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I can’t believe, it is already the end of the year!
I hope you all had a great Christmas, and have taken a few moments to jot down some of the memorable situations that took place. 
For instance, Kandi reminded me of one Christmas Eve night many moons ago, when she and I looked into our boys’ rooms. They had finally gone to sleep. She then made the comment, “Oh, if I could only look at them as resting, instead of recharging!”  Now to me, that was funny (especially if you know our boys)! I had forgotten about this situation, and the laugh we had about it. So, I wrote it down for a future memory. Someday I will want to remember that again.
In addition, I wrote down a comment I heard a few days ago, which goes, “It is not what’s in the hand that counts, but what’s in the heart.”  I loved that comment, and noted it down.
It is so easy to forget little things you hear or experience.  So, that’s why I am emphasizing the importance of jotting down a few notes here and there.  In fact “jots,” is another word for “notes.” Since I like to take down thoughts, ideas and quotes, and use them to help me through life, I thought it would be fun, to end this year by starting “Jay’s Jots.”
Maybe in some way through my “jots”, I can help some of you, to get through life better.
To begin with, there is a quote my brother Tom uses a lot. It is, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” This is the theme I will be using tonight with my family.
Every Monday I plan an idea, thought, scripture or quote, to be used in teaching my family in (what we call) “Family Home Evening.” This is a night set aside each week by our church for the family to be together, discuss important things, read the scriptures, and even have an activity.
This short lesson prepared on Monday (which turns into a discussion at our house) opens up the communication process that is so important!
I will use some of the notes or jots from these family meetings, to use in future “Jay’s Jots.”
I hope you will find it helpful and meaningful!
Wishing all of you a Happy 2008!
Sincerely, Jay Osmond

I just wanted remind you that the Spirit of Christmas can always be with you, not just on Christmas. Your homes also, can always have that joyful feeling-If (and it’s a big IF), we do the things that invite the Spirit in. My mother taught that a home can be a heaven or a hell. It all depends on you.
The Spirit (The Holy Ghost) is constantly sending signals and messages to us (usually through another person). In order to invite the spirit into us and our homes, we have to make a conscious effort to do certain things. The Gospel requires us to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” When we listen to those messages that are felt, we open up our minds (kind of like opening up an attachment in your e-mail). When we act on these, we become sensitive to others around us, and not just focused on ourselves.
We are bombarded constantly with the messages of the world, especially through the media. We don’t have to make much of an effort to allow those signals in, however, it takes some work to keep the channel of spirituality or revelation open. (Can you imagine trying to explain the internet or the television to a pioneer?)
The power of prayer is not only a spiritual power, it’s a mental and emotional tool as well.  (I am sure someday when we die, we will be amazed how simple, and yet, how powerful these waves are).  Prayer is a two-way conversation. I like to sometimes look at it as a very powerful cell phone built inside of all of us.
When we feel distant from God, it is not that He isn’t there, it’s just that we have moved somehow. Just like a radio, we have turned the knob (so to speak) a little out of tune from that heavenly station, and allowed static to filter in our minds. The Lord said, “Let virtue (thoughts that give us power and strength) garnish your thoughts unceasingly.”  We are promised that if we do this, the Spirit of the Lord will ”be our constant companion.” What a marvelous promise this is! To ALWAYS have the Holy Ghost with us!
Someday, assuredly, we will all understand that great system organized by God, but until then, we walk by faith. We develop faith as we make decisions. The “faithful are full of faith” because of the acts they do. Sometimes we are prompted to give a smile, say a kind word, or lend a helping hand. Sometimes we are motivated to make a call to someone or to bring up a scripture, or a positive thought to brighten someone’s day. We also have promptings to take care of ourselves. The Lord wants us to put on our own oxygen masks from time to time in order to have that inner strength. (”Love thy neighbor AS thyself.”) If we act on those promptings our faith grows, and we are blessed and others are helped. In other words, when we hear, we need to act. “Faith without works is dead!”
We have all heard the phrase “nothing good comes easy.”  When you think about it, it’s really not that hard to develop faith (see Alma 32 and 34 in the Book of Mormon). Faith is not just a feeling, it’s a decision.
When we strive to do what’s right and follow the inspiration given to us, we will know that the spirit is working through us and is leading and guiding us to not only help us make good decisions, but to help lift (not rescue) others as well.  
Trying to describe all this in words is sometimes a difficult thing for me (and I’m sure it is for you too).  It’s kind of like explaining the breeze as you open a window, or turn on a fan. It can’t be seen, but you can sure feel it!
So, as you enjoy the Christmas Spirit, remember that it’s Christ’s Spirit that brings joy as we sacrifice for others. It is the Spirit of the Lord that brings peace to our soul as we use self discipline. And, it is also the Spirit that brings happiness as we decide to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its purity and simplicity.
Sincerely, Jay Osmond

