General Update
From Paul:
Cycle 7 week 3
This week has been a week of commemoration and celebration
of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. As I reflect on the many years that I
have been aware of this celebration, I recognize its meaning deepens with each
passing year. I find greater joy, witness and comfort in the music and messages
shared by others with respect to the Savior of the world. We enjoyed Christmas with
our family, both those who live nearby, and those who are distant through the
means of electronic video conferencing. What a great blessing that has been in
our lives, and in particularly during this Christmas season.
Even in football. Kalani Sitake said of his graduating seniors
after the BYU victory at the Pop-Tarts Bowl, “These guys are great spiritual
men, and they have a testimony and a belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We
get to celebrate Christ’s birth around this time. So I am really thankful that
I get to be around faithful men, and these guys have taught me a lot and I am
still learning.” To which the response from the bowl/media representative was, “Faith,
football, and love. We talk about it all the time.” This response to the
victory of the football team for which he is the head coach was somewhat out of
character from the point of view of worldly pursuits of money, fame and a place
in the professional realm. The latter elements seem to be the general focus of
college football and aspiring student athletes. Yet it was a moving
representation to me of the mission of Brigham Young University – where I
received my two college degrees. I initially thought it took great courage to
answer in this way, but subsequently I have reflected on what it means to be a
Christian, or disciple of Jesus Christ. Kalani Sitake was emboldened by his faith
and love of the young men of his football team.
As I have considered the pronouncements that were given
surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ over the years, I am impressed that the
entire population of angels and prophets who preceded the angelic announcement
were rejoicing that the time was coming during which the plan of our Heavenly
Father would be fulfilled through the birth of a baby – the son of God. Without
Him, this plan would have been frustrated. I believe they were also praying for
Him that he would stand the tests and the sufferings that would be included in His
mortal mission. Without Jesus’ courageous fulfilment of His mortal mission,
that frustration would have deepened. But thanks be to God for his miraculous
work.
Thanks be unto God for his
unspeakable gift.
From Doris:
General post
Ancestor Memories
The book my sister completed has fourteen chapters, one each
for my parents, four grandparents and eight great grandparents. Each chapter
contains two pictures and a summary of each of the lives of my ancestors. These
chapters were written by me and my siblings.
I had hoped to complete the book before we left on our mission
but realized it would need to be finished after we returned. When our mission
was canceled because of my cancer diagnosis, I told my siblings I would not be
able to complete the book because I needed to focus on my treatment.
My sister, Julie, learned about a collaboration between
FamilySearch and storied.com which
allowed our family histories to be printed as a physical book as well as an
online book.
The online version includes many more pictures as well as
audio clips and letters.
My brother Stephen added audio clips taken from recorded
histories.
As we shared the online book with our children at Christmas,
I enjoyed sharing a picture of my father holding me when I was an infant and an
audio recording of my father laughing while he played a game. Another sweet
experience was listening to my grandfather describe his reunion with his wife
after serving in the army during WWI.
I can’t thank my sister enough for all she did to give this
priceless gift to me and to my parents’ descendants.
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