New Year's Resolutions Advice

Are you considering setting some New Year's Resolutions?  Click on this link for a video of some simple, yet inspiring advice:

New Year's: Look Not behind Thee

"Look not behind thee" is advice that helps me see that the only way  really move forward is to focus on the future and not the past. Too often I feel held back by my mistakes and missed opportunities when I should be focusing on the opportunities and happiness that will come if I simply live for the future. Even better is the fact that my Savior, Jesus Christ, has taken my mistakes upon himself so that I am truly able to forgive and be forgiven; move on and learn. So my resolution this year is simply to let go of the past and catch hold of the endless potential that Christ has in store for me! I know that through Him all things are possible, and that we all can have a bright future as we look forward with faith.

Submitted by Elder McMichael

Jesus Christ's Birth - Meek - Lowly - Humble - Peaceful

Christmastime is so busy.  We all worry what to give to family and friends.  Homes to decorate.  Parties to attend.  Lots of good food and treats to make, give, and eat.  Shopping, shopping and more shopping. 

With all of the busyness in mind we invite you to take three minutes to watch a simple video called The Nativity.  The video contains no dialogue, yet the message powerful.  Watch and ponder on the message that it gives to you.

Click here to view The Nativity Video

When we watch this video we find out hearts are filled with a spirit of humility, meekness, and peace.  The King of Kings.  The Prince of Peace.  The Savior of Mankind.  The Only Begotten Son of God born in humblest of circumstances.  We are forever grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who sent his Son to take upon himself the sins of all of us thereby giving us all the ability to return and live with Him.

One of our favorite songs at Christmastime is Away in a Manger because it expresses our feelings so well.  We love thee Lord Jesus.  Be near us.  We ask thee to stay close by us forever and love us we pray.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings Away in a Manger

One more of our favorite Christmas songs is Still, Still, Still.  The quiet reverence of this song fills our spirit with peace. 

Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings Still, Still, Still

We wish and pray that everyone finds peace, love and harmony in their lives not just during this Christmas Season but in each and every day of your life.  It is possible to experience this by living the principles Jesus taught.


Submitted by:  James & Lee Tanner

Emphasizing your CHRISTmas season through the LDS Christmas Devotional

My family has a very strong tradition of enjoying the annual LDS First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional held the evening of the first Sunday in December. Perhaps this is because my father has been a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir since 2001, and often has tickets for us to attend live (One such year he hooked me up with tickets to take my wife on our first date on December 3, 2006. If that isn't proof that this devotional is amazing, then I'm not sure what is!). Another strong factor enabling us to keep this tradition is greatly due to the amazing spirit and content of the event.

My small family and I moved to Arizona in June of 2013, and at the time I was only thinking about the exciting prospect of this new journey with my wife and our 2-year old daughter; making new traditions. I wasn't thinking about the disruption to our current traditions. My siblings have also been taken to other parts of the world. Since then we have not been able to attend the Devotional live, and certainly not all together. However, the wonderful miracle of technology has allowed my family to enjoy the sweet spirit of Christmas, with pure untarnished focus on our Savior, Jesus Christ, as a family despite living in Utah, Arizona, Mississippi, or Japan.

I wish for you to watch this Devotional yourself, and fully stimulate your soul the way our Prophet and Apostles intended. I encourage you take a portion of your evening and enjoy the slow, calm spirit that is Christmas. For this intent, I have attached the link for you to access the event below. If your schedule makes this challenging, I have written a few brief highlights from some of my favorite messages, along with some thoughts. This, too, hopefully will allow you to feel the spirit of Christ, but I make no claim to be able to replicate what is offered through the spoken word and through empowering song. Please enjoy, and marvel in the amazement of a Redeemer, who came to this earthly world for us that we might be saved and return to live with him again. Peace be unto you and your family at this most special time of year.

2015 First Presidency's Christmas Devotional

Linda K. Burton, Relief Society General President

The Atonement is often recognized during times when you realize how “fragile life was”. President Burton carried faith and a testimony of Jesus Christ during a period of treatment for cancer.  I have been reminded of a time in my life (not that I could ever forget) when I was truly fragile, living a life of doubt, darkness, and poor judgment. I faced forces of a physical, emotional, and psychological nature. Despite my righteous and loving parents, I still found myself in dark, uncharted terrain. There are many ways out of the Adversary’s chains, but only the Atonement of Jesus Christ can totally free us, giving us an opportunity for salvation and eternal life. President Burton shared the lyrics to the children’s song “He Sent His Son”: Never have these words felt so marvelous:

How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?

He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?

He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?

He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.

What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.

What does he ask? Live like his Son.

What a impressionable reminder this is at Christmas time--to increase our acuity for our Savior’s love, and what our Heavenly Father has asked us to do in response to His Son’s sacrifice for all mankind. Live like his Son.

