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Book of Mormon

The Other Christmas Miracle

December 8, 2021 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

By Robert Starling

On a certain night every year all over the earth, millions of families gather together and share a two-thousand-year-old story, of how a baby was born in a humble stable who would become the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, and save the entire world from sin and error.

To non-believers, it is an incredible tale of angels appearing like UFO’s to frightened shepherds in the Middle East, as they were camping out in the hills tending their flocks.  According to the story, there were also wise and pious men in a far country to the east of Bethlehem who saw a bright new star in the sky, announcing the birth of the Christ child and fulfilling ancient prophesies. Like the shepherds, they would undertake a journey to go and worship the baby boy. Who these men were, where they were from, and how many were in their party is not known. It is a well-known but little-understood mystery of the Christmas season.

But there was another amazing and wondrous celestial event that took place on that fateful night, in an even more distant land a world away. And with that heavenly sign of his coming, the child Jesus, by his very birth, prevented the kind of horrific slaughter of innocents that took place at the hands of Herod in Bethlehem about two years later.  This was the “other” Christmas miracle.  How did it happen?

The Other Christmas Miracle

As millions of believers throughout the world are aware, yet few celebrate, another wise and holy man named Samuel had come preaching on a distant continent among the people whom Jesus later referred to as his “other sheep.” Samuel had prophesied that a savior would be born in about five years’ time and that the sign of his coming would be not only a new star in the heavens, but that in that land there would be a day, a night, and a day without darkness.

There were many who believed the words of Samuel and looked forward to these heavenly signs, but they were scoffed at and ridiculed by the rich and powerful. As the five-year deadline approached, the intolerance and persecution intensified, until at last the rulers proclaimed that if the new star did not appear, and the night without darkness did not occur by a certain date, those who would not deny their strange beliefs would be put to death. Like the many Christians who later suffered martyrdom in the coliseums of Rome, these believers were ready to lay down their lives in their commitment to their faith.

But the sign did come. As the sun began to set on that fateful day, there was no darkness.  In all that night, it was light in their land as though it was mid-day. The faithful were spared, and many more were converted. The celestial signs of the birth of Christ had indeed brought about “peace on earth,” at least in that land, and at least for a short time.

That’s a beautiful story, but how could it be true? In today’s world of scientific facts and hard reality, how could any reasonable and intelligent person believe such a fable? Is there any evidence that such a thing can really happen?

Actually . . .   For centuries Christian and non-Christian astronomers have speculated on what might have been a reasonable explanation of the so-called “Star of Bethlehem.”  Some have postulated that a supernova explosion in a distant galaxy might account for a “new star” in the heavens. Others have calculated a rare alignment of planets that could have created an extraordinary light in the night sky. In fact, on December 21, 2020, a spectacular conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn occurred that hasn’t been visible for almost 800 years. It was covered on major news networks and brought people out of their homes all over the world with their binoculars and telescopes to scan the evening sky.

But what about a night without darkness?  Has that ever happened before?  Wouldn’t a person be deluded and crazy to believe in something like that?

A candle in the dark. For the Nephites, light when it should have been dark was the other Christmas miracle.
Scientific Signs in the Heavens

Actually . . .  In a September 2003 conference of the Book of Mormon Archaeological Forum (BMAF), John Tvedtnes presented a paper called “Book of Mormon Hits,” in which he provided several scientific possibilities based on historical events:

  • Glowing night fogs have been observed in various places. The cause is unknown although it is thought that it might be electrical in nature. The phenomenon was first described in 1982 by meteorologist William R. Corliss.  One such luminous fog extended from Africa to Sweden and throughout North and South America.   Another happened in 1783 in the Alps, and another in Western Europe in August 1821.  An 1831 glowing night fog was observed almost world-wide. Corliss concludes that “nights were so bright that the smallest print could be read at midnight.”
  • There is also something that is called “earthquake luminosity.”  On 9 December 1731, following an earthquake in Florence, Italy, luminous clouds appeared over England.  Similar things have happened in places like France and South America. In fact, it is very common in South America where it is called the “Andes glow.”  Sometimes it follows the mountain ridges for as much as 300 miles in length.
  • In 1908 there was a period of time during which there were some very, very bright skies when an object burned up in the atmosphere and exploded over the Tunguska region of Siberia.  Most scientists now believe it was a comet or asteroid.  People in Scotland reported that in rooms facing north, objects cast shadows at night. In London, it was possible to read the small print in the London Times at midnight.  It was possible to read the large print indoors at 1:30 a.m. The room was as light as if it had been the day.”  Photographs were taken by this natural light at 1:00 a.m. at Stockholm, Sweden, and also at Novorzhev, Russia.

