Katie Hughes: Remembering the Reason for the Season

Morgan Jones Pearson

Before we get into today's interview, I wanted to provide a quick content advisory. This episode may be best to listen to without little ears nearby as some of Santas trade secrets are discussed.

Last year on Christmas Eve, Katie Hughes wrote on Instagram, I think every mom's hope on Christmas Eve is that our efforts are enough. And I'm here to tell you regardless of how things go, in the next day or so, it is enough, because Christmas is really just an extension of what we do every day. We just love. We work hard. We try to do everything right. We stay up late. We check off lists, we prep the food, we just do our best. And we love and give and serve every day to the people that we love the most. And Christmas is just an extension of magnification of the love we feel from a loving Heavenly Father and the gift of His Son. That's why we do it, all of it." That is the message we hope to share with you today.

A perpetual business owner Katie Hughes has created several successful businesses from the ground up, including one in which she wholesaled women's accessories to stores across the United States. She loves growing things and continues to look for opportunities to create and share with others her life passion is her family, believing that love is in the details. She recently co -authored a book entitled "The Gathering Home" with Emily Belle Freeman and Jess kettle. She is also a co-founder of Multiply Goodness a non-profit focused on empowering women to love God's word. She and her husband are the parents of five children. This is All In, an LDS Living podcast where we ask the question, what does it really mean to be all in the gospel of Jesus Christ? I'm Morgan Pearson. And I am so excited to have my dear friend Katie Hughes on the line with me today, Katie, welcome.

Katie Hughes

Thank you so much, Morgan. It's good to be here.

Morgan Jones Pearson

We're going talk about what Emily Belle Freeman said about Katie to set the stage for conversation. But before we ever get there, I just want to say this woman has a gift for what we're about to talk about today. And I have been the beneficiary of that gift. And so I am so so excited to be able to learn from you, Katie today and to have the chance to, to really dig into something that I have admired about you for a long time. So to get us started, you have this gift for making any kind of gathering or occasion or celebration feel special. Emily Belle Freeman said that you're someone who can create the magic of the gathering. So my first question for you is what do you think it is that creates magic in a gathering? And why is gathering so important?

Katie Hughes

Such a good question. And I love the thought, that magic is really love. If we think about the word magic and put it in the framework of the word love. Magic is love. And if we think about the love that's manifested in a hospitable heart, having a heart that's a gathering heart, there's something powerful if you think about that. And the magic comes as we consider the details, or as we consider the things that might touch people's souls. And I've always been someone who has thought, you know what? If it's going to bring somebody out of their family home, or away from the people that matter the very most, we've got to make it count. And I feel like that is the magic. The magic is the love that we create that we put into a gathering, a celebration of some sort, and really implement it into an making an evening or something feel extra special. And if we also think of it in terms of gathering as an eternal principle, it makes it so much more meaningful. So I love the thought of the doctrine of gathering. If we think about gathering in terms of an eternal principle, we think, oh, we gathered before we came to this earth, we gather here in families, we come to families, we gather in wards, and we gather in stakes and we gather as a worldwide global church. There's some powerful thoughts, I think gathering is probably pretty important and especially in Third Nephi. You know, when the Savior is talking about how He has gathered, how He will yet gather. It feels pretty important and it feels like an eternal principle, a doctrine of gathering that feels life-giving if we give it space in our lives.

Morgan Jones Pearson

I love that and I was just asking my seminary kids this morning we were talking, we were studying Amos and we were talking about prophets, and President Nelson. And I said, What do you think is the most important message that President Nelson has been trying to communicate? And I was thinking of hear him. But one of my seminary kids said, the gathering of Israel. And definitely that is something that President Nelson will be remembered for is that emphasis on gathering. And so if we want to follow the Prophet, then we understand the importance of that gathering. Katie, I want to establish really early on in our conversation that as we talk about Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations specifically, the goal today, between you and I, and we've talked about this beforehand, is not to make anyone feel like their Christmas traditions, or their celebrations are inadequate in any way. And when you guys created, when you, Emily, and Jess Kettle, created The Gathering Home, you talked about connection over perfection. And I love that. I wondered what does this phrase mean to you?

