As we enter the month of December, evidences of entering the annual Christmas season are everywhere. Children are making out their wish lists for Christmas presents and parents are nervously looking over their family budgets. Our neighborhoods light up with Christmas decorations, Christmas music has been running for at least a month in all of the stores and shoppers are camped out in the early morning hours on the day after Thanksgiving to take advantage of special sale prices. Calendars are beginning to fill up with Christmas season parties, concerts and other events. The retail sales, the day after Thanksgiving, will be closely watched as a barometer of the economy –will the present recession continue into next year? Have we forgotten the original reason we celebrate this time of year? Even though we know from biblical descriptions and modern revelation that Christ our Savior was born in the early spring, the Christian world has accepted Dec. 25th as the day to celebrate His birth. Everywhere the original reason to celebrate this season is disappearing. Lest someone be offended, the standard greeting on cards is now “Happy Holidays,” not Merry Christmas! In a recent talk, the speaker shared four ways of how our Christmas Season was significant to him:
1. He looked forward every year to the association with his family, both on Thanksgiving and Christmas. He either traveled far, or his children traveled to spend time in his home so that he and his wife could renew relationships with grandchildren.
2. He loved the music of this season. He regretted that we sing the beautiful Christmas carols but one month a year! Handel’s Messiah and many of the popular Christmas tunes held a special place in his heart.
3. He looked forward to family traditions. In his home they always sought out and attended a performance of Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol!”
4. Lastly and most importantly, he remembered the birth of the Christ Child, our Saviour. He recounted the gifts we received from Christ: His Church, His Teachings and Gospel, the opportunity to repent of our sins because of His Atonement, and the gift of eternal life through His Resurrection, all making him a better person. He felt the desire to serve others, especially the lowly and downtrodden as Christ did because of the spirit of Christ and Christmas that entered his heart every year.
We need to develop our own family traditions where we remember the true meaning of Christmas.
May we find a place in our hearts for the Christ Child and all he stood for.
Merry Christmas from your bishopric
Russell Mathis, Gaylen Atkinson
and Mark Nielsen
Sub for Santa
Once again this year we will be providing a Subfor-Santa program to assist families within our neighborhood. If you would like to participate by making a cash donation please contact Kay Williams (801-808-9794) or Bishop Mathis (801-968-3779) for information and instructions on how you can contribute.
Who: Everyone
When: December 12th at 4:30
What: Soup & Salad, Fun
Where:Whitehall Church House
Be There!
Dear Friends and Fellow Bookers: Hummmm-mmmm, humm . . . Where, oh where, has this '09 gone . . .. where oh where can it be??? It has flown by with ease as we have sometimes staggered, limped, broad-jumped, zipped, zigged and zagged along in an attempt to keep up with it. What a ride it has been and our journey was once again made more worthwhile with the presentation of "Pillar of Fire" given by Pam Magnuson in October. Many thanks and applause, Pam, for your extra effort in bringing the lives of Lehi, Nephi, Laban, Aaron, Jonathan, the Elders, and others to our greater understanding of how times might have been then. You made it exciting, interesting and left us wanting more. We all enjoyed it immensely! Kudos!
As we bid 2009 farewell, we have enjoyed many enlightening, growing, enchanting, suspenseful and enduring encounters. We were introduced to some great reads, great laughs, and wonderful people along the way. More than that, we had the opportunity to build on our friendships and each month, got that little boost of happiness from being among friends. I cannot thank you enough for your support, encouragement, participation and smiling faces. YOU are the ones who have made our Book Club what it is, and will be, for many months to come . . .what a gift we have to look forward to! Thanks to you, our new roster/assignment sheet doesn't look quite so bare now. There are still spaces awaiting your loving strokes, but we have an excellent start to the New Year. I for one look forward to it all with great anticipation. I don't often take this liberty, but I am going to suggest a book for your reading pleasure during the month of December. You may even want to make its reading a tradition of the season. I figure since we all feel the same way . . . rushed and broke . ..you could use a little "brain candy." Pick up the book Skipping Christmas by one of our favorite authors, John Grisham. My mom (Charlotte Humphries, for those of you who don't know her) is a great proponent and example of living life with HUMOR! According to her philosophy, you may as well be dead if you don't have humor! HEE HEE. She will be 96 years old this month. . . I think she may be on to something and maybe we ought to take heed. I'm sure she would like me to take heed on a few other things as well . . . being my mother and all, but this is all you need to know about. HEE HEE
Please remember to get the word out for our Books for Kids Project. Anyone who would like to help out, please have books for any ages up to and including 18. You can drop them off to my home, take them to church and give them to Kay (R.S.), or call me for a pick up. The DEADLINE is December 16th! This has been a rewarding project in the past and we appreciate your generosity . . . as do the little souls at the Ronald McDonald house.
