Thoughts and stories, by Pal

There are several stories about Christmas in our family, and you may enjoy these: ---- My mother, Ruth, was just 6 years old when her father passed away.  In the summer of 1914, her father, John Butler Allen, got a sliver in his eye.  Later a horse switched his tail and a long hair cut through his eye again.  These accidents caused him gradually to go blind in that eye.  The infection from this brought on Bright's Disease (the old-fashioned term for kidney problems).  He suffered very much with the infection which now could be cured in a few days with antibiotics.  He grew steadily worse until on October 26th, 1914, he finally passed away.  There were 8 children in the family, the 9th child having died at just four and a half months, before Ruth was born.  His wife was left with 8 children: Vina, the eldest was just 19 and Earl 17, and Adelia the youngest was only a year and 6 days old. The first steps she took were to walk across the floor to h...

Today I woke up, thinking about my great-grandfather, Haden (or Hayden) Wells Church, and his wife Sarah Ann Arterbury, and the fact that they were two of the original pioneers to enter this St. George valley in December,1861.   Their story begins much earlier.  The only mention of Haden in the Hickman County Tennessee History, where he was from,--  telling of some of the first school teachers states:  "Hayden Church, who also taught on this creek (Swan Creek), was a typical old-time schoolmaster who spoiled no child by sparing the rod."  In 1840 when Haden, an unmarried school teacher, was about 23 years old,  he heard the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints sing their first song, and knew they were speaking the truth.   He desired to know more, and from Tennessee he journeyed the four hundred miles to Nauvoo, Illinois.  There he met the Prophet Joseph Smith, who baptized him on April 5, 1841.  Soon he wa...

As December comes, with its hustle and bustle to get ready for Christmas, it is so important to take a few minutes each day, and contemplate about Jesus Christ, His life, and His teachings.  To feel gratitude for our Savior will truly help us remember what we are celebrating at Christmas.  It is so disturbing to realize how much the world, and even our own country, wants to consider it just a holiday, and not allow any mention of Jesus Christ.  Many businesses don't say "Merry Christmas", but just "Happy Holidays".  Other places don't allow manger scenes, etc.   Last night, after attending a beautiful fireside in the historic St. George Tabernacle, (for Temple workers) we drove around the St. George Temple and were delighted with the beautiful lights.  Also there were many spectators there looking at the life-size manger scene, and listening to the Christmas hymns which were being played loud enough for people to hear across the street.  There are ma...

  The Christmas of 1939, here in St. George, Utah, was going to be quite humble at our house. My father had been in World War I and had suffered off and on with "shell shock", which now is called Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. He had been in the Veteran's hospital in Salt Lake City during the year, and my mother, Ruth, had given birth to my sister, Mavis, on December 1st. In those days, mothers stayed down much longer with a difficult birth. My mother had been allowed to turn over in bed on the 10th day, and got up on the 17th day, so Christmas found her very weak. My grandmother, Ruth’s mother, was living with our small family, and helping after the new baby. She stayed with us each winter and was a Temple Ordinance worker in the St. George Temple, spending her summers in the cool town of Panguitch, near the beautiful Bryce Canyon in Utah. My parents had followed the admonition found in Doctrine and Covenants section 68, verse 28: "And they shall als...

    We all have just enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday.  In order to have had a successful Thanksgiving dinner, and enjoy family members, we needed to prepare beforehand.  The preparation helped make it a pleasant holiday, with lots of good family memories.   The preparation we make to truly follow and be committed to living the Gospel, takes even more preparation.  It takes daily thought, and committing ourselves to living in the way that will bring us eternal happiness.  I enjoyed Pres. Henry Eyring's talk, in October Conference 2005.  I have included parts of it here.  The entire talk can be read at:  www.lds.org -- and search for the title.   PREVIOUS NEXT Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady HENRY B. EYRING Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles The great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God’s commands in the midst of the storms of life. Play Most of us have th...

      We all feel weak many times in our lives.  We realize how little we truly know in the grand scheme of things -- this beautiful and amazing universe, this world, with all its beauty.  Even an apple has a design inside, each flower, each small (and beautiful) insect, "He hath made every thing beautiful in his time." Ecclesiastes 3:11. It is good to recognize the beauty in everything, and in everyone.  As we recognize the beauty in this world, and in other people, we recognize our own weaknesses, and also our own beauty.  The Lord has given us weaknesses. Ether 12:27 tells us:    "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then I will make weak things become strong unto them."     This following article is very i...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OUR FRIENDS!   Next post the day after Thanksgiving !  We are so blessed in every way!  We hope you all have a very Happy Holiday Season. Latter Day Light DAILY DEVOTION ___________________________ The Divine Gift of Gratitude  Nauvoo, Illinois November 17, 2013 SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Psalms 100:1-2 "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night." QUOTE OF THE DAY:   Thomas S. Monson   "My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love" ("The Divine Gift of Gratitude," Ensign , November 2010 ).