Post # 63 – Do We Make Resolutions or Goals??

Dear Family and Friends

Well, here we are at the beginning of another new year! WOW!! 2019! I don’t know about you, but I think that the older I get the faster the years seem to go by. When you were a kid did you ever think that you would live to the year 2019?  (this question is for us older folks😊). I mean when you were young, and you saw your grandparents and knew that they were old people – did you think that you were going to live to be as old as they were? Because when you’re a kid your grandparents do seem to be really old😊right? I just had my sixty-first birthday in 2018 and I do not feel old. I know that my preschool students have said that their grandparents are old. They probably think that I am old too, but just have never said anything to me about it😊

Most people think of making new year’s resolutions – which usually do not last very long, beginning of each new year. Something that they want to accomplish or simply get better at throughout the coming year. I used to be very diligent about doing this at the end of each year. I would make a huge list of things that I wanted to do throughout the coming year. I don’t even think they were called goals when I was young – just things to do each year. I guess more of a wish list or a to do list.

I have often thought about the things that I would like to change in my life to make it better – you know, like lose weight, or learn something new, finish a project that I have started. I have made lists for each area in my life that I want to improve on --- because there is always room for improvement, right? This past couple of years I have been working on putting together a three-year curriculum for my preschool students and each year I have added things to my list to help get that more together. So, for most people my to do lists would be their list of goals, I guess.

I have found, through my years of experience, that for me making long lists is not a good thing. In fact, it can be most depressing, because I would set myself up for failure. Setting goals at the beginning of each new year or each month even can be very helpful though. I think setting a worthwhile goal is a good thing to do and there is no rule that you must await until the new year to set goals. You can set your goals any time you want or need to accomplish something worthwhile. Using the S.M.A.R.T. goal setting method is very helpful for most people. I think it is most important for us to remember to go to the Lord in all our decision making, especially in our goal setting.

There are several scripture references to setting goals. There are some great ones here: https://celebrateeverydaywithme.com/25-scripture-verses-on-goal-setting/

 Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

This one can be applied to short term as well as long term goals; for small projects like making a blanket or buying a bike or large projects like buying a house or a car.

I have gone to many workshops and taken many classes throughout my years and have received a lot of conflicting ideas about goal setting. Goal setting in and of itself is a good idea, but you have to make sure that your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. I have heard this acronym (S.M. A.R.T.) used with different words, but very similar in meaning for the most part. I know this is what we use at work for setting goals, so I thought I would share some of the information with you. Most of you probably already know this stuff, but I am sure a refresher course won’t hurt will it?

·         Specific – the goal should have a specific purpose and a specific end

·         Measurable – you should be able to measure and track your progress of your goals in some tangible way

·         Achievable – set challenging and achievable goals. goals you have the ability and tools to accomplish.

·         Relevant – your goals should be relevant to and fit in with your over-all life plan

·         Time-Based – you should be able to achieve or reach your goals in a set time frame

I have to tell you, it is very hard for me to stick to things – especially if it is not in my sight, so that I know that I need to work on it. Like this blog – it has taken me so long to get it written. I put my computer away, then I forget that I haven’t finished it --- or residual effects from having had strokes – I think that I have already finished it and I did but forgot to press publish ☹ sad but true!!! If you haven’t noticed, I have don’t that several times already.  I use daily to-do lists to keep me on track – you know like things I need to be doing every day: taking my medication, saying my prayers, my many appointments, reading my scriptures, doing my lesson plans, getting things ready for my daily work, etc. then I check things off as I go. I have my planner and my calendar and I have found that setting alarms on my phone helps to keep things in remembrance as well😊 I am sure you each have your own systems that help you get through each day with as much ease as possible😊

My life is so full of oddities and different ways that I have adapted my life to the things that have happened in it that I appreciate others who have it together. After I had my strokes, I became somewhat a creature of habit—for example, I need to put my shoes, my keys, my jacket, my glasses, etc. all in the same place each night or I will forget by morning where I put them. And if I rearrange things --- oh boy!! I really struggle for a long while because I remember things in the last place where they were before I rearranged. (Needless to say) I do not do much rearranging of my things and I tend to be in a cluttered environment. Not so much because I am a messy person, but simply because I need to see the things that I need to be working on or I will forget that I need to do them! I found a couple of articles on goal setting that I wanted to share:

      Ready, Set, Goal!              By Janine Creager

So, how can we make goal-setting a more productive part of our lives? How can we take our dreams and turn them into actions? Taking a few cues from some people who have found success in setting goals may help. But ultimately, it’s all about our individual motivation and desire that will make the difference. 