A Cornell University research paper published by the American Geophysical Union in 2009 explores the 1908 “Tunguska Event” in greater detail, and attributes the “nights without darkness” to ice crystals in the upper atmosphere similar to those caused by frozen water vapor from the Space Shuttle exhaust plume.  This “noctilucent cloud phenomenon” (the scientific term) was observed for days after the space shuttle Endeavour (STS-118) launched on Aug. 8, 2007. Similar cloud formations had been observed following launches in 1997 and 2003.

Whatever caused it to happen, and however widespread it was, the “night without darkness” came at the precise time prophesied by Samuel.  And this “other Christmas miracle” physically saved the lives of believing Nephites on that holy night so long ago, just as we are saved by trusting in Christ in our crazy world today.

Merry Christmas.


Robert Starling is a creative consultant for Book of Mormon Central  (www.bookofmormoncentral.org). He has been a writer and producer for the NBC Television Network, and at Schick Sunn Classic Pictures, Osmond Productions, and the media production department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  His recent book “A Case for Latter-day Christianity” is available in many bookstores, on Barnes and Noble, and on Amazon.com in printed and e-book versions. He lives in Riverton, Utah with his wife Sharon. They have four adult children and eleven grandchildren.


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Filed Under: Faith & Mindset, Gospel Principles Tagged With: Book of Mormon, Christmas lights, Christmas miracle, new star in heaven, prophecies, Robert Starling, Samuel the Lamanite, signs in the sky

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Debbi Rollo

November 14, 2021 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

Debbi Rollo currently lives in Orem, Utah.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

Book of Mormon Rhymes
Book of Mormon Rhymes: Isaiah Chapters
Isaiah Joke Book
(soon to be released)

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

I love finding creative ways to make the scriptures engaging, fun, and more understandable. I created Book of Mormon Rhymes after being inspired by a classic nursery rhyme book that was handed down to me by my grandmother. I read regularly to my grandchildren, whom we adopted after their parents’ death (our daughter and her husband). It lifted our spirits and helped heal our hearts. That’s how Book of Mormon Rhymes began, then other books followed.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

The highlight is hearing how my book has impacted readers to improve their scripture study of the Book of Mormon. I love inspiring others to read the scriptures and creating ways for people to enjoy reading them in a unique, fun way.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

I try to keep in mind 2 Chronicles 15:7 “Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.”

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

Keep going, keep learning, find mentors, and don’t give up.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

The light and joy I feel each day when I create content. I believe our Spirit is designed to create—and I’ve discovered that writing lights up my spirit, which is addicting the more I do it.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

I pray before I write. I try to balance working IN my business and working ON my business (as a writer). Taking breaks is vital.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

I hope that my books inspire readers to enjoy the scriptures and to learn and love their teachings.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

https://www.bookofmormonrhymes.com/

Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: author tips, Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon Rhymes, Debbi Rollo, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDS author, LDSPMA, nursery rhymes, scriptures

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Ilyan Lavanway!

July 17, 2021 By Trina Boice 3 Comments

Ilyan Lavanway lives in Lehigh, Kansas.

First, tell us about your unique name!

I asked my dad about the meaning of my name. He told me he named me by inspiration, which is especially significant to me, given the fact that my parents knew nothing about the Church until I was three years old. They were introduced to the gospel by a bishop who owned a farm in Connell, Washington. My parents were renting a house on his land. My parents were baptized when I was three years old, and have remained active, raising me in the Church. According to my dad, my first name, Ilyan, has origins in several countries and means Superior, Gentleman, Gentle.