Katie Hughes

I think this is an increasingly important phrase, as we think about, you know, what's actually out there. I mean, right now, visually, we are at our peak, we are seeing things across social media channels that are just next level. And it's easy to look and be like, You know what I want my parties to look just like that. And there are parts of me that want that. I want it to look like that. I want it to feel like that. But when it comes down to it, it's all about the people. It's all about connecting hearts. And it's all about connecting souls. And I feel like when we think about connecting, connection over perfection, that means that families and people trumped whether or not it looks perfect, it trumps whether or not everything goes just so or that we were able to order the perfect linens, or that everything came together, all the details work together. You know, I think that part feels uniquely special. If we think about the connection with families and people being the most important thing. So I feel like that's something that almost has to be practiced. Because in my heart, I want it to be amazing. I want it to be beautiful. I want every detail to matter, because I feel like those details show love. Love is in the details is something I've always said. And I believe that deeply. And I think some people really do have the capacity to do it all and still connect people over the perfection of what it looks like. But I think we have to practice what it feels like to gather people and to make them feel at home, make them feel welcome. And sometimes that looks like you're not rushing around. It looks like you sitting and stopping in the middle of a gathering moment. And really connecting people and making sure those conversations are happening, and making sure that they're naturally a part of what you're working to do.

Morgan Jones Pearson

Well, I mentioned that I feel like I have been the beneficiary of your talents. And one of those was, you threw me a bridal shower. And I remember like, all of the beautiful things about that night. But the thing that I will remember most for the rest of my life was you having everybody sit down and give their best marriage advice. And so while the whole night was beautiful, because it was Katie doing it, it left an impression on me because I'm like, I may not be the one who makes everything beautiful, but that's like a little thing that I could do in the future to make a bridal shower special. I want to attest though, because I witnessed something firsthand this year. Katie and I volunteer together for it with a non-profit called Multiply Goodness. And we host this big event every year. And Katie is the mastermind behind the event planning part of it. And we had some things that like did not go perfectly like she says these details. There were some things went kind of Helter Skelter. And somebody came up to you, Katie, and they were telling you about something that had gone wrong. And you said, "Just let it go." And then the person responded, "It's already gone." And I was like Katie never seems frazzled or stressed when planning an event. And that is not a talent that I have. So I'm wondering how do you keep from becoming stressed or letting those little things bother you?

Katie Hughes

Well, I think it probably depends on the event, I think with something like that. I mean, we were completely out of control, we did not have control of the weather and what was going to happen. And unfortunately, we have a track record of crazy weather with the Jubilee. But, you know, I feel like there is a piece that sustains me. And a lot of that I think has to do with how we prepare, how we consider the things, taking time to prepare, and almost put ourselves in some scenarios. I think it's worth the planning, especially for thinking in context of like gathering for the holidays or things like that. It's worth the time to prepare and to consider and thoughtfully approach what you're trying to accomplish, what you're trying to do. What is the purpose of what you hope for it to look like? Is it to just celebrate someone? Or is it to really connect and maybe bring people closer to Jesus Christ? I think those things are important. And as we carefully prepare, and as we work to have the Spirit in our lives, then we have a piece that sustains us. And that part feels really important to me in any in any situation. As we thoughtfully approach things we can have that spirit, always with us to help us not be frazzled in any moment. So that's my thought there.

Morgan Jones Pearson

For sure. Okay, Katie. So, when this episode airs, the next day will be Thanksgiving. And so my guess is, as many people listen to this episode, they'll either be traveling to and from family, or they'll be prepping Thanksgiving sides. So you are a big believer in the importance of the role of Thanksgiving, what is that role in your mind?

Katie Hughes

You know, I feel like Thanksgiving really readies our hearts for Christmas. I feel like there's such power in resting, in letting there be a rest before it all kicks up and we're ready to roll with the holidays. I think it's powerful as things become more commercialized. And I mean, we haven't known our lives without Thanksgiving, right? And so we think about how do we bring meaning to it? How do we bring meaning? I think am I going to use this time to be grateful or give thanks? And I love that we have a prophet who encouraged us with that hashtag give thanks a few years ago, how neat was that, to see that on social media but there's something powerful in letting our hearts rest to prepare for a season of giving. That's the bottom line. As we turn our hearts to our gratitude of the things that we have, the blessings we enjoy, it readies our hearts to practice Jesus in the coming season. And that feels like a really powerful part of preparing for the upcoming Christmas season.

