Christmas Message to Poland Warsaw Missionaries and Families

At this Christmas season, we feel a real need to tell each one of you--missionaries, spouses and children--how well we remember you, how much we love you and how thankful we are that we could serve with you among the Poles. Those were special days which we will always cherish. And you missionaries were the best part. We hope you will share with your children your mission experiences and testimonies so that they will develop their own faith, find happiness and peace in life and carry on this magnificent work.
Last Monday we were in the Salt Lake Temple attending the sealing for Brother Mariusz Redzikowski and his bride, Jonelle. Some of you may remember him. He tried to teach Sister Tobler and me Polish before we arrived in Poland, but as all of you will remember, was not completely successful. We have felt gratitude and attachment to him ever since. The sealing, with its spirit, was a beautiful and moving reminder to us of what is important in life. Three former Poland Warsaw mission presidents and wives--Whipple, Tobler, Lewis--were there. We talked about our wonderful missionaries.
A decade or more later, we still pray for you. We know that our Heavenly Father lives in His Heaven and knows and loves each one of us. We feel love and gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ for His pure life, His teachings and example and His infinite atonement that will bring all of us back together again, if that is what we want and we live for it. We can hardly believe how blessed we are in being members of His Church and enjoying all of the blessings that come with it. We love and sustain the prophets of God, past and present, and thank them for their legacy of faith and faithfulness to us. Every blessing we have received--and more--we wish for you.
Those of you who are good at math will know that Sister Tobler and I are getting older. I am 76 and she will be 75 on Christmas Day, hence, the name, Carol Joy. Our health is pretty good; we can't complain. Our life is enriched daily by four loving children and spouses, 17 grandchildren (16 living) and now three great grandchildren, a boy and identical twin girls. As my father-in-law used to say, "Had we known the joy of grandchildren, we would have had them first."
May the Lord bless each one of you with the real blessings of Christ and the Christmas season--peace, contentment, love, joy and a desire to serve the Master by serving His children.
Wesolych Swiat and may the Lord bless you.
Love,
Prez. i Siostra Tobler