Going Cold Turkey

One approach to keeping New Year’s resolutions is going cold turkey – whether in an effort to begin a new project, or to get rid of some annoying habit. That brings up one of the biggest make-it-and-break-it resolutions for most people: exercising. While getting out of my post-pregnancy fat pants was indeed a great accomplishment one year, I found, like so many of you, that achieving that one goal wasn’t enough to put me on a regular exercising schedule.  

My “aha” moment to this dilemma came one day when I realized that I had been waiting for that sense of exhilaration I’ve heard other exercise enthusiasts talk about. I then had this startling and revealing thought: I may never get to that point, and that’s okay. If being fit was important to my physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being, I might as well stop whining about it and, well, just do it. I didn’t need a gym membership, or a new pair of running shoes – I just needed a new attitude.   

From that day forward, exercising (whether walking, running, or working out with an exercise video at home) has come much more easily. Oh, there are plenty of days when I don’t make it out there, and don’t particularly enjoy it, but I always feel better afterwards. And the reaction of my doctor when he saw my lowered cholesterol score due to my more active lifestyle has been the best motivation to keep me going.

It’s the Little Things That Count

In the middle of this resolution roller coaster is the idea that while we may not be ready for organized charts, or don’t have the courage to go cold turkey, any step forward is a step in the right direction. Jenica McKenzie of West Valley City, Utah, confesses that she is “perfectly inconsistent” in keeping any resolution she has made. Yet even in her own way, she is able to set a course and see progress in her life.  

“I personally write a list of to-do's everyday,” she says. “I love to check things off!  I include on my list things that I should be doing everyday, to help remind me of how important they are.  Then I get the satisfaction of checking off things that I wouldn't normally check off, like: scripture study, taking the kids to school, doing the dishes, folding laundry, making such-and-such for dinner, etc.” 

Loa Simons of Orem, Utah, on the other hand, has learned that sticker charts are not just for kids anymore.  “I enjoy putting stickers on my calendar for different goals,” explains Loa. “To keep track of my temple attendance, I put stars on my chart. For exercise, I use ones that say things like ‘Cool!’ or “First Rate!’ The more I see those stickers, the more I know I’m getting in shape.” Being able to look over her past successes increases her confidence. And telling herself, “If I can just make it though, I get to put a sticker on” is frequently enough to keep her going when she wonders if she has enough motivation to complete her workout. 

The important thing is to do something, anything, although we may need to lower our expectations at first. After all, the pounds won’t magically melt off in a few days or weeks if we haven’t been physically active. We need to allow our growth to come at its own pace, and celebrate the good we are doing. One way to do this is to record those successes is in a notebook or journal. 

Make a Note of That

My notebook of accomplishments came about quite by accident. I had been given a small book at a Relief Society to use for goal setting, an overwhelming task for me at the time. But I felt I ought to do something with this gift, and began to record various accomplishments I had achieved. That first year, I wrote down titles of the books that I read, the fact that I finished a cross-stitch pattern, and had served as the Ward Music Chairman. It was a relatively short list, but gave me satisfaction to see that I had done something besides change diapers and clean house that year.  

The next year I expanded my entries to include family milestones, seeing the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. for the first time, and that defining day when I got out of those fat pants. Over a period of eight years, I eventually saw that I wasn’t the total failure I had thought I was. That was when I ventured into the world of setting goals.  

Out of the six goals I set that year, I accomplished only three of them. But the fact that I had achieved any of them was a huge success and gave me the impetus to try again. In the years since, I have set goals to play through every hymn in the hymnbook, learn how to watercolor, and to self-publish my first book. The notebook, which has become a treasured journal, showed me that I could accomplish many things, and had no reason to be afraid of trying. 

Do I now sit at home every night and dream up more goals to set? Far from it. I still struggle to achieve some objectives, but am much more confident than ever before. So, why not give one of these ideas a try. Don’t be afraid of falling short: just get back up on the horse or exercise bike and try again.

And while January 1^st may continue to be the traditional goal setting time of year, there’s no reason to limit yourself. If an opportunity arises to participate in a 5K Walk/Run this summer, or to take a continuing education class in the fall – go for it. Setting and accomplishing goals in our lives will never go out of season.

Counsel from Mormon leaders about goal-setting

By Melissa DeMoux             For Mormon Times        Published: January 2, 2011 6:30 am

A new year is spilling over the horizon along with an opportunity to evaluate the past year and look forward to the promise of the coming year.

When setting goals, following the counsel of LDS leaders will keep the future bright. Following are pieces of guidance given by leaders to help individuals set and achieve worthwhile goals in the coming year.

·  "We can become the masters of our own destinies by practicing self-discipline and by setting worthy goals that will lead to higher ground so that we can become what our Heavenly Father wants us to become."

Elder M. Russell Ballard, May 2003 New Era

·  You must avoid blindness of mind by setting goals. ... I have long contended that the person who sets goals and who strives to attain such is the master of his own fate."

