On October 6, 2018, President Russell M. Nelson, our prophet gave us this following invitation:
"I invite you to read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year. As impossible as that may seem with all you are trying to manage in your life, if you will accept this invitation with full purpose of heart, the Lord will help you find a way to achieve it. And, as you prayerfully study, I promise that the heavens will open for you. The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation.
As you read, I would encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior. Then, be intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of Christ with your families and friends. You and they will be drawn closer to the Savior through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to happen."
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| Our Books of Mormon, read and marked by December 30, 2018 |
Debbie and I took this invitation seriously and as promised, the Lord helped us to find a way to achieve it. In fact, this invitation helped us to feast on the Word of God better than in the past. As also promised, we were blessed with increased inspiration and revelation. Many truths in the Book of Mormon were revealed to our minds and hearts, some of them for the first time. More importantly, as we marked each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior, we were drawn closer to the Savior. We have been testifying of the Savior during this Christmas season and now use this blog to once again add that testimony.
As we read the Book of Mormon, we were impressed about how many times the prophets were specifically commanded to prophesy of Jesus Christ. Nephi was shown "the condescension of God", Jacob wrote his words "that they may know that we knew of Christ", King Benjamin was commanded by an angel to "declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy", Abinidi could not be killed until "I finish my message", Alma said that "the Spirit hath said this much unto me, . . . he shall be born of Mary". Each of them followed this admonition with glorious prophecies of our Lord and Savior. Many others shared their prophecies of our Savior in these sacred pages, including the Brother of Jared who saw the premortal Christ.
As part of his glorious ministry to the Nephites as recorded in 3 Nephi, Our Savior gave us His greater law and doctrine in clarity. Mormon and Moroni shared their personal witnesses of our Savior, who had appeared to them and shown them our day, asking the question of us "Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ?".
As I finished the last 4 chapters of Moroni on Saturday night, while serving in the temple, I was able to read and reread them. Moroni shared Mormon's great discourses on faith, hope and charity and on the innocence of little children, who are "alive in Christ". He then, in his closing words, exhorted us to "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ".
I testify that in the temple of our God, the truthfulness of these words was confirmed to my heart and to my mind. This was a continuation of what had been revealed to me by the Spirit during these past three months. We know that the Book of Mormon is "Another Witness of Jesus Christ". I also know that His gospel in it's fullness is revealed within these pages. These words teach me the very steps that I need to follow to become "sanctified in Christ by the grace of God" and how that I might be filled with charity, the pure love of Christ "which he has bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ." I testify that these things are true in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
We are also taught in Moroni 7 that the ministry of angels is to declare "the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him." In our last general conference, we heard many of our leaders ("chosen vessels"), including our prophet, teach us how to "Take upon us the name of Jesus Christ". We are blessed to receive this guidance both from the Book of Mormon and also through our current prophets, seers and revelators.
Light the World
During this Christmas Season we were invited to Light the World in four specific ways.
Day of Service - December 1
The campaign started with a day of service on December 1. This coincided with our scheduled trip to the temple to perform sealings of couples and families that morning. We were able to meet with three of my brothers, my mother and two of our wives and were able to do a double sealing session. We were able to seal 18 couples together and 54 children to their parents. I include a comment from my personal journal:
"We had an incredible sealer who understood well the importance of sealing children who died before the age of eight. He was perfect for this session. One of the first group of sealings was for a family that had 10 children sealed to them, five male and five female. 8 of the 10 died before the age of 8. The seller took time to seal each set of five continuously. The spirit was so strong as each of the 10 children were sealed to their parents. The sealer reminded us that in this sealing, the child is promised "every" blessing of those who enter in the new and everlasting covenant of marriage."
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| Family cards for 18 couples and 54 children, 39 of which died before the age of 8. |
We then spent the latter part of our day of service, serving on our normal shift as ordinance workers. What a wonderful way to begin this month of December.
