Life with Mother

Life has calmed down around here, but just a bit. Dad finished the jewelry store miraculously close to the Thanksgiving deadline, and I returned from Barcelona in time to celebrate the end of his excruciating job. Everyone involved with this latest M.J. Christensen project has been highly complimentary and appreciative to Dad for his masterful skill and dedication to the job, even offering him whatever he wanted in special bonuses. Of course he asked for the one bonus they didn't want to consider: some time off! He went ahead and took a few days in Circleville anyway, relaxing with some work around the cabin. He even braved a snow and ice storm to make it home Sunday.

The first yearbook deadline has come and gone, as well as all the proofs. We're getting ready for deadline 2 with a little over a week to go. Meanwhile I've just been the toughest teacher, marking kids absent when they leave class and even reporting them ineligible for basketball when they haven't finished their pages. My kids have also taken on the mammoth project of a winter formal dance this coming Saturday. I just can't believe what I've gotten myself roped into. I guess I never really believed they would follow through with it, especially since they never seem to follow through on anything else! Oh well, I'm sure I can think of something good about it before this week is up.

McKay and Keresa spearheaded the traditional chocolate dipping on Saturday, and we plan to finish the project this coming Saturday (before the winter formal), so everyone's invited to come join in. My young women will be baking Christmas cookies here on Wednesday, so hopefully we'll have some left overs for the troops on Saturday.

Since the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plains, luckily I enjoyed beautiful weather in Barcelona for my weekend convention. As usual the flight was long, but at least this time I didn't get stuck in Denver because of a snowstorm. In fact, I managed to sneak on an earlier flight that got me home 3 hours earlier. Here's a picture of me with Gaudi's famous chameleon, symbolizing change. By the way, I wished you all could have been there! Love to all, Mom

Dear Family,

We spent the first part of November enjoying the beautiful fall weather: lots of outside playtime for the kids, cool weather runs/ bike rides for me. Then I picked as many green tomatoes as I could stand and stashed them in the garage. It is like my giant refrigerator. I also keep my soda out there and it stays cold enough. (It's been a boring/ uneventful month and I can't think of anything else to write.)

Andy's sister Rebecca left for the MTC. She is headed to Argentina. I asked Andy if that was exciting for him (that is where he served his mission) He said, "Yes, that means more turkey for me," referring to Thanksgiving dinner. I guess I should have been more specific with him. Two days before her departure date, Allison, Andy's sister, had her first baby 2 weeks early. (How would that be, I wonder?) Anyway, it was emotional to say goodbye and hello. Those newborns are so precious!! It amazes me how much I seem to enjoy someone else's baby.

Michael and I got to give an oral report to his 2nd grade class. We chose to talk about Florence and Rome, and we ended with Paris and shared crepes with the class. It was fun to see how excited he got about sharing one of his favorite desserts with his friends. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed and I wonder if we are creating enough traditions as a family; will the kids have fond holiday memories or will they say "My mom took a lot of naps and said 'no' all the time." It's nice to see/feel they like something about being part of our family.

We had Thanksgiving with Atwoods. The food was amazing as always; that's what it is all about anyway, right? Then on Sat we had our first snowfall. The kids were up at 7:00 digging out snow pants, gloves, boots, hats, scarves. I forced them to eat some oatmeal. Then they headed out back, even Milo. I sat in the kitchen watching happily. Then after the snow angels, ice hut, snowman, slushies, snow chairs and snow table were finished and the snow ball fight was over, they piled back into the house for hot chocolate. Milo doesn't remember snow last year, so he is quite fascinated.

We got report cards and the kids have all E's. McKayla's kindergarten teacher wonders if I work with her. She is amazed by how much she knows and how quickly she learns everything. Truth is McKayla amazes us all.

Andy is gone to a conference in Vegas this weekend. He is learning all about teeth. How much more is there to know? I am trying to do all the Christmas shopping online. It's been nice so far.

Kambri is in a play. I don't know the date, but I have been helping her with her lines. I have really enjoyed listening to her acting voice.

