Zack Wright was a 14-year-old boy in Idaho with a passion for snow boarding.  Christmas was coming, and more than anything, he wanted a snow board.  He let everyone know that was what he wanted for Christmas.

Early in December Zack’s father sat him down and told him that he and his mother were going to give him an early Christmas present so that he would have time to use it.  Zack was beside himself with joy and anticipation—until his father presented him with a snow shovel.

“I know this isn’t what you were hoping for,” his father said, “but this gift can bring you joy if you will use it properly and with the right attitude.  I’d like to challenge you to keep all of the driveways and walks of all the single women in the neighborhood free of snow this winter.”

Zack took the challenge.  Every morning he got up early and shoveled snow before he went to school.  Reports came back of how grateful the women were for their selfless snow shoveler.  The compliments were very reinforcing for the 14-year-old boy.

Zack kept all the driveways clear except one.  It was the driveway of a house that had recently  been moved into by a family that no one knew.  The house sat far back off the road.  The driveway was a particularly long one, and the snow had piled up to the point of making it impassible.  It nagged at Zack.

One Saturday morning as Zack and his father were on their way to go snow boarding they passed that driveway.  Zack could stand it no longer.  He told his father to stop and to go back.  He had to clean that driveway.  It was a big job.  His father was amazed.  It took a long time; but when he was finished, Zack still got to go snow boarding that day.

The next morning the phone rang.  Zack heard his father say, “Yes, that’s my son.”  Zack knew he was in trouble.

The conversation between Zack’s father and the caller lasted for another minute, after which his father said, “Come on, we’re going to take a ride.”

They drove to the hospital.  Zack’s father led him to the maternity ward.  There Zack was introduced to a new baby whose life he had saved.

The mother tearfully explained that her husband had been deployed by the military just prior to the birth of their first child, and that she had been unable to clear their long driveway.  Since she couldn’t get out, she had decided to have the baby at home.  It turned out, however, that that decision would have been fatal to the baby because the umbilical cord had been wrapped around its neck.

Many people, and especially Zack, were unspeakably grateful that the Holy Ghost had been able to reach a 14-year-old boy, and that he had been willing to listen and to act.