On the FOURTH DAY of Christmas Past, the QUESTION is to be – 4. When a pioneer girl received an extra special gift where did she hide it for safekeeping? To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing- Read the story; “Comment” & “Share” your answer on Facebook or our blog. “For Christmas, a beloved aunt from Provo had sent my mother, Lucy Potter Blackham, a beautiful doll dressed in a taffeta gown. This gift was so much prized to her that every child in town knew about it long before daylight Christmas morning as it was the custom to go from one house to another calling “Christmas Gift,” and see what the other children had received. Her beautiful doll was a great curiosity, especially to her baby brother who wanted it badly. To hush his cries and to keep her new treasure safe she searched for the perfect place to hide it for safekeeping. The oven! This was guaranteed the best spot as her baby brother was not allowed anywhere near it! So she hid the doll in the oven of their old-fashioned stove feeling very proud of herself and went on her way to pay some friendly calls to see what others had received for Christmas. Meanwhile at home, her father having just finished farm chores and very cold, made a big fire in the stove to get everything nice and toasty. Not much later Lucy returned home to find a strange smell and a very uninviting warm home! Her precious gift, the doll, had been burned! Her Christmas went from one of envy to that of despair. She said she knew it was her punishment from the Lord for being selfish with her baby brother when they found the doll in the oven burned to a crisp. She mourned for two weeks over the loss of the beautiful doll.” Where was your favorite hiding spot as a child? Taken from: Susan A. Madsen, Christmas a Joyful Heritage – p. 52 Kate B. Carter, Treasures of Pioneer History 3 – p. 143-44 from Mella Morley...
Read More3rd Day Christmas Past Winner and Answer
Answer 3rd Day Christmas Past: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow composed a poem used in “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”. His poem describes his journey from suffering many tragedies like losing his wife, to a restored faith and trust in God when his son’s life was spared miraculously after a serious war wound. Congrats to 3rd Day drawing winner, Betty Bringhurst, who won an olive wood Holy Family hand carving from Israel and a Nauvoo Angel Moroni ornament! 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 More3rd Day Christmas Past Question and Story
On the 3rd Day of Christmas Past, a Carol that we sing. Question: Who was inspired to write the words found in the hymn “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and why? (To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing, Comment & Share your thoughts on Facebook or our blog of story below.) The Story Behind “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” One of America’s best known poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), composed the words to “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” on December 25th 1864. The carol was originally a poem, “Christmas Bells,” containing seven stanzas. Two stanzas were omitted, which contained references to the American Civil War, thus giving us the carol in its present form. The poem gave birth to the carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” and the remaining five stanzas were slightly rearranged in 1872 by John Baptiste Calkin (1827-1905), who also gave us the memorable tune. As with any composition that touches the heart of the hearer, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” flowed from the experience of Longfellow– Tragedy struck both the nation and the Longfellow family in 1861. The opening shots of American Civil War rang out on April 12th, and Fanny Longfellow was fatally burned in an accident in their library on July 10th. His wife’s death – Fanny, Henry’s wife, had just finished trimming one of their daughter, Edith’s, beautiful curls. She decided to preserve the clippings in sealing wax. Melting a bar of sealing wax with a candle, a few drops fell unnoticed upon her dress. Through an open window a sea breeze blew, igniting the light material of Fanny’s dress– immediately wrapping her in flames. In her attempt to protect Edith and Allegra, she ran to Henry’s study in the next room, where Henry frantically attempted to extinguish the flames with a nearby rug. Failing to stop the fire with the rug, he tried to smother the flames by throwing his arms around Frances– severely burning his face, arms, and hands. Fanny Longfellow died the next morning. Too ill from his burns and grief, Henry did not attend her funeral. (Incidentally, the trademark full beard of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow arose from his inability to shave after this tragedy.) The first Christmas after Fanny’s death, Longfellow wrote, “How inexpressibly sad are all holidays.” A year after the incident, he wrote,”I can make no record of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps someday God will give me peace.” Longfellow’s journal entry for December 25th 1862 reads: “‘A merry Christmas’ say the children, but that is no more for me.” It seemed as though all Christmases were now filled with despair. Worry for his son – Almost a year later, Charles Appleton Longfellow (Henry’s son) who was 17 years old, ran away in the middle of the night not leaving a note as to...
Read More2nd Day Winner and Answer
Answer 2nd Day Christmas Past: Christ’s spirit is omnipresent so can be everywhere in the world and in even the lowest of circumstances. President Monson said it best, “To catch the real meaning of the Spirit of Christmas, we need only drop the last syllable and it becomes the Spirit of Christ.” Congrats to 2nd Day drawing winner, Sherrie Spenst, who won a nativity charm bracelet and Nauvoo Temple ornament! 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 More2nd Day Christmas Past Question and Story
On the 2nd Day of Christmas Past, Christmas in TWO places. Question: How can we have the Christmas spirit wherever we are in the world and in various circumstances – even from Tooele to Tubuai? To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing- Read the story below; “Comment” & “Share” your answer on Facebook or our blog. Christmas in Tubuai On April 6, 1850 President Brigham Young called Louisa Barnes Pratt as a missionary to the women and children of the South Sea Islands. She and her four daughters left Salt Lake City May 7, 1850 in company with other missionaries, some of whom, took their families. She was the first woman called to fill a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After five and one-half months of traveling 1,000 miles on land and 5,000 miles by water they arrived safely at their destination. Addison Pratt and her husband, had been in the Islands on a mission for 8 months. Her mission was not in connection with his as she was called to work only with the women and children. Her previous training had been in the teaching profession. Her eldest daughter, then 19, learned the native language easily and acted as interpreter until her mother could master it. From Louisa Barnes Pratt journal is the following description of how they celebrated Christmas, 1851 in Tubuai. Mrs. Pratt had taught the people of the life and mission of Jesus Christ and the story of His birth. As Christmas time drew near she told them that they would have a celebration with a great feast. This pleased the women and children very much so they went about making preparations. First she told them they must clean the building or the angels would not attend. This was a large room which was used for all Church services. They took sand and scoured all the benches and floor. Now began the work of decorating the place. In the center of the room was a large pillar supporting the roof. On either side she placed an Ito tree of the most vivid green, which extended almost to the roof. On these trees they placed tea leaves, made into wreaths by the women, which added a bright color and a pleasing fragrance. Added to these were the beautiful flowers of the Bauran tree, making a contrast of lively green and yellow; also, branches of the lime tree with the fruit still hanging on them. Then Mrs. Pratt hung pictures of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum. The native saints regarded them with great reverence. Only the church members and their friends were invited to the festivities. Just before the program started, natives who were not church members from far and near gathered around the building peeping through the windows admiring the decorations. The Chief was...
Read More1st Day Winner and Answer
Answer 1st Day Christmas Past: The Winters family had 4 FIRSTS: The first the daughters had ever heard of Christmas. The first since leaving the East that they had molasses to make treats. The first one down Christmas morning won a prize. The first the children had ever seen a lump of sugar. Congrats to 1st Day drawing winner, Kathleen Stuart, who won an olive wood camel hand carving from Israel! Please contact our office at either 801-272-5601 or info@mormonheritage.com to arrange getting your prize. Thank you everyone for your insights on both FB and our blog. The Story still available on yesterday’s 1st Question website blog...
Read More
Recent Comments