Elder Carlos E. Asay, May 1985 New Era

·  "When it came to setting goals, my father had three rules. First, we had to have worthwhile goals. Second, we could change our goals at any time. But third, whatever goal we chose, we had to work diligently toward it."

Elder Gene R. Cook, April 2008 Liahona

·  "Set short-term goals that you can reach. Set goals that are well balanced, not too many nor too few, and not too high nor too low. Write down your attainable goals, and work on them according to their importance. Pray for divine guidance in your goal setting."

Elder M. Russell Ballard, May 1987 Ensign

·  "I believe in goals, but I believe that the individual should set his own. Goal setting should cause us to stretch as we make our way."

President Spencer W. Kimball quoted by Elder Marvin J. Ashton, November 1983 Ensign

·  "May I invite you to rise to the great potential within you. But don’t reach beyond your capacity. Don’t set goals beyond your capacity to achieve. Don’t feel guilty or dwell on thoughts of failure. Don’t compare yourself with others. Do the best you can, and the Lord will provide the rest. Have faith and confidence in Him, and you will see miracles happen in your life and the lives of your loved ones."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, September 2009 Liahona

An August 1998 Liahona article entitled "Strengthen Your Sense of Self-Worth" gave suggestions about setting goals:

·  Keep your goals realistic, not so high that they’re impossible to attain.

·  Set some little goals. The more you achieve, the better you’ll feel about yourself.

·  Write down each of your goals. Remember, a goal not written is only a wish.

·  Share your goals with a friend, and encourage that person to set some, too. You can motivate and applaud each other.

·  Be committed to your goals. Do what you have to do to achieve them, and don’t become discouraged if they’re challenging.

·  Don’t compete with others. Compete with yourself. Don’t make your goals depend on another’s performance. Decide to attain a level of personal excellence no matter what others achieve.

·  Share your goals with Heavenly Father. Talk to him in prayer. Ask for help in reaching your goals or in understanding why you didn’t. He’ll help you feel good about the positive things you achieve.

Melissa DeMoux is a stay-at-home mother of six young children and lives in West Valley City.

Well we are at the end of this post FINALLY!! There are a few final thoughts on New Year’s Resolutions and Goal Setting:

1. Make sure you keep your goals in line with what your Heavenly Father wants for you. Ask yourself with each goal you set if it will help you reach your divine potential?

2. Remember who you are! You are a child of God! Your number one goal should be to get back home to live with Him for all eternity. Your goals should reflect this.

3. Be flexible. Don’t give Up. Keep trying to do a little better each day. Remember you can’t win the Olympics without training first – right?? Don’t be too hard on yourself – we can be our own worse enemy I think.

4. Remember the little things: Prayer, Scripture Study, Family Home Evening, Family Prayers and Family Scripture Study, etc. be consistent with these things.

5. Don’t set too many goals. You can always add another goal when you accomplish one that you have set, so don’t overwhelm yourselves with too many okay?

I am not so sure if I am the best one for giving advice about goal setting when I do struggle so with it, but I want you to know and remember that you can always begin again – tomorrow is a new day, a day to begin again😊 I always tell my students to do their very best every day and try to do better today that you did yesterday, and better tomorrow than you did today. When things go wrong as happens in life ALL THE TIME, just remember to pick up the pieces and begin again! I am sorry for taking so long to finish this post☹ if you have already set your goals – good for you!! I am proud of you! If you have not yet set your goals, hopefully I have given you some good ideas for a goal setting start. Until my next post remember to be prayerful, diligent, consistent, in the small things each day😊

Post # 62 --- A Challenge for the New Year

Dear Family and Friends

When Jesus was born, the wise men brought Him gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh. All three of these gifts were very valuable and most likely cost a lot. What gifts can each of us give to Jesus, each of us in our own way?? I am sure that what you can give is different from what I can give and what we can give is still different from what others maybe can give, the important thing here is that we give – right? Christmas has just past so do we just stop giving??

I myself am not, I am going to give myself a challenge to continue giving gifts to Jesus --- to serve others all throughout the year😊 I may not be able to give a gift each day, but I would like to try giving a gift at least once a week, I have been thinking a lot about the Light The World Campaign that we just finished. I was not able to do every -thing on the list, but I did do some things and I think that counts a lot. Baby steps are better than no steps at all – right? Just keep stepping, just keep stepping… up, up, up!

Because are there not still people who need help all year long? Yea, and aren’t there things that we can each be doing to help others, I believe that there is. Maybe we can serve at a shelter, in whatever manner of need they have a current need for. We could serve at our local animal shelter, at our local foodbank, women’s shelter, we can keep our neighborhood clean, by picking up trash and debris along the roadways and our local streets, curbs and gutters.  

