DECEMBER 23rd

DECEMBER 23rd

• Thought/story: "It is Better To Give Than to Receive"
• Scripture: Luke 2: 1-11
Event: His birth
Jesus Christ fulfilled prophecy

• Recipe: Marshmallow top brownies (This recipe has been the number one brownie
recipe from Betty Crocker's cookbooks for every year since 1979. They take a little
more effort, but they are so good!)
Ingredients and instructions
Mix together:
1/3 c cocoa
2 c sugar
1 c melted butter
4 eggs

Stir into mixture above:
1 '/2 c flour
I tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla

You can put into 2 9x9 pans or one 9x13 pan. Bake for 25-30 min at 350 degrees. Put
about 1/2 bag mini-marshmallows on top. Top with the frosting (warm) listed below:
Frosting:
1/2 c butter
1/3 c milk
4 tbls cocoa
Boil these together and then add:
1/2 tsp vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar

• Tradition: Today is Joseph Smith's Birthday. It may be nice to include this as a part of your pre-Christmas Eve activities by reading parts of D&C or Joseph Smith's history in the Book of Mormon or by reading other Church history books.

• Small gift idea: Treat plate "tree-t" tags: Another way to dress up last-minute treat plates is with a "tree-t" tag. Either use your computer to create tags with Christmas trees on them or iron on a fabric tree. The tag then reads: "A Christmas Tree-t for you!"


"IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE"

CHRISTMAS WAS COMING, and each of us first graders in Miss Booth's class had drawn the name of another boy or girl to whom we were to give a Christmas gift. It was to cost no more than fifty cents.

On the day when the gifts were to be brought to school. I arrived early and put my gift for Walt under the Christmas tree. Then I sat in my seat waiting to see
who would put a gift for me under the tree. Bob came in with a big box wrapped in red
paper with a large white ribbon. Each of the children hoped that this gift. which was by far the largest one, would be for him. Then Bob shouted. "This big present
is for George."

I had never been so happy. The biggest present under the tree was for me! All the other children in the class wished that they were as lucky as I was. I could
hardly wait for the end of the day, when the gifts would be opened. Many times that day a boy or girl would say to me, ''You are so lucky. I wish I was you. I wish that
the big present was for me."

Finally the time came. Miss Booth said, "All right, boys and girls, it is time to open the gifts. We are all so excited to see what is in that large present Bob got
for George. So let's start with that one. Bob, would you come up and take your gift to lucky George?"

My heart pounded with excitement. All eyes were upon me. I could tell that everyone else wished they were me.

Bob placed the large red box In front of me. I began to tear the paper away. Then 1 opened the box. I could see much crumpled-up newspaper. I pulled each of the papers from the box. Then, down at the bottom of the box, I saw a book. I pulled it out and saw it was a coloring book.

Suddenly all of my happiness changed to sadness. I didn't like coloring books.
Then everyone said, "I hope I don't get a coloring book. I hope I get something more exciting than what George got."

Now, instead of feeling like I was the happiest person in the world, I felt that I was the saddest. I didn't even want to watch to see what the other boys and girls received for their gifts. I even felt that I didn't like Bob, because Bob had made me feel unhappy.

Finally the teacher said, "Now for our last gift. It is the gift that George brought for Walt. George, please come up and get your gift and give it to Walt."

As I walked to the front I felt sad. Everyone in the class had received a better gift than I had received. I took the gift to Walt and then I sat down.

A minute later Walt shouted, "Oh, look at this! This is what I wanted! It is a walkometer. You pin it on your belt and it will tell you how far you have walked."
Walt put It on his belt and began to walk around the room. All of the other boys and girls were really excited. One boy said, "I wish I had that. That is the best gift of all the gifts. I wish George had drawn my name."

A girl said, "Next year I hope that George gets my name."

Then Miss Booth said, "George, you sure do know how to give good gifts. Everyone in the class wants to be able to make others as happy as you have made Walt."
Walt turned around and looked at me and said, "Thanks, George, for making me the happiest boy in the class."

Suddenly I didn't feel sad inside. I looked at my coloring book and saw a picture of some pirates. I loved pirates. I wanted to get out my crayons and go to work,
but it was time to go home.

As I left to go home Bob shouted, "Merry Christmas, George." I said the same thing back, and I felt that this would be my happiest Christmas so far.