David A. Bednar, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

From the Book of Mormon we have added account of ancient prophets, many of which prophesied of Jesus Christ. The Lamanite prophet, Samuel, gave a description of the 3 days of darkness the day of Christ’s crucifixion 38 years before the event. He prophesied of torment, fear, and confusion. Followed by light. Upon Christ’s resurrection, he in the temple introduced himself as “the Light”. Christ is the light we so need to find our way home to our Father in Heaven. It is only through the direction, leadership, example, and counsel of Jesus Christ that we are able to negotiate the windy path. Lights on the tree and candles on the table should remind us of this Light in our life; our great Redeemer, Jesus Christ. What a priceless symbol we so widely see during this time. Let us think of our Brother, Jesus Christ, with every Christmas light we see. I cannot wait to take my kids to “Storybook Lane” and “Candy Cane Lane” for Family Home Evening tomorrow night to see all the lights!

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2nd Counselor in the First Presidency

The treasured festive songs Joy to the World and Good Will Toward Men are inspired by the Spirit of Christ. Generosity of the Savior can be overshadowed by shopping in crowds. There are many wonderful reasons to enjoy this season, but there is so much more. Acknowledge and offer heart-felt gratitude to “the Generous One”. “Have we ever felt unbounded thankfulness”? Will we remember our God, our Shephard, the Gift Giver? Why do we give gifts during this time, willingly and joyfully I might add? Jesus Christ received gifts upon his arrival as a newborn babe. From that moment on, he freely gave without reservation, judgment, malice, or spite. Jesus Christ has granted us the greatest gift ever to be given--He frees us of a past of slavery and selfishness. With this freedom, “...all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” -Doctrine and Covenants 76:51-60.

How much I love my Savior. May we all remember His sacrifice, and to never make a decision that suggests his suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and his subsequent death, which served to redeem us all from sin, is insufficient. May your families be blessed, and the Spirit of Christ dwell in your homes all year long.

Merry Christmas!

Submitted by: Nate Blackhurst

The First Christmas on the American Continent… Say What?

What if you lived in another Continent when the Savior of the world was born in a tiny manager? What would that be like? There was no twitter to tweet about it, no Facebook to post about it, and for sure no media to blast the message to the world of the Saviors birth. What if I told you that I know exactly what happened on the American continent at the time of the Saviors Birth? What if I told you that you could read a book all about it that was written by those who lived during that time in the Americas? What would you do? I hope you would get a free copy of that book or ask one of your Mormon friends to give you that book. Go ahead ask them that you want a Book of Mormon or you will not be their friend ( Make sure you let them know you are joking about the friend part).

Now its time to tell you the story of the First Christmas in America . Our story begins 5 years before Christ is born in Bethlehem way on the other side of the world. A prophet named Samuel the Lamanite gets up on a big wall as see here:

 

 

He like the prophet Isiah of the Bible foretells of the birth of Christ and lets the people of the Ancient Americas that in 5 years he would be born and that the sign of his birth would be a new star along with a day of 24 hours where it would not get dark. Talk about Daylight Savings time!

As can be seen some people believed him and others not so much. So 5 years passed and the non-believers picked a random day where if the sign didn’t occur on that day then they would kill all the believers. Talk about a horrible Christmas present… Your Death.

Thankfully on that very day the sign that was foretold occurred and the believers on Christmas morning were able to live while the Non-believers went into shock mode and a lot of them ended up converting and becoming believers.

Christ being born into the world saved them as he saves us all. I know that this story that we read from the book of Mormon is true and that by reading the Book of Mormon we can have more of the spirit of Christmas in our lives. I have come to know through reading the Book of Mormon and praying to God to know if its true and felt the Spirit tell me its true by speaking peace to my soul. May you have a Merry Christmas and I hope that you may seek out the Book of Mormon and seek for yourself an answer to know that it indeed is another testament of Jesus Christ. Just like the believers were not disappointed I promise you that you will not be disappointed in your search for truth in the Book of Mormon.

Check out the exact part in the Book of Mormon where this story was written by Ancient prophets.

 

Samuel's Prophecy of The Birth of Christ

The Fulfillment of Samuel's Prophecy

Submitted by: Reagan Jones

Helping Children Keep The Savior In The Christmas Holiday‏

We are entering another wonderful Christmas season filled with music and lights, parties and presents. But the glitter of the season should never dim our sight and prevent us from truly seeing the true meaning of this wonderful season!

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints, we along with many other religions and cultures, celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  As young parents, we searched for ways to help our children learn, know, and feel the real or true meaning of this wonderful time of year. We came across an idea from a school project. The teacher had a 'Christmas Chain' made by the students to help them count down the days until the Christmas break. Then each child could take the remaining chain home to count down the days until that wonderful day, Christmas day would come!

We took inspiration from this, and made our own Christmas chain, but with a few tweaks. As many use advent calendars with pictures of our savior, we used a simple red and green construction paper chain. On each link to the chain, we included a scripture references to the birth of Jesus Christ. Prophesies of our Saviors birth have been included in the scriptures years before His birth.
As members of the "Mormon" church, we are blessed to have another set of scriptures of these prophesies that were given from prophets from the America's. The Book of Mormon (another testament of Christ ) contains accounts and prophesies just as the Bible does.

