THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • DECEMBER 2011 Liahona The Savior’s Gift of Peace and Joy, p. 18 Out of the Haze and intointo HisHis Light,Light, p.p. 4242 How Nephi Helped My Father and Me, p. 56 Sister Uchtdorf’s Christmas Memory, p. 66 The Nativity, by Phyllis Luch We learn in Matthew 2:9–11 that the Wise Men gave gifts to “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Jesus Christ when He was a young child, and they were led by the “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young new star that appeared at His birth. child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: “The star, which [the Wise Men] saw in the east, went before and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Liahona, December 2011 MESSAGES 34 Lost and Found 12 Serving in the Church: My By Adam C. Olson Service as a Single Member First Presidency Message: 4 By Julie Burdett The Choice to Be Grateful How one couple connected daily decisions with a view By President Henry B. Eyring 14 We Talk of Christ: An Answer of their eternal destination. for Every “What If?” 7 Visiting Teaching Message: By Michael D. Woodbury An Extensive Sphere of Action DEPARTMENTS 16 Gospel Classics: Lessons from the Master 8 Small and Simple Things FEATURE ARTICLES By Elder Marvin J. Ashton 11 Our Homes, Our Families: 38 Latter-day Saint Voices 18 The Peace and Joy of Off Key but on Target Knowing the Savior Lives By JaNeal B. Freeman 74 News of the Church By Elder Russell M. Nelson The divine Son of the living 79 Family Home Evening Ideas God will love you, lift you, and ON THE COVER Front: photo illustration by Matthew 80 Until We Meet Again: manifest Himself unto you if Reier. Back: The Birth of Jesus, by Carl Heinrich Bloch, used by The Light of the Son you will love Him and keep His permission of the National Historic By Jeff S. McIntosh commandments. Museum at Frederiksborg in Hillerød, Denmark. 24 The Road to the Temple By Chad E. Phares Although they have taken dif- ferent paths, Latter-day Saints in Ukraine are finding that all Kyiv Ukraine Temple 24 roads of righteousness lead to the temple. 28 The Key to Opportunity: Celebrating 10 Years of the Perpetual Education Fund By Rebekah Atkin Announced in 2001, the Perpet- ual Education Fund has blessed the lives of thousands of Church members. YOUNG ADULTS YOUTH CHILDREN 46 Questions and Answers How can I keep a positive 72 attitude about the future? 48 Poster: You Are Never Alone 49 How I Know: The Lord Poured Out Blessings By Kim Koung 50 A Sure Witness By Elder Carl B. Pratt Does Moroni’s promise apply 42 to you? 42 They Spoke to Us: 52 This Shall Be a Sign unto You 59 Special Witness: How Can I Come, Let Us Adore Him By Whitney Hinckley Follow the Savior? By Elder Patrick Kearon How the prophecies of Jesus By Elder Quentin L. Cook Christ’s birth were miraculously fulfilled. 60 Those Words By Angie Bergstrom Miller 55 Thoughtful Gifts What could Shelby do when she The meanings behind the gold, heard her friends swear? frankincense, and myrrh given to the Christ child. 62 Our Page 56 They Should Change 63 Temple Cards See if you can find By Francisco Javier Lara Hernández Bringing Primary Home: the Liahona hidden I was the only member of my 64 in this issue. Hint: a The Scriptures Teach Me family who accepted the gospel. about the Savior’s Birth gift under the tree. Now I had to figure out how to and Second Coming respond when their lifestyle con- By Jennifer Maddy flicted with gospel principles. 66 The Christmas Tree 58 Meet Brother Joseph By Harriet R. Uchtdorf Here are a few things you might A Christmas memory from my not know about the Prophet childhood in Germany. Joseph Smith. 68 My Mission Fund By Spencer S. You can start saving for your mission today. 69 The Articles of Faith Thirteen of our key beliefs. 70 For Young Children 50 2 Liahona DECEMBER 2011 VOL. 35 NO. 12 LIAHONA 09692 International magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ Liahona.lds.org of Latter-day Saints More The First Presidency: Thomas S. Monson, Online Henry B. Eyring, Dieter F. Uchtdorf FOR ADULTS The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Boyd K. The Perpetual Education Packer, L. Tom Perry, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Fund has thrived since President Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen Gordon B. Hinckley announced it Editor: Paul B. Pieper 10 years ago (see page 28). To read Advisers: Keith R. Edwards, Christoffel Golden Jr., Per G. Malm more success stories, learn how to Managing Director: David L. Frischknecht obtain a PEF loan, or contribute to Editorial Director: Vincent A. Vaughn Graphics Director: Allan R. Loyborg the fund, visit pef .lds .org. Managing Editor: R. Val Johnson Assistant Managing Editors: Jenifer L. Greenwood, Adam C. Olson Associate Editors: Susan Barrett, Ryan Carr FOR YOUTH Editorial Staff: Brittany Beattie, David A. Edwards, Matthew D. Flitton, LaRene Porter Gaunt, Carrie Read how the Kyiv Ukraine Temple Kasten, Jennifer Maddy, Lia McClanahan, Melissa has strengthened families (see Merrill, Michael R. Morris, Sally J. Odekirk, Joshua J. Perkey, Chad E. Phares, Jan Pinborough, Paul page 24) and watch how the VanDenBerghe, Marissa A. Widdison, Melissa Zenteno youth cultural celebration that Managing Art Director: J. Scott Knudsen Art Director: Scott Van Kampen took place before the temple Production Manager: Jane Ann Peters Senior Designers: C. Kimball Bott, Colleen Hinckley, was dedicated strengthened the Eric P. Johnsen, Scott M. Mooy testimonies of the teens involved. Production Staff: Collette Nebeker Aune, Howard G. Brown, Julie Burdett, Reginald J. Christensen, Kim Watch the inspiring video at youth Fenstermaker, Bryan W. Gygi, Kathleen Howard, Denise Kirby, Ginny J. Nilson .lds .org (search for “Kyiv Ukraine Prepress: Jeff L. Martin Temple”). Printing Director: Craig K. Sedgwick Distribution Director: Evan Larsen For subscriptions and prices outside the United States FOR CHILDREN and Canada, go to store.lds.org or contact your local Church distribution center or ward or branch leader. Enjoy the Christmas stories on Submit manuscripts and queries online at liahona. pages 64, 66, and 70. Then watch lds.org; by mail to Liahona, Rm. 2420, 50 E. North Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT 84150-0024, USA; or a video of the first Christmas e-mail: liahona@ ldschurch .org. based on Luke 2. Visit lds .org/ The Liahona (a Book of Mormon term meaning “compass” or “director”) is published in Albanian, new-testament-videos. Armenian, Bislama, Bulgarian, Cambodian, Cebuano, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Fijian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE Kiribati, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malagasy, Numbers represent the first page of the article. Marshallese, Mongolian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Samoan, Slovenian, Spanish, Activation, 34 Missionary work, 39, Swedish, Tagalog, Tahitian, Thai, Tongan, Ukrainian, 49, 50, 56, 68 Urdu, and Vietnamese. (Frequency varies by language.) Atonement, 4, 14 © 2011 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. 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