'Til we meet again, my good friends . . . a very joyous and peaceful Holiday Season.
Sincerely, Your Personal Frosty,
Kris Humphries 801-963-9706 or 801-808-9783
Relief Society
We hope that you all are feeling well enough and that you enjoyed the November break doing something to lift your spirit and lighten your step.
Come join with us at our third annual Cookie/Treat Exchange and Social planned for Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30 pm. A light dinner will be enjoyed as we visit. We have some fun activities planned as well. Bring a dozen or two ofyour delectable cookies or treats. This will give us an opportunity to share treats with our friends and neighbors, as well as enjoy being with and getting to know our sisters better!Once again we have an opportunity to share some clean, used clothing with those less fortunate. We are collecting warm outerwear, socks, hats, blankets, coats/jackets, gloves/mittens for the Good Samaritans. They would also appreciate new, un-opened toiletries, like toothpaste/brushes, lotion, shampoo, etc. All contributions can be placed in the tubs just outside the Relief Society room under the coat rack. These will be collected until mid-December.
As a ward we will also be able to participate in a unique Sub-for-Santa project. There are several families in the ward area who are really struggling to provide Christmas toys and clothes for their children. The Bishopric and Ward Council have decided to provide gift cards to the parents of these children so they can pick up the things of which they are most in need. Therefore, the ward will be accepting cash (check) donations via the tithing/contribution envelopes. Just write Sub for Santa in the “Other” column and give it to Bishop Mathis or one of his counselors. Call Kay Williams at 801-808-9794 with any questions.
Wedding bells will soon be ringing for Jenny Hainsworth and Adam Haymond. Jenny is the daughter of Randy and Brenda Hainsworth. They will be married on Friday, Dec. 11 in the Salt Lake Temple. We send our best wishes to them.
Look for opportunities in the future to go to the dry pack cannery to boost your storage variety.
The Jordan River Temple will be closed November 30 until December 22. You might consider attending the new Oquirrh Hills or Draper Temples during this time.
We are pleased to have Laura Rollins as our new blogger! Be sure to visit our R.S. blog found at wv4th.blogspot.com.
Congratulations to Emilie and Dustin Harker. Emilie delivered a baby girl on Sunday, Nov. 22, Camille Lydia (pronounced the French way, Cami) is the seventh child to be born into the Harker Family. Mother and baby are doing well. Congratulations also to Regina and Lorin Pratt on the arrival of their second son, Jared Lorin. Congratulations to Crissy and Anthony on the arrival of their son, Adam. Congratulations to Robyn and Casey Burton on the arrival of daughter number three, Kaylee Anne. These announcements may be a little past due as many of you are likely already aware of these newest additions to our ward family. If we missed announcing yours, please let us know if you would like us to include them in our next newsletter. We have some more arrivals coming in the very near future.
Thank you to those who helped with the Stake High Priest/Singles Dinner. It was a lovely evening complete with a ham dinner and delightful musical entertainment. We would like to thank those whohelped in the planning, cooking, helping in the kitchen and serving that night for their generous service.
Thanks, too, to those of you who helped in any way with the luncheon for the Chesley family recently. We are sorry for their loss of son and brother, Eric, and express our love to Bill and his family. We would also like to express our love and sympathies to the Wayne and Hendrika Nelson family whose daughter-in-law, Karlene, passed away recently. She was married to their son Tom.
Remember your visiting teaching visits as the holidays seem to come at us at a fast pace. A new year is just around the corner! Share your sweet spirits with those with whom you come in contact. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Relief Society Lesson Schedule
Dec 6 Christmas Prose Kay Neeley
Dec 13 JS46: The Martyrdom Diane
Dec 20 JS47: Praise to the Man Julie
Dec 27 October Conference Talk Rose
PRIMARY
We would like to thank the Primary children for doing such a great job in our Primary program last month. They looked just like angels up on the stand dressed in white and singing their little hearts out! Thank you, too, to all of the parents for supporting them.
Last month we said goodbye to our Sister Nielsen who had been teaching the 8-year-olds. We will all miss her and want to thank her for her hard work and loving attitude. Sister Bawden has taken over that class and we are excited to have her with us!
