South Ogden Stake Fireside 12-14-2008

The singing group Eclipse spoke to and sung for us. It was a little odd for me to see a "performance" in the chapel. It was reverent. It was probably just weird because there were six of them and they are professional singers.

They are an a capella group. The music was pretty good. I've like a capella music since I saw a protestant group rehearsing at an old movie theater where I was helping my friend prepare the theater for their concert.

First Speaker
He introduced the members of the group. He served a mission to London. He use to live in the South Ogden Stake where the fireside was being held.

The gift of healing.

Alma 34: 16
16 And thus ^amercy can satisfy the demands of ^bjustice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of ^cjustice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal ^dplan of ^eredemption.

1. 
   

Second Speaker
He shared a story about Sylvia Martin, the author of the next song they would sing. She visited a family that had a lot of health problems.

She asked the family why they were so happy with all their problems. They responded, "His eyes are on the sparrow. We know he watches us.

Matt 6:26
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Third Speaker
Luke 2:8-14

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the ^aglory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you ^agood tidings of great ^bjoy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is ^aborn this day in the city of David a ^bSaviour, which is Christ the ^cLord.

12 And this shall be a ^asign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 ^aGlory to God in the highest, and on earth ^bpeace, good will toward men.

The angel appeared to mere shepherds.

He talked about Elder Ucktdorf talking about light in the Christmas devotional.

Fourth Speaker
The speaker said that they grew up in a family of ten.

He said that they had a nativity scene that they had used since the oldest kids were very young. He said that he broke a piece in it once and he noticed that many of the pieces had glue on them.

From a young age he knew when setting up the scene that the baby Jesus was placed in the center of the scene. Our focus should also be our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus.
Fifth Speaker
He talked about Joseph and the amazing responsibility he took on. The responsibility of raising the savior of the world and also taking on the responsibility of marrying a woman that became pregnant before being married in a society that was very strict about such things. He could have put her to public scorn or broke it off with her privately or marry her.

The speaker read a fictional narrative from Joseph's perspective about his thoughts on what it would be like to raise Jesus.

Sixth Speaker
He talked about pondering Christ's birth, ministry, and atonement.

He said to take everything to Christ including our joys, our triumphs, our pains, and our concerns.