Tis the Season

How would you like to remember Christmas? The family of one New York man will remember it as the time they lost a family member. I can't imagine anything in a store that would be worth injuring or killing someone.

After reading about this story earlier in the day it made me wonder what the Christmas spirit is these days? Have we become so materialistic that we value an Xbox more than a person? I sure hope not.

I remember being young and barely being able to contain myself waiting to open presents and how important that seemed at the time. Looking back, I realize now that I was totally missing what Christmas was supposed to represent. Charity.

Not charity as in we don't have any food and need charity sense but charity in the sense of giving without any expectation of reciprocation. The Savior gave us the recipe in Moroni 7:45
" And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

I think being kind and not envying others is a great way to spend the Holidays, especially Christmas. With they way things are today with so many people out of work and worrying about the future we should take this time to decide how we want to remember Christmas and what we want it to represent. Things of this world or truly celebrating the Savior and what he taught.

Journals: Why do we keep them?

We have been told many times by leaders in the Church to keep a journal of our lives. We are to include spiritual experiences and daily events. But why?
I have started and stopped many times in my journal keeping attempts. When I go back and read it I realize how much I have not recorded in my life. The last time I reviewed my journal I was disappointed to realize I had not written anything after two of my children had been born. As important of an event as that it I had missed it and can never regain the chance to record my experiences of those days.

I have been reading a book lately that is about the Willie and Martin handcart companies called "The Price We Paid". It is a very good book and gives some great details about what people in those handcart companies endured. The author has done a great job collecting information but one thing is very clear, without the journals kept on that trip we would not have as much information about their trials. It is amazing to me that so many of the people on that journey who were struggling just to survive were so diligent in keeping a daily journal. It has really impressed me and I have been trying harder to write more often, even though this blog does not reflect that.

With all of the resources we enjoy today to keep a record of our lives for future generations it should be easy to find a medium you like. I have really enjoyed the family blogs that have been started. Jenn and Jeanne do a great job of recording events that are happening in their families. The AZ Bunkers have never met little Emrie but get to see her growing up digitally. Hopefully someday soon that will change but at least we have a way to keep up with her and the rest of the Idaho Miller clan.

As great as this seems know just think of how much of what is happening now our children will be able to look back upon and show their children in the future.