2014
The Toy Truck
May 2014


“The Toy Truck,” Friend, May 2014, 41

Friend to Friend

The Toy Truck

From an interview with Bishop Dean M. Davies, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric; by Linda Davies

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Bishop Dean M. Davies

Whatever we do, extra effort makes a difference and makes us happy too.

“The Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works” (Deuteronomy 15:10).

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The Toy Truck

When I was about seven years old, I saw a toy truck at the store that I really wanted, and it only cost 98 cents! I ran home to my mother and asked her for the money to buy it. In her wisdom, she said no, she wouldn’t give me the money. But if I wanted it, I could earn it.

She suggested that I ask our neighbor, Sister Anderson, if I could mow her lawn. Sister Anderson offered to pay me $1.50. Her lawn had some very tall grass, and she had an old-fashioned push mower without a motor. It was very hard work, but after two hours, I finished mowing and had $1.50 in my pocket. I had painful blisters on my hands, and I was very tired. But on the inside, I was happy.

I worked hard and paid my tithing. Finally I was able to buy the toy truck all by myself. At that moment I realized the blessings of work. If I was willing to work, I could do many things in my life. I learned to enjoy work. I wanted to mow even more lawns and make each one even more beautiful than when I started on it.

I learned that whatever we do, extra effort makes a difference and makes us happy too.