I hope no one fell asleep reading this epistle like what happens with Dad's. Love Melanie

Martha & Jeremy

Hi Everyone,

We hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving! We had a good month. Jeremy took me to the opera for our anniversary. Do you know opera tickets (nosebleed section) are cheaper than movie tickets? So for a night we pretended like we were already out of school. We dressed up fancy, left the kids with a babysitter and rode the subway to downtown! Jeremy even admitted to enjoying the opera. He understood the Italian being sung. I didn't, but they had subtitles. Nonetheless Jeremy kept leaning over to tell me phrases the subtitles left out. It was a fun time that we recommend to everyone.

We've spent the past week and a half in California visiting Jeremy's family. The California weather was a nice break. I enjoyed being able to take off for 60 - 90 minute runs whenever I chose. The kids enjoyed being spoiled thoroughly. Jeremy enjoyed playing with his brothers. We all enjoyed the food. Unfortunately everyone took a break from our diets, and there was more than enough food and sweets available 24/7. Oh well, I can't deny that I enjoyed it.

We're getting ready to go on the airplane back to Philly. Enjoy December! Love, The Tanners

Martha leaves the competition in the dust, alone at last.

McKay & Keresa

Thanksgiving was great.

We took some family pictures at LV Redrock, which we will share when the proofs are available, and had lots of food. Our main focus during the long break was putting the back yard plans together. We got a bobcat from a neighbor and went to work changing the shape of our dirt, then drew diagrams for the sprinklers, then got a trencher from Home Depot and cut all our trenches, then laid pipe, etc. It was not completed, but will be soon. I have about an hour and a half before work every morning that I can go out and put to it. The goal is to have a beautiful lush back yard with garden and swimming pool for my graduation party, sometime in mid-may.

Keresa made some delicious pecan pies for Thanksgiving. Needless to say, I overdid it on eating them.

A few weeks ago we visited Grandma and Grandpa in Logandale to paint Grandpa Bert's house. It was fun. We had a delicious dinner of liver and onions.

A few nights ago we played with Sydney for a half hour before she went to bed, trying to get her to walk. She walks with us holding her hands, but is not trying it on her own yet. As we played with her I couldn't help but think that she is nearly a year old! Where did the time go? That means that we are almost married for two years?! Amazing. It just helps me to see that there is not a moment to lose in setting high goals, then setting a course to complete them because before you know it, it will be too late!

Love, the MK Whitneys

Querida Familia,

Nothing super cool to put in the newsletter like last time. Here's two fun things that happened in the past week: Pavaso, and Charla Fogonera (Big Turkey and Fireside)

So every Thanksgiving, the mission has a tradition for a big basketball tournament between different zones. Being in the campo, so far away from everything, we have our own basketball tournament apart from all the missionaries in the capital with just the four small campo zones. Our zone made matching t-shirts for the tournament complete with bandanas. I designed it making a parody on a new beer logo that has a yellow thought bubble with the words "Tu Saaabe!" But I changed tu sabe to "Aaaazua!" That was also our team chant. Too bad that all of that doesn't change the fact that I, nor most of our zone, knows nothing about basketball.

The tournament was at a place up in the mountains called San Jose de Ocoa, probably the most beautiful place in the mission where four lucky elders serve in a quaint little branch really far away from everything! It's about an hour and a half away from Azua. So we drove in, took some pictures in our matching t-shirts, shook President's hand, got creamed in the basketball tournament, and went home to eat our turkey. And it was good. I also had another lady make us 15 pounds of mashed potatoes along with just over a gallon of gravy. I was in Pavaso heaven!

So now the other fun activity was a charla fogonera (fireside) that the missionaries in Sabana Yegua put on to help get the branch there excited to work. Elder Mejia came for moral support and also participated. He gave a really neat talk on Every Member a Missionary, and I came up with some skits that I had Elder Mejia and another missionary act out on Standing as a witness at all times and in all things and in all places.

