Post # 19 - WINTER is HERE! Christmas is NEAR!

 

Christmas lights in early dawn

On Temple Square it has turned from autumn to CHRISTMAS!!  We didn’t get much snow until Dec. 14, but the Christmas decorations have been up all month. 

Snow came Mon. Dec. 14, 2015.

It’s beautiful in the daytime, with or without snow, as well as at night when the lights are lit up!    

By Day

Shepherds are abiding in the fields, night time and daytime.

By night

There is a small white nativity scene set up in the middle of the reflecting pond in front of the temple.  

Nativity on Reflecting Pool

 In the daytime you can see the wires that make the “bubbles” light up at night.  Every little detail adds to the magic and miracle of the setting.

In addition to the large nativity scene, there are several smaller ones from different countries.

The Temple Square Christmas lights were turned on right after Thanksgiving, and every night crowds of folks come to see the lights and to feel the Spirit of Christmas.  We went out one morning on the way to work in the Family History Library (at 7:00 a.m. it’s still pretty dark) and took pictures without the crowds. 

Twilight before Dawn

 The sun was coming up and the sky was pink when we finished here at the Assembly Hall.  

 

Just Arrived in FHL

Every floor of the Family History Library has its own decorated Christmas tree.   We enter in front of the one on our B-1 floor. 

Foyer of Main Floor of FHL

There is a huge tree set up at the entrance on the main floor.  International Christmas ornaments and nativities are on displayed on B1, though it’s hard to get pictures of them because of the glare of the glass. 

Christmas Around the World in Ornaments

In all the buildings around Temple Square nearly every main room has its own tree.  Perhaps the most amazing Christmas tree is in the foyer of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  However, the tree doesn’t outshine the gorgeous foyer itself, with its colorful ceiling and chandelier. 

Main Lobby of Jos.Smith Mem.Bldg.

We have endeavored to go to many of the “events” on Temple Square, held at several venues from about noon to 10:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday in December.  We’ve heard several high school choirs, some of which were quite amazing.  One of our favorites, however, was a 12-piece flute ensemble playing Christmas music.  Check out the “bass” flute on the left in the picture. 

Twelve Flute Ensemble = FANTASTIC!

We got to go to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional in the Conference Center and sat with some of our friends from B-1 at the Family History Library.

Sister Van Wyngarden, Elder & 
Sister Pocock, Sister & Elder Fournis

The lights around the Conference Center are also quite spectacular.  We also attended a Family History Devotional and luncheon, for all workers and missionaries in the Family History Department where we learned about the filming of the movies depicting the life of Christ in the newly-built sets in Goshen, Utah, and how they chose the cast from over 50,000 applicants. 

The First Presidency's Special Christmas Devotional

Lunch was in the foyer of the conference center.  We attended the production of “The Savior of the World,” a musical play telling of the birth and resurrection of Christ.  Our social group held a fantastic Christmas program complete with live nativity scene, musical numbers and treats.  One cannot resist feeling the Christmas spirit on Temple Square.  We feel so blessed to be able to live just a block away.

 

Quiet start of the day on B-1 of Family History Library

Things are pretty quiet during the Christmas season in the Family History Library.  Many people are busy preparing for Christmas! Our B-1 floor had a special German dinner and evening social at the home of one of the library volunteers, German Marion Wolfert. 

Elder Dolberg & Sister Marion Wolfert

The house was beautifully decorated and we enjoyed the great German food and singing with about 50 of our co-workers.  We also celebrate birthdays once a month.  Elder Stringham & his companion Elder Sypherd enjoy birthday cake.  

It happened on Elder Stringhams' birthday.

The first big snow of the season came on December 14, which left world looking like a winter wonderland all around Temple Square.   Our Ensign 3^rd Branch congregation had a catered Christmas dinner that evening.  We loved the special feel all around the Conference Center as we walked home. 

a cold but very beautiful evening

 Unfortunately, our parking spot in SLC is not covered, so this is what our car looked like when we went to drive home to Herriman for the weekend. 

Elder Dolberg does NOT like to shovel snow!

Even before the BIG snowstorm, our home in Herriman got a little snow, since Herriman is higher in altitude than Salt Lake City.  After the storm the whole neighborhood was left with a covering of snow, and icicles were hanging from the eaves. 

Inside we have only a few simple Christmas decorations up, including one small “blue and pink” tree.

Sister Dolberg at the piano beside the Christmas tree

Elder Dolberg snapped the shot of Sister Dolberg at the piano, where she spends a lot of time trying out music for possible use with the Elijah Choir that she directs. Elder Dolberg is happy to stand in front of the gas fireplace to warm himself!   

We also put up a tiny tree in our basement.  Each ornament brings back a special memory of Christmases past or travels to various parts of the world. 

We hope that you all have a joyous Christmas.  Because of a lack of time now that we are full-time missionaries, we are sending our traditional Christmas letter out on Facebook, and by email to those without Facebook.  In case you didn’t “find” our Christmas letter, here is the link to it which summarizes our amazing year of 2015 = 

http://dolbergusa.blogspot.com/