By Wendy Eaton,
Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation
Scattered through our church history is the idea of found family, people who choose to love one another like family, though they are not related by blood. This is especially true among the many Christmas stories recorded during our early years as a church.
Church headquarters resided in Plano, Illinois, USA, for about thirty years in the late 1800s. Here, the first Herald Publishing House was designated to print church resources like the Herald, Autumn Leaves, and Zion’s Hope magazines. In Zion’s Hope, a magazine especially for children, were stories, poems, and news that appealed to our youngest church members, or “Little Hopes,” as Joseph Smith III, as editor, called them.
In December and January, many letters written by children described the Christmas celebrations in their Sunday schools. Many congregations had a Christmas tree decorated with small gifts of books, candy, and mittens, which were given to the children after they shared songs and stories for the adults in attendance. Occasionally, Santa Claus passed out gifts.
One letter, written to the children from the editors in the December 15, 1875, issue of Zion’s Hope, read:
We wish all the Little Hopes a Merry Christmas, whether in the chilly north, or the genial south, where orange trees bloom and the grasses perennially wave and the snow-flakes never fall. But in the midst of your glee, never forget the dear, dear Savior, whose coming in the mortal state, you may be celebrating. But remember that present earthly pleasures are short lives while the pleasures of that life which you may attain unto are forevermore.
This letter reminded children that while many had snowy, cold Christmases, church members around the world celebrated Christmas in warmth and sunshine. In 1923, the first reunion was held at the Tiona campground in New South Wales, Australia. For many years, reunions were held during the Christmas season, ending on New Year’s Day.
On numerous occasions, the reunion news in the Saints Herald included how at midnight on Christmas Eve, carolers would wander through the tents, serenading campers. On Christmas Day, 1924, Elder Corbett dressed as Santa Claus to hand out balloons and candy to children.
Scattered through our church history is the idea of found family, people who choose to love one another like family, though they are not related by blood. This is especially true among the many Christmas stories recorded during our early years as a church.
Though the reunion of 1931 was not well attended because of the Great Depression, the annual Tiona traditions of late-night caroling and a visit from Santa continued, with the addition of a surfing contest after a barbecue on the beach. Many of us hold treasured relationships of found family from reunions.
Lamoni, Iowa, USA, was a fascinating time of experimentation with peace and justice in our church. Graceland College was established to provide education and training to young women and men. In December 1924, some students were unable to travel home for the holidays. As they sat together at a meal, they discussed how to spend their evening.
It was too cold for skating, and the movie in town was of no interest. One young man suggested studying, which earned him a biscuit thrown at his head.
One young lady suggested they bundle up against the cold and visit the elderly church members at the Old Saints Home. This was agreed on. They quickly found their coats, hats, and gloves, as well as several ukeleles from the music room.
The home was decorated cozily with a lit Christmas tree, and the residents were gathered in the parlor, ready for their visitors. The students were nervous, and one was pushed to the front by his classmates.
“My dear friends,” he stammered, “we were lonesome out at the dormitories, and we thought we just couldn’t let Christmas Eve pass without going somewhere and having a little party with somebody. So we thought we would come out and sing a few songs to you and play a little music to pass the evening.”
They began the songs that had been agreed on during the walk through the cold night. Soon the older folks joined in. Old and young, who expected a lonely Christmas, found family that evening (Autumn Leaves, December 1925, “Christmas at Graceland” by Leonard Lea).
Another great experiment in Lamoni was the establishment of a home for orphaned children. Those in charge did everything they could to create a family-like environment.
Standing outside in the fresh snow, the children sang loudly to their friends inside. For a time, the fear and loneliness of their illness left the children as they watched their friends through the windows.
December 1920 saw the Children’s Home under quarantine; many of the twenty-three children had contracted diphtheria and smallpox. As Christmas drew near, eight children still were isolated in a cottage next to the home. The children who had recovered decided to wait until everyone was well before celebrating Christmas with their annual dinner and gifts. Wanting to cheer their friends, they also decided to surprise them with carols.