I believe that there is so much each one of us can do to be more like Jesus, and can you just imagine how this will change our family, neighborhoods, communities, towns, cities. States, and the world? I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has focused on Christmas and Easter campaigns, but when you really think about it, isn’t this something that we each should want to do what we can to help other out, whenever we can don’t you think so? It will make such a huge difference in each of our lives😊

I thought it might be a fun challenge for us if we took an idea or two from the ideas that were posted and maybe add one or two back into our daily life. Well, like I mentioned before maybe not every day, but as often as we can. And lets each do our best in whatever circumstances we find ourselves each day to give this challenge a serious effort okay? You got this you know, I know you can do it!! Right? If I can do it, you can do it!

I hope each of you have had a wonderful Christmas, enjoying special moments with your families, enduring family traditions and just TIME together! I am probably not going to ne the first to tell you this, but spending time with your family is something that you really should take the time to do. You only have one life to live and you never know when you will turn a corner and wish that you had sent your time differently. Especially that precious time that you have with your family, that goes by so quickly.

You know that I have always considered those that a care a lot about as part of my family. I have my church family and my work family as well as those with whom I live with or whom have lived with me – my children have always had first place in my heart, mind, soul, and spirit, and in deed as well. I have always done everything with them in my mind first and foremost. I have an amazing family – my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I will be the first to admit that I am not as close to my neighbors as I would like to be though. I go to work and I come home, I go to work and I come home, I know I lead a pretty boring life, don’t I?

I have always just love spending time with my children and now my grandchildren and I wish I could spend more time with all of them and my great grandchildren as well. I know that they all have their very busy lives too, and it is hard to make time to visit each other even when we are just about all of us living in the same town. I know that when I get home I just want to relax and be at home. I usually do not go out again once I am home. It makes it easy to just stay at home when you do not always have a car to run about in😊

You know when my children were little they looked forward to the holidays, especially Christmas/ I have tried throughout the years to teach them about the baby Jesus and all that He has done for each of us. Being born into mortality, growing up as a mere man, but healing as the God that He was. He showed each of us by His example just how we should live, during His mortal ministry upon this earth. Then giving His life for all the sins of human beings – all who have ever lived or who will ever live upon this earth. As the God that He was He took up His life again after three days in the tomb.

Our Savior has always been there for us, throughout our lives thus far, and He will be with us always. We may not be able to see Him, but I know at times I can feel His and Heavenly Father’s love. It is the very best feeling we can have. I have included a little information about the initiatives that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has done over the past few years during Easter time and at Christmas time. My focus today is on the Christmas initiatives – especially serving others, something that I would like to be better at this year. I hope you enjoy the information that I am sharing:

Home » Church » LDS Church Set to Launch ‘Light the World’ Christmas Initiative

LDS Church Set to Launch ‘Light the World’ Christmas Initiative

Aleah Ingram November 23, 2016 Church

News Release by Mormon Newsroom

A global effort to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and encourage people to serve others during the Christmas season is being launched by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The “Light the World” Christmas initiative will reach worldwide audiences from Friday, November 25, 2016, through January 1, 2017.

The initiative focuses on celebrating and sharing the light of Jesus Christ, the “light of the world” (John 8:12).

“As we follow the example of the Savior and live as He lived and as He taught, that light will burn within us and will light the way for others,” said President Thomas S. Monson in a general conference address in October 2015.

“It’s the Christmas season,” said Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “We have lights — all kinds of lights on our houses, on our trees, on our dining tables. So if we link those wonderful traditions with the source of truth, even Christ as the source of light, it just made great sense to all of us that that would be the theme that we would employ this year.”

Sharable online content will be available at mormon.org beginning November 25, including a video that invites the public to perform acts of service following Christ’s example during the Christmas season. The service effort will kick off Thursday, December 1, with a Worldwide Day of Service.

Elder Bednar explained, “The whole purpose of this initiative is to celebrate and share the Light of Christ. What we hope people will do is not simply think about the Savior during this Christmas season, or even just learn more about Him. What we hope is that they will come to know Him by doing what He did.”

Elder Bednar said the Church is not trying to overwhelm people with ideas for service during the Christmas season. “These are very simple things that the Savior has provided the example. And we, in a very appropriate, simple way during this Christmas season, can do the same things that He did. He healed the blind. We can help the blind to see. We might, for example, read a story to someone in a nursing home who cannot see. Doesn’t take a lot of time, but a small, simple act of service that exemplifies the Light of Christ.”

The Church’s Missionary Department has been sponsoring Christmas and Easter initiatives for the past several years to reach broader audiences with the Church’s message that Jesus Christ was born, lived, died and was resurrected to save all mankind.

Last December, the “A Savior Is Born” Christmas initiative reached millions of people around the world. The video had more than 50 million views. Millions were also reached last spring with the “Follow Him” Easter initiative.