Morgan Jones Pearson

One thing that I don't know if I fully appreciated until a few years ago, I was in London on Halloween. And as soon as their Halloween is over, they don't have Thanksgiving in England. And so to our European listeners, we recognize that we're talking about an American holiday right now. But it was interesting to me to see as soon as the Halloween stuff was over, immediately, Christmas goes up. And I was like, hang on a second. Like, to me Thanksgiving is such an important part. And we just watched in seminary this morning, the video with President Nelson where he talks about give thanks and the value of gratitude. And he gives that prescription for gratitude. And so I think we do whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, wherever you're listening from, I think it's important to recognize that being grateful and taking a second to stop and think about all that we have and all that we've been given them prepares our hearts for Christmas. So as we shift to Christmas, Katie, you are a big believer in the ability that an A Christmas Advent has to turn our hearts to Christ. Can you tell listeners a little bit about Advent and what it looks like in your home?

Katie Hughes

Yes, I first want to just quickly hop on what you said earlier about, you know, our European brothers and sisters who jump right into Christmas. I mean, I love that. I love that. And you know, I think it's wonderful because there's so much time between you know, Halloween and Christmas to ready a heart. And so I think it can work in all the ways and Advent is one such holiday that does that. And I think as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we grew up with maybe a countdown to Christmas, we may have had advent calendars where you opened something each day, that type of thing that Advent is really this connective holiday, the world over, that connects Christians to an anticipation of the Savior coming on Christmas Day. And I did not grow up with the knowledge of this, I wish I would have. And so I love engaging, you know, my family, those I interact with in teaching them about Advent, and Advent is the four Sundays, leading up to Christmas. And so the four Sundays before Christmas, often people will have like a candle holder or an Advent wreath, where you light a candle each Sunday, so that first Sunday, you light the candle, and then the second Sunday, you're gonna light that first candle and the second candle, third Sunday, all three candles in the fourth Sunday, all four candles, and it's in anticipation of the coming of Him. And there is something connective. As we turn our hearts to our whole global community of celebrating Jesus Christ. There's something powerful in that holiday and there in the practice of Advent. And, you know, there's so many resources out there, there's Advent books, and cards you can buy and things that can feel like can connect us to what we're working to do as a global community. But I just feel like even in homes, what does that look like as we ready our hearts for him? What does it look like to stop on a Sunday and light a candle together? It feels special as you think about everyone else stopping lighting a candle in the busyness of the season to turn our hearts to Him. It feels like almost covenantal. To me, it feels like something we do, you know, almost like the sacrament. I know, it's not like that. But it's a stopping and it's a turning and is reading our hearts to jump into a new week and to prepare hearts for Him.

Morgan Jones Pearson

So Katie, follow up question on that do you in your home? Because I know there are different ways to do it. You know, you can do the once a week or you can do like a daily thing. Do you all just do something on Sunday? Or do you do something throughout the week as well?

Katie Hughes

Yeah, it's both for us. So every Sunday, we really try to make an effort to light that candle with our brothers and sisters. And people are doing this in churches, in their big beautiful churches every Sunday. It's just a part of their worship. And so we kind of make it a part of our family worship like our Come Follow Me. We really enjoy it. Usually it's around family dinner. And but we're not always like at our home for family dinner, but we do try to do it each Sunday. And then during the week, we're always finding ways that we I mean, we still have those countdowns that we open each day, or we still have those things that we read each day. They bring our family together to think of him so it's both in our family and I think there's room for any and all. I think this can look like any way you want it to. And you can decide what works for you and your family.

Morgan Jones Pearson

I love that and it feels like a very doable thing. So I think it's awesome. Another thing that you have said has made your Christmas is really special is participating in Light the World. I wondered if you would mind sharing any of your favorite memories or sweetest experiences that you've had in doing Light The World.

