We got some marvelous gifts for Christmas. They seemed to have a theme. An inspiring and uplifting theme. Our thanks and love to all the thoughtful givers.
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| Eldon gave me the MoTab choir's latest tape. The highlight is Gounod's "O Divine Redeemer" and it ends with a stirring rendition of "I Believe in Christ." |
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| Ken gave us a unique photo he took of the Nauvoo Temple. We are looking forward to serving there. |
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| Sheryl gave us this beautiful puzzle. |
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| The Andrei gave us this photo Mike took on Emily's wedding day. At first I thought it was an abstract watercolor. But it's a photo of the temple taken into the reflecting pool. It's an amazing photograph and beautifully framed. |
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| Carl and Velvet gave us this well-written, easily understood book. I quote from it about the translation: |
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"During the time Joseph had the plates, several people watched him translate. They said that rather than looking at the record itself, he looked into the interpreters or another seer stone, blocking out external light, such as by placing the interpreters in his hat and putting his face down into it. Joseph himself, however, refused to elaborate on a process he considered sacred. He said that 'it was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.' He said simply that he translated 'by the gift and power of God.'
"In short, the translation came by revelation. Joseph could not read the language on the golden plates by himself. He needed God's help. With that help, he could translate, even if he wasn't looking directly at the record."
This agrees with what we learned on the trip. Now I wish he'd write a book on how we got the Pearl of Great Price.
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| Gail gave me this beautiful volume to ponder over. |