Please keep in mind that we will be having our annual "meet your teacher breakfast" on January 2nd at the church. This is a fun activity that allows your children to come and meet their new teacher for the upcoming year as well as eat a yummy breakfast and play fun games. You will be receiving an invitation as the date approaches.
The theme for this month in Primary is "My family is blessed when we remember Jesus Christ." During this month we will be learning about the life of Christ and how we can always remember the love that he has for us. As always, we want to thank you for sharing
your children with us. We love them so much and learn so much from them each week!
your children with us. We love them so much and learn so much from them each week!
PROVIDENT LIVING
During the month of December give yourself the gift of increased Spiritual Self Reliance. Include in your celebration of the Savior’s birth things that will help you remember Him and increase your spirituality. A solid testimony of the Savior and his gospel will help you overcome the trials of the world and bring you peace during the Christmas Season and throughout your life. As a family, make a list of things that you can do during December to make Christmas a spiritual experience. You may want to include some of the following activities:
1. Purchase scriptures for each member of your family who can read. These can be inexpensive paperback editions with each child’s name embossed on the cover. Supply marking pencils so scriptures can be underlined. Scripture story books could be purchased for younger children.
2. Read the story of Christ’s birth in each of the gospels in the New Testament. Have everyone mark their scriptures and compare the stories. Read the children’s version of Christ’s birth for young children. Develop a habit of reading scriptures daily to increase your spirituality.
3. Have a Family Night where you discuss the true meaning of Christmas. Smaller children can dress up as wise men and shepherds and the holy family. Weekly family nights will help keep your family focused on the gospel in their lives.
4. Visit Temple Square and view the manger scenes and the movies in the visitor’s centers.
5. Attend the temple. It is a wonderful place to feel peace during the chaos of the holidays. Since the Jordan River Temple will be closed from December 1-21 it would be a good time to visit one of the new temples in the valley. Regular temple attendance will contribute greatly to increased spirituality.
6. Plan a family service project. Do secret service for a neighbor, visit an elderly person, participate in a sub for Santa project or any other project which will help the family look beyond themselves.
7. Read uplifting Christmas stories as a family.
8. Have family and personal prayers daily no matter how chaotic the holidays become.
9. Listen to sacred Christmas music at home and in the car. It can be very calming.
10. Watch inspiring Christmas movies as a family.
11. Attend inspiring Christmas programs such as Savior of the World or the Tabernacle Choir Christmas program. Support your children in their school Christmas programs.
12. Watch the First Presidency Christmas devotional as a family.
13. Attend Church weekly and be spiritually fed. Enjoy the ward Christmas program. Plan your holiday celebration to include Christ and His gospel. A wonderful Christmas should include spiritual moments, family togetherness and service along with the other celebrations of the season.
GOSPEL DOCTRINE CLASS
Study Schedule for December (Doctrine & Covenants)
Dec 6 Being Good Citizens D&C 58, 98
Dec 13 Family Ordained of God Proclamation
Dec 20 Zion Pure in Heart D&C; Pearl of Great Price
Dec 27 To Be Announced
MISSIONARIES
Elder Joseph C. McManama eldermcmanama@myldsmail.net
Hello,
Right now I am happy, I love life and my president. Today we had conference and he speaks with so much power I love him! I want to be him! Today he completely called us to repent. That’s his job, isn’t it? We call the members and the investigators to repent, then he in his great wisdom calls us to repent. I am honestly terrified of the man and his power, but I love him.
My companion is looking skinny. He doesn’t eat much, I have to eat his mashed potatoes. But he’s a cool cat and we are homies. We baptized Sunday, and this week we are going to baptize a bunch! We have found some really special people who accept everything that we teach, and we have really been able to see them change and really believe in God. Also we have been giving marriage therapy classes to a couple. The couple has been married for like 30 years, but somehow we always have the answers for them and I love them so much. I love the mission for this. I am excited to talk for Christmas. I hope that the new baby is happy and healthy. I love you and miss you. Always remember to pray and read the scripts so that you can be protected from the temptations of the world. I have realized that I hate TV and video games. They are a waste of time.
Life is beautiful and easy. I’m so happy for all of you and love you. Tell Megan I love her too and miss her a lot! I hope we go to college one day, and it will be fun to see her off on her mission.
Elder Scott Bowen Family and Church History Mission Church Office Building
Please email your articles to peggy52@safe-mail.net no later than December 20th this month. Thanks!
