Plus, a Catholic ex-ambassador heralds interfaith unity amid temple strife.
Good morning! Here are today's temperatures: 🌨️ 26 - 36° in Logan | 💧 70% 🌨️ 30 - 39° in Salt Lake City | 💧 70% ⛅ 40 - 57° in St. George | 💧 70% Have you ever wondered what Christmas was like 100 years ago? My colleague Hanna Seariac took a look back at how Christmas was celebrated in both 1923 and 1924 and how Utah communities came together to create "the most enjoyable Christmas on record" for those in need. If this article inspires you, consider finding a way to serve this Christmas. Here is a list of ways you can volunteer in Utah this holiday season. Also on our mind: The classic Christmas song that just hit No. 1 for the first time, an 18,000-page monument to Joseph Smith Jr. and making sure everyone at your holiday gathering feels welcome.
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| ‘Physically, emotionally and financially devastating’: Young family tackles ALS |
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| | On his 46th birthday earlier this year, Sean Cunningham was diagnosed with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Like in the majority of ALS cases — only 5% to 10% of cases are genetic — the reason Cunningham has the disease is unknown. While ALS comes with a lot of unknowns, it always ends the same: death. ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease as it's commonly known as, weakens muscles and physical function. Cunningham's diagnosis has forced him and his wife, Whitney, to prepare for a future neither planned for when they got married 10 years ago. Whitney is learning all of the things that used to be her husband's responsibility, and the couple is trying to build memories with their two young sons. "We think of ALS as the worst disease because it has a devastating impact on families," said Brian Frederick, executive vice president of the national ALS Association. "Often somebody diagnosed with ALS has to go through a very long journey to get that diagnosis and it’s fraught with the anxiety of not knowing. Once they are diagnosed, they are often told there aren’t a lot of options. Because of ALS’s symptoms, a person diagnosed with it frequently loses the ability to perform in the workplace, so they leave jobs. Often the spouse is the primary caregiver and is eventually forced to quit or lose their job to help care for their loved one." |
Read more about how this young family is tackling a life-altering ALS diagnosis. |
| George and Mary Glass moved to Utah looking for a place to slow down and contribute to their religious community upon the conclusion of his four-year stint as the U.S. ambassador to Portugal. Despite being devout Catholics, the Glasses were excited when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced last year that the Heber Valley Utah Temple would be built nearby. "We were absolutely delighted," George Glass said. "It shows the strength and the viability of your spirituality. And it shows the strength of that spirituality in a community to go out and build a (temple)." The couple was surprised when other residents didn't feel the same joy. Those residents tried to get George Glass to join "their side." "I said ‘There isn’t a side.’ If the Mormon Church wants to build a church in this community, and especially a temple, then they have every right to do so." The former ambassador has become a proponent for the temple's construction on the basis of religious freedom, which is something he saw under attack while in Portugal. “There’s a lot of emotion that goes on with this. And we’re trying to temper this down, but ultimately, both sides need to compromise and are compromising,” he said. “I hope that it gets to the point that we can have a big beautiful temple built that everybody can celebrate.” Read more about how George Glass has become an ambassador of religious freedom in Utah. More in Faith Be the ‘new Scrooge’ this Christmas, or be like those who really influenced his transformation (Deseret News) An 18,000 page monument to Joseph Smith Jr. (Deseret News) Roseanne Barr talks about ‘Mormons’ and the ‘mysteries of history’ with Tucker Carlson (Deseret News) | FROM UTAH BUSINESS Utah Business 2024 CEO of the Year Do you know a visionary leader steering their company toward success? Give them the spotlight they deserve and nominate them as a 2024 CEO of the Year! | Entertainment What to watch over Christmas weekend (Deseret News) This Christmas song is 65 years old. It just hit No. 1 for the first time (Deseret News) Map: Your 2023 guide to seeing Christmas lights in Utah (KSL) 10 of the bestselling individual books of all time (Deseret News) Family Making sure everyone at your holiday gathering feels welcome (Deseret News) Experts weigh in on navigating the holidays with young children and older relatives (KSL) Politics Entrepreneur Case Lawrence launches exploratory committee for 3rd Congressional District seat (KSL) Sen. John Fetterman says he isn’t ‘progressive’ (Deseret News) Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: The secret Christmas wishes of Utah politicians (Deseret News) Sports After transfer portal and recruiting whirlwind, it’s finally time to play football (Deseret News) How BYU fared against Bellarmine Friday (Deseret News) How Luka Samanic made Will Hardy proud in win over Pistons (Deseret News) New York Jets head coach shares Zach Wilson injury update (Deseret News) Oregon State, Washington State reach agreement with departing Pac-12 schools (Deseret News) Utah State vs. Georgia State: How to watch, listen to or stream the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Deseret News) Salt Lake County Vigil honors 74 people who died while experiencing homelessness in Salt Lake County (KSL) New Salt Lake City homeless 'microshelter' filling up quickly (KUTV) Nonprofit in need of clothing, especially for teen boys, to give before Christmas (KSL) Police and Courts Police: Babysitter killed 2-year-old boy, injured twin sister, claims 'anger got the best of him' (KSL) Ogden man charged with manslaughter, accused of providing gun used in suicide pact (KSL) The U.S. and World Santa can legally enter the U.S. this Christmas, per USDA permit (Deseret News) Pornhub parent company turned ‘a blind eye’ to victims, FBI assistant director-in-charge says (Deseret News) When is the best time to fly for Christmas and New Year’s? (Deseret News) Gaza health officials say Israel's offensive has now killed more than 20,000 people (NPR) |
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