Show m 1 1 1 Vol 81 Number Utah 84634 Salina Utah 84654 Gunnison 52 Stranger in the manger by Lori Olsen One night last week on my noticed something way to bed strange amongst the Christmas was decorations at our house clicking off the lamps in the front found a stranger in room when the manger of my porcelain nativ- went to the next lamp ity set There was a stranger in the man- ger of my nativity set bought in Mexico Even one of the lambs was a foreigner was curious and checked my sets chuckled as discov- ered each bed of hay had a stranger Oh it was still Jesus but from another nativity set The Christ Child in my miniature set was taller than Joseph and Mary found a little brown Jesus in my white porcelain set and a plastic “Precious Moments” baby in my pink set from Mexico Someone in my house was having a little fun made a As a young mother fabric nativity set The characters were printed right on the material and stuffed them with batting Each figure was weighed down with a hand full of dried pinto beans in the bottom so they would set up straight and tall My young children loved to play with them and act out the Christmas story It also kept the kids away from my porcelain set placed up on ' the piano We used the clothbean-othe- r bag set for years until it was worn and started losing beans One year made a little card- decorated it with board manger markers and set it in the middle of our cloth nativity set on the kitchen table Every time a family member did an act of kindness they were to cut off a piece of golden yarn and place it in the manger The goal was to have a soft full man December 25 75 cents 2002 ger for the baby Jesus by Christmas Eve It worked well as we all looked for opportunities to serve each other It mas more effective than threats of Santa skipping our house if the kids didn’t behave We kept the tradition for several years and then moved on to new ideas to interest growing children But nativity sets have always been an important part of the Olsen Christmas celebration Nativity sets have now become one of my passions at Christmas time only have teenagers and young adults around the house now and it is relatively safe to put out our precious nativity sets Over the years f have col- lected a couple of nice sets a tew fun “kid safe” sets and several expensive “Dime Store” sets The variety is fun and many sets have a story to tell besides the story of Chrisfs birth f was telling my sister about - our Jesus exchange and she asked if put them back in their proper beds “Not yet” explained You see I’m looking for some kind of symbolism and meaning in the pranksters switch f don’t think it has anything to do with ethnicity know a ceramic brown baby with a white porcelain Mary and Joseph Oh thafs not it think my teens were regress- ing to playing around with the na- - - pieces a fun in and acting out the and unique way Our youngest son finally admitted he did the switching around think he just wanted to put his personality into my “Martha Stewart” mas decor But there could certainly be a deeper meaning Perhaps it can remind me that Christ should be a big part of our Christmas like the huge baby tion rounded by miniature angles Wisemen shepherds - V) OR the babies are not really strangers just welcomed visitors We should welcome Christ into our sure there is a in every manger and love every heart Merry Christmasf lives and make Jesus is in - Salina LDS Stake Presidency Message Imagine if we could have been there on that night of nights when the shepherds were abiding in the fields and the angel of the Lord appeared to them announcing "Fear not: for beFor unto you is hold I bring you good tidings of great joy bom this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the The shepherds went with haste to the Lord" (Luke2:lQ-ll- ) manger to pay honor to Christ the Lord Wise Men journeyed from the East to Jerusalem "saying Where is he that is bom King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy And when they were come into the house they saw the young child with Mary his mother and fell down and worshiped him: and when they opened their treasures they presented unto him gifts gold and frankincense and myrrh" (MatL2L210-ll- ) 'True happiness" said President David O McKay "comes only by making others happy — as son and daughter of God we bring the world the happiest message of all In short the Christmas spirit is the spirit of Christ that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ obedience to which will bring 'peace on earth' because it means — good will toward all men" May the Lord Bless you and your family this Holiday Season and throughout the coming year Sincerely Salina Utah Stake Presidency President Dennis R Sperry President Bart Reynolds President Neal Bosshardt Ked Nielsen Dwaine Burr Dahl Brown Gunnison LDS Stake Presidency Message I May tho lir1!’' ( chine upon your ? 1 of Mis blessings ka2 this holy season be0lld Inc Salma Sun and Gunnison Valiev News R COPY L Christmas is almost here By now most of the preparations are behind us Our emotions are the sum total of all of the thought and preparation hope and expectations of the last few weeks As the Stake Presidency it is our hope that all of your wishes for a happy holiday season come to pass We wish that your family experience will be all that you have hoped for In addition and most importantly we hope that peace comes into your homes and lives The peace we speak of is the peace that comes from a love of God and his son Jesus Christ For after all it is Christ's birth that we celebrate even the Prince of Peace He said "Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you Let not your heart be troubled: neither let it be afraid" Of all the gifts of Christmas this might be one of the most prized Yet there are eligibility requirements associated with this gift of peace The following poem might fill that X ) suggested requirement: Give to your enemy forgiveness To your opponent tolerance To your friend your heart To all men charity for the hands that help are holier than lips that pray To every child a good example and to yourself — respect Anonymous It is our experience that lives lived in the service of others are happier lives and in these homes there is a great measure of peace Additionally we declare that those who focus their lives on Jesus Christ who was born in Bethlehem of Judea will not only have this gift of peace on this earth but will have eternal peace It is our prayer that your life be filled with that kind of confidence and that Peace abide with you and your family through this holiday season Gunnison Utah Stake dency Curtis E Anderson Jan F Christensen Norman R Jensen Presi- |