On December 14, 1911, Roald Amundsen and his small Norwegian team became the first explorers to reach the South Pole, arriving five weeks before the British expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott in one of history’s most dramatic polar races. Amundsen had secretly changed his plans from the Arctic to the Antarctic, sailing on the polar ship Fram and using expert ski skills and dog teams to cross the icy plateau and discover new routes like the Axel Heiberg Glacier. He left a tent, a flag, and a letter for Scott, whose party reached the Pole weeks later but tragically perished on their return north. Though Amundsen’s success was long overshadowed by the loss of the British team, today both expeditions are honored at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, reminding us that life’s journeys—like theirs—are filled with danger, courage, and choice. As Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, our mortal adventure is worth the risk because of who we can become, inviting each of us to trust God and learn from our own trials as part of His Story.

Read the full article here: https://familyschool.org/spotlight/south-pole-7

This episode was created using Notebook LM voice-overs and original research by Rosemary Pollock, historian and published author, who holds an MA in U.S. History and an MA in U.S. History with a focus on the History of Science and Medicine.

Produced by Isaac Okawa with American Heritage Worldwide.

National Cocoa Day on December 13 celebrates the warm comfort of hot cocoa, a drink whose roots stretch back thousands of years to the Olmecs and Mayans, who first cultivated cacao—the “food of the gods.” From Columbus introducing cocoa beans to Europe, to Spanish physicians praising its health benefits, to early American chocolate makers like John Hanan and Dr. James Baker refining it in the colonies, hot chocolate has long been a treasured treat. Today we enjoy it in countless varieties, topped with whipped cream, marshmallows, or chocolate curls, yet its greatest sweetness may be how it brings people together. As we gather with loved ones and savor a warm cup, we’re reminded that God places us in families to learn joy, patience, and love—inviting us to strengthen our homes and relationships as part of His Story today.

Read the full article here: https://familyschool.org/spotlight/hot-chocolateday-6

This episode was created using Notebook LM voice-overs and original research by Rosemary Pollock, historian and published author, who holds an MA in U.S. History and an MA in U.S. History with a focus on the History of Science and Medicine.

Produced by Isaac Okawa with American Heritage Worldwide.

Gingerbread House Day, celebrated each year on December 12, honors a beloved Christmas tradition that began centuries ago with the arrival of gingerbread in Europe, brought by Gregory of Nicopolis in 992 AD. Over time, gingerbread became an art form—shaped into saints, royal portraits, and festive figures, eventually leading German bakers in the early 1800s to create the first decorated gingerbread houses inspired by the tale of Hansel and Gretel. Gingerbread later became a symbol of Christmas celebration worldwide, with intricate cottages, candies, and frosting turning simple dough into seasonal joy—highlighted even by record-breaking creations like the 67-foot-tall gingerbread house built in 2001. As we build our own gingerbread houses today, we’re reminded to spiritually build our homes as well, making them “a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, [and] a house of God” (D&C 88:119).

Read the full article here: https://familyschool.org/spotlight/gingerbread-house-7

This episode was created using Notebook LM voice-overs and original research by Rosemary Pollock, historian and published author, who holds an MA in U.S. History and an MA in U.S. History with a focus on the History of Science and Medicine.

Produced by Isaac Okawa with American Heritage Worldwide.