It is our hope and prayer that all is well with you at this Christmas season. As we collectively celebrate the miracle of the dear Savior's birth we do hope that you will be mightily blessed with the joy and peace of the season. God's message to all the world so long ago is the same today, which is that His son, Jesus Christ was the "bright and morning star" (Revelation 22:16) He was "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world..."(John 1:9) It is His light that brings us out of personal darkness into a brightness filled with hope. May we always remember that Jesus Christ is the "Light which shineth in darkness." D&C 10:58) In every season of our lives, in all of the challenges we may encounter, and in each hardship we may face the Savior is the light that dispels fear, provides assurance and direction, and engenders enduring peace and joy in our hearts. Our prayer is that Jesus Christ will give you the strength and comfort you need to persevere along your life journey and that you will find true joy during this Christmas season.
           
Sincerely Yours,
Centralia Stake Presidency,
President Ken Smith
President Joseph Alexander
President Viliami Hafoka

Dear Sisters of the Centralia Stake,
Our greeting to you this Christmas time comes with hope that the faith you have nurtured as you live in quiet faith from day to day will continue to fill your heart and sustain you throughout all your tomorrows. May you know that your service to others is meaningful in Heavenly Father's Plan and helps in small and large ways to build up The Kingdom of God. You are part of His marvelous design and you help others find their way through the winding path of life's great journey. Your righteous example can lend hope and strength to others. We pray that you will feel the happiness and peace that accompanies the spirit of The Lord and wish you a Christmas that sparkles with love and goodwill as we honor and celebrate the birth, life and mission of our beautiful Savior. We have much to celebrate knowing that because He lived, we too shall live again. He lives! Our kind, wise, heavenly friend!
Love and warmest wishes for a merry and bright New Year!
The Centralia Stake Relief Society,
President Addie Simper
1st Counselor, Sally Montgomery
2nd Counselor Stacy Heredia
Secretary, Heidi Simper

When Christ says to the poor in spirit,

"Come unto me," he means

He knows the way Out

and He knows the way Up.

                              Jeffrey R. Holland

A Message from one of Centralia Stake Relief Society's Faithful Sisters, Kathey Moon, telling us a little about her life and sharing her testimony. Kathey has a warm personable nature. She is witty and shares a keen sense of humor and quick smile. When visiting with Kathey she makes one feel at ease. She has experienced a lot of life and many adversities that have seasoned and refined her.  Wisdom is the treasure of a sanctified life. I see that wisdom and refinement in Kathey. I first met Kathey when we served as visiting teaching companions. Kathey was always a 100% er. She may not have known that while we were making all those visits to several sisters each month that she was also lifting, inspiring and being a good example to me. Kathey is so down to earth, so real and non pretentious. I instantly appreciated that about her. Many of the unique Christmas nativities that were displayed in the Stake Christmas program of years past were Kathey's to share. The following are a few words from Kathey:

"On our way driving to the Centralia Chapel on August 20, 1978 to get baptized me and my husband  Ken spotted a beautiful double rainbow in the sky. To us it seemed to be a good omen. That day five of our eight children were baptized with us.
As the years went by our second oldest son served his mission in Las Vegas, Nevada. While on his mission he met his wife to be. They later married in the St. George, Utah Temple.

Our lives have been so richly blessed since we joined the church. We have been in Holy places where the Lord has been. In 1997-1998 we served a mission in Kirtland, Ohio. We lived in the Hyrum Smith home as well as the Nathaniel Milken home. While serving there the Family Home Evenings were very spiritual. We shared them with eight other couples. Some of those Family Home Evenings were held at the John Johnson farm in the "Revelation" room" as well as the "School of the Prophets's" room. My husband Ken and I also served two local missions. We share a firm testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and know that we are serving in His church.

Ken and I were sealed in the Seattle Temple. Ken passed away in 2003. I look forward to being with him again some day.                                                         
                                                         Sister Kathey Moon, November 7, 2017

Since Kathey mentioned serving a mission in Kirtland included here is a favorite story of the Kirtland Temple that occurred during a meeting that took place one week after the initial dedication.
Joseph Smith recorded that on April 3rd, 1836 "I retired to the pulpit, the veils being dropped, and bowed myself, with Oliver Cowdery, in solemn and silent prayer. The following Vision was opened to both of us: The Veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened. "We saw the Lord standing on the breastwork of the pulpit, before us, and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold in color like amber. "His eyes were as a flame of fire, the hair on His head was white like the pure snow, His countenance shown above the brightness of the sun, and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of waters even the voice of Jehovah saying, "I am the first and the last, I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain, I am your advocate with the Father." "Behold your sins are forgiven you. You are clean before me, therefore lift up your hearts and rejoice. "Let the hearts of your brethren rejoice, who have with their might, built this house to my name." "For behold, I have accepted this house, for my name shall be here and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house." After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us, and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and leading of the Ten tribes from the land of the North. "After this Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying, that in us and in our seed, all generations after us should be blessed." "After this vision had closed, another great and glorious Vision burst upon us, for Elijah the Prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said "Behold, the time has fully come which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi, testifying that he (Elijah) should be sent before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come. "To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the children to their fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse. "Therefore the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands, and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors."
These statements, testified to by Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, were accepted as a revelation by the solemn assembly of the Church and are considered as scripture.
See Doctrine and Covenants section 110 or "The Restored Church" by William Edwin Berrett  pg. 128
Addie Simper, President Centralia Stake Relief Society

Evening of Excellence Encore Performance. Clarissa Gifford "Royalty"

**** REGISTRATION DEADLINE is Aug. 22.   If there are members in your ward,  whose 

lives could be blessed by Pathway at a very reasonable cost, please refer them to the Pathway missionaries listed below.

