The Christmas season is always a
special time for many families. We get together with extended family,
co-workers, Church members, and those less fortunate. Most everyone seems a
little more kind this time of year when they realize Christmas is about the
Savior and not how much one gives in material gifts to others.
Christmas holidays were always
special for my family, we were fortunate to have both grandparents living
within a ½ mile of our home. We would always get together with my paternal
grandmother (grandpa Harju died before I was born) and aunt at the original
home of my father. On Christmas Eve my brothers and I went to the sauna on the
farm and participated in a traditional Finnish bath with Dad, and while we were
in the sauna, Santa Claus would come to grandma’s house. We could hardly wait
to get out of the sauna and through the meal to open our gifts. It was a small
home but was filled with great love from the extended family attending the
celebration.
Christmas night we were off to
my maternal grandparents the Spanglers. There were many people there in a house
with little room. We again enjoyed the family meal and a gift exchange. I don't
remember any of the gifts I received over the years, but I do remember to this
day 60 years later, the smells of the different homes, the foods we ate, the
sound of the different voices of my relatives and their many different
personalities. I am thankful that my parents helped us learn to love and
participate in family gatherings.
This has helped me remember how
important family is and why we do temple work. My dear wife Kim and I have had
the pleasure of doing the work for many of those same family members from those
Christmases, what a joy it is to hear again those family members voices in my
memories of Christmases past.
I hope that as we search for a
way to serve that we be more diligent in attending the Temple with our
ancestor’s names. What a wonderful gift of service to those who cannot do the
Temple work themselves. May you build family traditions not only at the
holidays but throughout the year and build the memories of loved ones then you
can later take their names to the Temple. May Heavenly Father bless you and
your families through the New Year. I know my Savior lives, Jesus is the
Christ.
Of this I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Dana
Harju
2nd Counselor Stake Presidency
Getting to Know Sis Bowden
I've spent the last 38 years serving the children and the youth. I loved teaching early morning seminary for 15 years!! I loved teaching my 12-13 year olds in Sunday School for the past 4 years and I love teaching music to the Primary children once again. I play the piano on Temple Square in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Conference Center and in the Tabernacle 4 times a year with a two hour program in each building. I love doing this and meeting all kinds of people from all around the world including General Authorities on occasion.
My husband and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple a long time ago according to our nearly perfect 6 grandchildren We have 3 wonderful children and equally as wonderful, a son in law and daughter in law.
My new favorite scripture as of lately is found in the book of Esther. "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Esther 4:14 I love Queen Esther, who, at great peril to her life, stepped forward in a most crucial way to save her people. She truly was the right person, at the right place and at the right time. She had the right preparation to do what the Lord needed her to do.
I have always prayerfully contemplated this thought as to why am I here at this time and in this calling. I have found that with much fasting and prayer the Lord reveals as to why I have come to the kingdom at this time and this place to accomplish the work that he has entrusted me to do. So begins this new journey for me in serving in the Relief Society. My prayers have been for the sisters in our stake and that I may be in tune to the Spirit to know how I can better serve.
On a side note, please be patient with me as I am learning. Like the delightful children's song, "lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way, teach me all that I must do to live with Him someday."
Sister Bowden