Also interesting is the fact that while my dad was inspired to name me as he did, he said he did not learn the meanings of my names until after the fact. He said my pediatrician, Dr. Vernie from Holland, told him my middle name, Kei, means Stone or Rock. My last name, Lavanway, comes from French origins and means Keeper of the way, or Keeper of the front gate. My dad said his inspiration in naming me has proven accurate. I appreciate knowing that, and I realize it gives me a lot to live up to.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

My Spiritual Horizons Expander Pack is a growing collection of eleven out of over two dozen books I have published. These eleven books include: Pondering the Atonement of Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon Answers the Fermi Paradox, Eternal Family Structures Among Exalted Couples, Nature of The Godhead, Onions of Eternity, The Grandeur of Christmas and the Son of God, Circumscription Hypothesis, Thought Log 2015.08.17.1900, Intelligent Universe, Paradise and Spirit Prison, What Happens at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Most of these books are short reads, but all invite lengthy pondering, deep thought, exploratory personal scripture study, and personal revelation. Another is called An Aviator At Heart, which is about my teenage years as an aviator. Hopefully, it’ll inspire other young ones out there!

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

When I was a pathologically shy fourteen-year-old boy, I was told in a priesthood blessing that I have the ability – which means responsibility – to teach and to project myself to my fellow man. I was promised that I would be a full-time missionary, and that I would bring many souls into an understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In a later blessing, I was promised that complex things would become simple and easy to understand. I consider it my lifelong responsibility as a member missionary to be anxiously engaged in gathering Israel through my personal written works.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Soon after launching The Book of Mormon Answers the Fermi Paradox, and sending hundreds of emails inviting NASA and SETI scientists to read it, a senior scientist from The Mars Institute and SETI responded. Although he maintained his secular perspective and disagreed with the content of my book, he was kind and continued an email conversation with me for several days. The Holy Ghost helped me address his arguments. Later, I was invited to write an article about my book for a science website. Having answered the SETI scientist, I was prepared, but my article was not published as promised.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

“Do not become discouraged when trials come to you, for all men must overcome the adversities of life in order to achieve perfection.”

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

I would pass along the same advice given to me. I have discovered during my endeavors to invite others to read my written works, that fat too often I encounter total rejection. Much of it is mean and abrupt. All of it is unfounded. Such rejection presents opportunities to be forgiving, and to press on, undaunted.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

Something my dad said to me, after I shared with him a particularly hurtful rejection, inspired me. My dad told me, “Son, you are a voice crying in the wilderness, and a light shining in darkness.” My dad also told me, “Son, I love reading your work. It makes me think and feel.” Encouragement like this, and the influence of the Holy Ghost, and sheer determination to not be silenced keep me forging ahead. Personal insights that come to me as I study and ponder the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets and apostles constitute ongoing inspiration in my creative work.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

Searching the mysteries of God and then sharing and discussing them is part of declaring repentance, affording and inviting a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world. The deep things of God point us right back to the first principle of the gospel, which is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The mysteries of God point us right back to the first law of heaven, which is obedience. This expanded perspective of what it means to declare repentance is the foundation and the core of my creative process.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

While few and far between, positive reader feedback is one indicator. For example, one reader said of The Book of Mormon Answers the Fermi Paradox, “I love this book. It was clearly written and answers questions I’ve had for years. The author writes in a way that’s simple to understand but informative.” Of course, reader reviews are not decisive indicators of merit. I know I am a voice for good because my books are an integral part of my personal testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. By the word of my testimony, I can help defeat the Adversary.

