December 30 - Day 39

Self-Care

Give yourself a "thank you" gift. It doesn't have to be expensive, it could be a new book, a cozy blanket, or a special drink or treat. Give yourself some appreciation for all you’ve done this season of giving.

This Day in Church History

Spencer W. Kimball became Church President on December 30, 1973, at the age of 78.

One of his most noteworthy operations came in 1972, when President Nelson’s love of medicine and faith came full circle when he was asked to perform high-risk surgery on Spencer W. Kimball, who was at the time a senior Apostle of the Church. President Nelson was serving as the Church’s General Sunday School President while continuing his work as a heart surgeon. He was given a priesthood blessing before the operation that he believed affected the outcome. “It was just like a musician who played a piano concerto without ever making a mistake or a baseball pitcher pitching nine innings of errorless ball,” he said. “That long and complicated operation was done without a single flaw. And at the end of the operation when his heart leaped with power, I knew that he would live. And as we were closing his chest, I had the feeling that this man would live to become the President of the Church.”

Spencer W. Kimball indeed became President of the Church and lived another 13 years.

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-russell-m-nelson-memorial

Christmases of the Modern Prophets

On December 22, 1945, President George Albert Smith, then the President of the Church, called a special meeting for the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He announced that the First Presidency had felt inspired to send an Apostle to preside over the European Mission and supervise the Church’s efforts there. World War II had ended earlier that year, and many European nations were just starting to recover from the widespread, overwhelming destruction of the war.  Ezra Taft Benson, the First Presidency felt, was the right man to do the job.

This news came as a “great shock” to Elder Benson, who was the newest and youngest member of the quorum. Like his father’s mission call 34 years before, this assignment would require him to be separated from his young family. The First Presidency could not say how long he would be gone. However, he assured them that his wife and children would support him, and he expressed his complete willingness to serve.38 He later described the assignment he had accepted:

“The magnitude of it seemed overwhelming. They [the First Presidency] gave us a four-point charge: First, to attend to the spiritual affairs of the Church in Europe; second, to work to make available food, clothing, and bedding to our suffering Saints in all parts of Europe; third, to direct the reorganization of the various missions of Europe; and, fourth, to prepare for the return of missionaries to those countries.”39 But President Smith gave him this comforting promise: “I am not at all concerned about you. You will be just as safe there as anywhere else in the world if you take care of yourself, and you will be able to accomplish a great work.”

Elder Benson described the experience when he shared the news with his wife and family: “In a sweet and impressive talk with my wife, sanctified by tears, Flora expressed loving gratitude and assured me of her wholehearted support. At dinner I told the children, who were surprised, interested, and fully loyal.”

When Elder Benson and his companion, Frederick W. Babbel, arrived in Europe, they were saddened by the sickness, poverty, and devastation they saw all around them. For example, in a letter to Flora, Elder Benson told of mothers who were grateful to receive a gift of soap, needles and thread, and an orange. They had not seen such things for years. Elder Benson could see that, with the meager rations they had been given in the past, they had “starved themselves to try and give more to their children in true mother spirit.” He told of Church meetings in “bombed-out building[s]” and in “almost total darkness.” He told of refugees—“poor, unwanted souls, … driven from their once happy homes to destinations unknown.” He also told of miracles amid the grim results of war.

One miracle was evident in the lives of Latter-day Saints throughout Europe. On the way there, Elder Benson wondered how the Saints would receive him. “Would their hearts be filled with bitterness? Would there be hatred there? Would they have soured on the Church?” He was inspired by what he found:

“As I looked into their upturned faces, pale, thin, many of these Saints dressed in rags, some of them barefooted, I could see the light of faith in their eyes as they bore testimony to the divinity of this great latter-day work, and expressed their gratitude for the blessings of the Lord. …

“We found that our members had carried on in a marvelous way. Their faith was strong, their devotion greater, and their loyalty unsurpassed. We found very little, if any, bitterness or despair. There was a spirit of fellowship and brotherhood which had extended from one mission to the other, and as we traveled, the Saints asked us to take their greetings to their brothers and sisters in other countries although their nations had been at war only a few months before.” Even the refugees “sang the songs of Zion with … fervor” and “knelt together in prayer night and morning and bore testimony … regarding the blessings of the gospel.”

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-ezra-taft-benson/the-life-and-ministry-of-ezra-taft-benson

The Gift of Scripture

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

“Ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world; …And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.” (D&C 50:40–42)

Remembering our Loved Ones Who Now Live in Heaven

Start a journal entry with the phrase “This next year, because of you…” and finish the sentence.

Great Gifts

“Many Gifts, Few Askers. The Apostle Paul taught the Corinthians about some of the many different spiritual gifts available, such as faith or healing (see 1 Corinthians 12:5–11). And then he instructed them to “covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31).”

“It might be hard to wrap your brain around the idea that coveting can be a good thing, but in this case it can be. We’re instructed to look at some of the spiritual gifts we see in others and then ask God to bless us with that same gift. Our hope in doing so should be to better serve others and build God’s kingdom (see Doctrine and Covenants 46:26–29). There are so many gifts—many more than you’ll find in the scriptures. Patience is a spiritual gift. So is optimism. “

“And courage. And being a peacemaker. Elder Larry R. Lawrence of the Seventy taught: “I sometimes visualize a large storehouse up in heaven, completely filled with spiritual gifts, available to all Saints who have the faith to ask for them. Unfortunately, not too many are asking, so the storehouse is always overstocked.”

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2018/12/adding-gifts-of-the-spirit-to-your-christmas-list

A Simple Gift to Someone

The gift of a new tradition. Be the person who organizes a simple, brand-new New Year's Day activity (like a specific hike, game, or brunch) to signal moving forward while still honoring the past.