Thoughts and stories, by Pal

  This was first published in the Deseret News in 2012.  It is great for thinking about what we want to set as New Year's Goals.  There also is an article by Elder John A. Widtsoe when he was President of the University of Utah.  I am putting that also at the end of this article.  This may seem long, and you can take whatever time you need, or come back and read it later.  It is well worth the read! Setting goals: Advice from Elder John A. Widtsoe still relevant more than a century later By  Deseret News     Jan 2, 2012, 5:00am MST Caresa Alexander Share this story Share this on Facebook (opens in new window) Share this on Twitter (opens in new window) All sharing options Members of the BYU Board of Trustees on commencement day 1933. From (L to R) BYU President, Dr. Franklin S. Harris, Church President, Heber J. Grant, Church counselor Anthony W. Ivins, Senator and Member of the Council of Twelve, Reed Smoot, David O. McKay, later P...

An Apostle Shares What Santa Claus and the Temple Have in Common by Boyd K. Packer, excerpted from "The Holy Temple"  | Nov. 30, 2016 Makes You Think Mormon Life President Packer's book,  The Holy Temple , is a classic of LDS literature that has become one of the most comprehensive and definitive works written about temples. In fact, much of the material found in the Church's temple preparation pamphlet comes from this inspired book. The following is an excerpt from this book, where President Packer shares insights from John A. Widtsoe of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostle's and his groundbreaking talk, "Temple Worship." The reason the teaching of the gospel ofttimes is so difficult is that ideals in the gospel are such intangible things as faith, repentance, love, humility, reverence, obedience, modesty, and so forth. The dimensions of size and shape and color and texture just do not serve us there. In teachi...

I enjoyed this article about what Prophets have said about Santa Claus.  I know I've heard my mother, who was born in 1908, learned about Santa Clause at an early age.  Her family lived in almost poverty during her growing up years, because her father died when she was 6 years old.  Her mother then told the children about Santa Claus quite early, as they didn't have money to buy gifts from Santa Claus.   What Prophets Have Said About Santa Claus LDS LIVING Staff Is Santa Claus a part of your Christmas tradition? Check out what a few Church leaders have said about Old Saint Nick. Artwork by Greg Olsen and featured in  Stars Were Gleaming .  David O. McKay It is a glorious thing to have old St. Nicholas in our hearts and in our homes today, whether he enters the latter through the open door or creeps down the chimney on Christmas Eve. To bring happiness to others without seeking personal honor or praise by publishing it is a most commendabl...