- Joseph Smith, The Eleventh Article of Faith, 1842
(23 Dec 1805 - 27 June 1844)

   And should you choose to read why I left the beloved Methodist Church in which I was raised and adopted this faith as my own, I'll offer you this story once more which I wrote for my children and grandchildren:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/CONVERSION-STORY.html

   Well, Donna, I'm sorry you have to suffer through that weather!  GIGGLES!!!  It's good to hear from you again!  Thanks so much!  Merry Christmas - and stay cool!  MORE GIGGLES!!!

 

   Oh, I don't know!  Wouldn't that be something?!? 

   Look at all the detail you can see by enlarging it the second time.  Did you notice it predates even the Ferris Wheel???  What a treasure!!!

   Thanks again, Bill and Debbie!

Merry Christmas to all the Typhoons out there.. and a few others!
 

  John ('66) is home safely from Iraq, our daughter Chera and husband Adrian are home from San Salvador for the holidays, and daughter Miriam is home from your stopping grounds Carol.. Fayetteville! Heather was already home so she gets to stay!

   WOWZERONI!!!  Welcome home, John!!!
 

Hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas. John and I will celebrate with 2 more Typhoons...my sister    Mary Anne ('58) and brother    Fred ('60)!

God bless you one and all!

 

Peace & Blessing,
Cheryl Mays Howard

   How wonderful that you'll all be together!  Tell Mary Anne and Fred, "Hi" for us.  Have a blessed Christmas, Cheryl - and thanks for everything!

   And thank you for all y'all did with the committee to make our October Reunion such a grand success!  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

   (If y'all are wondering about that mysterious marbleized gray panel above, I think it was "posta" be the background upon which their message appeared, but my computer didn't seem interested in playing that game, and it was too pretty to ignore, so just use your imaginations.....)

With sincere best wishes, Joe Wingo

   Well, Sweetie, you said that about as well as it's going to be said!  I'll just add my "Amen", and a sincere thanks for my treasured association with you all!

   Merry Christmas, Joe!

..............

   Okay, see, if I tell you the rest of what Dale said, it will ruin the surprise - and you know how much I love surprises!!!

   Thank you so very much, Dale!!!

For all you do for throughout the year, mahalo nui loa (thank you very much).

Dale Parsons '69
Maui, HI
 

   And Merry Christmas to you and Ginny and your whole family!

Text: William Fowler, 1830–1865

Music: Caroline Sheridan Norton, 1808–ca. 1877

Brightly

31243, Hymns, We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet, no. 19

D&C 21:1–5

Mosiah 2:41

1. We thank thee, O God, for a prophet
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank thee for sending the gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays.
We thank thee for every blessing
Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee
And love to obey thy command.

2. When dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us
And threaten our peace to destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliv’rance is nigh.
We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness.
We’ve proved him in days that are past.
The wicked who fight against Zion
Will surely be smitten at last.

3. We’ll sing of his goodness and mercy.
We’ll praise him by day and by night,
Rejoice in his glorious gospel,
And bask in its life-giving light.
Thus on to eternal perfection
The honest and faithful will go,
While they who reject this glad message
Shall never such happiness know.
 

Text: George Manwaring, 1854–1889

Music: Sylvanus Billings Pond, 1792–1871; adapted by A. C. Smyth, 1840–1909

With dignity

31243, Hymns, Joseph Smith’s First Prayer, no. 26

Joseph Smith—History 1:14–20, 25

James 1:5

1. Oh, how lovely was the morning!
Radiant beamed the sun above.
Bees were humming, sweet birds singing,
Music ringing thru the grove,
When within the shady woodland
Joseph sought the God of love,
When within the shady woodland
Joseph sought the God of love.

2. Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing—
’Twas the boy’s first uttered prayer—
When the pow’rs of sin assailing
Filled his soul with deep despair;
But undaunted, still he trusted
In his Heav’nly Father’s care;
But undaunted, still he trusted
In his Heav’nly Father’s care.

3. Suddenly a light descended,
Brighter far than noonday sun,
And a shining, glorious pillar
O’er him fell, around him shone,
While appeared two heav’nly beings,
God the Father and the Son,
While appeared two heav’nly beings,
God the Father and the Son.

4. “Joseph, this is my Beloved;
Hear him!” Oh, how sweet the word!
Joseph’s humble prayer was answered,
And he listened to the Lord.
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
For he saw the living God;
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
For he saw the living God.

Text: William W. Phelps, 1792–1872

Music: Scottish folk song

Vigorously

31243, Hymns, Praise to the Man, no. 27

D&C 135

2 Nephi 3:14–15

1. Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!
Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer.
Blessed to open the last dispensation,
Kings shall extol him, and nations revere.

[Chorus]
Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;
Death cannot conquer the hero again.

2. Praise to his mem’ry, he died as a martyr;
Honored and blest be his ever great name!
Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins,
Plead unto heav’n while the earth lauds his fame.

3. Great is his glory and endless his priesthood.
Ever and ever the keys he will hold.
Faithful and true, he will enter his kingdom,
Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old.

4. Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven;
Earth must atone for the blood of that man.
Wake up the world for the conflict of justice.
Millions shall know “Brother Joseph” again.