The Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos

Please watch the Life of Jesus Christ videos that the Church has produced. They are so appropriate right now at the Christmas Season. This is the webpage for the whole series.

http://lds.org/bible-videos/videos?lang=eng

These are some of the still pictures from the birth of Jesus video.

They are so well done.

Shushed: How Moms can keep a reverent pew

This is an article from the Mormon Times section of the Deseret News
Written by Margaret Anderson

It's afternoon church. Sacrament meeting is last. Your husband is out of town. Your toddler is passed out on the church floor. Your 5-year-old and 7-year-old can't stop bickering in anything quieter than a stage whisper. And your baby has announced in no uncertain terms he'd like to go home now.

What's a mother to do?

Keeping a reverent pew can be a tricky, and sometimes sticky, thing. One tactic that works for one family may not work for the next. Every kid is different, and there are so many contributing variables. On any given Sunday, parents can funnel out into the foyers wondering, "What went wrong? Why do I even come?" and "The most spiritually uplifting word I heard today was AMEN!"

Help is paramount, according to Brenlyn Rodabough, a churchgoing mother of 4-year-old twins.

"There are a few older ladies in the ward who keep a few books and even a package of Smarties or two in their purses," Rodabough said. "Children are always more interested in something new than in the same stuff Mom brings. I have also been not helped by neighbors who think it is fun — mind you, these are adults — to poke, tickle and make faces at my kids. This does not contribute to my attempts to get my kids to sit quietly. Then I'm constantly asking my child to turn around and sit down."

Jane Layton, a Utah mom of four little ones, said she is always grateful for help, whether it be a board book, a stick of gum, an offer to supervise her brood while she takes her fussy baby out, or even a pair of lovingly outstretched arms that scare her rebellious toddler straight.

"My husband travels a lot, and I've been shushed before when I was all alone and trying my best," Layton said. "All that did was induce more crying. Mine. An hour's worth. Out in the foyer, of course."

Pamela Beach, a mother of four, ages newborn to 7, said she tries to strategically sit where there are no other children nearby to distract her brood.

Armed with pencils and paper for her older ones, she said it's her 2-year-old who's the wild card.

"She prefers to run wild down the halls while I tiredly follow behind," Beach said. "I know parents who take their toddlers out in the hall and make life out there unpleasant by gripping them in some kind of 'hold.' I have never even attempted this, although I know firsthand it works."

Elizabeth Harris, another mom of four little ones, said she was once given advice that changed her sacrament meeting experience: "A close friend of mine with three young children and a set of newborn twins once told me, 'The less I bring, the more I hear.' I used to pack a small circus in my church bag to keep my kids entertained," Harris continued. "And it was always crazy. Now I bring just the basics and keep their entertainment expectations very low. And guess what? I do hear more."

There are a few unspoken church bag no-nos among young parents. Melinda Oborn, a mother of three youngsters, said actual toys invite too much noise.

"Action figures, cars and little toy dinosaurs all require sound effects by kids," Oborn said. "Anything electronic is taboo, too. Snacks that make crumbs, anything chocolate and fruit punch in a sippy cup are all don'ts. I can still see a stain on the carpet in the chapel left by us."

Doing their best, these mommies come out to church week after week, year after year, offspring in tow, in spite of the tantrums, the crumbs and the nagging feeling that they are detracting from the spiritual experience of others. But they are encouraged by the fact that they are setting a pattern of regular church attendance for their posterity.

"Somebody once told me that if the Savior were to come to your ward," Layton said, "he'd head straight for the nursery and Primary. Knowing how much he loves the little children helps me muscle through our harder Sundays and keeps me coming back."

You can read more by Margaret Anderson on her blog at www.jamsandpickles.wordpress.com.

Angels Are Watching Over Us

This is a quote from an article written by Kristine Fredrickson for the Mormon Times section of the Deseret News. There is more in the article but I loved the first part. We all need to be reminded of this from time to time.

"I know angels have watched over and protected me many times."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland testified in October 2008 general conference “that angels are still sent to help us, even as they were sent to help Adam and Eve, to help the prophets, and indeed to help the Savior of the world himself.”

What beautiful, comforting truth this is, and what is lovely, in my case anyway, is that we don’t have to be “rocket scientists” — always making brilliant decisions — to be safeguarded by God. Because he is merciful and gracious, he does answer prayers and provide protection — often in amazing ways."

(I know that Angels don't have wings but how else do we show that they are Heavenly?)

(And, when I found this picture I smiled and laughed. Who doesn't want Flora, Fauna and Merryweather watching over them and their homes? I know that I do! Ever since I was a little girl I have loved them! R) 

A Glorious Time of Year

"This is a glorious time of the year, simple in origin, deep in meaning, beautiful in tradition and custom, rich in memories, and charitable in spirit. It has an attraction to which our hearts are readily drawn. This joyful season brings to each of us a measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree in which we have turned our mind, feelings, and actions to the spirit of Christmas." President Thomas S. Monson

Sunday School Lesson Story

Wendy read a wonderful story today in our Sunday School class. It is from a talk given by John R. Lasater in April 1988 General Conference called "Shepherds of Israel".