I have shared below the twenty-five days of service for the 2016 and 2017 Christmas campaign to give you some ideas that might spark your interest in my challenge to you beginning this first month of 2019😊

This year’s initiative is entitled #LIGHTtheWORLD. It focuses on celebrating and sharing the Light of Jesus Christ with others. The initiative begins Friday, November 25, 2016 and runs through Christmas Day.

During Christmas, we are reminded that Jesus Christ is the light of the world. This year, we have an amazing opportunity to share that light by resolving to do the things Jesus Christ did. Every day leading up to Christmas, we will focus on a different Christlike behavior and provide suggestions for ways we can emulate His example. You’re encouraged to participate using the outline below as you plan your Christmas activities

Dec, 1 --Jesus Lifted Others’ Burdens and So Can You --- EVENT KICKOFF: WORLDWIDE DAY OF SERVICE

Dec. 2 ---Jesus Honored His Parents and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Call (not text) your parents. • Write a handwritten note to your parents or in-laws.                                                                    • Learn about an ancestor and share their story.

Dec, 3 -- Jesus Helped Others to See and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Find an eyeglasses collection box and donate an old pair. • Point out a virtue in someone they don’t see in themselves. • Promote a vision charity on social media. You could even use the eyeglasses emoji.

Dec, 4 -- Jesus Worshipped His Father and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Attend a church service in your area—you’re always invited to one of ours. • Make a goal to offer a kneeling prayer to Heavenly Father every day in December. • Help clean up or maintain a church building.

Dec.5 -- Jesus Healed the Sick and So Can You  --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Sign up to be an organ donor. • Give blood at your local blood bank. • Resolve to pray daily for your loved ones who are sick or suffering.

Dec. 6 --Jesus Read the Scriptures and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Set your alarm 15 minutes early for scripture study. • Post your favorite scripture on social media. • Text a scripture to someone who may need a boost.

Dec. 7 --Jesus Fed the Hungry and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Donate non-perishable items to a local food bank. • Invite a neighbor on a tight budget to dinner. • Learn about satisfying spiritual hunger (start with John 6:35).

Dec, 8 -- Jesus Prayed for Others and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Think about a friend that’s going through some rough challenges. Say a prayer for them. • Ask God how you can be an answer to someone else’s prayer. • When was the last time you prayed with your family? How about right now?

Dec. 9 -- Jesus Visited the Lonely and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Visit a nursing home. Studies show 60% never get visitors during their stay. • Invite a widow or widower to dinner. • Identify someone that will be alone for Christmas. Invite them to attend a church service with you on Christmas Day.

Dec,10 --Jesus Helped People Walk and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Donate your old crutches, wheelchairs, or walkers to a group that refurbishes them. • Plan an activity for a handicapped friend that’s catered to his/her capabilities. • Offer to help an elderly person run errands.

Dec. 11 -- Jesus Ministered to Children and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Ask your children what they think you should pray about as a family. • As a Christmas gift, purchase a picture of Jesus Christ for your child’s room. Teach your child of the Savior’s love for them. • Make plans to take each of your children on a 1-on-1 activity.

Dec. 12 -- Jesus Taught Others and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Share your favorite teaching or story of Jesus on social media. • Pass down something you learned from your parents or grandparents. • Watch an online tutorial to learn a new skill that can benefit others.

DEC 13--- Jesus Showed Humility and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Share an experience with loved ones about a time you had to rely on God’s help. • No matter your age, ask a parent how to deal with a current challenge in your life. • Think of a time you were wrong about someone. Share it with a loved one.

DEC 14--- Jesus Taught Us to Clothe the Naked and You Can Help --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Collect winter clothing (old or new) for your local homeless shelter. • Learn from a wise king how we should love those in need. (Mosiah 4:14-27) • Recently bought some new clothes? Donate some old ones to a charity or thrift store.

DEC 15 ----Jesus Worshipped through Song and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Invite a friend to attend a Christmas Day worship service to sing hymns and worship God. • Share your favorite performance of a Christmas hymn on social media. • Listen to Christmas hymns for an entire day.

DEC 16 ---Jesus Showed Compassion and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Participate in a local sub-for Santa for a family that could use some holiday cheer. • Try leaving only encouraging comments on social media. • Pray for an opportunity today to show someone compassion.

DEC 17---Jesus Cared for His Mother and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Call your mother right now. • Make a list of all the things your mother has done for you. Send it to her. • Identify a motherly figure in your life and take her flowers.

DEC 18 ---Jesus Honored the Sabbath and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Turn off your phone for a few hours today. • Attend a religious service in your area. • Visit a family member.

DEC 19 --Jesus Calmed the Storm and So Can You--- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Learn ways you can help people around the world through charitable giving. • Review emergency response plans for people living in your area. • Give your family or loved ones the gift of a 72-hour kit for emergencies.