I started reading in Mosiah 18 where it talks about that and then talked briefly about the baptismal covenant and our obligation as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. Then I had the two elders play out a few scenes. . .

First, they got together (one playing as a member and another a nonmember) and the nonmember encouraged the member to go to a baseball game Sunday morning. Then I jumped in and froze them like on Whose line is it Anyway and talked about how that was not standing as a witness. Then the actors rewound themselves and played through the scene again, only the member stood fast and invited the nonmember to church.

Second, the non-member offered coffee to the member, and after much excuses and indecision, he simply got up and ran away! I stopped them again and talked about how running away is not standing as a witness. They rewound the scene again (the actually rewinding of the scene was the biggest hit of the whole show!) and this time the member did it right, explained the dangers of coffee and invited the nonmember to talk to two of his friends named "Elder" to learn more about why it's bad.

Third, the member was reading the book of Mormon, when the curious non member came and starting offering curious comments such as, "Ah, La Biblia de Mormon, no?" and "That's the book that Joseph Smith wrote, right?" And in the end, the member shamed away and taped up a sign on the book of Mormon that said "La Biblia." I rewound them once more and had the member resolve the doubts and then invite his friend to learn more about the book from two of his friends named "Elder."

I guess it doesn't sound that funny writing about it. One of those, "Had to be there" things. But I got a kick out of it. The whole fireside was great. And I don't know about the members, but I'm more dedicated to the mission work now!

Ummm, we've been slowly but surely decorating our appartment since Halloween ended. Since I already had the "Happy Halloween" banner up that Martha sent me, I just went ahead and created red and green letters and pasted "Christmas" over "Halloween." Did you know that Christmas has just as many letters as Halloween? Neither did I until I did that! Plus I kept up all the little skeletons but made them all Santa Claus hats. For the next step, I pinned up the small stocking Mom sent me last year, the large stocking Summer sent me last year, another large stocking that I found in the house (it's amazing what you find in missionary houses) and an odd sock and put them up with our names for each Elder in the house. Of course we had to find a tree. So we bought a little three-foot plastic tree and a string of lights for 300 pesos. An elder in our house shredded up some packing material from a package he got and sprinkled it on the the tree for a snowy effect. It's rather nice. Keep in mind, all this has been up in our house for about a month now!

So as we've moved into December, I thought I'd keep up my favorite Christmas tradition and make a nativity calendar! I cut out a tree from a page of the Moapa Valley Progress (oh yeah, thanks for the last package, Mom, great job on the calendar!), colored it with green highlighter, and wrote 1-25 on it with a red marker. Now each day someone gets a turn to make an ornament and tape it to the tree! It's great! However, I think that the goofy/creative ornaments are going to be the norm, so every time it's my turn, I'll have to put on a candy cane or a Santa Claus to try and balance it out. I'll be sure to send some pictures the next time I get a chance to download my camera card.

Lots of love and other good things. Con Amor, Elder Winni

Another Dry Council Talk

Elder M. Russell Ballard in a recent general conference admonished us with this statement, "We must prepare ourselves to assist the missionaries in finding those of our Heavenly Father's children who will embrace the message of the Restoration."

In the time of the New Testament the Savior in Matthew 28:19-20, asked that the apostles, "go . . . and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world".

But the Savior was not just talking to the Apostles. He was also talking to every person who has been blessed to hear the gospel and is a member of His Church. In Doctrine and Covenants 88, verse 81 the Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith in very simple terms, "It becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor."

Remember, brothers and sisters, we're not marketing a product. We're not selling anything. We're not trying to impress anyone with our numbers or our growth. We are members of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, empowered and sent forth by the Lord Himself to find, nourish, and bring safely into His Church those who are seeking to know the truth.

Viewed from that eternal perspective, what we are to do seems so simple and clear, but I know that member missionary work can be challenging and sometimes frightening. Let's read D&C 38:30. "I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

Allow me to suggest three simple things that we can do to assist in this divinely commissioned responsibility.

