“Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with…great and strong… purpose in your heart.” - Gordon B. Hinckley
I love the thought of a new year, a clean slate, a fresh white page in the Book of Life.  Whether or not you are a resolution writer, I do hope that as the ball drops, you will at least consider what your purpose is.  If you don’t know, I do suggest you make it your resolution to figure it out.  If you need help, consider asking your Creator.

The season has changed.  The first day of winter was just a few short days ago and this morning we woke up to a most beautiful winter scene.  Is there anything better than snow on Christmas Eve?  To me it feels like a gift from a loving Father in Heaven.  I can’t help but feel peaceful as I take in the quiet, white, pure beauty of it all.  It reminds me of the temple, of baby blessings, of baptism, even of the white cloths that cover the sacrament each Sunday, which in turn reminds me of our Savior.  
Like the seasons, change is a constant in our lives.  It can be difficult. The most difficult changes are those that alter family relationships and circumstances.  They can tear at our hearts and make us question the wisdom of our God. Remember this... our circles never shrink, they expand.  The unity we have experienced has been a beautiful thing, but like all spiritual gifts, this gift is meant to be shared. 
 I need you to know that I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior.  The Atonement is real.  We can have peace, we can have joy, we have the power to choose these things and we choose them by our actions.  My biggest wish is to see each of you receive the ordinances of the temple and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.  My wish for you this week is that you will have a merry Christmas. Be safe, and breathe in deeply the peace of Christ.

President Nelson once shared a very short, but very impactful story about Christmas.  I feel to share it with you.  It goes like this…
“While children reenacted the Christmas story, one child held high a star wrapped in aluminum foil, mounted on a broomstick.  Later, someone commended the child for his stamina in holding that star so high for such a long period of time.  The child, who had spoken no lines, joyfully replied, ‘I had the most important part in the play,  I showed people how to find Jesus!’
Some of the people who have held a most important part in my life would never have considered themselves in a starring role either.  Three such people who shined brightly and showed me in my youth how to find Jesus were my brother’s primary teacher, our ward librarian, and the little neighbor girl several years younger than me.  These three will be amongst the first I seek out in heaven to thank and to hug.  You have heard it before, I say it again.  You never know who is watching.  Please, even when that “broomstick” gets heavy, shine on!  By doing so, you give greater gifts to our Savior and your neighbor than money could every buy.