DEC 20--- Jesus Saw Potential in Others and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Be a mentor/tutor to someone. • Take a child to work with you and let them do a small part of your job. • Cheer someone on! Attend an event (athletic, cultural, etc.) to support someone you know.

DEC 21---Jesus Forgave Others and So Can You  --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Is there a family member you haven’t talked to lately? Call them. • Make a list of your grudges. Then make plans to let them go. • Be kind instead of right for an entire day.

DEC 22 ---Jesus Showed Gratitude and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Give a simple gift to your mail carrier to raise spirits during their busiest season. • Offer a prayer of pure gratitude. No requests. Just thanks. • Write a thank you letter to someone who has positively impacted your life.

DEC 23 ---Jesus was a Peacemaker and You Can Be One --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Do you owe anyone an apology? Resolve to take action. • Make a donation to help refugees from war-torn regions. • Say nice things behind people’s backs today.

DEC 24--- Jesus Cared for His Loved Ones and So Can You --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Plan a special Christmas Eve program with your family and friends. • Leave an anonymous gift for a family member. • Take a moment to enter all of your friends’ birthdays into your mobile device.

DEC 25---Jesus’s Disciples Followed Him and So Can We --- SOME WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: • Turn some of the 25 Days ideas from this month into New Year’s resolutions. • Find a picture of Jesus Christ that inspires you and place it in your home where it can serve as a reminder to follow Him. • Have some time off? Devote one day to selfless service for those you love.

 

2017 == #Light the World --- In 25 Ways. Over 25 Days

Dec. 1  “Freely ye have  received, freely give”  (Matthew 10:8)

Dec. 2  “I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink” (Matthew 25:35).

Dec. 3  “Wherefore it is lawful  to do well on the  sabbath days”  (Matthew 12:12).

Dec. 4  “Thou shalt love  thy neighbour  as thyself”  (Matthew 22:39).

Dec. 5  “Honour thy father and mother” (Matthew 15:4).

Dec. 6  “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1).

Dec. 7  “Suffer the little children to come unto me”  (Mark 10:14).

Dec. 8  “Love your  enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you”  (Matthew 5:44)

Dec. 9  “I was sick,  and ye visited me”  (Matthew 25:36).

Dec. 10  “Search the scriptures”  (John 5:39)

Dec. 11  “If ye love me, keep my  commandments”  (John 14:15).

Dec. 12  “Blessed are they  that mourn: for they  shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).

Dec. 13  “Whatsoever  ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them”  (Matthew 7:12).

Dec. 14  “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”  (Matthew 6:21).

Dec. 15  “Blessed are  the merciful”  (Matthew 5:7).

Dec. 16  “[I was] naked, and ye clothed me” (Matthew 25:36).

Dec. 17  “Ye shall meet  together oft”  (3 Nephi 18:22).

Dec. 18 “Forgive men their trespasses ” (Matthew 6:14).

Dec. 19  “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad” (Matthew 5:12).

Dec. 20  “A man’s life  consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he  possesseth”  (Luke 12:15)

Dec. 21  “For I was an  hungred, and ye gave me meat”  (Matthew 25:35).

Dec. 22  “That which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do”  (3 Nephi 27:21).

Dec. 23  “Blessed are all the peacemakers”  (3 Nephi 12:9).

Dec. 24  “Ye must watch and pray always ”  (3 Nephi 18:15).

Dec. 25  “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Well, I hope this has given you some food for thought. You know, things to think about for the 2019 challenge I have offered to each of you. You could check out the initial campaign in 2014 He Is The Gift, and the one in 2015 A Savior Is Born.

According to a statement by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the December 2014 issue of the Ensign, “ ‘He is the Gift’ focuses on God’s love for the world, made manifest in the

first gift of Christmas, even the Lord Jesus Christ.”

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/12/he-is-the-gift?lang=eng

DISCOVER THE GIFT: “Seek this Jesus with all your heart.”

EMBRACE THE GIFT: “I am encircled in the arms of his love.”

SHARE THE GIFT: “Declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump.”

The 2015 initiative, “A Savior Is Born,” focuses on finding, knowing and following the teachings of Jesus Christ.

And enough of my rambling for this post. Seriously though, please think about my challenge to you. Lets each make the decision to come closer to our Savior throughout 2019 by learning of Him, then by following His example. As always, I hope and pray that I have shared something that is helpful to some of you in some small way. Have a great week! Make this first week of 2019 a great one😊 until my next post – Remember what each of us need to do. Learn of Him, come unto Him, emulate Him!

