I hope that each of you had a Christmas filled with love and joy. I hope that broken hearts or feelings might have been mended. I sincerely hope that you felt the Love of Christ in your hearts.

“Slow down. Make up your mind and settle it in your heart that you choose God. Find the quiet time when you can kneel down in a private place and say to your Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, that you are His, that you are committed, body and soul, to Him, His Son, and the gospel path. Then follow where He leads, now and for the rest of your life. Don’t hesitate or hold back any longer but get on with your purpose and mission in life. Mortality is so short. Make this time count so that your eternity will be one of joy, not regret. Do you not feel the Spirit telling you that this is right? And go forward with confidence.”

~ Elder D. Todd Christofferson

I invite you to prayerfully seek opportunities to make contact with your families.  We all have accepted the callings to serve as ward missionaries.  I witness to you that the Lord will be your companion as you make efforts to love those assigned.  Love as the Savior loves you.  

Search your hearts.  What can you give back to the Savior?  Perhaps a smile, a hug, a note, some cookies, a phone call, a text message.  In serving our brothers and sisters is one of the greatest gifts that we can give to the Savior.  Along with our hearts!  

I would encourage and invite you to dedicate at least 30 minutes a week to getting to know and befriend those families that you have been assigned.  If possible and if you have one, take your spouse with you.  And please feel free to ask other ward missionaries to go with you if you would like.  Always feel free to call me if available which I am more often than not.  I would be happy to help.

Just become friends, Let Charity fill your hearts.  It will change your lives.  It will help you through the hard times that we all experience.. Most of all it will bring you peace in your heart. In your prayers I would encourage you to pray for the gift of Charity, the gift of Revelations, and the gift of Discernment.

You are all in my thoughts and prayers.  The Lord bless each of you and your families. And as you make final preparations for the New Year.

Please ponder what gift you want to give HIM this new year!!!!!!!!!

I witness to you that Jesus is the Christ.  This is His Church and gospel.  We have a Prophet on the Earth today. Pres Nelson.  Listen to him and he will help guide you to becoming converted to Jesus Christ.  I bear you this witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Steve

THE DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS

Christmas day has now come and gone for another year.  The time is soon coming when, for many, the decorations will come down, clean-up and recovery from all the celebrations and festivities will occur, and life will begin to return to normal.

As I was pondering and praying this morning, the following verses of scripture came to mind, and the Lord seemed to be asking me the question He asked those of old:

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Then said Jesus unto (Eric), Will ye also go away?” – John 6:66-67

It caused me to pause and contemplate my heart, and ask:

Will I simply return to my former self?  My former routines and patterns of life?

Or will my celebrations of the Savior’s birth and life result in increased levels of consecration, commitment, and discipleship?

Will I continue to seek after and follow Him, every day desiring to come closer to worhsipping at His feet?

Without the lights and decorations and vacations, will my focus still be centered upon following Him, even if that means picking up and carrying a new and unfamiliar (and pehaps more uncomfortable) cross in the year ahead?

The holiday of Christmas is over, but Christ ever remains and reigns!

“Will we also turn away?”

Or will we follow Him, no matter what the hazard or cost of discipleship?

In whatever difficulties (personal and worldwide) which may lie ahead before His glorious Second Coming, will the challenges lead us towards Judas, or will our hearts be like John the Beloved who remained with Him at the foot of the cross, and tending to the needs of others at His request, even if we don’t fully understand why things are happening?

A new day and a New Year are now nearly upon us.

May each day of it continue to lead us ever closer and more fully devoted to the CHRIST of Christmas, and not returning to more comfortable complacency.

What becomes of us in the days after Christmas is up to each of us to decide.