The Impact of One Man by Daryl Greer

Recently, one Sunday afternoon, I was sitting at my house doing nothing particularly productive.  My mind wandered to thoughts of a previous bishop I’d had.  The memory inspired me and I decided to write him a letter. So, I pulled out a pen and some paper, and in my barely legible handwriting began to express my gratitude for all that this bishop had done for me over the years.

      This was the man that had given me my first calling…a calling I felt astonishingly unqualified for. He also took a chance when he gave me a key to the church for this calling, which I only mention because at that point in my life, my parents had deemed me not quite ready to have a key to their house due to the 4 previously lost keys to their garage, their two misplaced truck keys, and a badly bent and deformed shed key (which in my defense still worked if you jiggled it just right). But the trust he showed in me boosted my confidence.  This was a man who always gave freely and generously to me whether it was going out to his ranch, inviting me to dinner or just taking a few minutes to talk with me whenever I needed.

So I finished my letter to this bishop, who had invested so much time, effort, and trust into a young and somewhat irresponsible kid. I completed the next step and sent the letter, and then didn’t give it a second thought.

A few weeks later that bishop showed up at my house.  He had come by to express how much that handwritten letter meant to him; we talked for a few more minutes then he gave me a big hug and with all the sincerity in the world told me how much he loved me which, coming from this man, meant the world to me!

I share this story only to illustrate and express the impact that one man had, and can have on a young man trying to find his way in this increasingly difficult and changing world.

Saint Johns is full of many good men… my hope is that we all can find time to give direction, inspiration, and hope like this bishop did for me.  There are many of this younger generation trying to find their place, and way in this world.  They need the generosity of good men to help lead them in their journey. 

He is the Gift by By Whiting

As I reflect on our Brother's birth, and his subsequent life and ministry becoming the Savior of the world, I stand in awe and reverence of His commitment and ability to fulfill it. It takes little effort to voice a commitment, but a lifetime of struggle to complete it after the emotion motivating the commitment subsides. We generally take it for granted He fulfilled His central role in the plan of happiness. Yet so critical was His role in the Father's plan, without Him and His perfect life all else is of no consequence. Our eternal existence as souls and our life here on earth means nothing without his perfect atonement.

As His young earthly mother held Him in her arms before placing Him back in the manger she must of glimpsed the magnificent but lonely life her young child was destined to lead. Did she know her own salvation and that of the entire human race hinged upon his ability to fulfill the commitment He made thousands of years earlier in the preexistence? As His earthly father felt His tiny hands and feet while wrapping Him in swaddling clothes, did he appreciate those hands; he would help strengthen over the years in his carpenter shop, would be pierced with iron nails to hold the weight of His bloody body as He hung up on a cross between two thieves? Did those humble shepherds who came to witness His birth know that He would rise again as the perfect lamb so all men could be resurrected?

As you and I sang in the heavenly choirs while witnessing His birth, and with the veil not drawn over our eyes, we were able to see into eternity while the spirit bore witness this is the Son of the living God. We were there that night with our Heavenly Mother as She must have shed tears knowing Her eldest son had taken on a tabernacle of clay and would suffer all the sins, pains, and infirmities of all the Father's children. This Christmas season thank our Heavenly Mother and Father that they had the love to allow their eldest son to fulfill that commitment He made so many thousands of years ago, by sending Him to earth knowing only He could do for each of us what we could not do for ourselves - give us a chance to return and live with them again. May we each keep the commitment we made in the preexistence and offer a broken heart and a contrite spirit so we can return and live with our eternal parents once more. 

Merry CHRISTmas!

The Star Within --- by Jacque Baca via Suzanne Hancock

This is a poem my mom wrote for us, her children, one Christmas. While I was going through my Christmas folder, I came across it. Reading it again, I felt the Spirit: the Spirit of this season, the Spirit of our Savior, the Spirit and faith of these Wise Men, the Spirit that my mom carried with her. She gave us great gifts of her written word to treasure always, year after year and Christmas after Christmas, like this poem. It is my honor and privilege to share it with all of you.

The Star Within

Wise Men of old bravely traveled,
The empty, lonely way,
To find a promised Messiah,
The Holy Scriptures say.

They had no precise directions,
No compass, map or guide,
They only had a single star,
And what they had inside.

For many there were that saw it,
That star so new and bright,
So what made just those few magi,
Notice it one dark night?

What made them gather provisions
To make that journey long?
Did they see the blessed birthplace?
Did they hear the angels' song?

Or was the star that led them there,
Mirrored within their hearts,
To recognize the message true,
And go to do their parts?

The star shines on for us today,
Somewhere there in our view,
Will we take time to look for it,
Remembering anew?

Will that tiny flicker in us,
Burst into light so bright?
When we see our star before us,
Will we know that it's right?

Will we courageously follow,
The path of faith we feel?
Will we find our precious Savior,
And at his cradle kneel?

That star is there for us to find,
Our path to Him begin,
We'll never find that star without,
Without the star within.

Stronger Wind, Stronger Tree --- by Tyler Johnson

I want to share with all of you my testimony of my Savior and His work. I hope that this will rekindle your faith and enable your mind in the service of God. He does have an immense amount of love for you. 

When I was on my mission, I found it to be a struggle, but it was also a joy. I think back to the beginning and where I was spiritually, and I know that the things I was doing and my thoughts on what I wanted to do were not all in harmony with the Savior. I think about my thoughts now, and I feel a feeling of comfort and also a feeling to do more, to continue in the service of the Lord. Even though I may have no clue of what my Father in Heaven wants me to do, I feel safe in His hands. I feel safe in giving myself to Him and doing what I feel is right and what He wants me to do, even if it makes no sense to me.

I know that this Gospel is true. I went on my mission with the hope that what I was doing was right, but through the experiences I have had and through the struggles of a broken heart and a contrite spirit, I can testify that the Savior has comforted me and answered my prayers as I endured my struggles righteously, not knowing the outcome but trusting in God. He does care, and He WILL help. I know that to be true. I've noticed that his help usually came at my breaking point, where I felt lost and forsaken. These trials have built me into who I am now. "Where there is a stronger wind, there is a stronger tree." Without God's love and without Him giving me these opportunities to grow, I know there would be no exercising of my faith. I am truly grateful for the struggles I was given. I would not change anything about my mission. I learned so much and loved every second of it.

There is nothing better than being in the service of God.