January Presidency Message
President Thomas S. Monson has issued this invitation to those who have struggled with their church activity: "Come back. We reach out to you in the pure love of Christ and express our desire to assist you and to welcome you into full fellowship. To those who are wounded in spirit or who are struggling and fearful, we say, Let us lift you and cheer you and calm your fears."In the Book of Mormon, we read of our Savior's similar invitation in 2 Nephi 26:33: "He (Jesus Christ) inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile."As members of Christ's church, we have a responsibility to reach out in fellowship to those around us. We need to be welcoming, friendly, and full of love towards not only our relatives and close friends, but to everyone, no matter how different in appearance, or background. President Monson expects it of us - and so does the Savior.We each have our own ways of expressing our love. It could be a smile, or a handshake, or a plate of cookies. It doesn't matter how we do it, as long as we do it!When President Monson was asked what he wanted the members of the Church to give him for his birthday, he answered:"Find someone who is having a hard time, ... and do something for them."May we be individuals, families, and neighbors who do this daily and so often that it becomes part of our very nature. In this way we will do our part to bring to pass Zion.
January Spotlight
My name is Karen Taylor. I was born on a marine corps air station in Cherry Point, NC in 1967. We moved to Minnesota when I was 4 and I got my first pony that same year. My mom, brother, sister and I were baptized in Salt Lake City the year that I turned 8. My hobbies back then were horseback riding through the forests and reading books. I attended Ricks College and then transferred to BYU where I finally settled on a degree that would allow me to be home and raise a family. (I started with geology went to archaeology and settled with a dual major in education and family science.) My second year at BYU I watched a guy give some girls a friendly hug and invite them into his apartment. I decided to meet this guy. Later that evening we met to divide the apartments into family home evening groups and I found myself in the same group as this guy I saw. I learned his name and about 8 months later we were married. We lived in Provo for a few years then Spanish Fork and finally we moved to Salem about 7 years ago. I have four great children who keep me pretty busy! My hobbies have changed a bit over the years, I still read a lot (which led to a part time job at the library) and now I quilt and sew (mostly to be able to talk with my mother and sister). I have also taken up road biking which gave me a nice long scar under my chin from a crash this last summer! It is sure a lot of fun!