“Contents,” Liahona, Dec. 1997 Liahona December 1997 Volume 21, Number 12 Contents Features First Presidency Message: A Season for GratitudePresident Gordon B. Hinckley Our Lord and Savior My Christmas CoatCheryl Boyle Peace in the Holy LandD. Kelly Ogden and David B. Galbraith Major Changes in Priesthood and Relief Society CurriculumDon L. Searle A Tribute to Brother Joseph The Light and the LifeElder Dallin H. Oaks Even in Deepest SorrowSveinbjörg Gudmundsdóttir I Am a PioneerCatherine Ramognino and Don O. Thorpe Especially for Youth A New Christmas TraditionDouglas Presença A Witness for Jesus ChristDarrin Lythgoe Christmas Every SundayLois T. Bartholomew Departments Comment Visiting Teaching Message: “Always Remembering for What They Are Given” The Friend A Christmas Message from the First Presidency to the Children of the World: “Good Tidings of Great Joy” This Is My Beloved SonMarvin K. Gardner and Vanja Y. Watkins For Little FriendsChristmas Star Rebecca Todd Sharing Time: The Prophets Testify of Jesus Christ’s BirthKaren Ashton Exploring: DeseretSherrie Johnson Fun Page Christmas Crafts: Sparkling Christmas PictureM. H. Martin Treetop TraditionVeloy Richards On the cover: First Vision, by Liz Lemon. Back cover: Nativity photographed by Craig Dimond; The First Vision, by Lowell Bruce Bennett. Inside back cover: Siege of the Crickets, by Dan Baxter. In May 1848, the pioneer Saints in the Salt Lake Valley were distraught when swarms of crickets began devouring their maturing and desperately needed vegetables and grain. Men, women, and children fought the ravenous insects for several weeks. Their fervent prayers for help were answered, and much of the crop was saved, when flocks of seagulls flew in from the Great Salt Lake and gorged themselves on the crickets for three weeks.