Katie Hughes

I love the Light the World initiative. I feel like I've probably done it from the beginning in Arizona and I was living in Arizona and then since I've moved here it feels like an extra special thing for me and I will tell you I am one of those ones that kind of prepares in advance Christmas. Like I'll start thinking about it in August and think about my Christmas cards and what that might look like and I know that seems silly but because Christmas to me is such a turning to the Lord and to the Savior Jesus Christ and it feels like the anticipation of it needs a little bit of thoughtful planning and practice so I do prepare a lot of my things in advance. I'm not saying like I'm ahead of the game in all the things. There's constantly things that I'm still working on during the Christmas season but for the most part I try to try to get a lot of the things done so that when Light the World hits, there is space in my life to LISTEN to the Spirit That's the bottom line. And, you know, over the years, like the world has kind of transformed. It used to be, you know, you would get the prompts from the calendar. And you would do that one thing. And I have loved those prompts. And I've tried to follow them when I could. But I loved last year, they made it so you could make your own calendar and kind of decide what you wanted to do where and even this year, I haven't seen a calendar come across. And I think I just prefer that so much more because it gives space for the spirit to work within us. I think my sweetest Light the World moments have been those times when I've followed the spirit. And I've had that prompting to do something or to offer up something or even prepare or plan something. I think if I look at my holiday calendar, I think about okay, there are some things that are specific to certain days, like you know, we have a neighborhood service project that usually happens after the First Presidency devotional where we just connect together over hot chocolate, and bonfire. And we just get together those that want to come in our neighborhood and we've all donated gift cards for refugee families. And it's just a connective neighborhood type thing. So like that's on the calendar, there are certain things that are on the calendar, because they're planned out—what we've planned for within the month of December. But I love that there's all these other days to be able to create the season I want. And I hope, I always hope that season is going to be one focused on loving others. And so some of my favorite Light the World experiences have been the drop everything and go do something type experience because I felt that prompting, or I saw a need and I worked to fill a need, or my very sweetest ones are the ones that happen within my own home. I think we think we've got to get out there and do some good, when really within the walls of my own home have been the sweetest. Sometimes I'll stop and tidy my kids rooms and leave a little note like I know you're trying so hard, like in the middle of this semester and all the things you're working to do. I love you, I see you, keep going. Those are the things or even just a home cooked meal in the middle of December sometimes feels really hard. And so taking the time to make something special, even maybe light a candle right in the middle of December. Yes, on the week night, when things are busy. And everyone's every which direction that feels special even times when I've been able to do something for my husband. And sometimes that looks like cleaning my side of the closet. Because his is so clean. And mine isn't. And sometimes the service is stopping to see how I could bless his life and help in some way. And so I've had so many experiences through the years and I I almost don't dare not do it now because my seasons are so filled with Him. And it's never perfect. And it's always messy. But it's super special. And it really is maybe more I would say selfish, more than anything because we know what happens when we serve and when we love and when we extend we are so filled. And it makes my season so much more meaningful.

Morgan Jones Pearson

So well said, thank you so much. I couldn't help but wonder because I have known you for a while now and have gotten a little bit of a taste through social media, not only of your immediate family, but of your extended family as well. Your parents, Katie, were big gatherers as well. So I wondered what did the holidays look like for you growing up and what have you carried into your own family from the way that they did things and what have you left behind?