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| With my mother and brother, Mike, in front of the Jordan River Temple. Mike and his wife, Kendra, have been called to serve a senior mission in the Philippines in January 2019. We will miss him from our sealing sessions. |
First Week - Light the World
The previous week, we had the opportunity again to do proxy baptisms with two of our grandsons, Joseph and Joshua. This continues to prepare so many of our ancestors for the remaining ordinances to be performed in the temple.
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| Joseph and Joshua and Debbie with the Nativity that is in the front of the Jordan River Temple |
We also were able to meet one of Debbie's second cousins, Günther Stoll. He is a cousin to Debbie's father and is now 91 years old. He is one of the last of her living relatives that was born in Germany. We discovered Gunther through Family Search. He is helping us complete temple work for these ancestors, performing an endowment ordinance each week. We are thankful for him and many others who provide service for our German ancestors.
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| Tom and Debbie with Günther Stoll, Debbie's 91 year old second cousin |
We also received a phone call on November 29 from Gail Atkinson. She is the family history consultant for the Legacy Retirement Home branch in our stake. One of the sisters in her branch had done an endowment for one of our family names that she had found in our stake drawer in the temple. Gail called us to let us know that she had the card. As we talked more, we found that she had German ancestors. With access to some on-line genealogical resources, I was able to help her find some additional family names of her own relatives.
She also offered to help us do the temple work for more of our family ancestors. She coordinates work for many of these elderly sisters and brothers in this branch and is in constant need for family names for their temple service. Within a week, we had provided almost 200 additional family names to use in their temple service. This was truly a blessing for us and hopefully we are also able to help Gail in her personal family history.
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| Gail Atkinson, holding the temple card that brought us together and the birth record of her ancestor that we were able to find. We know that these are not just coincidences, but the hand of our Heavenly Father in His work. |
Since the first week of the Light the World campaign was focused on "the world", we felt very good with these efforts for our German ancestors. We were also able to enjoy a few German memories as we attended a German Christmas Market in Salt Lake City at the This is the Place Village.
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| At the Chritkindlmarkt with Grandma, Kari, Nikki and Serenity |
Second Week - Light the Community
The second week's focus was on the community and again it coincided perfectly with our planned service efforts. Right before Thanksgiving we had completed our two Self-Reliance groups. Part of each course is to do a service project as a group. As we searched for input from our group members, they came up with two wonderful projects and we decided to embrace both of them.
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| Eight of our Self-Reliance participants in our last group session |
The first project was to serve a friend of one of the couples in our group, Brother and Sister Tello. Their friend, Carl, lives in a retirement home and is very isolated and lonely. He had spent many years acting as a Santa Claus in his previous neighborhood and is now suffering the effects of Agent Orange from his service in Vietnam. As a group we prepared treats and gifts for Carl and made a visit to him on December 4, which also happened to be his birthday. It was a wonderful visit and he was very emotionally touched by the service. He repeated over and over that no one had ever done something like this for him before. What a joy it was to perform this service together with our Self-Reliance participants.
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| Carl blowing out his birthday candles on cupcakes |
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| Carl opening presents from our group participants |
Our second project was performed the following Sunday, December 9. We went as a group and sang Christmas Carols to shut-ins in our neighborhood. Sister Bailey coordinated this project. We have grown to love these wonderful members so much. One of the sisters that we visited told us later that this was the best part of her Christmas season.
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| Signing outside of one of the homes |
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| Signing inside of another of the homes |
We had also planned our annual Christmas Caroling activity with our grandchildren for Monday, December 3. We visited a few home in our previous ward and a few in our current ward. The photos below are of a visit to Brother and Sister Thomas, who we have caroled to for many years. She is now blind and he is limited to a wheel chair due to an injury many years ago. However, the love that they show to us is amazing. They brighten our Christmas as we are able to feel of their spirit each year.
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| Many of our children and grandchildren singing to Betsy Thomas and her husband, Walter |
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| Debbie getting a big hug from Walter Thomas |
After we sing, we meet at our home for Christmas cookies and hot chocolate. This is one of our favorite Christmas traditions.
