Posted by admin on Dec 19, 2013 in Christmas Past 2013 | 7 comments

Question 8th Day Christmas Past:  What did Pres. Spencer W. Kimball witness in the trenches on Christmas during the World War?  Did any of our war veterans witness anything like this? (To be entered into today’s giveaway & FREE tour drawing, Comment & Share your thoughts of story below on Facebook or our blog.) President Spencer W. Kimball, before he ever became an apostle, related a Christmas story to Primary children about World War I. He said: “One Christmas during the World War, when no-man’s land between the trenches was white with snow, the troops in a certain ‘quiet sector’ began to exchange holiday greetings by means of crudely painted signs. A few minutes later, men who spoke German and men who spoke English were climbing from their trenches without guns and meeting on neutral ground to shake hands and exchange souvenirs, unmindful of war . . . Friends they were, not enemies, this Christmas day.” Then, after becoming an apostle, he returned to the theme, writing in a Christmas pamphlet that Christmas “transcends the individual, the family, the community, the nation; it approaches the universal, crosses borders, and touches many nations of the earth. Our caroling voices sing the sweet songs of Christmas reminiscent somewhat of the host of heavenly angelic voices in the long ago, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’ “. (Teachings, p. 246.) Christmas, indeed, is the one time of the year when peace seems to be taken seriously. Despite the commercialism of the season, it truly transcends not only national borders, but also the borders of time, feelings and minds. Look at the ritual and customs that surround Christmas. From Druid gatherers of mistletoe to St. Nicholas who lived in Russia, Christmas has accumulated legends and rituals from throughout the world. There’s only one reason for such an amazing display of human goodness: the reason why Christmas is commemorated at all. If it did not have Christ at its center, it would long ago have vanished along with other ancient holidays. The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 419 & 246. The Prince of Peace , LDS Church News, 1995, 12/23/95...

Posted by admin on Dec 19, 2013 in Christmas Past 2013 |

Answer 7th Day Christmas Past: The emigrating Saints were protected by the Lord from a hurricane that sunk 150 other ships. Story still available on yesterday’s 7th Day Question website blog post. Congrats to 7th Day drawing winner, Meredith Brito, who won a star framed Holy Family statue hand carved from...

Posted by admin on Dec 18, 2013 in Christmas Past 2013 | 7 comments

Question 7th Day Christmas Past:  How were  Scandinavian Saints being watched over while emigrating  during Christmas time 1852? (To be entered into today’s giveaway & FREE tour drawing, Comment & Share your thoughts of story below on Facebook or our blog.) The first large company of emigrants from the Scandinavian mission had an earnest desire to emigrate to Zion.  They were Saints from Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.  The Elders had been busily engaged for some time in making preparations to send off a large company. About the beginning of December, 1852, the company began to gather in Copenhagen, Denmark, and on Monday, December 20th, 1852, two hundred and ninety-three Saints, including children, went on board the steamship Obotrit, and sailed from “Toldboden”, under the leadership of Elder John E. Forsgren, one of the Elders who, in connection with Apostle Erastus Snow, first introduced the Gospel into Scandinavia two years before. A great multitude of people had gathered on the wharf to witness the departure of the “Mormons,” and many of the rabble gave utterance to the most wicked and blasphemous language, while they cursed and swore, because so many their countrymen were disgracing themselves by following “that Swedish Mormon Priest” (an appellation they gave Elder Forsgren) to America. No violence, however, was resorted to, and the ship got safely away. After a rather stormy and unpleasant passage, the Obotrit, arrived safely at Kiel, Holstein, on the evening of the twenty-second. The following day the journey was continued by rail to Hamburg, where a large hall had been hired, and supper prepared for the emigrants. In the afternoon of the twenty-fourth the Saints went on board the steamship Lion, which glided slowly with the tide down the river Elbe to Cuxhaven. The emigrants now celebrated Christmas Eve on board, with songs and amusements of different kinds. In the morning of the twenty-fifth anchor was weighed, and the Lion sailed to the mouth of the river, where it was met by heavy headwinds, that made it impossible to reach the open sea. Finally, the passage from the river to the sea was made in the moonlight, soon after which a heavy gale blew up from the southwest, which increased in violence until the next day, when it assumed the character of a regular hurricane, the like of which old sailors declared they had never before experienced on the German ocean. The ship’s bridge and part of the gunwale were destroyed, and some goods standing on the back were broken to pieces and washed overboard; otherwise, neither the ship not the emigrants were injured. On the twenty-eighth, in the evening, after the storm had spent its fury, the Lion steamed into the harbor of Hull, England. About one hundred and fifty vessels were lost on the German Ocean in the storm, and the people in Hull were greatly surprised when the Lion...

Posted by admin on Dec 18, 2013 in Christmas Past 2013 |

Answer 6th Day Christmas Past: Joseph F. Smith gave the greatest gift, his time and love.  It didn’t cost a cent but to his children it was priceless. Story still available on yesterday’s 5th Day Question website blog post. Congrats to 6th Day drawing winner, Betty Bringhurst, who won a Nauvoo Sunstone ornament as well as an olive wood box from...

Posted by admin on Dec 17, 2013 in Christmas Past 2013 | 13 comments

Question 6th Day Christmas Past:  What was Joseph F. Smith still able to give to his children for Christmas even though he hadn’t a single penny to spend? (To be entered into today’s giveaway & FREE tour drawing, Comment & Share your thoughts of story below on Facebook or our blog.) Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith remembered one Christmas holiday when there was not even a dollar to buy anything for Christmas.  By now he was the father with young children.  He was working at the Church tithing office from 6 am until 11 pm each day, for which he received three dollars per day in tithing pay.  This meant he could go to the tithing store and exchange his pay for flour or meat or molasses.  At least the family had food. He described how he felt that holiday as he longed to provide his family with a wonderful Christmas:  “I left the old home with feelings I cannot describe.  I wanted to do something for my chicks [children].  I wanted something to please them, and to mark the Christmas day from all other days – but not a cent to do it with!  I walked up and down Main Street, looking into the shop windows – into Amussen’s jewelry store, into every store – everywhere – and then slunk out of sight of humanity and sat down and wept like a child, until my poured-out grief relieved my aching heart; and after a while returned home, as empty as when I left, and played with my children, grateful and happy only for them.” After these trials Elder Smith says that his way became easier.  Through hard work he prospered and was finally able to keep Christmas the way he wanted to.  But he never forgot his Christmases of want, when he gave his children the greatest gifts any father could give – his love and his time. Joseph F. Smith, “Christmas and New Year,” 266-67. Laura Willes, “Christmas with the Prophets,” p....