Car Wreck

You may have seen this on the news. Adam is a friend from church. His family is in our ward and I like to help his mom with serving lunch at Friday Forum (Institute). Adam picked us up last night to go to the ward choir party at the Dangerfield's, and on the way told us about his car accident. It's funny...I've been hanging out with Adam's mom and spent some time at their house, and somehow did know this news that went international before the cops arrived on the scene. Haha. Adam said the other cars on the highway stopped to get pictures and video and put it up online with their phones right then. I just can't believe what a close call that was! I think he was ok because of the faith and prayers of his parents. Sometimes I wonder if they were angelic messengers who were sent to earth and got stuck here. I think living a life of complete service to others has really paid off for their family.

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Nativity

We went to see the Nativity display at the Stake Center. It was fun to see all the different kinds of nativity sets that were displayed in the gym. I think there were about 450 sets, and they were from all different kinds of cultures and places: Mexico, Africa, China, Native American, Poland...etc. They had another room where you could dress up and get your picture taken. My friend, Hadra, and I are angels and Greg is a wise man. The family before us had a lot of kids, so they had Mary and Joseph, Wise Men and Shepherds, an angel, a cow, and a donkey. Hahaha!

If your church doesn't do this, you should suggest it. It's a neat experience! The nativity sets came from people in the church and the community who let us use them to display. Lots of people came throughout the last week to help set up and make it beautiful. There were people singing, playing the flute and piano, and the harp to make beautiful background music. It was wonderful!

Beautiful Savior

This is sung by a BYU Men's Choir. So beautiful.

Money!

We had a lesson about money management in Young Women's today. We talked about why God would want us to learn to use our money wisely, and how the qualities we develop as good stewards of our money will translate to other parts of our lives. For instance, you have to learn self-control and discipline to manage your money. When you can do that, you will be able to master many other things in your life. And why would we have a lesson about money management in church on Sunday? Because God wants us to be successful and happy, and these things that seem temporal to us affect us spiritually as well. The whole point of life is to learn to master yourself and become more like God.

The teacher read a quote from Dave Ramsey's book during the lesson. It may not be word for word because I wrote it down after she said it.

"Money will only make you more of what you already are. If you are a jerk, wealth with make you become the King of Jerks. If you are generous, wealth with make you most generous, and if you are kind, wealth will make you more kind than any."

That is so true! Money is not evil. Evil people are evil, and their evilness is magnified when they have money/power. And when good people have money/power, their goodness is magnified as well. (Think of Esther and the position she was in. And they said she came to the kingdom "for such a time as this." She was able to use her position of power for good in a way she could not have done were she a simple citizen of no consequence.)

The teacher also read a quote that said something to the effect of, "Money will pave the road from good intentions to good deeds."

Money isn't everything, but if you have it you can use it and be an instrument in God's hands. I have met several people who are doing very well financially, and they all had this in common: They were hard-working, unselfish people who wanted to serve God and their fellow men. Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you." One of those people told me they believed God blessed them because they gave when they did not have much to give. Now they are blessed in many ways and it is easier for them to give freely to help those around them. I admire their good examples and hope that I can be an instrument in God's hands as well.

That's been on my mind now that we're headed into Christmas and the season of giving. I hope you have a meaningful Christmas and look for ways you can help the people around you, as Christ would. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

My Young Women leaders showed this video with the song for a Wednesday night activity close to Christmas when I was 17. I thought it was so beautiful and it really touched me. That night, after watching the video, we all took turns expressing our feelings about the Savior and our faith in him. I think of that special night every year when Christmas comes. I hope it touches you too.

Merry Christmas.