history is that "it is not good for the man to be alone" (Moses 3:18). Until a happy marriage fixes that problem, we need good companions.

For example, one of the finest teenagers we know of -- young Joseph Smith -- longed for companionship. But in his mid-teens, the friendship of good families and law-abiding youth in the Palmyra area was withheld, because of the rumors surrounding his first vision.

In Joseph's words, "being of very tender years, and persecuted by those who ought to have been my friends, . . . I was left to all kinds of temptations; and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth." His errors were not of the serious kind. And yet, they were "not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God" (Joseph Smith - History 1:28).

Read the full story.

- -

This article is sponsored by Fun For Less.

Share
Stay in the loop!
Enter your email to receive updates on our LDS Living content