December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

64
A Brick for
Christmas?
At Christmastime, many of us
face the dilemma of giving
meaningful gifts. A few years
ago, my parents came up with a great
solution: heritage gifts. Each year
these simple gifts represent a part of
our family’s history.
These gifts have included copies
of family audiotapes that record the
squeals of delight from our childhood
Christmas mornings. Our annual
R A N D O M S A M P L E R
recorded interviews are also included,
sharing highlights from school, our
friendships, and our progress in the
gospel as we were growing up. Recordings
of us as budding musicians
also carry fun memories.
Videotape recordings, transferred
from our old 8-mm home movies,
show us as children opening gifts,
going on family vacations, and catching
the bus on our first day of school.
My children now love to watch my
siblings and me as children.
Family history compilations, family
cookbooks, a collection of family letters,
and a brick have been favorite
heritage gifts as well. Using some of
the best bricks from an exterior wall
that was demolished when our house
was remodeled, my parents cleaned
and varnished them, then affixed a
plaque that simply says “Home” and
our address. The brick serves as a
happy reminder of the fond childhood
memories we shared at home.
Through these heritage gifts, we
have received a treasure of memories
that will last throughout the years—
long after other tangible gifts are gone.
Bonnie B. Larsen, Wellsville Eighth Ward,
Wellsville Utah Stake
Helping
Children
Memorize
Scriptures
One of my goals is to
help my children cherish
the scriptures. To
accomplish this, I have used several
methods to develop regular
scripture study habits.
However, I felt there was
more I could do. But what?
One day I read the history
of a pioneer ancestor
who had been blind since
early childhood. For many
years he could not read; yet
through his faith and knowledge
of the word of God, he could quote
long scriptural passages. After reading
his account, I realized the answer to