I have taken the initiative to produce a short, two-part video series of The Book of Mormon Answers the Fermi Paradox, narrated by a simple text-to-speech system.
Part One is fifteen minutes. 
The Book of Mormon Answers The Fermi Paradox by Ilyan Kei lavanway Part 1 of 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A18zirdV04
Part Two is seven minutes.   
The Book of Mormon Answers The Fermi Paradox by Ilyan Kei lavanway Part 2 of 2  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp4oh_xy2iw
YouTube playlist containing both parts:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7pXkt_XY8yYNNKfdTfnNv_PlHG2lz8Cm
That’s twenty-two minutes of pondering the infinite and eternal majesty of our Creator, Jesus Christ. It’s one small and simple invitation to look upward and consider the works of God that extend beyond our own myopic perspectives.
Twenty-two minutes to investigate “a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world.”
Please watch and share. This is an integral part of my personal testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I discovered it through years of diligent personal scripture study, and I am supposed to share it, so please indulge me in my efforts to do so in this creative manner.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.
https://www.amazon.com/Ilyan-Kei-Lavanway/e/B004YL1HG2

Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Atonement of Jesus Christ, Book of Mormon, Ilyan Lavanway, Intelligent Universe, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDS, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Mars Institute, Mormon, mysteries of God, Nature of the Godhead, Paradise and Spirit Prison, priesthood blessing, SETI, the Fermi Paradox, The Grandeur of Christmas

Member Spotlight: Sharla Goettl!

May 22, 2021 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

Sharla lives in Newberg, Oregon with her husband and three daughters.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

Spiritual Resilience: Leading Our Youth to Go and Do, is a Latter-day Saint nonfiction book about how to make a greater impact as parents.

The Goal Maker is a guided questionnaire to help determine the next best step in building your faith.

Am I a Good Enough Leader For My Family? is an article written for the Leading Saints organization.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

As a stake Young Women president, I have felt inspired to find deeper answers to the questions youth and their parents ask all the time. The youth of today will be the heroes of tomorrow. It will be their ability to give more relevant answers and apply innovative solutions that will bring about future miracles. I feel it is our responsibility as their parents and leaders to support them any way we can.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I have been a youth leader almost every year of my adult life. The families I have interacted with frame my testimony with their experiences. There have been moments when youth were not receiving the support they deserved at home, yet they remained resilient anyway. There have been times when the youth have supported me in my own shaky moments. It has been a pleasure to relive some of these treasured memories in the principles I discuss in my writing. But truly, the honor was being welcomed into their lives in the first place.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

My grandmother was a novelist, poet, and long-time teacher. She poured over her words with tender care while living in a tiny tribal outpost surrounded by her five rowdy sons and eager students. She found joy and solace in her writing. In her patriarchal blessing, given when she was a young woman, it reads “spare not in lifting up thy voice to take a full part in every endeavor.” Commitment to the craft of communicating Christ’s gospel and eternal truths is an endeavor I am motivated to “take a full part.” My task will be to spare not my voice.

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

Pray often. The task of writing this first book has taken many months of writing and many months of editing and many months of publishing and many months of marketing. The task could have gone much more smoothly if I had remembered to consistently pray before starting my work. If I ever forgot, I would consistently come to a point where I would need to start over. The reminder that I was not doing my work alone was constantly in my mind. Regardless of the task before you, prayer will always help the process go more efficiently.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

I have three teenage daughters who are consistently out-performing me. They are artists, friends, designers, thinkers, and givers of testimony. They will continually do things better than I can do myself. They inspire me every day to support them and their peers. I eagerly seek their guidance and am improved by it. I ask how they would handle a situation and am changed by it. I leverage their creativity and am amazed by it. I try to keep up so they will know their mama tried so hard to teach them in a way they deserved to be taught.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

My answers are not my own. The insights I write about were first written in the scriptures by the men and women who were authorized to speak on behalf of our Savior. My task has been applying their words in a modern context. The concept of eternal truth is always in my mind. Christ is a good enough creative director to not let any words or any experience go to waste. The knowledge is there and always has been. The only difference between now and the end of the Restoration will be our ability to understand what we already have.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

I hope I have offered a voice of confidence to parents and youth who feel overwhelmed or not quite good enough for the task at hand. I hope I have laid out my arguments well enough to counteract the doubtful words in their heads. I truly believe we have a purpose and every capacity needed to fulfill it. I hope I have provided a connection between daily life and eternal covenants so that more people can benefit from the guarantees they offer.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

http://www.sharlagoettl.com
https://www.facebook.com/authorsharlagoettl
https://www.instagram.com/authorsharlagoettl/

Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Book of Mormon, Latter-day Saint, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDS, LDS youth leader, LDSPMA, Mormon, parenting, Sharla Goettl, Writer

Member Spotlight: Robert Starling!