First, we should exercise our faith and pray individually and as families, asking for help in finding ways to share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Let's read out of the Pearl of Great Price. Go to Joseph Smith 1. Starting with verse 11. Read until you feel the power of the first vision. How can we not want to share that feeling?

Ask the Lord to open the way. Remember, brothers and sisters, this is the Lord's Church. Let Him guide you through constant prayer. With a prayer in your heart, talk to everyone you can. Don't prejudge. Don't withhold the good news from anyone. Talk to everyone, and trust in the promised power of the Spirit to give you the words you should say. Let them make the decision to accept or reject your invitation. Over time, the Lord will put into your path those who are seeking the truth. He is the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep, and they will know His voice, spoken through you, and they will follow Him.

The Lord trusts His true disciples. He sends prepared people to His prepared servants. All of us who are under the baptismal covenant have promised to offer the gospel to others. Remember what is says in D&C 88:81? "Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor." Sometimes, fear of rejection or of giving offense looms before us like an impassable obstacle. Yet some members clear that barrier with ease. There is no single pattern in what they do. There is no common technique. Some always carry a Book of Mormon to give away. Others set a date to find someone for the missionaries to teach. Another has found questions which draw out feelings about what matters most in life to a person. Each has prayed to know what to do. They each seem to get a different answer, suited especially to them and to the people they meet. But in one way they are all alike. It is this: they have a common way of seeing who they are. They can do what they have been inspired to do because of who they are.

To do what we are to do, we will have to become like them in at least two ways. First, they feel that they are the beloved children of a loving Heavenly Father. Can we feel that? Because of that they turn to Him easily and often in prayer. Do we or can we turn often in prayer to our Savior? We can expect to receive His personal direction. When obey in meekness and humility, as the children of a perfect parent He will be close to us.

Second, leaders must lead by example. The Spirit will prompt and guide you in finding those interested in our message. Our personal worthiness will give us the courage and the spiritual power to inspire our members to actively help the missionaries.

Faithful leaders and members are the grateful disciples of the resurrected Jesus Christ. We know for ourselves that the Atonement is real and necessary for all. We have felt cleansed through baptism by those in authority. And because of the peace we have experienced, we are at times like the sons of Mosiah, "desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."

As parents and leaders we need to see that every 12-year-old young man is worthily ordained a deacon; every 14-year-old, a teacher; every 16-year-old, a priest and that every 18 to 19-year-old worthily receives the Melchizedek Priesthood. We can do this by filling the hearts of our young men with love for the Lord, understanding and appreciation of His Atonement, and a clear vision of the marvel of the Restoration.

When our youth understand the significance of the Restoration of the gospel and know for themselves that God is our Heavenly Father and He loves all of His children, that Jesus is the Christ, and that together They personally visited Joseph Smith to open this, the final dispensation of time, they will want to help carry this message to the world. When our youth see the Book of Mormon as tangible evidence that the message of the Restoration is true, they will be filled with a desire to do their part in teaching these truths to our Heavenly Father's children.

As a counselor, I've been interested in studies and statistics. Because of the repetitive nature human behavior, we can often fairly accurately predict future performance based on past actions. 75% of 4-year seminary graduates go on to serve a mission. 98% of young men who read their scriptures and have personal prayer daily serve missions.

This is what we have learned from the missionaries at the Missionary Training Center. Missionaries were asked what would have helped them most to prepare for their mission. Above all else they wished they had:

1. Learned the doctrine better through focused scripture study. 2. Learned how to study and to pray sincerely. 3. Been more disciplined and worked harder. 4. Understood better what is expected. 5. Had more teaching opportunities. 6. And had more searching interviews by bishops and parents.

Make sure all of our youth understand who they are. From our earliest days in Primary, we sing "I Am a Child of God". Help our children know what it really means to be a child of God. Remind them that they are here at this particular time in the history of the world, with the fullness of the gospel at their fingertips, because they made valiant choices in the premortal existence. Our youth need to stand firm for righteousness and truth. This includes all time outside of church and home.

