Contents

December 2008 Volume 38 • Number 12

Becoming Spiritually Whole, p. 34

On the Cover

The Nativity, by Jon McNaughton

Using This Issue

Enjoy the blessings of the temple. On pages 20 and 23 are stories of members who commit to attend the temple in spite of difficult family or financial circumstances. Consider what you can do to increase your temple attendance or become worthy to hold a temple recommend.

Share the Christmas spirit. Several articles in this issue focus on the blessings we receive when we give to others, even under difficult or uncomfortable circumstances (see pages 4, 9, 12, 16, and 60). Consider ways you can help your children experience the spirit of giving during the Christmas season.

Celebrate the season. To find out what Christmas events are taking place in your area or are available via satellite broadcast, go to the “News and Events” link on LDS.org. Select “Calendar” and then click on the individual event for further information. Remember to check your individual stake and ward Web site calendar for local events.

• Messages

  • First Presidency Message

    4

    The Best Christmas Ever

    President Thomas S. Monson

    Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit.

  • Visiting Teaching Message

    59

    Jesus Christ Is the Light, Life, and Hope of the World

• Feature Articles

  • 9

    How Could I Help?

    April A. Love

    As winter approached, I was stunned to find a family living in a tent.

  • 12

    Room in the Inn

    Elder Neil L. Andersen

    Our van limped into the little village, where we had one last chance for help on Christmas Eve.

  • 16

    Three Christmas Stories

    Members reflect on the important lessons of memorable Christmases.

  • 20

    Gather to the Temple

    Elder Claudio R. M. Costa

    Would you travel seven days to attend the temple?

  • 23

    Temple Blessings in a Part-Member Family

    Kay Przybille

    How the principles I learned in the temple blessed my relationships with my family.

  • 26

    Gospel Classics: Consecrate Thy Performance

    Elder Neal A. Maxwell

    In consecrating your performance, are you keeping back “part of the price”?

  • 31

    My Answer at the Door

    Victor L. Harris

    As I prayed for my infant son’s life, I felt a ray of hope.

  • 34

    Becoming Spiritually Whole

    Shari Phippen

    When I asked the Lord to heal me, the answer was not what I expected.

  • 37

    Four Tips for Family Night

    Deann Starkey

    How we made family home evening the best night of the week.

  • 40

    I Remember Joseph

    Eyewitnesses to events in the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith testify of what they saw.

  • 44

    Questions and Answers

    How can I stand up for what I believe without seeming self-righteous or judgmental to my co-workers?

  • 48

    The Energy Drink Epidemic

    Thomas J. Boud, MD

    In recent years there has been an explosion of energy drinks with high levels of caffeine. How can they affect the body?

  • 53

    The Other Part of Forgiveness

    Becky Dastrup

    I wanted to do more than ignore my anger. I wanted to let it go.

  • 54

    From a Small and Simple Invitation

    Tom Smith

    I wasn’t a Church member, and I didn’t know the Church was true. Why did I bear my testimony?

• Departments

  • Lessons from the Book of Mormon

    56

    Living by the Light of Christ

    Elder Spencer J. Condie

    How can we keep the Light of Christ bright in our lives?

  • 60

    Latter-day Saint Voices

    Latter-day Saints find joy in giving gifts of compassion, music, and testimony.

  • 64

    Random Sampler

    Serving in the community, creating Christmas traditions, encouraging fitness, and giving simple, effective lessons.

  • 66

    Index for 2008

  • 74

    News of the Church

Do you have a story to tell?

Do you—or does someone you love—serve in the military? Share how the gospel has helped you with the challenges unique to military life—the more specific, the better. Topics might include dealing with separation, protection from harm, spiritual promptings, conversion to the gospel, returning to Church activity, using the priesthood, or dealing with temptation. Please label your submission “Military” and send it by January 20, 2009.

We also welcome other submissions that show the gospel of Jesus Christ at work in your life. You can find this and other calls for articles online at http://ensign.lds.org. Ensign Magazine Writers’ Guidelines are posted on the same page under “Resources.”

Send submissions to [e-mail] or Ensign Editorial, 50 E. North Temple Street, Room 2420, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3220, USA. Include your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, ward (or branch), and stake (or district). Because of the volume of submissions we receive, we cannot acknowledge receipt. Authors whose work is selected for publication will be notified. If you would like your manuscript, photos, art, or other material returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Coming in January

Look for articles on:

• Studying the Doctrine and Covenants.

• The blessings of institute.

• The Prophet Joseph Smith.

Gospel Topics in This Issue

• Addiction, 48

• Atonement, 34

• Baptism, 62

• Charity, 9, 16, 56, 60, 62

• Christmas, 4, 9, 12, 16, 26, 61, 62, 64, 65

• Compassion, 62

• Consecration, 26

• Conversion, 23, 31, 54, 62

• Covenants, 23

• Death, 16

• Faith, 9, 34

• Family, 23, 37, 61, 64

• Family Home Evening, 37, 65

• Finances, 64

• Forgiveness, 53

• Giving, 4, 9, 16

• Grace, 26

• Gratitude, 12, 20, 26, 60

• Healing, 31, 34

• Health, 48, 64

• Heavenly Father, 62

• Holy Ghost, 56

• Honesty, 44

• Hope, 59

• Individual Worth, 34

• Integrity, 44

• Jesus Christ, 4, 16, 26, 56, 59, 65

• Joseph Smith, 40

• Kindness, 9, 12

• Light of Christ, 56, 59

• Love, 60, 62, 64

• Missionary Work, 16, 53

• Music, 16, 61

• Patience, 23

• Prayer, 9, 12, 23, 31, 53

• Sacrifice, 20

• Scriptures, 53

• Service, 9, 16, 26, 64

• Submissiveness, 26

• Temple, 20, 23

• Testimony, 40, 54

• Virtue, 44

• Word of Wisdom, 48