March 13, 2021 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

Robert Starling lives in Riverton, Utah.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

I was a photographer for the Daily Universe at BYU. Then, I produced the first student film ever made for class credit called “Ice Cream and Elevators.” I’ve written, produced, and directed hundreds of TV shows, promos, and corporate videos, mostly for the Alabama Public Television Network, for local TV stations for NBC, and for the LDS Church. I wrote the original script for a successful feature documentary film called “In Search of Historic Jesus.” I wrote a book called “A Case for Latter-day Christianity.” My article on the Book of Mormon was “most read” on Meridian Magazine last year.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

An accidental summer job at a military photo lab in 1965 sparked an interest in photography. I decided to major in broadcasting at BYU, and I learned the thrill of creating. I particularly enjoy bringing little-known true stories to the screen that inspire viewers.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Fortunately, there have been many. Getting paid to study the life of Christ while writing the script for “In Search of Historic Jesus” is near the top of the list, then shooting in New York, England, and filming the Shroud of Turin in Italy. Of course, seeing my book in print was a thrill, and filming the B2 Bomber’s first flight. I was the video producer for the Boy Scouts of America at the World Scout Jamboree in Japan. When working for the Church, having President Monson give my boss a literal thumbs up on a project was great.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

Someone once said, “Find something you love to do, and find a way to get paid for it, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” Fortunately, I’ve been blessed to be able to do that for about 50 years. The other best advice comes from Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” President Kimball encouraged LDS creators to use their talents to share the gospel, and that’s the best advice of all.

A photo of a camera being used. Robert Starling is a professional photographer.
What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

The first piece of advice I mentioned above is a good start. You must love what you do and have a passion for it, or else go find something else. Then you must learn the basics of your craft. It is said that “He who has imagination without learning, has wings but no feet.” In addition, tell stories that don’t just entertain but also inspire and have meaning. Talent is given us from God, and we owe it to Him to use them in His service. Find mentors, and never eat lunch alone, so to speak. Always be networking.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

I believe I was given my talents and opportunities for a purpose, and I cannot squander them on meaningless things. Each day is a gift from God of 24 golden hours filled with 60 “diamond” minutes, and I must not waste it. As the hymn says, “have I done any good in the world today?” Asking that question at eventide inspires me each day to try and do better tomorrow. There are so many inspiring stories that need to be told and so little time. It also inspires me to fellowship with other LDS creators, like in A.L.M.A.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

Maybe what I don’t want others to know, but which could be instructive, is that I have “creative A.D.D.,” and I have difficulty focusing on a project and finishing it. There’s always a new idea popping up. I’m 75, and yesterday I had a literal list of 49 movies I want to make. But today there are 50. I’m off on a new quest. I would say to others “don’t be like me,” but on the other hand, it is a wonderful ride. I just need to find collaborators with resources, who are looking for good stories. I’ve got ’em.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

“Ice Cream and Elevators” was rejected by a student film festival—a judge said it was too good to have been done by students. BUT, he said that if it portrayed BYU student life accurately, he wanted his daughter to go there! That was good. With “In Search of Historic Jesus,” I was able to show audiences worldwide Christ visiting the Americas. That was good. The interactive DVD “An Introduction to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” was produced for limited use but President Monson said to use it church-wide. That was good. And my book ….

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

The website is down, but ask me about the “Kinship” documentary and the “Tooka TV” Iranian children’s channel!

Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: A Case for Latter-day Christianity, Alabama Public Television Network, B2 Bombers, Book of Mormon, Boy Scouts of America, BYU Broadcasting, In Search of Historic Jesus, LDS Church, LDS photographer, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Meridian Magazine, NBC, Robert Starling, The Daily Universe at BYU, World Scout Jamboree

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