Teach the doctrine. While activities and social events have their appropriate place in our overall youth program, it is the doctrine that converts and commits. Our youth have a right to expect that we as parents and Church leaders and teachers will see that they know and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost will confirm the truth to their hearts and will ignite the Light of Christ in their souls. And then you will have one more fully prepared missionary.

Third, member missionary work does not require the development of strategies or gimmicks. It does require faith-real faith and trust in the Lord. It also requires genuine love. Turn to Matthew 22: 37 & 39. The first great commandment is to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. . . . The second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

So let the power of love guide us in sharing the gospel with family members, friends, neighbors, business associates, and any other people we encounter as we go through life. Most everyone wants to enjoy peace and happiness. That is a natural human desire. People want to find answers to the problems they face. This is increasingly true in the world we now live in.

Professional advancement, increased income, bigger homes, or newer cars and recreational equipment do not bring lasting peace and happiness. Happiness comes from understanding God and knowing that He has a plan for our eternal joy and peace. Happiness comes from knowing and loving the Savior and living our lives in accordance with His teachings. Happiness comes from strong family and Church relationships based on gospel values.

There are those who speak easily and often of the restored gospel prize and what it has meant to them. They think of that great blessing often. It is the memory of the gift they have received which makes them eager for others to receive it. They have felt the love of the Savior. For them the words found in 1 John 4: 18-19 are their daily, hourly reality:

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. "We love him, because he first loved us."

Even having felt that love, the true disciple sometimes feels anxiety. The Apostle John was clear about that: fear will be gone when we are made perfect in love. We can pray for that gift of perfect love. We can pray with confidence that we can feel the Savior's love for us and for all we meet. He loved us and them enough to pay the price of all our sins. It is one thing to believe that. It is something far more to have our hearts changed to feel it every moment. The command to pray to feel the Savior's love is also a promise. This is what Mormon said in Moroni 7: 46- 48,

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail-

"But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure."

Pray for the chance to encounter people who sense there could be something better in their lives. Pray to know what you should do to help them. Your prayers will be answered. You will meet people prepared by the Lord. You will find yourself feeling and saying things beyond your past experience. And then in time you will feel yourself drawing closer to your Heavenly Father, and you will feel the cleansing and the forgiveness the Savior promises His faithful witnesses. And you will feel His approval, knowing you have done what He asked of you, because He loves you and trusts you.

Some us say, "I'm afraid to share the gospel because I might offend someone." Experience has shown that people are not offended when the sharing is motivated by the spirit of love and concern. How could anyone be offended when we say something like this: "I love the way my church helps me" and then add whatever the Spirit directs. It's when we appear only to be fulfilling an assignment and we fail to express real interest and love that we offend others.

Don't ever forget, brothers and sisters, that you and I have in our possession the very points of doctrine that will bring people to the Lord. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ has within it the power to bring deep and abiding happiness to the human soul-something that will be valued and cherished for the rest of time and for all eternity. We are not just trying to get people to join our Church; we are sharing with them the fullness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. But as powerful as our message is, it cannot be imposed or forced upon people. It can only be shared-heart to heart, soul to soul, spirit to spirit-by being good neighbors and by caring and showing love. We need to be watchful for one another and reach out to one another. And as we do so, we will radiate the gospel in our own lives, and it will radiate to the people the blessings the gospel has to offer.

Young men of the priesthood. The discipline contained in daily obedience and clean living and wholesome lives builds an armor around you of protection and safety from the temptations of our world. Through obedience to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, you can leave home with a clear conscience. Now, there may be some of you who have already given in to the ways of the world. The only way to regain your self-respect is the process called repentance. Always remember that with the help of your bishop there is a way back. Do not hesitate to use it! Join with those who keep the commandments rather than ridicule them.

One last thing. How many members desire to be missionaries but go about in their daily activity without any kind of missionary aid, like a tract, Book of Mormon, or other missionary tool? Open your Book of Mormon to Alma 6:6. "Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God."

Are you praying for those who, as Alma said, "knew not God"?

Bert N Whitney Family Newsletter, Glimpses of Heaven