On the 10th Day of Christmas Past, Question: How did a frustrated mother help her family discover the real meaning of Christmas? To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing- Read the story below; “Comment” & “Share” your answer on Facebook or our blog. “The Last Straw” By Paula McDonald Let us consider how we may spur one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). “It was another long, winter afternoon with everyone stuck in the house. And the four McDonald children were at it again–bickering, teasing, fighting over their toys. At times like these, Mother was almost ready to believe that her children didn’t love each other, though she knew that wasn’t really true. All brothers and sisters fight, of course, but lately her lively little bunch had been particularly horrible to each other, especially Eric and Kelly, who were just a year apart. They seemed determined to spend the whole winter making each other miserable. “Gimme that. It’s mine!” “Is not, fatso! I had it first!” Mother sighed as she listened to the latest argument coming from the living room. With Christmas only a month away, the McDonald house seemed sadly lacking in Christmas spirit. This was supposed to be the season of sharing and love, of warm feelings and happy hearts. A home needed more than just pretty packages or twinkling lights on the tree to fill it with the Christmas spirit. But how could any mother convince her children that being kind to each other was the most important way to get ready for Christmas? Mother had only one idea. Years ago her grandmother had told her about an old Christmas custom that helped people discover the real meaning of Christmas. Perhaps it would work for her family. It was worth a try. Mother gathered her four little rascals together and sat them down on the stairs, smallest to tallest–Mike, Randi, Kelly and Eric. “How would you kids like to start a new Christmas project this year?” she asked. “It’s like a game, but it can only be played by people who can keep a secret. Can everyone here do that?” “I can!” shouted Eric, wildly waving his arm in the air. “I can keep a secret better than he can,” yelled Kelly, jumping up and waving her arm in the air, too. If this was a contest, Kelly wanted to make sure she beat Eric. “I can do it!” chimed in Randi, not quite sure what was happening but not wanting to be left out. “Me too, me too, me too,” squealed little Mike, bouncing up and down. “Well then, here’s how the game works,” Mother explained. “This year we’re going to surprise Baby Jesus when He comes on Christmas Eve by making Him the softest bed in the world. We’re going to build a little crib for Him...
Read More9th Day Christmas Past Winner & Answer
Answer 9th Day Christmas Past: President Hinckley wrote home a heartfelt note to his father filled with gratitude for all he had done for him and his family. Congrats to 9th Day drawing winner, KATHLEEN STUART, who won an Olive wood carved Holy Family inside a star, Bethlehem baby blanket, and olive wood laser-cut Bethlehem bell ornament, valued at $130! Please contact MHA office 801-272-5601 or info@mormonheritage.com within 30 days to arrange for how to receive your prize. Story still available on yesterday’s...
Read More9th Day Christmas Past Question & Story
On the 9th Day of Christmas Past, Question: How did young President Gordon B. Hinckley express his gratitude Christmas Day 1933? To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing- Read the story below; “Comment” & “Share” your answer on Facebook or our blog. “Missionary Christmas” “In 1933 twenty-three-year-old Gordon B. Hinckley found himself sitting before a small fire in his missionary apartment in England. It was Christmas Day, and he had been in England for six months. It was Elder Hinckley’s first Christmas away from home. He sat before the warm glow of the fire in the boardinghouse where he and his companion were living and thought of his loving family in Utah. Those joyful family Christmases seemed very long ago and far away. His mother had been dead for three years, but many times he felt that she was near him, helping comfort and sustain him. Thinking of his mother, he said, “I have tried…to so conduct my life and perform my duty as to bring honor to her name.” That Christmas Day he also thought about his father, Bryant, and the love and support he felt from him. Elder Hinckley picked up paper and pen to write his father a Christmas letter. “Dad,” he started. “This is the first time in all my life that I have not been home for Christmas. While sitting before a boarding house fire and watching the flames go up the chimney, pictures pass by in memories of other Christmas Days. There is the morning when, pajama-clad, we hurried downstairs long before the rooster in the back yard was awake. Such excitement – bulging socks, games, horns, a bright sweater, candy and nuts and fruit. Then we ran back upstairs blowing harmonicas to show all those wonderful things to you and mother. You were tired out but you played with us, and kissed us before sending us back to bed before daylight. During the day you pulled us up and down the street on our new sled, and we knew you were the biggest, strongest man in the world…Last night I missed the thrill of expecting Santa Claus. You have not come around this morning. I miss you. But with distance between us, I begin to see in your life the spirit of Christmas beyond the magic of Santa Claus…There is a deep and silent expression of the virtues of Him whose birth we honor on this day. God bless you, dad, and keep you ever wonderful to me.” Christmas is a time to cultivate a grateful heart – to appreciate our family and those things they have done to help us along our way with thanksgiving. Such were certainly the feelings of young Elder Hinckley on that Christmas Day long ago in London.” Taken from: Laura F. Willes, Christmas with the Prophets, p....
