Unseen Gifts by Riley Raban

I have recently returned from a mission in El Salvador in Central America. So this is the first Christmas that I have spent with my family in two years. My outlook on Christmas has changed so much over these two short years. Before, I was only excited about Christmas for reasons such as the presents, snow, or maybe even just the chance to get out of school. I remember counting down the days and wondering what brightly wrapped present I was going to get. It truly was an exciting time.

In El Salvador it wasn’t quite like that. I remember walking through the streets on Christmas Day and feeling almost no Christmas spirit. There were no lights, no snow, and not even any Christmas trees or presents. I thought these people don’t understand how Christmas really should be, they don’t even know what Christmas is. I remember feeling sad that first Christmas away from home. As I prayed that night, I remember feeling an overwhelming love for the Savior and also my family. I had realized that really the thing that was most special about Christmas was the opportunity to be with my family. All gathered around laughing and sharing memories. I realized the truthfulness of the Grinch’s realization that, “maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe perhaps it means a little more.” The greatest gifts we get at Christmas aren’t seen.

The greatest gift is our Savior Jesus Christ because thanks to him we have the amazing Plan of Salvation, that enables us to be together forever with our families. It’s such an amazing gift that I never appreciated until I was separated from them. As we taught people that December we focused on the Savior and his wonderful plan. It gave people hope to find out that they could be with their families forever, and they could live again with him one day. The joy of Christmas is so much more than opening a box. The joy of Christmas comes from knowing that thanks to Jesus Christ, we can all be eternally happy with our families.

I know that Jesus lives, I know that through his Atonement we can be forgiven of our sins and saved. I know that families are essential in the plan of salvation and that He is the gift.

Repost: What Can I Give? by Virgene Silvers

I have a vivid memory of the night I graduated from St Johns High School.  My classmates and I gathered outside on the front steps leading in to the school.  The school auditorium was filled to capacity, brimming over with townsfolk who’d come to celebrate with us.  We were decked out in traditional white and red graduation robes, making last minute preparations for “Pomp & Circumstance,” the Processional March.  I was anxious and ready to get this over with so I could move on.  I blurted out, “I can hardly wait to graduate and get out of this town!”  Mr. Sam Udall, school principal, turned around and said to me, “The day will come when you will regret those words.  You will come to love St Johns and appreciate what you learned here.”  He was right; boy was he right!

It took me a while to know Mr. Udall was right.  I made a lot of mistakes.  I was a bit arrogant and worldly.  It was after the birth of my children and the deep appreciation of motherhood that I came to my knees.  I thought of the wonderful mothers of my childhood.  I knew a big change was needed.  My thoughts and heart turned home: to St Johns, my parents, teachers, and friends; the lessons learned, the principles and values taught, and, above all, a town where family and faith is paramount.  Though difficult and fraught with highs and lows, the move to St Johns with my children was a blessing.  I’m deeply grateful for those parents, friends, and teachers who helped raise Renee’ and Jason.

  

This brief glimpse into days’ past is to acknowledge how much friends and family of St. Johns, my hometown, have given me.  I’ve received gifts of example, love, friendship, acceptance, and employment.  I HAVE been given much.  But, the ultimate gifts are repentance, forgiveness, the knowledge of Jesus Christ, my elder brother, the Light and Savior of the world and his atoning sacrifice for me.

The last ten weeks I’ve spent associating with a diversified group of our community: young and old, of every religion and station of life.  What a wonderful privilege to share our common belief in Jesus Christ and celebrate his birth through camaraderie and beautiful music!  Making friends by singing in a community choir is an exceptional way to get to know and love thy neighbor.

I go outside at night and look upward to Heavenly skies and see the stars over our blessed little town so quiet and peaceful.   I can see over the little village and enjoy the Christmas lights twinkling on decorated homes and down “Main Street.”  I can envision the angels singing as the world in solemn stillness lay, when the time foretold came, Christ is born of Mary, a babe in a lowly manger.  HE is the gift.

We are all God’s children, brothers and sisters.  May we continue to serve and love one another.  Jesus Christ has shown us the way.  We have a perfect pattern to follow.  He is our Savior and Redeemer.  Peace on earth and good will toward all men.  Merry Christmas!

Light the World by Suzanne Hancock

Last year when the LDS church announced its Light the World initiative, I was gung-ho and ready to go. I made sure that I participated each day, shared my experiences on social media, and hash tagged each post #LightTheWorld, just as instructed on LDS.org and Mormon.org. I felt the Spirit, I drew closer to my Savior and to my fellow men/women, and I was so grateful for the church's revelation of this Christ-centered countdown. I felt Christmas like I hadn't in awhile.

You would think I would come out guns-a-blazin' again this year, with the 2nd year of Light the World happening now. Well, it hasn't happened.

I did the first three days, and I was feeling the warmth and glow of the season once again. Then day four came, and I got busy. I thought about what to do, but I didn't do it. Day five came, and again my thoughts didn't turn to action. Day six, day seven, and all the way now to day 16, and I have failed. I look each day, but I haven't fully participated. With guilt abounding in my heart and mind, I tried to figure out what had happened to me. Why had I let all these days go by without doing something that I know would help me feel the true spirit of the season?

