Christmas Wisdom from 1988

I wish I knew who took this photo 'cause it is so darn cute.

“I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD,” John R. Lasater, Ensign, April 1988

Some years ago, it was my privilege to visit the country of Morocco as part of an official United States government delegation. As part of that visit, we were invited to travel some distance into the desert to visit some ruins. Five large black limousines moved across the beautiful Moroccan countryside at considerable speed. I was riding in the third limousine, which had lagged some distance behind the second. As we topped the brow of a hill, we noticed that the limousine in front of us had pulled off to the side of the road. As we drew nearer, I sensed that an accident had occurred and suggested to my driver that we stop. The scene before us has remained with me for these many years.

An old shepherd, in the long, flowing robes of the Savior’s day, was standing near the limousine in conversation with the driver. Nearby, I noted a small flock of sheep numbering not more than fifteen or twenty. An accident had occurred. The king’s vehicle had struck and injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd. The driver of the vehicle was explaining to him the law of the land. Because the king’s vehicle had injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd, he was now entitled to one hundred times its value at maturity. However, under the same law, the injured sheep must be slain and the meat divided among the people. My interpreter hastily added, “But the old shepherd will not accept the money. They never do.”

Startled, I asked him why. And he added, “Because of the love he has for each of his sheep.” It was then that I noticed the old shepherd reach down, lift the injured lamb in his arms, and place it in a large pouch on the front of his robe. He kept stroking its head, repeating the same word over and over again. When I asked the meaning of the word, I was informed, “Oh, he is calling it by name. All of his sheep have a name, for he is their shepherd, and the good shepherds know each one of their sheep by name.”

It was as my driver predicted. The money was refused, and the old shepherd with his small flock of sheep, with the injured one tucked safely in the pouch on his robe, disappeared into the beautiful deserts of Morocco.

As we continued our journey toward the ruins, my interpreter shared with me more of the traditions and practices of the shepherds of that land. Each evening at sundown, for example, the shepherds bring their small flocks of sheep to a common enclosure where they are secured against the wolves that roam the deserts of Morocco. A single shepherd then is employed to guard the gate until morning. Then the shepherds come to the enclosure one by one, enter therein, and call forth their sheep—by name. The sheep will not hearken unto the voice of a stranger but will leave the enclosure only in the care of their true shepherd, confident and secure because the shepherd knows their names and they know his voice.

                                                You are precious and needed in this world.

                                                I wish you the greatest gift there is—LOVE

YOU Can Light the World!

Get ready for a fantastic giving season! 

 Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem in the production of, "The Christ Child." (found on ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

 Each Christmas, many in the world celebrate the life of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. By following His teachings, we let his light shine—in our lives and in the lives of others. This year, there are many ideas and activities you can do as you shine your light in this world to spread positivity and goodness.  There is a calendar of activity suggestions you can use for inspiration as you plan your Christmas season to help LIGHT THE WORLD by serving those in need or anyone you are inspired to serve.

YouTube videos, inspiration for the holiday season, art, encouragement and just about all you can possibly need to grasp the true joy of the holiday season can be found here:

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/2019-christmas-initiative-encourages-service-one-by-one

Another resource-use the calendar found here for ideas:

https://heyfriendshop.com/2019/11/light-the-world-2019-one-by-one/

Getting Closer to Jesus Christ, the Prophets, the Apostles, and Early Christians

Come Follow Me has helped me to more personally connected to the Church that Christ originally set upon the earth, which had to later be restored because of a falling away of His original teachings, ordinances, and authority to act in God's name.
See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJnN2FkgD-g

This curriculum is useful for any Christian hoping to have the Holy Ghost more fully in his or her daily life.  It has helped me stay true to a more in-depth study of the Gospel and gain a stronger testimony of the miracle of Christianity.