Read More8th Day Christmas Past Winner & Answer
Answer 8th Day Christmas Past: Christmas band carolers filling a tuba horn with pieces of ill-tasting pie; children in the middle of the night getting into their Christmas surprises and using their mother’s cherished rocker as a sled was the mischief noted in the stories. Congrats to 8th Day drawing winner, REBECCA DAWSON, who won “The Savior in Kirtland” book by Karl Ricks Anderson, 6 Kirtland watercolor print note cards, and olive wood laser-cut tree ornament, valued at $50! Please contact MHA office 801-272-5601 or info@mormonheritage.com within 30 days to arrange for how to receive your prize. Story still available on yesterday’s...
Read More8th Day Christmas Past Question & Story
On the 8th Day of Christmas Past, Question: What mischief happened in these two pioneer Christmas accounts? To be entered into today’s daily giveaway & FREE tour drawing- Read the story below; “Comment” & “Share” your answer on Facebook or our blog. “Kane County Caroling Band” “It was tradition in Kane County, Utah, for a band to serenade the citizens on Christmas Eve. The band members were often invited into the homes for refreshments. The story is told that one time they went into a home where they were served a dried-peach pie. The filling lacked sufficient sugar and the crust was very tough. When no one was looking, several members of the band slipped the remainder of their pie into the big bass horn. The owner of the horn, Nels Johnson, did not see them do this, so when they were about to leave, he said, “Let’s play one more tune for these good people.” “No it is too late,” the rest of them said. He persisted, but when he blew into the horn, no sound came out. Puzzled, he turned the horn upside down and out poured the pieces of pie. The band was never again received an invitation to partake of refreshments at that home.” Taken from: Christmas a Joyful Heritage, Susan Madsen, p. 13-14 “December 25, 1885” by Ariel Warren Perry “It was Christmas morning at 4 am in the year 1885. The ground was covered with snow and the moon was shining very bright. My brothers, Will, Jesse and I, thinking it was morning, got out of bed to see if old Santa Claus had been there and found our stockings. I found my first big doll and a small jewel box. The lid had a little Red Riding Hood figure with the big gray wolf attached to it. The boys found a tool box, and the baby found a little toy horse with a cart fastened to it – when the wheels went round a bell would ring. He would run and play with it and then we would all run with him. We decided we would take our baby brother for a ride in the snow. We went out in our nightgowns and took turns riding on mother’s rocking chair – one pushing the other. Mother prized the chair very much. It was made by Stephen C. Perry – an early pioneer. The wind began to blow and we were cold, so we went back inside and enjoyed eating our candy and nuts; then we began to run and play around mother’s kitchen stove. As we were running, my baby brother (2.5 years old) fell and cut his forehead on the bench. Mother woke up, bandaged his head, and put us all to bed until morning.” Taken from: Treasures of Pioneer History I (1952): ...
Read More7th Day Christmas Past Winner & Answer
Answer 7th Day Christmas Past: Handel’s “Messiah” was originally intended as an Easter piece. He was so inspired it only took 24 days to completely compose and orchestrate and needed very few corrections. Congrats to 7th Day drawing winner, SUSIE AMINI, who won an Olive wood carved Jesus with little children statue, Bethlehem baby blanket, and olive wood laser-cut Bethlehem bell ornament from Israel, valued at $85! Please contact MHA office 801-272-5601 or info@mormonheritage.com within 30 days to arrange for how to receive your prize. Story still available on yesterday’s...
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