Katie Hughes

I love this question. And I love every chance to honor my amazing parents. They are super special. And they've always had gathering hearts and we had a second home that they opened up to people all the time. Mostly in summer for parties and gatherings and things but they taught me about that gathering heart. They taught me about anything that's mine is yours. Anything I have. If I have 50 Extra linens that I could lend you. Absolutely. If I have centerpieces that could be used for someone's this or that, you got it. And that gathering hearts feels like it's been passed on for me and really a lot of my family members and I think, like I mentioned earlier, this kind of can be practiced, it can be taught and it can be learned. And I think because my parents, they taught me so much. Our holidays were really the perfect mix of Christ and Claus, that's the best way to put it. I know some people don't love Santa Claus. But I love what I think Elder Faust said once that Santa Claus really emulates the Savior. So if we can have one more symbol that brings us closer to say the Savior, then that's okay. But they had such a good mix of making the magic with Santa Claus. I remember there was one year...I've got to tell the story, it's too, too good. So it was like my second grade year. And I really wanted a Cabbage Patch Doll. And I didn't want just a Cabbage Patch Doll of any kind. I wanted a specific one like the preemie babies, because they were so cute. They were bald headed babies that were the absolute cutest. And I am just positive, my mom within the great expanse of all the responsibilities she had, at the time, probably tried to find a new one, but couldn't. And I remember waking up Christmas morning and seeing a more mature Cabbage Patch Doll with red yarn hair. And I remember not identifying with this doll at all, thinking this is not the gift I wanted. And I'm sure my parents saw my disappointment in my probably eight year old little heart and eyes. And my mom and dad had gone the distance of having a letter that was accompanying the present. And it was written in beautiful cursive. And it was from Santa Claus. And the best part is, it was not in English. It was not in English, it was in French. And nobody in my home spoke French at all. And so my mom and dad, in their wisdom said, Who speaks French? Who could possibly tell us what's in this letter. And she had this great idea that our next door neighbor Paul, who was many, many years older than me, could translate this letter to me from Santa. And this darling letter, I went over to Paul Christensen's home next door. And he translated this letter. And Santa said to me, I know you wanted this other doll. I left the doll you wanted with a girl in France. And you got her doll. Can you please like this doll? And it was everything. It was everything I needed to make me love that doll. And he was going so fast he forgot he was speaking in French instead of English. And I have treasured that little letter my whole life. And of course, it's Paul, who wrote the letter in the first place. But I thought, Oh, the distance they went to help keep the magic alive. And help me. I don't know, just helped me believe in this magic which to me connects us to Jesus in all the ways. This love we feel, this magic we feel, is really love. And my mom and dad multiple ways through the years, brought us to Jesus, there was always a story, there was always a way to serve. There was always a way to love that was different than throughout the year. And our Christmas Eve is meaningful, like many families out there, completely focused on Jesus. And then lately, in anticipation of Santa. And it this is the part that's so fun. We get in our pajamas after we've done all the Christmas story, and all the giving and the loving. We get in our pajamas and we come out of our room and we have a pajama parade. And this is such a fun tradition and kind of just again turns our heart to that magic part. So it's just it's both. It's been both through the years and I'm grateful for their example and for their lives that have always taught me of like the love and the goodness of the world and that magic and Jesus.

Morgan Jones Pearson

I love that. And for the record, the pictures and videos from the pajama parade are a highlight of my Christmas. So thank you for sharing that. You said something once Katie that really touched me, you talked about how things evolve, and they need to change. And as a result of that, we have to recognize that some traditions may not last forever, which can be hard for some people to let go of things from the past and create their own new traditions. You said, knowing this makes you want to treasure the season that you're in. How would you say, Katie that you've learned this? And how have your your holiday traditions evolved and changed depending on the season?

Katie Hughes

Oh, that's such a good question. And I feel like, it's almost like, we have to consciously think about what we're doing. I mean, we shouldn't just ever do traditions just to do traditions, which is what we always do, like, what is the purpose behind it? And we need to be thinking about, is this really gathering best? Is this how we should gather best? Or what could we do more to connect how we should and need to connect? And sometimes there's just those fun, silly traditions that feel like, you know, let's just keep them, we've always done it. But I, I actually believe in the practice of looking at something, considering it, and then thinking, you know, how could we leave space for something new? I think it's 100%, okay, for there to be specific times when you can do things. And then for us to be able to say, you know what? Time is gone. And now when we close that door, there's now room for new opportunities to create memories. And I think sometimes we can get lost in the redundance, we can get lost in what looks like, Oh, it's just the same old thing at so and so's house. Well, what if we change that up and we look look at it each year. I think, for the sake of tradition, we think we've just got to keep doing it. But what happens when we close the door on something, it means there's space to do something else that might be more meaningful, and might be just what we need. For me, something that's that's been really special is celebrating Santa Lucia. This is a Scandinavian-type holiday that represents this Lucia who was this bringer of light. And I wouldn't have never even thought to implement this without doing some family history work. And my oldest daughter, Ruby took this class at BYU where she was finding these ancestors and engaging in the stories and all of a sudden now we have space in our family tradition, where my girls dress up in Santa Lucia robes and the red sashes and candlelight on their head. And we welcome in this morning, and it's so powerful for our family. And now we can't live without it. And it feels connected to my ancestors. And it also feels meaningful for family. This is only like maybe seven years we've been doing this now. And so I love the thought of looking at those and putting some aside that are not needful and giving space for new things that can bring new light and new joy.

