Follow the Star

 

“If our desires have been for righteousness and our works good—meaning we’ve exercised faith in Jesus Christ, made and kept covenants with God, and repented of our sins—the judgment bar will be pleasing. Conversely, if our desires have been for evil and our works wicked, the judgment bar will be a cause of dread. We’ll have a perfect knowledge, a bright recollection, and a lively sense of our own guilt. We shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would be glad if we could command rocks and mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence. We will have our reward of evil. Ultimately, then, we are our own judges. No one will need to tell us where to go. In the Lord’s presence, we will acknowledge what we have chosen to become in mortality and know for ourselves where we should be in eternity.” – Elder David A. Bednar

One Dozen Arrowheads

 

For years, a man had been having an extramarital affair with an Italian woman. One night, she told him she was expecting. Not wanting to ruin his marriage or reputation, he offered her a large sum of money to return to Italy and have the baby in secret. He promised he would send child support until the child turned 18. She agreed, but asked how he’d know when the baby was born. To keep things discreet, he told her, “Just mail me a postcard and write ‘Spaghetti’ on the back. I’ll know what it means and start the payments.” About nine months later, he came home to his very confused wife. “Honey,” she said, “you got the strangest postcard today.” He took it, read it, turned white and fainted. On the card it said: “Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti. Two with meatballs, one without. Send extra sauce.”

The Letter J

 

August 29, 1964, Bob and Norma Clark exchanged vows in a church south of San Francisco in front of their family and friends. Almost five decades later, as the Clarks entered their seventies, they began end-of-life planning. Norma read a WSJ article that said without a marriage license, a surviving spouse can’t collect their partner’s Social Security benefits. That’s when the Clarkes realized they didn’t have a copy of their license. They sent $20 to the San Mateo Hall of Records for a copy. But San Mateo had no record of their union. For some reason, the pastor who’d married them had never filed with the county. In the eyes of the law, Bob and Norma weren’t married. November 21, 2012, Bob and Norma showed up at city hall to make their 48 years of commitment official. Now, when one of them passes, the other is prepared. Memo to me: check our filing cabinet. Just in case.

Six Churn Dash Blocks

 

In the middle of World War II, a small ship carried hundreds of Polish children from the USSR across the Indian Ocean. They were orphaned refugees from Soviet labor camps who’d survived cold, hunger and illness. They hoped to find compassion in British-held India, but one by one, every port turned them away. Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, the king of Nawanagar, heard about the orphans and said, “Bring them to me.” He told the children, “You are no longer orphans. You are now Nawanagaris. I am your father.” Beyond simply providing food, clothing and shelter, the Maharaja preserved their cultural identity. He hired Polish teachers and caregivers, and ensured their food, language, traditions and surroundings would be Polish. Many of those children grew to become doctors, teachers, engineers and diplomats; adults shaped by the kindness that once saved them. They remembered the Maharaja as someone who restored their childhood. They called him “Bapu,” their father.

Twenty Rail Fence Blocks

 

January 19, 1937, a 22-year-old Tennessee farmer named Charlie Johns married his neighbor, Eunice Winstead. He paid a Baptist preacher a dollar to perform the ceremony. The only remarkable thing about this wedding was the bride was nine years old. Eunice had lied to her family, telling them she was walking to town to buy a doll. Charlie and Eunice didn’t believe they’d done anything wrong. There were child brides in both their families. They broke no laws. In Tennessee at the time, there was no minimum marriageable age. When the story hit the news, though, the country was outraged. Tennessee (and several other states) quickly changed their laws. The Johns’ stayed married 60 years, until Charlie passed in 1997. They had nine kids, the first one born when Eunice was fourteen. Evelyn, that first child, eloped with a twenty-year-old when she was seventeen. Her dad, who was by this time 44, objected to their marriage. 

One Dozen Nine-Patch Blocks

 

December 20, 1943 Franz Stigler – a German flying ace with 27 victories – pursued a heavily damaged B-17 Flying Fortress limping back from a bombing run on Bremen. At first, Franz intended to destroy the bomber. But through holes literally blown through the plane by flak and machine gun fire, he could see the badly wounded and incapacitated crew. Franz tried to convince the American pilot to land so they could receive medical care. But 2nd Lt. Charles “Charlie” Brown didn’t understand Franz’ gestures. So, Franz escorted the bomber past German-occupied territory. He flew in close formation with the B-17, so anti-aircraft units wouldn’t target it. He then saluted and turned his Messerschmitt for home. In 1986, Charlie decided to look up the pilot who’d spared his life. He found Franz living in Canada. Franz and Charlie became close friends, maintaining their relationship until 2008, when both men passed away.

December Door Banner

 

“In reflecting on the need to cultivate the virtue of temperance, I am reminded of the words of Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel—a woman of remarkable faith who, even after great trials, offered a song of gratitude to the Lord. She said, ‘Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.’ Her song is more than a prayer—it is a self-addressed invitation to act with humility, self-control, and moderation. Hannah reminds us that true spiritual strength is not expressed in impulsive reactions or haughty words but in temperate, thoughtful attitudes aligned with the Lord’s wisdom. As covenant people, we are called to live with our hearts firmly rooted in the sacred promises we have made to the Lord, carefully following the pattern He established through His perfect example.” – Elder Ulisses Soares