by Annette Lyon

My parents would be shocked to hear that I cherish the memory of early morning scripture reading. It was my older sister’s New Testament year in seminary, and at the time we didn’t have access to a seminary class, so she did the work independent study. To support her, our family woke up each weekday morning and studied. Thus began my love of the New Testament. Reading the Savior’s words from His lifetime touched a spiritual chord that has never left me. The 2007 Gospel Doctrine lessons are focused on the New Testament. From the birth of Christ to John’s Revelation, there is so much that can touch you in the same way.

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by Dave Ellis

It’s January, I guess it’s time for my yearly ritual. I step outside, see my shadow and go back in to watch TV for six more weeks. OK, so I’m not as famous as Punxsutawney Phil, but I do share his body shape and hairy back. We also walk the same, except I’m a little more upright.

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When I asked for articles to print in this month’s issue, I had several topics. By far the most popular was New Year’s Resolutions. Hope springs eternal for all of us every January.

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By Jonathan H. Westover

As the New Year is upon us, many of us find ourselves contemplating possible New Year’s resolutions—lose some weight, exercise more, read X number of books, start a new hobby, etc. In creating a list of New Year’s resolutions, we may find ourselves seeking to craft S.M.A.R.T. goals—goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Tangible.

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by C.S. Bezas

OK. It’s the New Year. Ready to make those resolutions and keep them?

1. Blast Off with Desire

A rocket expends 80% of its fuel to successfully launch. Want success? Try burning desire. When you really want something, you are more likely to stick with it and achieve it.

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by Alison Palmer

A brand new year: a time for reflection and resolve. Do better, be better, fix this, try that- perfection pending.

In past years I’ve made some pretty lofty and some pretty lame resolutions based on my dissatisfactions with myself and my life. This year I’m trying something new. My only resolve is to make it a year of gratitude.

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by Alison Palmer

I love the illustration on the cover of the new Primary theme. It shows Greg Olson’s famous painting “Be Not Afraid.” A small child is cradled in Christ’s arms while another reaches up to Him from the bank of a raging river.

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By LaRae Free Kerr

“I had the perfect childhood,” my sister said. “What a coincidence, I did too,” said I. One of the reasons our childhoods were ideal is that our parents made sure we met and built relationships with our living ancestors. And we were blessed with a plethora of them. Each living ancestor gave us significant memories and some taught us important skills.

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by Gail Jackson

If young people would resolve at the moment of their marriage that from that time forth they would do everything in their power to please each other in things that are right, even to the sacrifice of their own pleasures, their own appetites, their own desires, the problem of adjustment in married life would take care of itself, and their home would indeed be happy.

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By Steve Tracy, MA NAFP MFT

Question: Once again we are setting goals for our family this year and we really want to try and keep them. We do the typical thing: make a goal, do it daily for a week or two, occasionally for a few more weeks, and then stop doing them all together. How can we do better?

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By Andrea Lauritzen

One beginning not likely to grace New Year’s Resolution Lists is the opportunity to start fresh through the grace of the Atonement. As human and fallible beings we will make our own unique set of “mistakes.” Yet, maybe these so-called “mistakes” aren’t mistakes at all.

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by Robert Moss

“I never thought it could happen. I sincerely wanted it not to ever happen.” So said Elder Spencer W. Kimball, President of the Quorum of the Twelve when he found out that President Harold B. Lee had died. Elder Kimball would then become President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since his teachings will be the focus of priesthood and Relief Society meetings for 2007, now is a good time to get reacquainted with this beloved latter-day prophet.

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David Conrad, son of Mikel and Lisa Conrad, was involved in a car accident, in Logan Utah, where he passed away. David was a life-long resident of Henderson, NV where he graduated from Basic HS in 2004. David had a passion for the outdoors and music. Like his father, David was an Eagle Scout and loved camping. David’s favorite camp is Philmont Scout Ranch, where he and his father and younger brother Jonathan hiked and climbed to the top of Mt. Baldy & the Tooth of Time together.

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