Morgan Jones Pearson

Absolutely. I think it's interesting to hear that perspective. As I'm we're just starting our family. So it's good to hear. Are there any other Christmas traditions, Katie, that you feel like have especially helped turn your family's heart to Christ that you want to mention? If not, we can totally skip it.

Katie Hughes

There's so many I did want to kind of simplify this a little bit and I had the thought, music is a Christmas tradition in whatever way that looks like for me. It's been the Handel's Messiah participating in that through the years. I don't even know if they do that after we've moved back from Arizona, but they used to do that. And that was so neat, where we could participate in Handel's Messiah. Singing for my family personally in the Millennial Choirs and Orchestra, which is a five state choir, that has been so powerful. Music is a tradition and so in whatever way that looks like for us to implement and it might just be the tradition of turning on the music in our home. And every Sunday making sure we are focused on those and it's not just that the cute and the fun, but it's that holy music that brings us close to Him. The tradition of music feels really impactful for our family, obviously like the sights and the sounds and all of that can bring us to Him. And there's a book I have and I wanted to put this in there. If you think about that star that you're cutting out of your cookie dough or hanging on your tree, all these like commercial type parts of Christmas, if they're not leading us to Jesus in some way, leading us to Bethlehem in some way, then it's a Christmas without Christ. So the traditions I have are always those that are leading us to the Savior. And so it might be the cookie dough, and the cookies and all of that. But they're symbols that represent the story of Him. And so, my favorite traditions are those ones that that are pointing us to him.

Morgan Jones Pearson

I love that you brought up music because I feel like that's always been a big part of our family's Christmas. Growing up, my great-grandpa played the guitar and sang and at our family Christmas party, he would always break out the guitar and everybody would sing. And still now despite the fact that he's not there with his guitar, there's always singing and then my mom has like the Reader's Digest Christmas song book. And she always will play the songs out of that. And that's a huge part. And I actually thought of this earlier when you were talking about making sure that Christ is a part of Christmas, and that's part of what brings the magic, that's part of what brings makes it worth celebrating. That's what we're celebrating. And just yesterday, my mom sent me a song, I don't know Katie, are you familiar with the Christian artists, she's kind of new, Anne Wilson?

Katie Hughes

No.

Morgan Jones Pearson

Okay. So my mom is like her biggest fan. And she sent me the song yesterday. And the chorus of the song is just so pretty. And I wanted to share just a little bit of this. So the chorus says, "For God so loved this broken world, He sent His only son to a carpenter and a teenage girl to show us all His love. He left His home in heaven to make heaven my home, my Emmanuel is with me, and I'll never be alone. Down here my heart can't find much to believe in. But I still believe in Christmas." And the song goes on. And it just reminded me that when we say we believe in Christmas, we're saying we believe in Christ. And I just love that idea so much. Katie, before we get to our last question, I wanted to ask you, I think one thing sometimes in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season that can get lost is stillness and taking time to actually think and ponder and turn to Christ in a quiet way. So how do you make time for stillness in the middle of the Christmas season?

