If you’re like me, you sometimes forget to renew membership in our organization with the coming of the new year. Sometimes we need to be reminded to get that done. This year has been different for me. I’ve been able to communicate with some of you as you have contributed generous gifts to our organization while renewing your memberships. I’ve also seen many contribute time, support, or knowledge. This Christmas generosity reminds me of a young girl when Santa Claus first went viral in America in the 1830s.
Mary Ann Stearns moved from Kirtland, Ohio, to New York City with her parents, Parley and Mary Ann Pratt. They were busy writing the influential book, A Voice of Warning. Although Parley’s name was the only one on the title page, Mary Ann worked with him and wasn’t able to give her daughter much attention. Young Mary Ann recalled, “I understood they were writing a book about the gospel—and I did try my very best to be a good little girl and do just what was required of me.” There was another girl her age in the same New York tenement housing. Mary Ann ran into the girl in the hallway on Christmas morning 1837 who ran to her exclaiming:
‘What did Santa Claus bring you?’ As that was someone that I had never heard of I could only answer, ‘Nothing.” ‘Didn’t you hang up your stocking?’ came next. My answer was, ‘What do you hang up your stocking for?’ … I soon learned that all children that hung up their stockings had them filled with nice presents. … Now what puzzled me, and I may say tried me very severely was that this great and good and bounteous giver, Santa Claus, would come to a house where two little girls about the same age and nearly the same size both lived, and [he would] give so much to one and pass the other by without even a call.”
While Santa Claus did not serve the young Mary Ann well, and she went away from her conversation in the hallway in tears, we’ve not had to worry about his whims as we’ve all been blessed by each other through our continued association. Our intellectual stockings are stuffed full of new insights, greater understanding, and the opportunity to associate with like-minded friends because of your generosity. Thank you!
—Mark Staker
