Turn the Radio Off and Turn This On...

Okay so the radio has a slew of Christmas music playing right now, mostly all of the commercialized stuff, Santa, and some old songs you hear every year and don't get me wrong I like a good dose of Christmas music but this, this is good! Enjoy!



Obviously don't forget the classic Christ-centered Hymns but I love instrumental bits of goodness.

Teaching Charity?

What a beautiful video and what an example Heber J. Grant is to us all. What do you do to teach your children to be more charitable amidst all of the wants, the constant "need" for more or better, and the feelings of greed that sometimes can accompany this season, among other times of the year?

Really, I'd love to hear how you mold the young minds and hearts in your home to think less of what is under the tree and more about others. Please share.

And the Winner Is...

I used random.com and #5 was the winner so...

That makes Mrs. Mordecai over at http://be-it-ever-so-humble.blogspot.com/ the winner of the Happy Little Artist Temple Print giveaway.  Congratulations!

Here is what she had to say in her entry:
"I like the one with the power lines and the blue background! Although I have to admit I wouldn't mind having a matching set to all hang up somewhere."

I'll be getting in contact with you!  As for everyone else, the prints are really quite reasonably priced so still consider heading over to buy yourself or a loved one a little gift, the headbands are adorable as well. 

For Strength of Youth Pamphlet Revised

Additions and revisions have taken place in the For Strength of Youth Pamphlet.  You can read the additonal text and changes online now HERE.  I am excited to read through and study the new pamphlet.  I think it is wonderful for youth and adults alike. 

Here is what the Church News has to say about it:

Today, youth.lds.org launched a newly updated version of For the Strength of Youth that addresses issues and challenges youth face today that were not specifically addressed in the previous version of the booklet.

“The standards have not changed, but times have changed,” said Young Women general president Elaine S. Dalton, explaining the update. “For the Strength of Youth has been revised to address the issues youth face today—to teach them the doctrine behind the standards and the promised blessings of obedience.”

For the Strength of Youth was last updated in 2001. The revised pamphlet will contain the addition of current prophetic counsel in areas such as the wise use of technology, virtuous thoughts, dating, the importance of gender roles, and preparation for the future.
Other changes of note include:

• Additional emphasis on following the guidance of the Spirit, keeping covenants, and being worthy to attend the temple
• A new standard entitled “Work and Self-Reliance” offering counsel on smart money management, frugality, industry, and becoming a contributor.
• The addition of emotional health to the section previously titled “Physical Health”—now called “Physical and Emotional Health”—encouraging youth to seek healthy solutions to problems.
• Increased clarity and emphasis on doctrine in each section
• The inclusion of questions to invite further pondering and discussion

Hard copies of the revised pamphlet in English will be mailed to Church units toward the beginning of 2012. Priesthood leaders will receive a copy for each youth ages 12 to 18 and all priesthood and auxiliary leaders who work with youth.

Young Men general president David L. Beck emphasized the value of this resource for youth, parents, and leaders as they strive to live faithfully.

“It is our hope that these standards will be thoroughly studied in our homes and in Church classes, and that the principles taught in them will go down into the hearts of the youth of the Church,” he said.
Language versions of the revised pamphlet will follow both online and in print as they are completed.

PS - Don't forget to enter the Giveaway below.  It closes on Saturday morning and the chances of winning are looking pretty good right now.  :)

GIVEAWAY: Happy Little Artist Temple

This could make for a Merry Christmas surprise.  The Happy Little Artist would like to Giveaway one of THESE beautiful Salt Lake Temple Prints to one of you. The winner gets to choose the size and style that you like best. The print can only be shipped in the US.  Sorry to everyone who lives outside the US. 

Annie Wheeler hand carved linoleum blocks to create these three color lincout prints of the Salt Lake Temple.  Don't you just love this:

To Enter the Giveaway

1. You just need to head over to the Happy Little Artist Etsy Shop and find the temple print that you like best (while you're there check out the adorable headbands as well ;) then jump back over here to Becoming LDS and leave a comment letting me know which temple and size you would like to win. 
2. Please also leave the beginning of your email address (ex. becominglds@) so I can verify that you are the winner.
3. Merry Christmas!

The Giveaway will end on Saturday, December 17th at 10:00 am.  The winner will be chosen randomly and will be posted here on my blog shortly thereafter.  If you are announced as the lucky winner then please contact me at becominglds@gmail.com, using the email address you provided, by Monday the 19th at 5:00 pm.  If the winner has not yet contacted me then another winner will be chosen in their place.  Then I will get you in contact with the Happy Little Artist to claim your beautiful temple print.  :)

Good Luck everyone!

Simple Christ-Centered Christmas Traditions

The First Presidency Christmas Devotional last night was wonderful.  The music was beautiful and the messages were great reminders.  If you and your family didn't get a chance to watch it you can do so HERE.  It would make for a great FHE tonight.  Also, a neat announcement was made and a new page born on lds.org with Bible videos to be added monthly.    They are free to download and are a gift to the world.  You can watch the video that was shown last night below: 



The Christmas Devotional is such a simple way to remember Christ during the Christmas Season.  A tradition that takes little planning, no running to and fro, and no gifts to be purchased.

I also thought I'd share two Christmas Traditions that our little family started this year.  So I guess they are not techniquely traditions yet but I hope to continue them each year and turn them into traditions.

First, we put up this little tree next to our bigger tree. It was my husband and I's very first Christmas tree.  Now it is our Service and Kindness tree.  When I catch my children serving or being kind I let them pick out an ornament to add to the tree.  Sometimes I send my 4 year old to preschool with service in mind and he'll come back and tell me something nice he did.  It was been good.  It's also nice to have a tree that is free for them to touch and move ornaments around on. :)

Then Secondly, we tweaked this idea from the Friend.  We have this nativity picture hanging on the wall in our living room and each morning we are adding a star to the wall.  We write something about Jesus on the star and tape it to the wall.  By Christmas we should have one starry night.  My son is already excited about putting the biggest star above the picture on Christmas Eve.

Our 4 year old (soon to be 5) has come up with things like:
Jesus helped people to see.
Jesus was crucified for us.
Jesus was born in a stable.
Jesus helped raise people from the dead.

And our 2 year old has said things like this (with a little help sometimes :):
Jesus hugs me.
Jesus loves me.
Jesus made animals.
Jesus holds me.

It has been a great way to keep us thinking about Christ every day this December.  What are some Christ-Centered traditions that your family has?