Last Trading Day

As I watched the stock market open down slightly, with CNBC hosts reflecting on the passing year, the thought occurred to me that I should trade old habits and ways, for better ones next year –or maybe tomorrow!  (Why not today?)  I also thought Sunday, our day of rest, the first day of the week and the new year, will be the perfect time to solidify positive changes in my life.  May we all thus find greater happiness in 2012.

A Birthday Remembered

Often lost in the last-minute hustle of Christmas shopping and parties, is the birthday of a modern-day prophet named Joseph Smith.  I quote from page 33 of the book by George Q. Cannon, published in 1888, titled The Life of Joseph Smith The Prophet: 
"The circumstances and surroundings of the elder Joseph were of the humblest, when unto his house was born, on the 23rd of December, 1805, Joseph, the Prophet of the Last Dispensation.  The family were still living in the little town of Sharon, in Windsor County, Vermont; and were, at the time, greatly impoverished.  Very early, therefore, was the future Prophet compelled to learn the lessons of labor, patience, and self-denial."

"Happy Holidays"

The imperative (for some) of the politically correct, inclusive greeting, "Happy holidays", and celebration of the winter solstice (certainly a "celestial event") have once again come upon us.  I don't have a problem with that.  A fast Google search yields more than a few results, as usual.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/.../winter-solstice-2011-
"The winter season will officially begin in the northern hemisphere on Dec. 22 with the annual celestial event known as the winter solstice."  "Shortest Day Of The Year ..."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice
"This article is about the astronomical and cultural event of winter solstice, also known as midwinter."

http://www.timeanddate.com/ › Calendar
"The December solstice will occur at 05:30 UTC on December 22, 2011. The December solstice is also known as the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere ..."

news.nationalpost.com/2011/.../winter-solstice-2011-
"Depending on where you are in the world, December 21 or 22 marks the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere: the official beginning of ..."