Think about it.  Jesus Christ teaches for three years in His official ministry, calls the Twelve Apostles to teach and bring people unto Him (doing away with the long-tradition of the Law of Moses), and those inexperienced, common men went forth doing what He asked by teaching the Gospel and converting small numbers of people to following Christ.  The apostles and many of these followers eventually we persecuted and murdered because of their teachings of the resurrected Christ.  A small group of Christians spread the Word.  Amazing, isn't it?  It brings to mind the mustard seed parable (Matthew 13:31-32-New Testament-Bible).  Something so small can grow into a tree!

This week I studied 1 Corinthians 8-13 by reading and following the suggestions to ponder the chapters throughout the week.  This personal and family scripture study guide (Come Follow Me) will bring anyone to know the men and women of ancient times who accepted Christ and tried their best to change from their old traditions to a new way of living according to what Christ taught.

Reading about the difficulties the early Apostle had trying to build Christ's Church and keep the flock going in the right direction isn't much different than it is today for many Christians. So many things are pulling us every which way.  We must work hard to maintain our faith.  The negative things happening in the world subject us to hopelessness unless we cling to the promises that we will be blessed if we continually keep the commandments and stay true to our God.

The scripture I posted to remind me to stay strong and faithful is from 

1 Corinthians 13:7, concerning Charity: 

 ...BEARETH ALL THINGS, BELIEVETH ALL THINGS, HOPETH ALL THINGS, ENDURETH ALL THINGS.

Let's DO this!

Light the World Through December

Have a wonderfully enlightened holiday season!  



I took this picture as we did our annual tour of Temple Square.  It is always a magical experience and it is worth going even when it is bitter cold.  It's guaranteed to get everyone into the Christmas spirit.

Christmas Cats--A Loving Gift From a Dog Person

Our grandson named this cat Whipped Cream.  My husband calls her Wrap Around because she curls around legs when there is food but she is wild otherwise. 

Shadow and Puzzle chowing down in their coal shed condo

My husband hates cats.  Seriously, he doesn't like anything about them, mainly because he sees them as vicious killers who destroy things just for fun.  He says, "The only good cat is a dead cat."  Well, he talks big and bad, but there is something less of a grinch in his heart because he has done an unselfish act for me today, on Christmas Eve, that is a sign that he loves me very much and will do a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g for me.  He is always doing special things for me, but this one takes the cake!

You see, I am a cat lover, but am allergic now that there hasn't been one in my home since I married this man who won't have a cat in our household.  He is a tried-and-true dog lover, but he couldn't get away from felines, since our neighbor, Mack, had, literally, hundreds of cats over the years that often hunted for mice in our field.  Most of them were wild, but he fed them well.  When he died last February, I became worried about those cats that had become dependent on his shelter and food.  So, I contacted Best Friends and was supplied with traps to catch the cats and have them spayed, neutered, and given shots for rabies (all free).  The sick ones were taken to the animal shelter so they wouldn't infect the healthy cats.  The others were released back to their feral colony.

Well, here is the miracle--my husband has helped me maintain the feral cat colony.  At first, I didn't let him know I was feeding the cats.  Then, he knew I was trying to save them because of the trapping operation, but he still didn't know I was going to take responsibility for their care (I was a bit afraid to say anything).  I hid the food on the property and would sneak over to feed them.  Eventually, I had to confess I was feeding them and needed to hire someone to feed them when I was going out of town.  He seemed okay with the fact that I felt the need to have cats even if they weren't mine.  Over the months of my reports about the cats and how one of them was becoming my kitty because it let me touch it, he has softened and is supporting me in this project.  He has assisted me in winterizing the coal shed where we feed them and fed them when I've gone out of town.  Now, he has done the most amazing thing.  These pictures tell it all.  Love.  Christmas.  Giving.  Gifts.  Sacrifice.  Love.  Love.  What a dear, precious man!

He plowed a path on the abandoned property across the road from our home.  

It goes through the yard of the empty house (see my shadow in the glass?)

He plowed a path right up to the cats' shed.

A Guaranteed Happy Holiday Start

This is a gift for you.  If you haven't heard Alex Boye and his African tribal versons of familiar music, you're missing some truly happy moments in music.  Kick start your Christmas season right here with one of his songs:

Little Drummer Boy

Keep Christ in Christmas--Jesus DID Come and He Will Come Again

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel:  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  this is the same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.  Acts 1:9-11

  Sing a Christmas song:   Who is The Child?

He was born, he lived, he taught, he suffered, he accomplished the Atonement, he died, he resurrected, he ascended--
He LIVES!!

A dear friend of mine has the unique Nativity you see above in her living room.  It is the only one I've ever seen that incorporates the full scope of Jesus Christ's life on earth.  Today, the first things we shared with our Primary class for their lesson was a picture of the Nativity and a picture of Christ's Second Coming as he descends to earth in a cloud of glory, with angels all around and trumpets announcing he has returned to the earth.

We asked the children to tell us the signs that were there at Christ's birth and what signs we are to look for when he comes again.  It is quite a contrast.  He came quietly into the world, with just a few shepherds go see the wondrous event and worship the Christ Child.  He also left the world quietly when he ascended into heaven, with just his Apostles to witness the event.  When he comes again, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ.  The world will know he is here.

At Christmas we do our best to remember and celebrate our Mighty King, The Prince of Peace, and to let the world know that the Savior of the world was born.  It is becoming harder to get this message out as some misguided people force manger scenes and Christmas Carols, sung in joyous celebration of his birth, out of the holiday picture.

 It is going to be difficult for many people to recognize the signs that the world is now preparing for Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world to return once again.  So many will not even know of him.  That is why we cannot stand idly by gazing up searching for his return.  We have to be busy doing, serving, teaching the Gospel and testifying of what we know of Him.

Below are pictures of our ways of celebrating the Christmas season.

Our front door

Our back door with our Charlie Brown tree, which is a volunteer current bush with an evergreen branch standing in it.  I found the evergreen branch by my mother's grave after the big wind storm that blew many large trees down.  Another branch is used on the light by the front door.

Here are Christmas displays at a daughter's house.  She loves horses.  Here is her Native American Nativity (top shelf--closer view below).

My friend with the Nativity also has a fun display outside her home.

It was a beautiful day leaving Hill Air Force Base after Christmas shopping the other day.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Wise Men Still Seek Him

How to Find Peace and Joy at Christmas

Rejoice in the Lord always:  and again I say, Rejoice.  Philippians 4:4


And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.  Philippians 4:7
You can sing along here: Rejoice, the Lord is King! 

Picture from the Bible Videos produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A Christmas Story

It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree.  No name, no identification, no inscription.  It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years or so.

It all began because my husband, Mike, hated Christmas--oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it--overspending--the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma--the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.  Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth.  I reached for something special just for Mike.

The inspiration came in an unusual way.  Our son, Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended.  Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church.  These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparking new wrestling shoes.

As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears.  It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.  Well, we ended up walloping them.  We took every weight class.  And as each of their boys go up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat.  Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly.  "I wish just one of them could have won," he said.  "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them."

Mike love kids--all kids--and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse.  That's when the idea for his present came.  That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church.  On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me.  His smile was the brightest things about Christmas that year and in succeeding years.  For each Christmas, I followed the tradition--on year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas.  It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.

As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure.  

The story doesn't end there.  

You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer.  When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up.  But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more.

Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad.  The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope.  Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us.

May we all remember Christ, who is the reason for the season, and the true Christmas spirit this year and always.

                     -Nancy W. Gavin, as published in Women's Day magazine in 1982

12 Days of Christmas History

Joy to the world--the Lord has come!  
Click this link to sing a Christmas carol  Joy to the World!

. . . the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion . . . Behold the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men.  Alma 5:50

12 Days of Christmas History

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge, which won’t come out of the pear tree, have to do with Christmas?

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly.  Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.  It has two levels of meaning:  the surface meaning, plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the Church.  Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit—Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit—Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.