Post # 61 – Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

Dear Family and Friends

As I was watching the children open their presents, I got to thinking about our family traditions that we have had throughout the years. And how it is quite okay for our traditions to change as our family changes. When my children were young, we would look forward to choosing a few ornaments from the angel tree at our church each year to buy a gift for a child who otherwise would have to go without. My children were very giving and have always wanted to share everything that they have with others.

My husband and I were foster parents for about eight years I guess and during that time my children were so good to include all of the children that were sent to us as part of their family. All of those children were their brothers and sisters and we loved each of them – each one of them, and we shared everything with them while they were living with us. To be honest my children were the better for having had that great opportunity of having each of those children come into our family.

One thing that we would do as a family would be do leave secret presents in our Christmas tree just in case, we would have extra children join us for Christmas. I had a special room of things that we could wrap up or that we had access to at a moment’s notice whenever a new child or one of my husband’s coworkers had no family to join for Christmas.

What about the tradition of setting up the nativity, or reading the Christmas story, making gingerbread houses, reading the night before Christmas on Christmas eve, wearing Christmas pajamas, serving at a soup kitchen, making baby kits for hospitals, daily kits for homeless shelter, making special Christmas cookies, or Christmas candies, baking bread or making pies, drinking eggnog, making hygiene kits for service men, going to and participating in a Christmas pageant… what would any of these traditions be without family and community?  With all of these traditions I have found that the most important thing we can do is to make room for Him in our hearts and our lives. On that note I wanted to share this talk with you:

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room         By Elder Gary E. Stevenson       Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Just over a week ago, the Christmas lights on Temple Square were turned on, continuing a tradition of 53 years and, for many, marking the beginning of the Christmas season. At Christmas we celebrate the birth, life, and light of Jesus Christ, the literal Son of God and the Savior of the world. We find hope in the pronouncement that accompanied His birth: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”¹ Music, excited children, gifts to give and receive, Christmas trees, decorations, and lights are all part of the joyous celebration.

When you think of Christmas, what cherished memories come to mind? For me, this time of year always brings memories of Christmas celebrations from my childhood.

Taking my children to temple square to see the lights during the Christmas season was one of the best trips that we ever made to sale lake city. My children were so happy to make that trip, even though I had explained to them that they would not be receiving as many presents for their dad and I because we had to use some of our Christmas money to make the trip to the city.

I can still remember many of the gifts I received. I remember a football and a basketball, toys and clothes. Most of those gifts are now gone and forgotten; the clothes are worn out and outgrown. But what I remember most of Christmases past—my most poignant and favorite memories—are not about what I received but what I gave.

Let me explain. Each year, on the Saturday before Christmas, the youth of our ward gathered at our church. We filled baskets with oranges, bananas, and homemade cookies and cakes to deliver to widows who lived nearby. We went to their homes, sang Christmas carols, and gave Christmas baskets. I still remember their grateful smiles. Some of them were first- or second-generation immigrants expressing their gratitude in heavily accented English: Sisters Swartz, Zbinden, Groll, and Kackler. I will never forget the warm feeling this embedded in my heart.

When Lesa and I became parents, we started a tradition of giving Christmas gifts to a family in need, as many of you do. We often received the name of a family from a community charity, along with the ages of the children. We spent much time and effort to find just the right gifts for them. Our sons seemed to enjoy this as much as receiving their own presents on Christmas Day! This family tradition of service helped to etch the true spirit of Christmas in our hearts.

They do not do this too much anymore I am afraid. At least I have not noticed angel trees around our town, I may have missed them, but it seems like they were everywhere when the children were younger. I do agree that doing a family service project together is a wonderful way for us to get our hearts in the right frame of mind for Christmas – to help us get into the Christmas spirit.

In my professional life, I was involved in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of fitness equipment around the world. Equipment like treadmills, stationary bikes, and elliptical machines is designed primarily to strengthen the heart. Indeed, at our company we went to great lengths to ensure that equipment users could accurately measure the condition and activity levels of their heart through heart-rate monitors. Today, many of us wear technology on our wrists that monitors our heart and encourages activities to strengthen our heart.

What if there were a way to measure the condition of your heart from a spiritual perspective—a spiritual heart monitor, if you will? What would your heart monitor say? How spiritually healthy is your heart? The Christmas season seems like an ideal time for us to thoughtfully evaluate the status of our own heart.

For example, you might ask yourself, “Is my heart prepared to receive the Savior?” At Christmastime we often sing, “Let every heart prepare him room.”² How can you prepare room in your heart for Christ, especially during this busy yet wonderful season?

The scriptures are replete with descriptions that can help us evaluate the condition of our heart. Some verses include words like “pure,”³ “meek,”⁴ “lowly,”⁵ “broken,”⁶ and “contrite.”⁷ These words, and many others throughout scripture, give us insight into the Savior’s heart. In order to receive Him into our hearts, surely our hearts must be pure and humble like His.

