The 2023 Holiday Fun Continues

Rex Kocherans (baritone), Melissa Heath (soprano) and James Welch (organ) put on a beautiful Christmas concert in a Provo chapel.

The Orem Temple is finally finished and will be dedicated for use in January. It has been open to the public for tours. I visited this beautiful sacred building last week. The Provo Temple will close for major reconstruction in February. I often attend the Provo City Center Temple to perform ordinances for my ancestors.

BYU has a truly amazing music program with many outstanding choirs, orchestras, and soloists. This Christmas program by the University Chorale in the new music building was fabulous!

I really enjoy BYU basketball. BYU beat U. Denver in a pre-season game. The crowds and BYU student rooting section are loud and enthusiastic!

I was the guest of friends Gae, Scott and Kristen Rose. Scott's brother Dave recently retired as coach at BYU.

The Hale Center Theater (in the round) put on an exceptional production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Scrooge is transformed from a grumpy, stingy man into a generous, happy one after he is visited by the three ghosts.

Walking to church on a very cold Sunday morning with the sun shining on snowy Mt. Timpanogos. More snow is predicted for Christmas Eve.

My granddaughter Lucie Taylor performed with one of the 6 Centennial middle school choirs. All students are required to take music, so Provo produces a lot of talent! The below photo is with her parents Emily and Ken after the show.

I had a very lively, fun holiday open house on Sunday, attended by family, new and old friends and some of my English students, but was so busy talking I forgot to take photos, until the guests had gone and the house put back in order and only happy memories left.

And then, of course, I had to finish my puzzle, Noah's Ark before all the animals piled in! Symbolic of my departing friends?? I hope they all got along better than many in our fractured world!

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This week's Missionary Training Center's Tuesday evening devotional was taught by Elder and Sister Corbitt (previously mission leaders in the DR East mission) with the participation of 4 MTC missionaries, 4 currently serving in Provo missionaries, and 4 returned missionaries. The focus was on faith. We must always look forward, think celestial, have the end goal (eternal life) in view and share our faith in God with others.

If you are looking for ways to brighten the season for others, go to:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/light-the-world

May your holidays be merry and bright. A big thank you to all who send cards (my favorite part of the day is after the mail arrives!) When I was a child Christmas mail was delivered several times a day! As we celebrate his birth, may the gift of our Savior, his Atonement, his forgiveness and mercy, his love and light, brighten your life in these dark and troubling times. 

              Merry Christmas 2023 and Happy New Year 2024

 Pre-Christmas Celebrations 2023.....Joy to the World

The lights at the mission Training Center Provo set the mood

Brigham Young proclaimed "This is the Place" as the first members of the Church of Jesus Christ entered the valley in July 1947, after a long and very arduous trek from Iowa and farther east. The monument in Salt Lake City is the memorial to their sacrifice. At Christmastime it is the scene of a very authentic German/Scandinavian Christkindl Markt held each year with booths and performers. It was snowing hard and very cold so I didn't get photos outside to capture the spirit.

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A new Provo Christmas favorite for me is "Christmas Around the World" held at BYU's Marriott Center, with dancers, musicians and fabulous colorful costumes and choreography. Here are a few photos...

India, Ireland, the Philippines,Mexico, Poland, Ukraine, US, Hungary, Serbia, and many more countries are represented by talented students

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The theme of our Edgemont 1st ward (congregation) party this year was a Scandinavian Christmas Chaired by Ken T. with authentic food, Santa Lucia parade, and singing-dancing around the Christmas tree. 

Cold and snowy,Utah (from my house), but hearts are merry & bright!

        We just finished our ESL term. Here are most of my students                  "graduating" from Level 1. Most will continue on in January.

Janeth (Ecuador, helper), Miriam, Edgar (Colombia), Julia (DR), Rocio (Mexico), Romina (Chile), Manuela (Peru), Nikki (assistant teacher). They are wonderful hard-working immigrants in Provo!

A more advanced class taught by the Cushenberrys (Karen Knight C. grew up around the corner from me in Palo Alto. 

I'm still holding out with a real tree. Taggart Pace (10?), next door, came rushing over to help me set it up! Below are some of my favorite creches, collected mostly from my missions...

   Chile (Mapuche indigenous tribe mostly in s. Chile) Clay and wool

Peru (above and below)

Ecuador (those below have acorn bases)

                    Spain (above), Dominican Republic (below)

                          and other favorites......

Nnamdi Okonkwo (b. Nigeria, 1965)

Kate Patterson, Lari Cabanilla, Kerstin Grimmer, Guinevere Woolstenhulme

Emily Taylor, Emily Deans, Marian Taylor (friends from Palo Alto), Miriam Cloward, Kerstin Grimmer, Laurie King

        Marian Taylor giving her favorite lotion gift to Emily Deans

 On the church front, Elder Patrick Kearon, raised in the United Kingdom and the Middle East, is the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

He replaces Elder M. Russell Ballard who recently passed away.

“This sacred call is so very daunting and humbling to me,” said Elder 

Kearon. “I will need to place all my trust in the Savior as I seek to 

become what He needs me to be and share my witness of His love and 

light. The abundance and grace of Jesus Christ have brought immense 

joy into my life, as well as healing balm in times of trial. I love Him. I 

will strive to serve Him to the best of my ability.”

Elder Kearon, 62, was raised in the United Kingdom and the Middle 

East, “Of course in many ways we are all far from home,” 

Elder Kearon once taught Brigham Young University students. “The 

metaphor here with our eternal home is clear. … Our Eternal Father 

has not let any of us leave home, leave His presence, without the 

opportunity to access His love and guidance every day of our lives.”

 Until its dedication on January 21, the new Orem Utah Temple is now open for free

open to free tours by appointment Monday-Saturdays. 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/featured/orem-open-house?lang=eng

https://www.ldsliving.com/take-a-look-inside-the-new-orem-utah-temple/s/11810