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| Christmas Cookies and Grandchildren |
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| Enjoying our Christmas Caroling tradition |
Third Week - Light the Family
Our third week in December was very filled with wonderful family activities. It started with our own family Christmas party on Sunday December 16. We had 60 individuals in attendance, including all 32 of our grandchildren that live in Utah. This was the best attended family activity ever. Of the 32 grandchildren, 15 are being raised in homes without one of our children, due to divorce, death, disability, etc. We are thankful for the mothers or guardians which facilitated their attendance at our party.
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| Tables and centerpieces (hand made by Debbie) before the family arrives |
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| With the tables filled |
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| Our 32 grandchildren living in Utah, first time all together |
The highlight of our Christmas Party is always our nativity program. Debbie went all out to include everyone possible. We had just about everyone involved, including sheep, donkeys, a kitten and a fox and the standard general cast. Photos follow:
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| Jospeh and Mary and baby Jesus (with baby Grant). Also some barn animals and angels |
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| Joseph using his height to be the Star |
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| Angels appearing to the shepherds with their sheep |
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| Debbie directing the many participants |
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| Wise men visiting with King Herod |
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| Wise men visiting the two year old Jesus and his parents |
We followed that Christmas party with another party with Tom's mother and her posterity on December 22. This included another 60 participants, with only 9 repeating from the previous party. We chose to make this with a Flavor of Germany and served schnitzel and German Bratwurst and many German sides and desserts. It was a lot of work, but was worth the effort. It appears that fun and appreciation for our German ancestry was had by all. We give thanks to my brother Dan who did the major part of grilling the bratwurst. We shared a digitized version of a family nativity taken 37 years ago, with only 3 grandchildren involved. Today there are over 50 grandchildren and over 70 great grandchildren. We also included a group participation nativity program, which went over very well.
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| McKenzie and Abbie, they also made the dough |
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| Camila's kids after visiting their mother |
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| Grandpa even helped, photo by Gina with her kids |
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| Aria and Paisley while their parents attended Forgotten Carols |
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| River's kids, our biggest group |
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| Ellie and Olivia from Hyrum came down also |
We also managed to include visits to a few kindergarten programs and a dance recital for our grandchildren that same week, which made it a clear Light the Family week:
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| Jasper is Comet in a wonderful Kindergarten program |
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| Aria is a reindeer in her kindergarten program |
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| Arianna in her dance recital, being held up in the group to the left |
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| Katelyn was in Beauty and the Beast in her high school a few weeks earlier. She did really well! |
We were also able to have a Christmas celebration with Camila and her children that same week. What a joy it is for Camila to have her children with her. They were so loving to her also.
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| Exchanging presents with Camila and her kids |
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| Camila with her children in an updated photo |
4th week - Light our Faith
This coincided with the few days before Christmas. We certainly felt strongly to include the Christmas Nativity in each of our family parties. We are so glad that we did. We also have a tradition to have a shepherd's meal on Christmas Eve, where we listen to music from the Forgotten Carols and eat the kind of foods that the shepherds would have eaten that night. This year we had 6 of our children without mates in our home for this evening. This included two of our widowed daughters (Kari and Camila) and 4 of our single sons (Sam, Ben, Lamoni and Jacob). We love each of them and are grateful that they can be with us at this special time of the year.
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| Six of children enjoying our Shepherd's meal on Christmas Eve |
We also had the privilege to attend the performance of the Forgotten Carols. This has become a tradition for Debbie and I and my mother. It always helps us to remember what Christmas is all about. The messages of the songs are profound and help us to ponder on the stories of that first Christmas.
We found that as we visited neighbors with neighbor gifts, we were also invited in to visit. This took more time but was very rewarding as we renewed friendships with dear members of our ward and neighborhood, especially the participants in our Self-Reliance Groups. This certainly strengthens our faith.
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| Visiting with our friends, the Tellos before they went to their ugly Christmas Sweater family competition |
Christmas Gifts
The focus of our Christmas gifts to our children is to encourage their faith to grow. We gave each of them a manual of the new curriculum or a photo of the First Presidency together with the promise made by President Nelson for those who will use the home centered curriculum. We also were able to share the new Church History book "Saints" for those who did not already have a copy. Those who lived in Brazil received a copy of digitized home videos from their time in Brazil.