Wow! What do you think about his idea here, to find a way to measure our spiritual health? He has some good questions we can each ask ourselves. Do we have room in our hearts for our Savior? Have we made room for Him this Christmas? What can we do to make room for Him? Do we each have a humble heart? Do we have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, as it says in the scriptures? Are we meek and lowly, ready to receive Him?

To paraphrase the words of Paul, we can strive to have the words and attributes of Jesus Christ written like an “epistle … in our hearts, known and read of all men: … the epistle of Christ … written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”⁸ This requires more than just pleasant Christmas greetings that fall from our lips. The Lord warned us against those who “[gather] near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”⁹ During this Christmas and throughout the year, our kind deeds and good works are the best indication of our love for the Savior, written in our hearts.

What do we need to change in our daily lives to make room for the Savior in our lives? What examples can we find in our lives that might help us to make the changes that we need to make to make room for our Savior in our lives? Especially during this Christmas season, what will you do?

As I consider the condition of my own heart, I find inspiration and great examples to follow in the hearts and sacrifice of those who helped establish the Church in the early days of its Restoration. I would like to share a Christmas story about an early Latter-day Saint convert from Immingham, England: Mary Wood Littleton.

Mary and her husband, Paul, never thought they would leave their home in England. But they heard the message of the restored gospel and gained a testimony of its truthfulness. They were baptized, and just two months later, Mary and Paul, along with their children, sailed to America to gather with the Saints. They arrived in New York on December 20, 1844. Five days later, they traveled by stagecoach to Nauvoo, Illinois. Just imagine—journeying in the cold weather over rough, difficult roads, they celebrated their first Christmas Day in America.

Despite all these changes, Mary kept hope in her heart that her family would someday celebrate Christmas as they had in England, with wreaths, Father Christmas, and caroling. Unfortunately, their second Christmas in America, in 1845, wasn’t much better—they spent it in a wagon box that Paul had turned into a makeshift home while the family struggled to establish themselves in Nauvoo. Again, with a hope-filled heart, Mary said, “Next year, Christmas will be different.”

The following year in 1846, the family’s third Christmas in America, Mary and the children found themselves in Winter Quarters, preparing for what would be a long trek west in the spring. Mobs had driven them from Nauvoo, and Paul was walking west with the Mormon Battalion—several hundred miles away. Again, there was no caroling and no Father Christmas. Instead, there was fasting and sincere prayer in behalf of Mary’s eight-year-old son, who was near death with severe malnutrition. He survived, but 25 others in Winter Quarters died that very Christmas Day.

It wasn’t until her fourth Christmas in America, having recently arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, that Mary and her family celebrated Christmas together in relative peace. Even then, it was not the kind of celebration she had experienced in England. Yet, in some ways, it was even better. On a Sabbath day Christmas celebration, the day after Christmas in 1847, the Saints gathered to pray, express words of thanksgiving, and sing songs of praise to God for their deliverance in Zion. One of these songs was a heartfelt rendition of “Come, Come, Ye Saints,” a hymn written on the pioneer trail that had become an anthem of faith to these early pioneer Saints. Thereafter, “Come, Come, Ye Saints” remained a favorite hymn, even a Christmas carol, at pioneer Christmas celebrations.¹⁰

Hopefully we won’t be making the drastic changes that this family had to make, but please be thinking seriously about this question: Have you made room for Him? I am sure that we all have ancestors who could inspire us by their faith and their love for the Savior. If we don’t know those stories, what else can we do to help us make room for Him?

I believe Mary’s challenges over the years did something to change her heart. She seemed to see Christmas more clearly, with new Christmas traditions and a new song in her heart. She had truly developed a heart of sacrifice, centered in her hope in and love for Jesus Christ.

The Christmas season seems to be an appropriate time to contemplate how healthy our hearts are spiritually, and so I close with a simple suggestion that might help us monitor and strengthen our spiritual hearts: I invite each of us to choose to do something that expresses, in an outward way, our inward feelings about the Savior Jesus Christ as the gift we give Him this year.

Like Mary Littleton, we are gathered tonight as faithful followers of Jesus Christ to worship Him. Let’s now listen closely as the choir joins with “choirs of angels” in a beautiful and beckoning hymn inviting “all ye faithful” to “come and behold him, born the King of angels.” No matter where we may live around the world, we can each “come, … joyful and triumphant … to Bethlehem”—even if only in our heart—to adore and honor Him.¹¹

I offer my witness of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. May we have the Spirit of Christ written upon our hearts throughout the holiday season and into the new year is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Just because we were not there with him to hear the choir sing those beautiful carols, I am sure that singing carols might help to bring us closer to our Savior. And I know that I have been rambling a lot today, so until my next post. Merry Christmas to each of you and remember to find your own ways to make room for the Savior in your life – I promise you will never regret it😊