Pathway has blessed many lives in our Stakes in the past 3 years since Pathway  began in our area and we hope to continue this fall.

If you have any questions or need additional information please contact any of the Pathway missionaries.

Elder and Sister Pollard, clbjpollard@gmail.com, (360) 870-2374

Elder and Sister Hastings, gpahastings@gmail.com, (360) 456-6629

Elder and Sister Rose, frednlindarose@yahoo.com, (360) 943-3635

        "By becoming the answer to someones prayer- We often find answers to
         our own."
                                                                                      Elder Dieter Uchtdorf                                     ********************************************************************

God changes caterpillars into butterflies, sand
into pearls and coal into diamonds. Using time
and pressure He's working on you too.
                                   Rick Warren

SISTERS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE COLLEGE?

 BYU Pathway Worldwide is a one year program that helps members
start or return to college.
Students earn 15 credits toward a degree. After completing the
Pathway course students can earn up to a Bachelors degree online
through BYU-Idaho for a fraction of the cost of other schools.
                               Go to:  https://pathway.lds.org/
or contact Pollards at clbjpollard@gmail.com or Phone:360-870-2374

Open Letter from one of our Dear Relief Society Sisters,

On March 25, 2016 I was admitted to the hospital and had surgery to receive a new knee. Two weeks later when the staples were removed infected drainage poured out. It was a trip back to the hospital for me. The plastic parts of my knee replacement were removed for a ninety minute washout using gallons of hydrogen peroxide and other liquids before being restitched together.
  I worked hard at physical therapy while on liquid antibiotics and pills. Late one evening my heart went into arterial fibrillation. I received a quick ambulance ride to the hospital, brought on by the stress on my body as a result of the medications and surgical procedures. The next day I met with a cardiologist that prescribed me more medications. Due to the various traumas my knee refused to bend properly. I was anesthetized and the surgeon forced it to bend. I then worked harder through physical therapy to keep it working. I found I was getting weaker and shakier. My Doctor said "The treatment isn't working." I was sent to see my infectious disease specialist that prescribed pills. She informed me I would be taking them for the remainder of my life. I got sicker and weaker. At my next visit with the surgeon he looked at me right in the eyes and said "I WANT TO SAVE YOUR KNEE, YOUR LEG AND YOUR LIFE! You need to go to Seattle and get a second opinion."
  My son Richard took me to Seattle to see a new infectious disease specialist and an Orthopedic surgeon. Both Doctors concurred that the treatment was not working and that the knee needed to be re-opened, everything removed, washed out and a cement spacer infused with antibiotics placed.
For the third time an incision was made in my knee, the area cleaned out and the medicated spacer was set in rather than glued as my knee had been. I was placed in a straight brace and a pic line was reinstalled to infuse 1000 milligrams of liquid antibiotic into my arm twice per day along with additional antibiotic tablets. I returned home so weak that nurses visited my home regularly to clean and change my pic line. My leg remained straight with the help of a brace and I remained on antibiotics for a period of two months when they removed the antibiotics but not the cement spacer in my knee. The Doctor encouraged me to get the knee to bend up to a 90 degree angle. I could not do it alone so my family assisted me twice a day by helping me to move my knee as it would painfully crunch and grind.
  On Halloween of 2016 I underwent knee surgery for the fourth time. The cement spacer was removed and a new knee was installed. The straight brace was used to keep the muscles and tendons that had been cut or ripped off of my leg bone in place so they could heal. The infection was gone!
  How did I live through this past year? Gratitude! Every night before prayers I would think about the day's blessings. Sunshine, flowers outside my window, a daughter that flew from back East to be with me through each surgery staying for weeks at a time and even a month for the last surgery. My older brother called me every Sunday evening and lifted my spirit with his infectious laugh. One of my sisters sent me a card each week. Think of that, 52 cards and they are still coming. A son that comes over every night to see what he can do for me even while taking care of a very ill wife. Phone calls, cards, lovely dinners from ward family members. Sometimes the list was so long I would be in tears. Nieces and grandchildren all made gifts of homemade cards, sent with uplifting quotes and scriptures. I received Priesthood blessings that told me I would recover. Just when my faith would get a little weak someone would pop in with just the right thing to say to help strengthen my faith and resolve. I could feel the prayers in my behalf. I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ for my recovery.
Ruth Tveten

Ruth lives in the Centralia Stake and served as Relief Society President when the Centralia ward included the boundaries of Centralia, Chehalis, Rochester and Tenino, She has also served as Girls Camp Director, President in Primary, Young Womens, Stake Young Women's President and counselor in the Stake Young Women's Presidency. Ruth's husband Jan served as Bishop three times. Once in the Young Adult ward and twice in Rochester. Ruth served as Bishops wife for fifteen years. Ruth served with Jan as President to the Norway Mission. Ruth has nine siblings and seven children. She loves sewing, quilting and especially gardening.

January Presidency Message

       January is that time of year when we get to set new goals for ourselves.
As Latter-Day Saints we are ever reaching and striving to improve as
we look to our Savior's example of perfection. While we cannot obtain
perfection in this life, we can work towards it.  It's exciting to know
that just for this moment we can be perfect at something! Little acts add
up to great acts! By small means, great things come to pass!... So we
reach, we strive, and in so doing we succeed!
  We have faith that with the Lord's help we can improve and become
more like Him. Mark 11:22 "And Jesus answering saith unto them,
Have faith in God."
  President Monson said, "Now, I don't simply mean that we should make
a wish, or that we should dream a dream, but rather determine to do that
which we pledge to accomplish." He also said, "My beloved brothers and
sisters, fear not. Be of Good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith."

BJ Barnes 2nd Counselor Centralia Stake Relief Society