"Some years ago, it was my privilege to visit the country of Morocco as part of an official United States government delegation. As part of that visit, we were invited to travel some distance into the desert to visit some ruins. Five large black limousines moved across the beautiful Moroccan countryside at considerable speed. I was riding in the third limousine, which had lagged some distance behind the second. As we topped the brow of a hill, we noticed that the limousine in front of us had pulled off to the side of the road. As we drew nearer, I sensed that an accident had occurred and suggested to my driver that we stop. The scene before us has remained with me for these many years.

An old shepherd, in the long, flowing robes of the Savior’s day, was standing near the limousine in conversation with the driver. Nearby, I noted a small flock of sheep numbering not more than fifteen or twenty. An accident had occurred. The king’s vehicle had struck and injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd. The driver of the vehicle was explaining to him the law of the land. Because the king’s vehicle had injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd, he was now entitled to one hundred times its value at maturity. However, under the same law, the injured sheep must be slain and the meat divided among the people. My interpreter hastily added, “But the old shepherd will not accept the money. They never do.”

Startled, I asked him why. And he added, “Because of the love he has for each of his sheep.” It was then that I noticed the old shepherd reach down, lift the injured lamb in his arms, and place it in a large pouch on the front of his robe. He kept stroking its head, repeating the same word over and over again. When I asked the meaning of the word, I was informed, “Oh, he is calling it by name. All of his sheep have a name, for he is their shepherd, and the good shepherds know each one of their sheep by name.”

It was as my driver predicted. The money was refused, and the old shepherd with his small flock of sheep, with the injured one tucked safely in the pouch on his robe, disappeared into the beautiful deserts of Morocco.

As we continued our journey toward the ruins, my interpreter shared with me more of the traditions and practices of the shepherds of that land. Each evening at sundown, for example, the shepherds bring their small flocks of sheep to a common enclosure where they are secured against the wolves that roam the deserts of Morocco. A single shepherd then is employed to guard the gate until morning. Then the shepherds come to the enclosure one by one, enter therein, and call forth their sheep—by name. The sheep will not hearken unto the voice of a stranger but will leave the enclosure only in the care of their true shepherd, confident and secure because the shepherd knows their names and they know his voice."

"The words of the Master Shepherd rang loudly in my ears:

“But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

“To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

“And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

“And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers” (John 10:2–5)."

December First Presidency Message

Can We See the Christ?

BY PRESIDENT DIETER F. UCHTDORF

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Can We See the Christ?"
Ensign, Dec. 2010, 4–6

One night a grandfather was reading a story to his four-year-
old granddaughter when she looked up and said, “Grandpa,
 look at the stars!” The older man smiled kindly and said,
“We’re indoors, honey. There are no stars here.” But the
child insisted, “You have stars in your room! Look!”

The grandfather looked up and, to his surprise, noticed that
the ceiling was peppered with a metallic glitter. It was
invisible most of the time, but when the light struck the
glitter  a certain way, it did indeed look like a field of stars.
It took the eyes of a child to see them, but there they were.
And from that moment on, when the grandfather walked
into this room and looked up, he could see what he had not
been able to see before.

We are entering another wonderful Christmas season filled
with music and lights, parties and presents. But of all
people, we as members of the church that bears the
Savior’s name need to look beyond the façade of the season
and see the sublime truth and beauty of this time of year.

I wonder how many in Bethlehem knew that right there,
close to them, the Savior had been born? The Son of
God, the long-awaited and promised Messiah—He was
in their midst!

Do you remember what the angel told the shepherds?
“Unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” And they said to
themselves, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem,
and see this thing which is come to pass”
 (Luke 2:11, 15).

Like the shepherds of old, we need to say in our hearts,
“Let us see this thing which is come to pass.” We need
to desire it in our hearts.  Let us see the Holy One of
Israel in the manger, in the temple, on the mount, and
on the cross. Like the shepherds, let us glorify and
praise  God for these tidings of great joy!

Sometimes the most difficult things to see are those that
have been right in front of us all along. Like the
grandfather who failed to see the stars on the ceiling,
we sometimes cannot see that which is in plain sight.

We who have heard the glorious message of the coming
of the Son of God, we who have taken upon us His name
and have covenanted to walk in His path as His disciples
—we must not fail to open our hearts and minds and truly
 see Him.

The Christmas season is wonderful in many ways. It is a
season of charitable acts of kindness and brotherly love.
It is a season of being more reflective about our own
lives and about the many blessings that are ours. It is a
 season of forgiving and being forgiven. It is a season to
enjoy the music and lights, parties and presents. But the
glitter of the season should never dim our sight and
prevent us from truly seeing the Prince of Peace in His
majesty.

Let us all make this year’s Christmas season a time of
rejoicing and celebration, a time when we acknowledge
the miracle that our Almighty God sent His Only
Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world!