The Greatest Gift

As we get excited to tear open the gifts under the tree on Christmas day, may we take a moment to reflect on the most precious gift of all that was given to us by our Savior, the gift of Eternal life, Forever Families, and redemption from our sins. This is a gift that we can never fully repay, but we can show our gratitude for this gift by the way we live our lives and our dedication to the Savior by following His example. May we carry the spirit of Christ with us into the new year and keep it with us always.

Sister Fiona Seeley

Smithfield 18th Ward

What do you see?

I see many things in this painting by Doc Christensen.

1. Who the Deacons represent while they pass the Sacrament.  

2. A man wanting to touch the Savior’s hand. 

3. A child wanting a hug from someone he recognizes. 

What do you see?

-Brother Kelly Luthi, High Councilor

O Come, O Come Emmanuel - A Christmas Message from the 5th Ward

To help bring the Spirit of Christ into our lives. That should be our focus for Christmas each year:

"Our testimony is that He lives and is the gift we should both give and receive this holiday season. "

President Mont Didericksen addresses recent death of a young boy in the Stake.

I know many of you are aware of the recent tragedy that has affected the lives of two wonderful families in our stake.  This unfortunate accident has also left many friends and neighbors to feel a profound sense of sadness and loss as well.  I won’t pretend to understand at any level what these families are going at this time but my heart aches for them and they have occupied my thoughts and prayers constantly since hearing about the death of 10-year-old Zach.  I have also witnessed the outpouring of love and concern from family, close friends and neighbors.  This love and support is important not just now but will be in the weeks, months and even years to come. 

Although I can’t completely understand and relate to the pain and anguish these families are experiencing, I can relate to their pain at a certain level.  When I was a senior in high school my father passed away from a long battle and history of heart disease.  I remember at the time wondering how I would survive and what would I do.  I was the youngest child and not particularly close to my older sisters, my brother was serving a mission in Japan and my step-mother made the decision to kick me out of the home I had grown up in.  My mother had passed away when I was an infant so I really didn’t know who to turn to or what I would even do.  I couldn’t wrap my head around what had just happened.   If it had not been for the love and support of my best friends’ family, I don’t know what I would have done at that time in my life.  They took me in as one of their own so I could finish school and have a place to call home.  I began to feel an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort from my Father in Heaven.  I knew without a doubt that my Heavenly Father and my Savior, along with both my parents were right by my side every step of the way.  The pain did eventually go away and life got better.  My life took a turn in a direction I never would have anticipated but I have been so richly blessed for the relationships I have developed since that horrible day and looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing.  I have been blessed beyond measure with a wonderful wife and children that words cannot express.  I know they are mine forever if I live up to the covenants I have made with God.  The prophet Joseph Smith was told in the midst of his trials in the Liberty jail that trials he was facing would give him experience and be for his good (D&C 122:9).  I testify that these things are true even when we sometimes feel like we can’t make it through them. 

Many of us have faced similar pain and loss and know to some degree the pain these two wonderful families are currently facing.  Please reach out to them and continue to do so.  The love we show them now will help them through this process of healing.  I know that the healing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ is real and that He understands completely the pain each of us suffer.  He will succor us in our afflictions as He has promised through the power of the Holy Ghost.  I encourage each one of us to reach out to Him in times of need and crisis.  He has the power to heal and bind up our wounds.  I testify that this is true.

President Mont Didericksen

Sharing the Message That We Believe in Christ!

Missionary experiences, in my past, have always found me. As time continues I've found that I must find them...but the rewards are far greater because of the effort and love I put into the search.

Living in Smithfield Utah, compared to other places around the world, has offered me the chance to look for opportunities to share the gospel. One such experience occurred due to the Ogden Temple dedication. Curiosity rather than theology instigated many discussions with our new neighbors from the Midwest so I cautiously invited them to attend the temple open house with our family.

We had a fantastic experience and they had many questions about the temple and eternal families. Their strong Southern Baptist background gave a foundation to a discussion that continued on my front porch later that night. As we shared our beliefs with each other and recognized the many similarities, the Spirit was present and we both felt that conviction. The sweetest moment was when this dear lady stated with conviction, "You believe in the same Jesus I do!". My mind cried out with a resounding "Yes!". These cherished neighbors have now moved back to the Midwest but I recently talked to them and they left with a solid understanding that we are all Christians and that we LOVE our Savior.

Missionary work is not simply a matter of baptizing those who are ready, they are making ready those to be baptized. I truly believe the Lord helped us to instill a seed that day and not just in them, but in me.

-Sister Noelle Harrild, Relief Society President, Smithfield 6th Ward

What does it mean to offer sacraments to the Lord?

"What does it mean to offer up our sacraments to the Lord? We acknowledge that all of us make mistakes. Each of us has a need to confess and forsake our sins and errors to our Heavenly Father and to others we may have offended. The Sabbath provides us with a precious opportunity to offer up these—our sacraments—to the Lord" (L. Tom Perry, General Conference, April 2011)

Progress is not measured by how close Christ is to us but by how we are drawing closer to Christ. Each sacrament we offer draws us nearer to Christ.

-Brother Curtis Roberts, Stake High Councilor