Thanks for joining us! 

You probably came to this site because you had a chance to have a personal experience with Buddy and Santa out on the streets of Utah. It means so much to us! Since 2010, we have visited many places throughout Utah, including Temple Square and at the Pioneer’s Day Parade that happens each July. Mrs. Claus doesn’t mind as long as we get home to the North Pole by 10 p.m.!

We’ve heard it said that people come to Temple Square during the Christmas season to see the lights. Balderdash. You know as well as we do that you’ve come to see us! We’ve been part of thousands of family pictures, celebrations after engagements, birthday and anniversary congratulations, and so much more. We’ve given away thousands of dollars in tip monies to many wonderful causes. And we have loved every minute of spreading cheer to tens of thousands of people.

Why do we do this?

You might be curious, why do we come to Utah every Christmas season? After all, doesn’t staying home at the North Pole and getting ready for Christmas Eve under the watchful eye of Mrs. Claus sounds like it would be a better use of time? Well, our goal is to spread Christmas cheer and bring smiles to the faces of everyone who interacts with us. It brings us such joy to share in the excitement of so many who love (as we do) the Christmas season, a time of giving and for everyone to enjoy this special time of year. Honestly, we probably have more fun than anyone by traveling to Utah from the North Pole. You people really do make our season bright!

Where do the tip monies go?

We been collecting tips since 2012. Although we didn’t take tips the first two years, we decided that so many who became frustrated when we would take their tips in appreciation for posing with a picture deserved an outlet. So, instead of turning down their gifts, we decided to bring along a bucket and keep it discreetly behind us, with a sign saying “Tips appreciated. All money goes to charity” posted on it. Each night we go out, people ask, “Does it cost anything to get a picture?” Absolutely not! Nobody is required to give anything. Only those who feel they want to drop something in the bucket can do so. With that said, we want you to know that all money collected does get distributed. Among other things:

• We are big supporters of the Salt Lake Rescue Mission. Each year we purchase dozens of coats, gloves, scarves, and other warm clothing. This donation is very important to keeping the homeless warm during the upcoming cold months. In addition, the mission has a program that is intended to get the homeless off the streets. Every year we take those men in their 9-month program to a Salt Lake Bees game, with a tailgate beforehand (with all the fixings) and snacks at the game along with seats. In 2021, we took 28 people, most of those in the program. We support this program because these men are working hard to improve their situation and the mission provides a Christ-honoring set up. Encouraging these guys in this way is just awesome, much better than hugging a raccoon.. In addition, Buddy and Santa make an annual appearance at the mission the week before Christmas, handing out 120 snack packs filled with candy, granola bars, and gum while spreading Christmas cheer.
• Each year we adopt at least one needy Salt Lake City family, typically one that is headed by a single parent. (In 2017, we adopted four families!) The eyes of the children light up when Buddy, Santa, and the elves come to their home just a few days before Christmas and Santa has a bag full of presents for the children and even a little something for Mom or Dad. There are many families who struggle during this time of the year, so it is our privilege to bring some joy at Christmastime.

And we’re always open to new ideas. To see some pictures at the charity events we have sponsored along with a video from the Ronald McDonald House , click here.

Do you know the “Three Laws of the Elves”? Or can you list the 4 food groups, according to Buddy. To check this out and see more pictures of Buddy and Santa, click here.

What is the purpose of life?

Now that we’ve told you a little bit about who we are, let’s talk about the real reason we’re here. Every person ought to consider the purpose of life. Are humans just the result of a cosmic accident? Do we just live for such a short time before turning into dust? Or… is there something more to life?

Everyone has a “world view.” It’s how you perceive the world and reality around you. Check out this “Ask Marilyn” Q&A we saw in the Parade magazine, printed in the North Pole Times:

I’m in Mensa, where I’ve been discussing this question with other members for years: What is the reason we are here?–Jerry McGovern, Buellton, Calif

Consider Marilyn’s answer:

I think it depends of your spiritual beliefs. If you have a religion, it provides the answer. But if you don’t believe in a god, the question contradicts your thinking. Having a reason implies having a purpose, which indicates an intelligent being for cognitive power with intent. That’s what people call a god. So if you don’t believe god exists, you can’t believe a reason exists. You must settle for assuming we got here through some natural process, and that’s that.

Wow, that’s it? Buddy and Santa believe that God exists, and we also believe that the Holy Bible is God’s Word for all people today. It’s special revelation, giving us guidance in how we are to think and believe. Our purpose in living–even in sharing joy at Christmastime–is to glorify the One who made us and loves us. In fact, He loves Buddy and Santa so much that Jesus came to die for their sins, that faith (belief) in Him and acceptance of His free gift of salvation (not based on any “good works” anyone can do) provides fulfillment and the meaning in life asked by Jerry above. (see Romans 1:16-17 and 3:28.)

With that in mind, take the following quiz and let’s see how you do:

1. True or False? According to the Bible, every person who is born is guilty of sin.
2. True or False? It is possible for you to stop sinning in this life.
3. True or False? God accepts you only when you are able to stop sinning.
4. True or False? Only by good works can you earn God’s favor and hope for Heaven.
5. True or False? It is possible for you to know that you have eternal life.