Each evening we would cut of one link of the chain, and read the scripture reference included on that link. We would spend just a short time each day remembering and thinking about His birth, and the reason for the season! This was such an awesome way for us to help bring Him back into our daily lives, and helped us draw closer as a family.

Here is a link to scripture references to the prophecies and the events of the Savior' birth that will help you and your family throughout the month of December:
Scripture References To The Birth of The Savior

You can use these scriptures in any order or any way you like. Our family saved the Luke 2 account for Christmas Eve. I don't recall a time where the spirit was stronger in our home!

I know my Savior lives! I am so grateful for Him and His life and example! The small, simple things we do in our lives to remember Him, help us to feel His love, help us to be better people, and have His light in our lives!

Submitted by:  Lee Tanner 

On A Day Dedicated To Gratitude

We live in a world and a society that is fast paced.  So much to see and do.  So many things to attract and distract our attention.  So very many things that pull us away from taking time to reflect on really what a wonderful life we live.

While I pray daily, offering words of thanks for blessings, I sometimes feel that I am not doing justice in expressing my deep gratitude for my life and all that I have.

So in the spirit of what the Psalmist wrote: "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High" Psalms 92:1  I express my gratitude to a loving Heavenly Father who has provided me with a wonderful life. Let me share with you my song of praise for what He has so freely given to me:

• I live in a great country.  We may have our problems in the country of ours but I can still enjoy the almost endless freedoms that are ours. 

• I was blessed with a great family in my growing up years.  Parents, while they are no longer living on this earth, I still feel their influence in my life.  The love and caring they provided me with can not be expressed in mere words.  I could not have been blessed with a better mother and father.  I have such wonderful brother and sisters who have each in their own way helped mold and shape me into what I am.  The love and concern they have shown me over these many years is one of the most precious things I can think of.

• I have been blessed with a wonderful, loving and supportive wife.  She is a true "companion" in every sense of the word.  How I love my children.  Each one so unique.  Each one loves me for who I am, even with my faults.  I feel that their love for me is so great that I do not see how it could be possible for me to return to them that same measure of love.  I have been blessed with four granddaughters who have certainly made my life complete.  To me there is nothing better in this world than to hear my grandchildren call me grandpa.  It is a title that I value highly.

• I am grateful that I live in a home that brings me such comfort.  I feel so fortunate to live in a day and time where we have homes that are air conditioned.  I can not imagine living in the heat of our Yuma with out some way to cool our homes.  I can not understate how thankful I am for the comforts of life that I enjoy in our day.

We live in a day and time where our lives have been made simple by all of the innovations and technology that has been developed.  Isn't it wonderful?  Over the course of my life I have seen so many things become available to us to make our lives easier and more fulfilling.  I can not imagine what it will be like in the next 25 years.  We truly live in an exciting time.

So after writing this, my thoughts turn to the simple fact that I have been given so much.  I do need to be better at daily expressing to my Father-in-Heaven my deep gratitude for what I have been given.  To take a short passage from the Book of Mormon: "...live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you." Alma 34:38

May I do better, moving forward, in making every day a thanksgiving day.


Submitted by: James Tanner 

Is It The Mormon Church or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?

The official name, and the real name, is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Many people know us, and call us Mormons.  So where does the term "Mormons" come from?

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ we believe in a book called "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Christ".  We believe it to be the word of God just as we believe the Bible to be the word of God.  Because of our belief in the Book of Mormon people have nicknamed us Mormons.

So what is the Book of Mormon and where did it come from?

"Knowing that doubt, disbelief, and misinformation would remain after centuries of darkness, our loving Heavenly Father brought forth an ancient volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible, which contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. This volume of holy scripture provides convincing evidence that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. This record is the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

 

Joseph Smith was directed by a heavenly messenger named Moroni to a hill where gold plates had lain hidden for centuries. These gold plates contained the writings of prophets giving an account of God’s dealings with some of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. Joseph Smith translated the contents of these plates by the power of God. The prophets in the Book of Mormon knew about the mission of the Savior and taught His gospel. After His Resurrection, Christ appeared to these people. He taught them His gospel and established His Church. In order to know that the Book of Mormon is true, a person must read, ponder, and pray about it. The honest seeker of truth will soon come to feel that the Book of Mormon is the word of God." Preach My Gospel

 

The Book of Mormon will help anyone and everyone feel closer to their Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ.  The Book of Mormon can and will provide you with peace in our troubled day if you will read from its pages daily, ponder its teachings, and pray.

 

Click on the link below if you would like to receive your own copy of the Book of Mormon to study, learn and find out for yourself of its powerful spirit and witness that Jesus is the Christ and that he loves you personally.

 

Receive a Free Copy of the Book of Mormon

 

 

 

Submitted by:  James Tanner