The answer slapped me in the face. How could I light the world when my own light was dimmed?

In The Forgotten Carols by Michael McLean, one song's lyrics spoke to my heart this year.

Somewhere beneath the glitter

That comes this time of winter

In many souls there is a cry

They may not clearly say it

But in their hearts they pray it

And you can see it in their eyes

'I cannot find my way

I cannot find my way

I cannot find my way at all

There are so many voices

So many different choices,

I cannot find my way at all.'

This is exactly how I was feeling. Many of us have been there. We go through the motions of the church. We do our callings. We go to church. We have family prayer. Yet we may still feel lost.

When I went back and reviewed the missed days, my OCD self thought I needed to play catch-up and do them all. Really, I am still struggling not to do this. However, I started to contemplate each day of the initiative, and I realized that each day had provided me with an opportunity to see that day's purpose in action.

I sang "We sing Hallelujah" with neighbors at a Fine Arts event. I felt my mom watching over me the next day. I had a friend teach me about looking at others through forgiving and loving eyes. I walked down and met my sweet son after school, and we walked and talked back home. My husband prayed for people who are suffering from sickness, grief, and loss. Each day something happened that correlated with the Light the World calendar.

When my light wasn't feeling like shining, the Lord sent me the light of others to help me see His hand in all things. He knows I wanted to participate fully in this wonderful initiative. He knows that I am struggling in ways that may not be seen by the eyes of the world. He knows that my heart feels a little lost right now.

Yet He is still there. Always there. Ever shining His light for me. For you. For all of us. He knows that I will find my way back, and, until then, He will give me a way to see the light in the world all around me.

That song continues and finishes with this comforting knowledge:

There were three kings

Who followed the star

Of Bethlehem

They came from afar

To praise and honor Him

His light

which beckoned them to see

The Lord of Man

It calls to you,

It calls to me

We're not alone,

We have a star

And it shines today

The love that He gave

Teaches how

And shows the way

That light,

it's clear to see

If we have faith and believe

Three kings found the Lord

And so can we.

And if you've lost your way,

That light burns bright today

And it will shine eternally

Three kings found the Lord

And so can we

'Lord help us find the way

We need to find the way

Lord help us find the way back home'

Three kings found the Lord

And so can we

'Lord help us find the way

We need to find the way

Lord help us find the way back home'

Three kings found the Lord

And so can we

'Lord help us find the way

We need to find the way

Lord help us find the way back home

Lord help us find the way

We need to find the way

Lord help us find the way back home'

And so must we!

How did you end up here? by LeRoy NoskerTanner

“What brought you to St. Johns?” or “How did you end up here?” are both questions that I hear on a regular basis.  Growing up in a village (yes, that’s officially what it is) in the Midwest, I never thought I would end up here either.  I also while growing up never thought I’d choose the career I’m in, but here I am.

  

With the benefit of hindsight, it’s not difficult to see all the little things that have led you to where you are now, but when you’re in the moment, things can seem uncertain or even frightening.  The writer of Proverbs said, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  He knows the end from the beginning, and He can and will guide us if we seek his guidance.

The Maori of New Zealand have a saying, “Ka mura, ka muri.”  It means we all walk backwards into the future.  We can clearly see the past behind us, but the direction we travel is still unknown.  Nephi said, “And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.”  There are so many things in life beyond our control, but one thing we have is our ability to choose for ourselves what we will do.  That includes the opportunity, scary as it may be, to let the Lord lead our course.  We can strive to follow the Savior’s example by saying, “Thy will, not mine, be done.”

That’s hard.  No likes to feel out of control, and it takes real faith- trust and hope for things we have yet to see- to let God be at the helm of our lives.  Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once said, “to take one’s agency, that precious gift which the scriptures make plain is essential to life itself, and say, ‘I will do as you direct,’ is afterwards to learn that in so doing you possess it all the more.”

I’m here because I’ve tried to do that.  There have been many times along the way (and probably will be some yet to come) when I have wondered, “What am I doing here?” or “Why did you tell me to go here Lord?”  I have learned that with patience, we should “stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord”.  It took 3 years for my wife and I to be able to see clearly all that the Lord intended in prompting us to move here.  I can promise you, that if you will trust the Lord and seek His guidance in directing your life, then He will prompt you through the Holy Ghost to know what to do as you take decisions to him in faith.

Angels in Service by Velvet Nielsen

I love living in St. Johns because of the good people here. So often others have been angels when I needed help. 

When I was pregnant with Josi I had been on bed rest for two months for toxemia and was in a mess. Some lovely women came to my home when I went to the hospital and cleaned and organized and decorated my home. I came back with my new baby to a place of order and peace.

Many times we have had good neighbors help us with hay. This fall Bishop Hancock, along with Delton and Jared, stopped to help Vanden and the boys get the hay off the field. I love the people here.

Mosiah Chapter 18, verses 8 and 9:

And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—