Answers

1. According to the Bible, every person who is born is guilty of sin. True. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that everyone has sinned and has fallen short of God’s glory. The wages of sin is death, Paul added in Romans 6:23. Because you are imperfect and God is perfect, you are unable to enter into a relationship with the Maker of the universe if you are stained with sin.
2. It is possible for you to stop sinning in this life. False. Many people believe that it is possible to stop sinning. Unfortunately, each one of us is human and is prone to sin. Do you ever struggle with obeying your mother and father? Disobeying your parents is breaking the Fifth Commandment. Is it possible you might hate someone in the future? Jesus said hate is the same as murder. Ever get tempted with lust for another person? Jesus said that, when this happens, it’s the same as committing adultery. Who could ever measure up to such standards? Even the apostle Paul said in Romans 7:7-25 that he, just like all Christians, struggled with sin.
3. God accepts you only when you are able to stop sinning. False. Honestly, who do you know that has stopped sinning? If you know such a person, please tell us so we can meet him or her. Even the Pharisees, the most religious and self-righteous group in Jesus’s day, were guilty of sin because of their pride. Outwardly, they made it appear they were doing just fine, but Jesus said they were guiltier than the lowest sinners around because, inside their souls, they were dark and dirty.
4. Only by good works can you earn God’s favor and hope for Heaven. False. How many good works will it take to rid yourself of your sinful condition? One righteous act? Five? Five hundred? Actually, the prophet Isaiah clearly said in Isaiah 64:6 that “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” in God’s sight. Perfection would have to be achieved. How can we achieve something that is actually impossible?
5. It is possible for you to know that you have eternal life. True. Despite our sinful condition, the Bible says you can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are forgiven, loved, and accepted by God.

So how did you do?

That last question might have thrown you for a loop. After all, is it really possible for a sinful person to know that a relationship with God is a possibility? The answer is YES. First John 5:13 says “you may know that you have eternal life.” God’s desire is for YOU to have a personal relationship with Him. If you were to die right now, do you know that you will be forever in God’s presence?

Consider a few verses from the New Testament to help illustrate the point.

Fact 1: Sin’s tainting. Everyone, including you, has fallen short of God’s glory because of sin. (If you don’t believe that, go back and read the answer to question 2 from above.)

Fact 2: Deserved Punishment. Everyone deserves eternal death and separation from God forever because of this sin.

Fact 3: Christ’s Sacrifice. Having a relationship with God is the only way to deal with your sinful condition.Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” It is all centered on what God did for us, offering us forgiveness when we allow God to come into our lives.

Fact 4: God’s Grace. We can’t earn God’s favor through our good works. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast.” Grace is like receiving a birthday present. A person who would dare ask, “How much did that present cost?” while pulling out a wallet to pay obviously doesn’t understand what a gift is all about.

Fact 5: Your Belief. Romans 10:9 says “that if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Two verses later, Paul quotes from the Old Testament, adding, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” God has made it clear that we can receive this gift of salvation and become a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-18). All we have to do is want it. Despite your sin, you can be forgiven of all your sins—past, present, and future—because of what God has done. When we grasp the truthfulness of this, we can then “know” that we have eternal life. Have you “Got Forgiveness”?

You might wonder, what about good works? Aren’t they important? Believers who understand the price that was paid for them will want to do good works. As Ephesians 2:10 says, we are “God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” We do the works because of, not for, our salvation, provided by the sacrificial work of the God of this universe. So while we don’t want to minimize the importance of good works, we must tell you that it’s impossible for a sinner to gain God’s acceptance by doing them because you can never be good enough.

Perhaps you have some questions that you’d like a Christian to answer; we would be happy to talk with you. And if you live in the Utah area, we would love to meet with you and buy you lunch. Take us up on our offer by writing us at [email protected]

Check out the following sites! 

• How can a person get into heaven?
• How can I know I am saved?
• Take the good person test and see how you do (offsite)

Common questions you may wonder about (short answers)

• Do Christians believe they can say a prayer and then sin like hell?
• Is it possible to choose salvation after death?
• Does God want people in hell?
• How much trust should be put into a religious experience? 
• Is Christianity a less intelligent worldview than atheism? 
• What key arguments are there for God’s existence? 

More complete answers

• Why are there so many translations of the Bible?
• Doesn’t the fruit (good works) produced in Mormonism prove this is the true church?
• Isn’t telling a Latter-day Saint that Mormonism is wrong judgmental? (Shouldn’t we just leave them alone?)
• Are Christians hypocrites? 

Other sites of Interest

• Mormonism Research Ministry: This site deals specifically with the religion of Mormonism from a Christian perspective. Done in love and with a desire to politely show the important differences, with plenty of articles on a variety of topics, YouTube videos, and Podcasts (Viewpoint on Mormonism) that airs 3x each weekday on 820 AM.
• Carm.org: An overall apologetics website dealing with a variety of topics, including atheism.

Videos to consider

• Jesus Christ / Joseph Smith (1:20.17): A comparison documentary between Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith.
• The Bible vs. The Book of Mormon (1:06.32): A comparison documentary between the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
• DNA vs. The Book of Mormon (49:25): Does genetics support the idea of the Book of Mormon story?
• The Lost Book of Abraham (56:31): Is the Book of Abraham, supposedly translated from Egyptian papyrus by Joseph Smith, a work recognized by Egytologists today?

To see some pictures at the events we have sponsored, click here.

Do you know the “Three Laws of the Elves”? Or can you list the 4 food groups, according to Buddy. To check this out and see more pictures of Buddy and Santa, click here.