In keeping with this year’s observance of 100 years of the Church’s participation in Scouting, the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City has opened an exhibit entitled “A Good Turn Christmas.”
It opened Nov. 23 and will continue through Jan. 12.
Carrying forward the tradition of an annual Christmas exhibit, the display this year focuses on the Christ-like act of service and relates to the Boy Scout slogan, “Do a good turn daily.”
Artwork and artifacts in the attraction portray the birth of Jesus Christ and include several crèche (Nativity) sets from around the world. Consistent with the theme, these sets and artifacts exemplify doing good deeds.
For example, one crèche set was made by the Happy Factory. Founder Charles Cooley started the non-profit organization in Cedar City, Utah, as a way to deliver wooden toys to children in need. To date, 1.14 million Happy Factory toys have been given to more than 600 organizations, groups and people in 180 countries. The Happy Factory crèche set exemplifies the Savior’s love.
An artifact on display that exemplifies doing a good turn is a walking cane given in the 1840s by the Prophet Joseph Smith to Joseph Knight Sr. The Prophet saw the elderly man hobbling down a street in Nauvoo, approached him and offered him the cane, saying he was in greater need of it than the Prophet.
The cane is intended to display the Christmas spirit of showing kindness to all.
The Church History Museum, located at 45 North West Temple in Salt Lake City, is open to the public with no admission charge. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, call (801) 240-4615.
