12. A Christmas Greeting to Friends and Family

A Christmas greeting from a special issue of the Cleverly Newsletter published for the first time at Bountiful, Utah, in December 1977, and sent to both family members and friends. We had just moved to Bountiful the month before, and our fourth child and second son had been born the previous summer.

Christmas is a time of fond memories—the crisp bit of the winter air, the silent drifting of powdery snowflakes, the smell of spruce and wintergreen, the crackle of the pine log burning in the fireplace, the magic aromas drifting from the kitchen, the soft glow of twinkling little lights on the Christmas tree, the enchantment and wonder reflected in the eyes of the children, the love of friends and family, the memory of Him whose birthday it is.

The mosaic of Christmas memories is colorful and many-faceted, providing a kaleidoscope of varied treasures for each person as he thinks back on Christmases past. We are thankful for our Christmas memories and want you to know that we remember their source—for, as the ancient prophet wrote, "all things which are good cometh of Christ" (Moroni 7:24).

The Lord has been very good to us this year. As you can see, this Christmas greeting comes partially as a birth announcement, partially as an announcement of our new address, and partially as our way of saying we love and appreciate you to so many who in different ways have touched our lives and made them just a little better. You will find in these brief pages mention of much that is new—our new home, our new baby, our new Church callings, our new this and that. But there is nothing new about the Christmas message, except that is everlastingly new and fresh and relevant to all men at all times everywhere:

"For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

". . . Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:10-11, 14).

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3).

These scriptures are an indication of what Christmas is all about. And that is why we love the holiday season—because we can more openly rejoice in Christ and preach of Him as the Fount of all our blessings, the Source of all that is good, the Giver of every blessing—including family and friends and home and freedom and all we hold dear.

We know that He lives. We know it. And we rejoice in this knowledge revealed to us from heaven. Our Christmas wish is that you too may know and, knowing, do all that He requires that you may have happiness and joy during the New Year and everlastingly thereafter.

A merry, merry Christmas with all our love,
Dean, Claudia, and the children (Michael Adam, Becca, Rachael, and Talmage)

11. A Christmas Greeting

A Christmas message from the cover of the December 1976 issue of the Cleverly Newsletter.

Dear Family,

Another Christmas has come and another year draws to an end. If yours has been anything like ours this year, it has gone by fast, almost too fast—especially as we survey all the things we have and haven't done.

Our family newsletter is now in its fourth year of publication. We are very grateful for the support each of you has given to make it as successful and worthwhile as it has been. Thank you all very much.

Now, we wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous and happy New Year.

— Dean & Claudia

6. A Christmas Greeting

Christmas is a family time. And this issue of the newsletter tries to portay that—all the way from a message from Grandma on her eightieth birthday to a commemoration of Dad and Mom's fortieth wedding anniversary to an announcement of the newest arrival in the family, Bobbie Lynn.

Christmas is also a time of thankfulness. We are grateful to all of you for your wonderful support of the newsletter. Your response has been just great. Specifically we thank Kay, who has helped out on the postage. And we thank both Ray and Aunt Berniece, who have contributed money to help pay printing costs. The price to publish the newsletter has nearly tripled since we started a year and a half ago, so every penny is very much appreciated.

Finally, Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ. And we hope that stands out most important of all. We rejoice in the marvelous testimony we share with all of you, for we know that God lives. He is actually our Father—a loving, kind Father—patient with us in our weakness. He loved us enough to give us the greatest gift that has ever been given: the life of His Son. May we take time to remember that during this joyous Christmas season.

2. A Christmas Greeting

A final word in the second issue of the Cleverly Newsletter, December 1973.

And now in conclusion, as we look forward to the Christmas season, Claudia and I express a few thoughts to all of you, our family. Christmas is a family time, which helps explain why it is such a special time of year. Christmas is also a holy time, commemorating the birth of our Savior, which helps explain why it is such a joyful time of year.

We express to you our love and our gratitude for all any of you have done to make our lives more pleasant and even possible. To our parents, Ivard and Dorothy, come special thanks and love. And thanks to all of you who have so well supported the efforts of this newsletter.

May the joys brought by the Prince of Peace fill your hearts this Christmas season and throughout the coming new year.