We also shared a photo in a frame of the dates with each of our grandchildren. We were pleased to see how well they were received. We were happy to see appreciative grandchildren as gifts were exchanged.
We were able to take time to exchange with each family individually. This gave us time to discuss the new curriculum, our grandparent dates of the past year and enjoy special time with each of them. Seven families were able to come by before Christmas Eve, two more exchanged on Christmas Eve, five on Christmas Day and a few still to come. A few memorable photos of these children follow:
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| Our Christmas tree upstairs with a different wrapping paper for each family |
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| Our newest grandson was the first to exchange with us. This was the first time we had seen him since he had been born. |
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| We thank his mother Jessica for bringing him over. She also brought him to our family party. |
Water Color mats were a hit for our 4 and 5 year old granddaughters:
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| Ellie is our resident artist |
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| Grandpa painted with Addie |
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| Arianna enjoyed her paint mat also |
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| Tiare getting set up with her mat |
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| Kari and her family exchanging gifts |
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| Ashton and Dawson and Ashton's blue shark |
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| Gina and her family with Giovanna and Leo |
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| The Digerness Boys enjoying the Blokus game, which was the game given to each of our families |
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| Caide playing with us hovering UFO, our gift to the older teenagers |
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| The Hennessy Girls on Christmas Day |
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| The Thompson Family on Christmas Afternoon |
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| Our Christmas Tree downstairs with gifts between Debbie and I and for our single sons |
Our requested gift from our children is an updated 5 X 7 family photo for our wall. Between gifts and new photos that we took or found, we have updated 11 of the 14 photos, counting one that is on the way. Our next project is to update the major photo that is still about 10 years old! This is a goal for our summer reunion.
Other miscellaneous activities or memories:
Some days are busier than others. On Sunday, December 2, we had one of those days. After our Church meetings we went down to Provo to celebrate Hudson's 2nd birthday. We then went to Beckie's house to watch the First Presidency Devotional with them and light the first advent candle. We then moved on to celebrate Joseph's 14th birthday that had occurred two days earlier. His priesthood ordination was not until a few weeks later.
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| Addie helping Hudson open his present |
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| Grandma reading the birthday books to Hudson |
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| Watching the First Presidency devotional with cupcakes made by Abbie waiting |
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| Joseph with his birthday "books" |
On Thanksgiving day, we finally saw Lamoni's new (to him) pick up truck. It is good to have a truck in the family. He already used it to help move a Christmas gift from our garage to Kari's house on Christmas Eve.
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| Lamoni and his truck |
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| Amy and the play kitchen that she designed and made for Serenity out of an old entertainment center |
Our Stair chair is always a favorite activity for our grandchildren. When Camila came to spend time with us on Christmas Eve, we found our first critical use of the chair. It made it much easier for Camila to get upstairs.
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| Camila riding up on the Stair Chair |
While we had Paisley over to decorate Christmas cookies, we were able to teach her to walk down stairs the right way. We're not sure if it was appreciated by her mother, but it brought back good memories from when we helped her to learn to walk when we tended her for a week earlier in the year.
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| Paisley walking down the stairs |
While decorating Christmas cookies with Beckie's family, Jason helped me set up our new Nativity outdoor decoration. We felt we needed to put Jesus Christ into our light decorations.
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| With McKenzie and Abbie and our outdoor Nativity |
My brother Dan also came and spent time with us during the Christmas Season. His sons were fascinated with our German Pyramid Nativity set. This is a fun photo of them and the pyramid.
After Christmas:
Amy celebrated her birthday on December 26. We were happy to join with her on this special day for this special lady.
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| Amy and her birthday cake |
Tom has been nominated to be a board member of our Home Owners Association. We are not sure if we are campaigning for or against his election. Last Saturday he participated in a Meet the Candidates activity at our Clubhouse.
One more of our fellow Europe Area missionary couples just came home. It is always a good excuse to meet up with other missionary couples. We never get tired of renewing these friendships.
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| Homecoming of Elder and Sister Goodall, first couple on the chairs to the left |
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