Another beautiful snowfall blanketed Salt Lake and Utah valleys the past 48 hours--how I've longed to be a part of such a natural occurrence and here we are! Despite the road warnings, Jennifer and Steve, Harrison, Carter and Cougar motored to Ogden on Saturday to watch Zander play a basketball tournament. He is quite a wonderful ball handler, I'm told. After receiving a flu shot late the afternoon before and feeling quite achey, I stayed home. Abby and Megan kept me company as we made a variety of cookies, played 'house' and dolls and watched a movie. What fun to have two beautiful granddaughters spend the day with me while Christmas music and a roaring fire in the fireplace filled our home. We only wished that the road conditions were better so that Maddie, Hallie, Lauren and Isabelle could have joined us!

One of my most cherished aspects of Christmas is the variety of music that fills our homes, community and churches. Steve and I have so enjoyed having the opportunity to live in Salt Lake and to partake of many of the free offerings of music opportunities. Most especially, we have enjoyed listening to the newly released DVD musical album of last year's presentation of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square featuring the highly acclaimed Sissel, a Norwegian soprano. Tickets are almost impossible to get (1 million requests for 80,000 seats for 4 separate performances), so we doubt we'll be able to attend the annual performance this year.

Additionally, how privileged we are to serve our mission at the MTC Provo and to be taught by many of the great teachers of this decade. Yesterday, Sunday, our combined Relief Society meeting, held weekly at 10:00 a.m. by all branches, a lovely young sister sung a tune with words that touched me and expressed the thought-provoking questions many of our missionaries ask themselves. "How many hearts have been turned? How many souls have been saved? How great the blessings and joy we have showed with those we were serving today?" The principle and invited speaker was Sister Susan W. Tanner who presently serves as General YW President; she delivered a most inspiring and thought-provoking message. She reminded us that we are all called by revelation to serve God and reminded us that our purpose is to bring souls unto Christ and to help them receive their ordinances so that they may return to God. She reminded us of the following:

• We are called by revelation
• Personal revelation is th same revelation we receive when we are called
• We may feel inadequate (and we are by ourselves).

She then spoke in great length about 'ministering.' We are ministering when we watch over His children. She cited three questions we should ask ourselves as to how to become a minister.

1. How do people come unto Christ?
2. How do we help people come unto Christ?
3. How do we know if people come unto Christ?

She cited that Christ gave the 'gifts of ministering' in 3 Nephi; he gathered all together; he became acquainted with each person individually (felt the wounds in his hands, etc.); he prayed with them and for them; he exhorted them to repent; he called others and empowered then; he healed then; he gave them the Holy Ghost; he called angels form heaven, etc. She reminded us that because of the Restoration, we have the same gifts, and that it is our responsibility to give these gifts to others.

One of the most memorable examples was of a home teacher who determined to reactivate a young surfer in Mexico, and who was relentless in pursuing him (even walked into the ocean in his Sunday suit and shoes on the Sabbath to put his arm around this young man and take him to church). The payoff was immeasureable. Just two conferences ago, this former surfer (years later) was sustained as an Area Seventy Authority in his country! That's ministering!! She reflected that she felt Pres. Tom Monson is probably one of the most outstanding 'ministers' of the "one" in our times.

Finally, she cited a prayer for each of us in our ministry which is found in Alma 31:35 and the Promise for all of us in our ministry found in D&C 84:88. How filled with the Spirit were all in attendance! We love our mission although many days are long and exhausting. At the end of our shift, Christy telephoned and invited us to join the Watkins and Larsens for a beautiful Sunday dinner replete with roast beef, mashed potatoes, salad, etc. What could be better than to have our spiritual and physical selves filled?!!

We enjoyed a lovely ro