1 Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

Arguably the most famous editorial ever written appeared over a century ago in the fall of 1897 in the New York Sun. It was written by Francis P. Church on September 21, 1897. We take delight in reprinting its timeless message here.

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

"Dear Editor--I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?"
Virginia O'Hanlon
115 West Ninety-fifth Street

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little.

In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

2 Quote of the week

"This is a glorious time of the year, simple in origin, deep in meaning, beautiful in tradition and custom, rich in memories, and charitable in spirit. It has an attraction to which our hearts are readily drawn. This joyful season brings to each of us a measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree in which we have turned our mind, feelings, and actions to the spirit of Christmas" (Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Dec. 1998, 2).

3 This week in our family

Mon, Dec 15: Chad & Melissa married 1994 [Kay]
Tues, Dec 16: Kira's birthday [Dale]
Wed, Dec 17: Ivard & Dorothy married 1934
Thurs, Dec 18: Shandi Cleverly-Burdett's birthday [Lyle]
Fri, Dec 19: Brian & Kate married 2003 [Gail]
Sat, Dec 20: Brandon & Nicole married 1997 [Kay]
Sat, Dec 20: Adria Janelle Kersker's birthday [Lyle]
Sun, Dec 21: First day of winter (winter solstice)
Mon, Dec 22: Doug's birthday [Lyle]
Mon, Dec 22: Crystal Price's birthday [Lyle]
Mon, Dec 22: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

New addition
Aaron Marvin Challis was born in Georgia at 7:09 on Monday morning, December 8, the second son of Paul and Eliza Challis. He weighed 8 pounds 4 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. He joins older brother Peter, who turned two in October. Aaron is Claudia's and my 17th grandchild. Eliza and the baby got to go home the next afternoon.

The two boys (Aaron and Peter) are shown taking a nap together.


State champions
Posted by Crystal Price on December 8. The Joseph she refers to (number 47 in this picture) is Keri's oldest child, one of Lyle's great-grandsons.


My nephew Joseph and his team won the State Title this weekend! It was a very close game that went into double overtime! Although Joseph didn't play in the championship game this year, he did play in many of the Varsity and JV games throughout the season and he's only a sophomore! Great job Joseph ... Keep working hard! He's #47 in the above picture :o)


What Christmas is really about
Lifted from an e-mail from Kay and Karen serving their mission in Peru.

"Even though it is almost summer here, and there are not the usual sights and sounds of Christmas as we know it, we are starting to feel the Christmas spirit. Doing the treat bags for children of a very poor branch and looking forward to the Christmas activity where the children will act out the Christmas story intermingled with carols/hymns sang by the choir (North American couples) and the members, has done something to our hearts.

"Christmas is celebrated in Perú with trees, presents, and a turkey dinner. There are not a lot of decorations in the commercial buildings like home; however, the decorations the various cities put up in the streets are quite elaborate. The dinner is not quite what we usually serve, but I think that is perhaps a good thing. They do not serve all of the side dishes and pies, etc.

"The sisters in our ward have been meeting every Tuesday night for months making things for families who do not have very much. That is what Christmas is really about."

5 Our family 50 years ago

What our family was up to during the winter of 1958, based on entries in Dorothy's Diary during December 1958. The full text of her diary can be found online and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on an 80-acre farm in the Big Bend area of eastern Oregon.


Mon, Dec 15. I got up & got Kids off to school, clock was hr. slow & Kids missed seminary. Kay had his play this afternoon for school kids.

Tues, Dec 16. I came home from work & made out payments to mail and went to bed & Ivard tended Jackie. I got up at 1: & Jackie & I went to relief society. I read a poem I wrote. Came home at 4: and went to bed & Ray fixed kids supper. I got up at 7: & went to Adrian with Kay to his Senior class play. "Susie the Siren" it was real good Kay had the maine part.

Wed, Dec 17. Today was my 24th wedding anniversary & Ivard forgot & I didn't remind him.

Thurs, Dec 18. I came home from work and went right to bed. I got up at noon & Ivard went over to school & got Ray to come home & tend Jackie & we went to Nampa & had dinner at Harmony Cafe, "Prawns," then we went to Boise & traded in Gold Strike books & did some shopping then came to Caldwell and got our layways out & had gift wrapped.

Fri, Dec 19. I came home from work and went right to bed & Ivard put a pork roast on to cook & him & Jackie went to Wilder & got stuff for Wall plug & put it in for T.V. & put a light outside on back porch. I got up & took Kay to Adrian to ball game. Ivard Gene & Ray went at 6:15. J.V.'s got beat 30 to 48 by Fruitland. Varsity won 42 to 38. Kay only made 4 points, he was sick. Came home & went to work at 11: & it was so foggy I could hardly find road.

Sat, Dec 20. It was so foggy comeing from work. I went right to bed & got up at 11:30 & Kay & I went to town & did his Xmas shopping. Ivard, Dean & Dale took my white face to Caldwell sale & did their Xmas shopping. I took Kay & Gene to Adrian at 4: to go to Jordan Valley to play ball. Kids got home from Jordan Valley at midnight, won both games.

Sun, Dec 21. Came home from work & laid down until they ate then we all went to Priesthood & sunday school, it was Xmas programe, Dean & Dale were on it.

6 What in the world

First Presidency Christmas message
Published on the cover of the December 13 Church News and signed by Presidents Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"At this joyous Christmas season men and women of faith turn their thoughts to our dear Savior who came forth from heaven to live on earth as a mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God. His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world. He blessed the sick. He caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear. He even raised the dead to life. To us He has said, 'Come, follow me.'

"We testify of the living reality of Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind. As we seek Christ and as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion always."

Another new temple
The First Presidency has announced a second temple for Peru. It will be built in Trujillo on the site of an existing meetinghouse. Peru's first temple, the Lima Peru Temple, was dedicated January 10, 1986, by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

7 A final word

We are just a week and a half away from Christmas. The day we celebrate the birthday of Jesus. A magical time for children and all the young at heart. A holy time for faithful followers of the Savior. A time for family and traditions and joyous music. A season of service and hope and good will. A time, hopefully, when our better natures prevail.

We take this opportunity at this holiday season to wish all of you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. And, as expressed by Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, "God bless us, every one!"