In 1966, I remember vividly, a Christmas morning that will always be with me.  Six days prior, I heard my mother in the storage room wrapping presents. These (traditionally) were not the kind of presents that were put under the tree. These presents were big, and somewhat expensive. They were meant to be from Santa Claus!
Well, that night after everyone had gone to bed, my curiosity and excitement got out of control. I obsessed about what was in those packages so badly, that I couldn’t seem to contain my patience.  I snuck into the room, carefully unwrapped the ones that said “Jay” on them, and started playing. I had the time of my life, quietly and sneakily, playing with the forbidden presents.
On the morning of the 25th, everyone lined up.  The cameras were turned on, and I could just feel the excitement from everyone, except me. I somehow ruined that morning for myself, but pretended to be surprised and happy. What crossed my mind was this deep sense of guilt and hollow feeling. I couldn’t quite figure this out. I never felt so bad about something that seemed so fun.
After Christmas was over, I had a little chat with my mother. In her wisdom (and always looking for a teaching moment), she began to help me understand a principle that lives deep within me to this day.  This is the principle of “free agency.”  We talked about how we are all here on earth to make choices. In fact, she said, “We are here, because of our choices,” (this is our belief in the pre-exsistence – see Revelation 12:4-13). We continued talking about freedom, and what it meant, and what the scripture meant, “Know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (This is where she used the analogy of the kite that I have used so many times with my kids.)
Anyway, my mother and I talked until she felt I understood the power that each of us holds in making decisions. I learned that we are free to choose, but not free to choose the consequences. (By the way, this session with her is where I also learned the value of her affirmation: “Do what is right, let the consequences follow.”)  Needless to say, this experience had been a life changing one. It really turned a lemon into lemonade.  I guess you could say, I know what it means when you hear the saying, “Good things come to those who wait.”

~ Jay

The Christmas memory I want to share with all of you this week involves one where my father and I both learned valuable lessons.  I was seven years old, and very curious about Santa Claus and all the excitement brought on by the anticipation of the presents we would be receiving.  My father was trying so hard to make our Christmas special.  He spent hours setting up bicycles and things to surprise us.  I knew that “Santa” was working in the next room, so I snuck in.  To my surprise, I saw that my father was Santa Claus, and also saw all of the gifts he set up for us.  My reaction was, “Wow!  Father is Santa Claus!” …and my father was so frustrated at my ruining his surprise, that he gave me a spanking right before Christmas, which ruined the mood for all of us.  On occasion, my father brought this story up to remind me to learn from his mistakes as well as the good things, and I’ll never forget that.  We learned to laugh about the Christmas my curiosity and anxiety got the better of me, and also thought about the lesson my father and I both learned.  Father learned that you don’t spank your kids out of frustration or anger.  The great thing is, I too learned that lesson for when I became a father.  Our kids give us challenges, that is part of their growing up, but learning how to discipline in a positive way was what I took from that Christmas memory.  As I said, father and I talked about this story often, and we really learned to laugh about the time I “busted” him as Santa Claus.  It makes me think of one of my mother’s favorite quotes…”Tragedy plus time equals humor.”  Which, when you think about it, makes TWO lessons we learned from that Christmas 45 years ago!

Love, Jay

For the month of December, Jay thought it might be fun to share some of his memories from Christmases past each week, rather than the usual “Q&A With Jay” format.  He hopes you enjoy reading his Christmas memories…

One of the strangest Christmas memories I can remember, was in Japan.  We were scheduled to appear on a variety show on NHK TV. I was kind of depressed about spending Christmas away from home, and spending the day at a TV studio.  However, when I found out that the sketch we were supposed to do was in a jail cell (that was especially built), and that we were going to be doing this in Japanese,  I changed my attitude. It turned out that this sketch was really funny (especially when interpreted in English). The brothers, Marie and I spent the whole day laughing and being silly.  Once again, this proves that you can turn lemons into lemonade!

Happy Holidays!  Love, Jay