Standing outside in the fresh snow, the children sang loudly to their friends inside. For a time, the fear and loneliness of their illness left the children as they watched their friends through the windows.
On Christmas day, those in the isolation cottage asked their friends to return with songs. Eager to bring cheer again, they agreed, but were surprised to see the cottage lights were out as they gathered outside. They sang one of their favorite hymns from Zion’s Praises, “Jesus Loved,” when suddenly the lights came on, showing a Nativity scene constructed mostly of bedsheets.
Even in their illness, the children wished to show gratitude to their friends (Autumn Leaves, February 1921, “Christmas at the Children’s Home,” by the editor).
Many of these peace and justice experiments were encouraged by church President Joseph Smith III, who practiced what he preached. For the November 1931 issue of Autumn Leaves, a magazine for youth and young adults, Audentia Smith Anderson wrote a beautiful tribute to her father, Joseph Smith III. She included an account of a family Christmas when she was a young woman:
Liberty Hall on Christmas Eve! How many pictures are conjured up! Whispered secrets, spicy odors, sparkle of tinsel, pungent smell of evergreen trees, bulky packages, mysterious trips here and there, smiles, songs, popping corn, stories—oh, the chain of memory is bright and long here!
The Smith household was full of family and friends over the Christmas season, so it was particularly important to invite anyone else who would be spending Christmas alone. Audentia wrote of one Christmas, soon after she and her husband had lost a child. Audentia had been playing the family organ to accompany the evening singing. As the music ended, she slipped away, suddenly overcome with grief. She sat at a table, silently sobbing, and then felt her father join her, softly brushing her hair as he held her close.
Ethel wrote that the church members had prepared a surprise for the Mays, who were spending their first Christmas in French Polynesia. When the Mays walked into the church, they found a coconut tree decorated with candles, bags of candy, and small gifts!
Liberty Hall continues to be a place of comfort and joy, especially during the Christmas season. Nearly every December for at least forty years, Liberty Hall is decorated festively for the annual Christmas Tea. Visitors are welcomed for a celebration, including songs and cookies, much like the Smith family did a century before.
Beginning in 1843 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA, our church began sending missionaries to French Polynesia. Some struggled in such a different environment. However, others found great friendships. Eventually, the missionaries, then all men, were sent with their families. The women became just as active in the work of the church.
In 1911, Ethel and Charles May, along with their young sons, Paul and Roderick, found their family called to serve in French Polynesia. They lived at Papeete, Tahiti, and Charles traveled far among many islands.
On December 19, 1911, the whole family boarded a steamboat in Tahiti and traveled to the island of Makatea. From there, the missionary family boarded a 27-foot sailboat bound for the island of Rairoa. This arduous trip was made for the Mahana Oaoa, the day of rejoicing, for the dedication of a new church on Rairoa, which was to be on Christmas Day.
Church members from Niau, Manihi, Takaroa, Tikahau, and beyond also came to be part of the dedication and to meet the May family. Ethel wrote that the church members had prepared a surprise for the Mays, who were spending their first Christmas in French Polynesia. When the Mays walked into the church, they found a coconut tree decorated with candles, bags of candy, and small gifts!
On Christmas morning, bells were rung at 7:30 to call everyone to the dedication. The French flag was raised, and the governor unlocked the new church while a large choir from Manihi sang. After a service of song and sermons, the crowd gathered for a Christmas dinner.
The Mays remained on Rairoa for a week, celebrating New Year’s with the Saints there before returning to Papeete. Friendships deepened to found family far from their home on the other side of the world (Autumn Leaves, January 1922, “Christmas and New Year’s in the South Sea Islands,” by Ethel May).
From one family gathered in snowy Lamoni, Iowa, in the USA to many families gathered on the sunny beach of Tiona, New South Wales, in Australia, our stories are filled with the comfort and joy of found family. What is your story?