Katie Hughes

One of my favorite quotes says that peace does not mean to be in a place where there's no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. And I love that as we think about having a calm in our heart, I have this little plaque and it just says, All is calm. And I see that when I come in and I think about that holy night. And I think about the power of even childbirth and welcoming a new baby. And lots of times, our Christmases almost feel like a childbirth experience. We anticipate all the things and then Christmas morning, we have everything to show for it, you know. And there are these beautiful, powerful moments we can have within our season, that bring the calm, and I consciously make an effort to bring the calm and that's a little bit with my readying before in advance. I think. I think if we leave things to the last minute, we feel frazzled. And we feel like we're never going to catch up. And there's just not time. And I mean, that won't mean anything to anyone that hasn't done that yet. And they're listening to the day before Thanksgiving. But I think that we can make a practice of trying to shift our minds to, like I said, accomplishing what we can in the short time that we have so that we leave space for that. I feel like that can be so important. So for me, those stillness moments really happen in the evening after everyone's kind of gone to bed or in the early morning I had this really wise wonderful, productive woman tell me once, she actually had this plaque on her wall that said the only way to get more done in the day is to steal a few hours from the night and although I love this and believe it in many ways, I also really need my sleep and I need my rest but I have found in the quiet moments of the morning before my household is awake, and the evening once I put my house to sleep, sitting by the tree, and reading my scriptures or just pondering on the day, and all of that feels like so special to me, that's how I find there something about the lights in the darkness, in a dark morning or a dark night, and to have those lights and to sit. Those are my gathering places. And those are the places where I feel stillness. Even we can be doing something highly productive. We might be, let's say shopping, we might be putting together gifts or something. But if I have my air pods in, and I'm listening to the First Presidency devotional that I missed, or something else, you know, I think, gosh, we can really find moments of rest within the craziness that help us constantly turn back to Him. And I feel like there's time for stillness if we look, it's just carving out the time and being intentional in that time together. I kind of alluded to this, but I love taking a date night with my husband right smack in the middle of December, where he's not expecting it. And it's almost like this still moment for ourselves. It's like a collective breath. Where we together are okay, we've got this right smack in the middle of December. It's busy. We've got lots behind us. We've got some yet ahead. But this stop and rest moment feels good. I think Come, Follow Me can be that way for us. As we gather in family prayer, read a scripture, there are restful moments if we look for them. And I think we it needs to be enough for us. It needs to be enough for us. What we've established together needs to be enough to help get us through. And there are multiple times within the season. And we can do this.

Morgan Jones Pearson

For sure. And I think too, you know, when you're talking about shopping, I had the thought we can bring restful moments to other people in the middle of all of the craziness, like just asking the cashier at the grocery store, like how are you doing, you know, and actually seeming like you genuinely care, I've noticed brings, it's almost like, oh, you actually are asking about me. And you don't have to do that. And so I think that's big. I also when you were talking about preparing early, just this weekend, my husband was like, Can we can we put out the Nativities now and I was like sure we can put out the nativities. And he has a nativity that he bought years ago in Jerusalem, and he's been hanging on to it for his future home, it had never been taken out of the wrapping. And it's just like, brought a sweet spirit into our home this weekend. And so I do think like preparing our hearts, preparing our homes early, we get to enjoy it a little bit longer. And why shouldn't we want that? Katie, you've shared so many wonderful thoughts. And I feel even more excited for Christmas, which I'm always excited about. I love Christmas. But Katie, my last question for you is what does it mean to you to be all in the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Katie Hughes

I love this question. I love what other people have shared. For me, it means loving Him most. And I think if we look at the things of this world, and recognize there's so many so much out there so much information, so many ways to love others and give room and space for people. But really what it comes down to is loving Him most. And that means keeping His commandments. That means trying again, that means working to walk His covenant path. It means, of course giving space for all those people that need ways to feel an added measure of love, but when we love Him most, that feels like what He asks of us. And I feel like everything else kind of falls together when we love Him most of everything else figures itself out and being all in feels to me like a constant choice to turn to Him and choose Him each day.

Morgan Jones Pearson

Katie, thank you so much. It has been so wonderful to spend this time and hopefully it's helped other people as they're in the middle of Thanksgiving preparations to feel a little bit more of the spirit of this season that I think is such a gift to all of us. And if we just become caught up in the secular parts of it, then we miss the beautiful parts and the parts that bring the most joy. So, Katie, thank you so, so much.

Katie Hughes

Thanks so much for having me, Morgan.

Morgan Jones Pearson

A huge thank you to Katie Hughes for joining us on today's episode, you can find the gathering home in Deseret Bookstores now. Big thanks to Derek Campbell of Mix At Six Studios for his help with this episode. And thank you for listening. We hope that you have a happy Thanksgiving and we'll be with you again next week.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai