Countdown to Christlike Resolutions by Suzanne Hancock

10! Lepers were healed by Jesus; nine did not thank Him. BE THE ONE WHO IS GRATEFUL.

9! He left the ninety and nine when one sheep was missing. BE THE ONE WHO RESCUES OTHERS.

8! Days after His resurrection, Thomas had to see and feel to believe in the risen Christ. BE THE ONE WHO DOES NOT DOUBT.

7! Times seventy is the number the Lord gave for us to forgive others. BE THE ONE WHO FORGIVES WITHOUT EVEN COUNTING.

6! Days for God to create the world, one to rest. BE THE ONE WHO KEEPS HIS DAY HOLY.

5! Loaves and two fishes fed the multitude. BE THE ONE WHO NOURISHES OTHERS.

4! Quarters of the earth for Israel's gathering. BE THE ONE WHO IS READY FOR HIS COMING.

3! Days that Mary and Joseph looked for twelve-year-old Jesus. BE THE ONE WHO IS ABOUT OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN'S BUSINESS.

2! Great commandments. BE THE ONE WHO LOVES GOD AND LOVES HIS CHILDREN.

1! Every one that asketh receiveth. BE THE ONE WHO PRAYS.

Gaining Light by Eileen Burgoyne

As we celebrate this glorious season of Christmas, we find many “symbols” that remind us of the true meaning of the season.  Candy canes, evergreen trees, stars, wreaths, bells, the holly and berries, and even the gifts we give each other.  All play a part in this magical time of year that is Christmas.  I think my favorite symbol of all, though, are the lights.  Beautiful colored lights are everywhere, casting their radiant glow on our homes, Christmas trees, and towns.  The lights, of course, are in remembrance of our Savior, the “Light of the World,” Jesus Christ.  

When our children were little, we loved bundling them up in their pajamas and blankets and piling into the car to go on a little tour of the St. Johns’ town lights.  Some of the best light displays were in our very own downtown neighborhood.  Dale and Ruth Davis’ house was especially amazing every year, and the “Hansen Mansion” (as my kids called it), with its lollipop decorations, was also a favorite, as well as the court house.  Down the street was Bev and Larry Heap’s house, complete with Santa and his sleigh on the front lawn.  All of the houses on that street were well lit, as well as many across town, and we would continue our tour, driving up and down the streets of our little town.  We would ooh and aah and sing Christmas carols on the way and then come home and warm up with hot cocoa.

When I was a little girl, we would do the same type of Christmas “light tour” in the small town where I grew up, but many of my cherished Christmas memories centered on being in my grandparents’ home.  Cousins would come from far and near at this time of year, and there was always lots of good food and fun and singing around the piano and telling stories.  I loved being in my grandparents’ home, and I loved their Christmas trees, for they were always decorated with those old fashioned “bubble lights” which provided small children endless wonderment.  I still remember those lights fondly and with great feelings of nostalgia. How fun it was to sit in their cozy family room with the lights dimmed and watch the bubble lights on the tree do their thing, while listening to stories of Christmases long ago, and hear the laughter and music and feel the love surrounding me. I knew even at that young age, that the gospel of Jesus Christ was the source of our joy and happiness and that He was indeed the Light of the World.  

In recent years, I have become intrigued with the concept of gaining light and knowledge, and how we must all gain as much light in this world as we can, so that we can share it and bring others to the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 A couple of years ago, around this time of year, my sister invited me to a Mesa, AZ Temple fireside where she was accompanying the choir on her flute. I was thrilled to be in town and to be able to attend the fireside.  The music was beautiful, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but the highlight of the evening for me ended up being the speaker, Elder Larry R. Lawrence and the talk he gave on “Light” and more specifically “Accumulating Light”.  He emphasized the importance of gaining light in our lives and gave 5 specific ways to do so.  I will briefly summarize them, but if interested, you can find the complete talk in the March 2016 Ensign under the title “The Light of the Perfect Day”.  Here are his ideas:

1. Learn to love.  Love God and others. Develop charity; serve more, love more.  It’s why missionaries glow—full time service is rewarded with great spiritual light.
2. Invest in scripture study.  If you want to grow spiritually you have to feed your spirit by feasting on the word of God.  Take time to memorize important scriptures.  Elder Richard G. Scott said that “scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds.  Memorized scriptures become a gift you give yourself—a gift that keeps on giving more and more light.”
3. Go and Do…Obey the commandments, and as you discover truth and apply it, you will gain more light.  
4. Hearken to the Holy Ghost.  This is one way President Monson has gained so much light.  He has learned to follow the impressions that have come to him.  “Every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God” (D&C 84:47).
5. Serve in the Temple.  Elder Lawrence says there is so much light and truth to be gained from temple service that the temple may be referred to as the University of the Lord.  Consider yourself blessed if you are able to bask in this heavenly light on a regular basis.  

What a great time of year to reflect on the Light of the World, our Savior Jesus Christ, and to learn of Him and His gospel.  By doing so we will be more fully prepared to serve and bring others to the great truths found in His gospel and be able to lead others to the happiness found therein.

Gifts of Love Keep on Giving by Karen Boyle

During a recent phone call with my aunt, I was reminded of long ago days. My Aunt Eleanor and her husband were the reason I arrived in Arizona more than forty-two years ago. I tagged along with friends for a two-week vacation from the blustery winter cold of Northwestern Ohio. That vacation hasn't ended. Aunt Eleanor relocated to Alabama several years later after she and Uncle Art retired. They had a good life and enjoyed fishing and other recreational activities with friends in the area. A few years ago, Uncle Art died, leaving my aunt alone with no family in the immediate area. No family within nearby states even. Loneliness was evident in her voice as we visited together over the phone.

During the course of the call, the upcoming Christmas season became a topic of conversation. She asked if I remembered the 'puffy reindeer and sleigh set' I had made her. Of course I did. It was a set of ceramic figurines that I had made and given her. When I first relocated from the Phoenix metro area to St. Johns, the only people I knew were Jack and Ivy Anderson. Ivy taught school and Jack worked at CGS, where I was also working. It was a terribly lonely existence. After work and on days off, I would stop and visit Lillian Pulsipher at her ceramic shop. I enjoyed visiting with her and others who would stop into the shop while I was working with my hands to create gifts for others. I was reminded of such gifts as I talked on the phone. 

Sadly, my aunt has lost many of the items special to her due to tragedies beyond her control. As we talked and she reflected on the little puffy reindeer and sleigh set, she suddenly exclaimed that her small ceramic scene of Christ at Gethsemane that I had made for her also survived. The joy she felt could be heard in her voice. As her loneliness subsided during our call, I could sense my own joy increasing. The time I had spent, so many years ago, easing my own loneliness was now a source of comfort to someone else, someone so special, someone lonely. I can imagine it is the same comfort felt when admiring a painting, a quilt, a pillow, or other gift created by a loved one.

I am grateful for the thorns of my own loneliness. I am grateful for the Christmas season when we can celebrate the birth of our Savior and reflect on all He has done for each of us. We can grow and learn from His example and serve one another. We can find joy when we strive to ease the loneliness of others.

My Grown-up Christmas Wish by Shelly Finch

Recently, the Church introduced a campaign this Christmas season to help us serve others just as the Savior did. It’s titled, “Light the World.” It challenges us to serve those around us in 25 days, in 25 ways. The Savior is the only true example of love and service. He healed the sick, prayed for and ministered to the children, visited the lonely, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, showed compassion, and forgave others.  These are just a few of the selfless things He did. 

This Christmas season, I personally have accepted the “Light the World” challenge to serve those around me for the next 25 days, but I don’t want it to stop there. I want it to continue!  I want the spirit of Christmas to last all year long. I want to be a small light in this dark world. As we turn on our Christmas tree lights or the lights on our houses, I want to be a light to those around me. I want them to see the pure love of Christ when they see me.

As a child, I remember sitting down and looking at the tree and wishing that the things I sent to Santa on my list would be there Christmas morning.  This year, I sit in front of my Christmas tree with a wishful heart of a more grown up Christmas. I am asking for each of us to look outside of ourselves for a moment, put our phones down, and enjoy time with our families.  Smile and say hello to a stranger on the street; look at people the way Christ does; take a break from social media; wake up each day with a thankful heart.  One day’s challenge states, “Jesus lifted others burdens, so can you.”  I am truly humbled to take part in this challenge. I love my Savior. I want to be more like Him, not only this holiday season, but every day.  I hope to become closer to Him as I learn more about how He lived and taught.  I hope you will accept the “Light the World” challenge and spread your light to all of those around you and make this your grown up Christmas wish. 

Making it to the Eternal End Zone by Suzanne Hancock

In our house, we are avid football fans. Therefore, these past few days have been heaven for us, with NFL, college, and even high school football games being broadcast on various channels. In spite of all three of my favorite teams suffering losses, I still have enjoyed many games because of their competitiveness and entertainment value. My husband will attest to my fanatic nature during football season. I yell at my TV, shake my head in despair, and have even been known to retreat to my bedroom and lock the door during a down-to-the-wire nail biter.

Because of my crazy love of football, not to mention my referee eternal companion, I have acquired some basic knowledge of the game. I find myself shouting three phrases in particular at the rectangular device in my living room.

“CATCH THE BALL, AND THEN RUN!”

“WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE TACKLE HIM?!”

“HOLD ON TO THE BALL, PETEY!”

In contemplating life lessons in relation to football (so as to make my watching it more productive), I have found that I could just as easily shout those things to myself at times.

When I see a receiver move to advance the ball prior to actually catching it, I want to pull out my hair. It is like chewing your food before it is actually in your mouth. Yet, how often do I figuratively do this? It might be when I try to do things my own way and in my own time, without waiting for the Lord to give me His will for my life. It might be when I try to understand a Gospel principle without practicing it, perhaps even forming my own conclusions as to why it may not be that important to follow. It might be when I try to move too far too fast, without patiently adhering to the counsel of “line upon line, precept upon precept” that has been promised to us as we are spiritually prepared to obtain further light and truth.

When the team for which I am cheering is playing defense, I almost dive into the television in order to help them take down the opposing players. The basic wrap-them-up technique is often under-practiced and under-used, as my team misses tackle after tackle while I watch in utter dismay. I liken this to our own opposition: Satan, worldly desires, the natural man. While Satan wishes to advance his score in our lives, we would like to take him down to the turf, sack him, intercept his passes, and whatever else we can do to keep him from our lives. However, often I will let him gain a few yards in my life. Throw a deep pass of doubt into my mind. Score a touchdown of despair in my heart.

Probably my favorite thing to holler is inspired by one of my favorite movies. In Remember the Titans, during a practice, Coach Boone punishes a player who keeps fumbling the ball. He asks him, “Why are you fumbling my football?” Petey blames his blockers, to which the coach tells him that his blockers have nothing to do with him fumbling the football because they didn’t lose the football; he did. Coach Boone then tells him to go run one mile, and, as Petey heads to do so, tells him, “You’re killing me, Petey! You’re killing me!” 

Thus, when I call someone Petey during a football game, this is what I am referencing. Players will hold the ball out in front of them, inviting a defender to take it away. They will loosely hold it as though it holds no significance. They let it slip out of their hands out of carelessness. Granted, they also may lose it to an excellent defender who knocks it skillfully out of their grasp, or they may get hit so hard that the ball is knocked loose. These are understandable. Do I ever take my spirituality for granted, not truly holding on with all my might? Do I sometimes waiver in my testimony because of a world that has me having to defend my every belief? Do I occasionally neglect prayers, scripture study, or meeting attendance, allowing my relationships with my Father in Heaven and my Savior to deteriorate? If we truly hold on to that ball with all our hearts and all our strength, even the most skilled defender to our everlasting happiness won’t be able to stop us from reaching that end zone, where we will be rewarded with eternal joy and love.

It is my hope that we will all be able to catch the ball and then run, as we trust in the Lord’s timing; that we will tackle Satan’s attempts before they have a chance to move too far into our souls; that we will have the heart and discipline that Petey eventually displayed and hold fast to our testimonies and to the Gospel principles that guide us towards the light of our loving Father above and His son, our Redeemer.

For that is the victory that truly matters.

Grateful by The Wiltbanks

Today is the Sunday before Thanksgiving and we have much to be grateful for.  The last few weeks have been full of politics.  So tonight I am grateful to be living in a land of freedom.  The pilgrims came to the Americas for relief from religious persecution, to gain freedom to practice religion.  We have witnessed the freedoms that these original pilgrims fought for, with having the opportunity to vote for the people who would best fight for our beliefs.  I am grateful to have the freedom of religion to be able to go to church and not be persecuted. I am grateful for the leaders of our nation, I am grateful for our local leaders.   I am grateful to live in St. Johns, I am grateful for the good examples that my children see in the people in St. Johns.  I am grateful to have a testimony of our Savior. –Wendy Wiltbank

I am grateful to live in such a unique small town where there is such a strong sense of community.  We moved her two years ago this month and it feels like we have lived here all our lives.  Thank you, St. Johns for being our friends.  I am grateful for how accepting the people have been towards my children.  I am thankful to be living in a country where I am able to choose how and what I believe.  Where I can express my opinion, discuss and debate those beliefs with others.   I am grateful for a wonderful and amazing wife.  I am grateful for 4 kids that strive to be successful in all they do.   I am most grateful for a Lord and Savior that accepts me even with my short comings and weaknesses and allows me to start each day with the desire to come closer to him.  –Carl Wiltbank   

Today I am grateful to live in St. Johns, when we first moved here I did not like being here. Over a short period of time I grew to love this small town. I have gained life-long friends and I have learned valuable life lessons that I will carry throughout the rest of my life. I can’t express how much I love to live in a place with people that are so loving, caring, and all around the best. St. Johns will always be the place I call home and I am proud of it. –Marcus Wiltbank

I am proud to call St. Johns my home. Within days of my moving to St. Johns everyone in town made an effort to befriend me. I have gained so much love and appreciation for this beautiful community. I am grateful for the amazing people who help to teach me valuable lessons on a daily basis to make me a better citizen, and all around person. Thank you to everyone that lives is St. Johns and makes an effort to make it how wonderful it is. –Alyssa Wiltbank

Home Is Where the Heart Is by Cassidy Crockett Wahl

Here we are... in St.Johns, again. A young family, a new job, and a future that is as bright as our faith. To my husband, St. Johns has always been home. He was born and raised here...filled with wonderful life lessons and memories from this town. Now, I was not “born” here, however, when people ask me where I’m from, this is the place I call home. I was raised here. 

I feel overjoyed  to be a mother and have the freedom to raise my children here. I love that my children will learn to wave to EVERY car that we drive by. I’m grateful that they have the gospel surround them here. That through their family, friends, teachers, and coaches they will always have admirable examples. I cherish that they will grow up with neighbors. Neighbors who will answer a ringing phone at 2AM, put their Sunday clothes on, and come to your home to help your dad administer a priesthood blessing to you.  I love that they will learn to work, learn to serve, and learn to love. 

Because of this little town, I have a husband (who I have loved since I was in 6th grade) who loves me... I have my favorite snow cone flavor... I have friendships that will last forever. I have memories that make me laugh and cry. I have goodly parents who got to raise me here. They taught me simple truths and prayed for me. I got to watch them really work, truly serve, and I have seen them love people with a pure love of Christ. I have a testimony of my Savior. All these things have made me. 

It makes my heart full to know that my children will have what I had…and still have…because I was raised here!

They say “home is where the heart is” and this wonderful town has a lot of heart, which is why it is truly our home.