On the 7th Day of Christmas Past, the QUESTION is to be – What did “Jingle Bells” mean to Pres. Ezra Taft Benson? To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing- Read the story; “Comment” & “Share” your answer on Facebook or our blog. “I love Christmas time and I find great joy in remembering Christmases past. Perhaps it is the emotion of the season that makes this time of year seem particularly poignant and meaningful. Especially memorable of many events, almost nine decades of Christmases, dating back to my childhood on the Whitney, Idaho farm where I was reared. They are still clear in my mind and among some of the most enjoyable memories I have. As a boy I loved going to the canyon to cut our Christmas tree and I always tried to get one that reached to the ceiling. Though we received only a few gifts, our stockings were filled with fruit nuts and candy and Santa always left something. Like all children we suffered terrible anticipation at Christmas time. I remember wondering if father and mother must be hiding our gifts somewhere on the farm. I couldn’t stifle my inquisitive mind and in no time I’d led my young brothers on a search that turned up several gifts buried in the wheat in the granary. I’m told that I was a bit of a tease during my youth. I do remember coming in on my sister, Margaret, while she was balancing on a stepladder to decorate the tree. Sensing an opportunity to tease her, I feigned danger by giving the ladder a little shake. Margaret, who was not amused ordered me out of the room and then tossed in my direction a dustpan that caught me on the lip. I still have a scar to remember that little prank by. One of my favorite winter and especially holiday activities was taking out the big two horse bobsleigh with bells on the horses. In those days Jingle Bells was not only a song it was a thrilling experience. There’s nothing quite like riding through country lanes with the sleigh box filled with straw and a group of friends singing Christmas carols. In more recent decades my wife Flora and I have made many happy Christmas trips to visit family in Calgary Alberta, Canada. The highlight of each visit is a ride in a horse drawn cutter or bobsleigh. It’s exhilarating to get hold of the lines of a good team drawing a bobsleigh or two seat cutter and ride out into the Canadian open. In Whitney on Christmas Day our family visited our grandparents and we almost always traveled to their homes by bobsleigh. These were such happy occasions our grandparents were very musical and always provided entertainment of various kinds. There were recitations, skits, original poems, music, and dancing. Grandma...
Read More6th Day Christmas Past Winner and Answer
Answer 6th Day Christmas Past: A father gave his son (who thought he wanted a rifle more than anything) so much more. He had given him the best Christmas of his life in helping a widow and her three children who were starving. This gift stayed with him his whole life and continued to remind him to help others and the true joy it brings. Congrats to 6th Day drawing winner, Ileen Keele, who won a Bethlehem star baby blanket from Israel and a package of 10 hand carved olive wood ornaments! Please contact MHA office 801-272-5601 or info@mormonheritage.com within 30 days to arrange for how to receive your prize. Thank you everyone for your insights on both FB and our blog. The Story still available on yesterday’s Question website blog...
Read More6th Day Christmas Past Question and Story
On the 6th Day of Christmas Past, the question is to be – Question: How did not getting the gift a young man wanted end up being an even better gift? To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing- Read the story; “Comment” & “Share” your answer on Facebook or our blog. “Christmas Eve 1881” Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving. It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn’t been enough money to buy me the rifle that I’d wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible. After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn’t in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn’t get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn’t figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn’t worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. “Come on, Matt,” he said. “Bundle up good, it’s cold out tonight.” I was really upset then. Not only wasn’t I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We’d already done all the chores, and I couldn’t think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one’s feet when he’d told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn’t know what. Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn’t going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand....
Read More5th Day Christmas Past Winner and Answer
Answer 5th Day Christmas Past: Young President Monson gave his friend (who had nothing to eat) the only thing he had, his pet rabbits. He told him to take them home for his Christmas dinner and that the rabbits tasted good like turkey and chicken. Even as a young boy he was already coming to the rescue! Congrats to 5th Day drawing winner, Kimberlee Skelton, who won a Nauvoo Temple plate! Please contact MHA office 801-272-5601 or info@mormonheritage.com within 30 days to arrange for how to receive your prize. Thank you everyone for your insights on both FB and our blog. The Story still available on yesterday’s Question website blog...
Read More5th Day Christmas Past Question and Story
On the 5th Day of Christmas Past, the question is to be – Question: When Thomas S. Monson was a child, how did he answer his friend when he was asked, “What does turkey taste like?” To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing- Read the story; “Comment” & “Share” your answer on Facebook or our blog. “What Does Turkey Taste Like?” One Christmas time, while young Thomas S. Monson and his family were in the middle of making preparations for a big turkey dinner, his friend asked a startling question: “What does turkey taste like?” Thomas told him that it tasted like chicken, but then he realized that his unfortunate friend had never tasted either one. Not only that, there was nothing in his house from which to prepare a Christmas dinner. “I pondered a solution,” Pres. Monson said. “There was none. I had no turkeys, no chickens, no money. Then I remembered I did have two pet rabbits. Immediately I took my friend by the hand and rushed to the rabbit hutch, placed the rabbits in a box, and handed the box to him with the comment, ‘Here, take these two rabbits. They’re good to eat – just like chicken.’ “He took the box, climbed the fence, and headed for home, a Christmas dinner safely assured. Tears came easily to me as I closed the door to the empty rabbit hutch. But I was not sad. A warmth, a feeling of indescribable joy filled my heart. It was a memorable Christmas.” What is something that was hard for you to give up but brought joy? Is there something hard now you should give up and would be better off? Taken from: Laura Willes, Christmas with the Prophets, p....
Read More4th Day Christmas Past Winner and Answer
Answer 4th Day Christmas Past: She hid her newly prized Christmas doll in the stove’s oven where her brother couldn’t get it. It was unknowingly burned to a crisp. Congrats to 4th Day drawing winner, Lacey Edstrom, who won an olive wood nativity scene hand carving from Israel and Bedouin hand-stitched wall hanging! Please contact MHA office 801-272-5601 or info@mormonheritage.com within 30 days to arrange for how to receive your prize. Thank you everyone for your insights on both FB and our blog. The Story still available on yesterday’s Question website blog...
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