Who Should Be Our Christmas Guest?

It is Christmas week, and our thoughts should be on Jesus Christ and His mission to redeem all the children of God. He can redeem us only as soon and as much as we allow Him to influence us and our lives. A good start is to invite Jesus Christ into our Christmas celebration. A friend sent this story written by Helen Steiner Rice in her Christmas card.

It happened one day near the year’s winter end,

Two neighbors called on their long-time good friend;

And they found his shop, most often meager and lean,

Made merry with a thousand boughs of green.

And their friend was sitting with face all a-shine

When suddenly he stopped as he stitched a twine,

And said, “Old friends, at dawn today,

When the cock was crowing the night away,

The Lord appeared in a dream to me,

And said, “I am coming your guest to be.”

So I’ve been busy with feet astir;

Strewing my shop with branches of fir.

The table is spread, and the kettle is shined,

And over the rafters the holly is twined.

And now I will wait for my Lord to appear

And listen closely so I will hear

His step as He nears my humble place,

And I will open the door to His celestial face.

So his neighbors went home leaving him alone,

For this was the happiest day he had known,

‘Ere, long since his family had all passed away,

Their friend has spent many a sad Christmas Day.

But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas guest

This Christmas would be the dearest and best.

So he listened with sweet joy in his heart,

And with every sound he would rise with a start,

And look for the Lord to be standing there

In answer to his earnest prayer.

Then he ran to the window after hearing a sound,

But all that he saw on the snow-covered ground

Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn

Wrapped in clothes so ragged and worn.

The shopkeeper was touched and went to the door

And said, “Your feet must be frozen and sore,

I have some shoes in my shop for you

And a coat that will keep you warmer, too.”

As the shopkeeper noticed the time of day

He wondered what made the dear Lord delay?

Then he heard a knock and ran again to the door,

It was another stranger just as before.

A bent, old crone with a shawl of black,

A bundle of kindling piled on her back;

She asked only for a place to rest,

But that was reserved for his Heavenly Guest.

Her voice seemed to plead, “Don’t send me away

Let me rest awhile on Christmas Day.’

So, he brewed her a bowl steaming to the brim,

But after she left, he was filled with dismay

For he saw that the hours were passing away;

And the Lord had not come as He said He would,

The shopkeeper felt sure he had misunderstood!

When out of the stillness he heard a plea,

“Please tell me, kind sir, where might I be?”

So again, he opened his friendly door,

And stood disappointed as twice before,

It was only a child who had wandered away

Lost from her family on Christmas Day.

So he invited her in and wiped her wet tears

And carefully quieted her heart-felt fears.

Then he led her back to her home once more

But as he entered his own darkened door,

He knew that the Lord was not coming today;

For the hours of Christmas had passed away.

He went to his room and knelt down to pray

And said, “Dear Lord, why did You delay?

What kept You from coming to call on me,

For I wanted so much Your face to see.”

When soft in the silence a gentle voice he heard,

“Lift up your head, for I kept My word.

Three times My Spirit crossed your floor.

Three times I came to your lonely door.

For I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet,

I was the woman you gave to eat,

And I was the child on the homeless street.

Three times I knocked and thee times I came in,

And each time I found the warmth of a friend.

Of all the gifts, love is the best,

I was honored to be your true Christmas guest.”

Merry Christmas to all!

Will the Grinch Steal Christmas This Year?

            Parents can ensure that their family has a happy Christmas by planning ahead. With stores unable to obtain supplies, the toy shelves may be emptier than usual this Christmas season. In addition, inflation is rapidly increasing prices for the gifts that are available. Parents may be caught in a difficult situation in providing gifts for their children this year.

            Everyone from government officials to store managers are encouraging parents to shop early because there is no guarantee that products will be available in the weeks prior to Christmas. If there are specific items that teens and children desire, parents would be wise to get them now.

            Parents should also plan how to make Christmas happy in case of an emergency. What if they are not able to find or afford the selected items – or any related items? What will the parents do? This may be the year for parents to have an old-fashioned or homegrown Christmas. It will certainly be an enjoyable time for teaching children and teens about the birth of Jesus Christ, the reason for celebrating the Christmas season. At any rate, parents should have ideas about what they will do for plan A as well as have a plan B and a plan C.

            Christmas will come whether parents are prepared for it or not, and children will be excited to see their gifts. Children and teens have been through tough times over the past two years, and many of them are dealing with mental issues. Even though parents have also endured stress, they must step up to the duty of making Christmas memorable for their children and do so for all the right reasons. Parents who plan ahead for Christmas can strengthen their families as well as their communities and nations.

Waiting for the Christ Child

            Today was a delightful day with much family time, both in person and on Facetime. During one conversation I learned that my eleven-year-old granddaughter is reading my blog and sharing what I write with other people. I also learned that she likes to read the Christmas stories that I share.

            So in keeping with the spirit of Christmas and to make my granddaughter happy, I thought that I would share a story tonight. I found the following story, copied on green paper, in my Christmas box last night. It was obviously given to me some time ago by somebody near and dear to me. I do not remember the giver or when I received the gift, but I appreciate the story and its message. It was written by Gaye Willis and is titled “Will the Christ Child Come? This story is for you, Miss M!

One Christmas we had an interesting experience that I would like to share. Halfway through December we were doing the regular evening things when there was a knock at the door. We opened it to find a small package with a beautiful ceramic lamb inside. We looked at the calendar and realized that the 12 days of Christmas were beginning!! We waited excitedly for the next night’s surprise and only then, with the gift of a matching shepherd, did we realize that the lamb was part of a nativity set.

Each night we grew more excited to see what piece we would receive. Each was exquisitely beautiful. The kids kept trying to catch the givers as we slowly built the scene at the manager and began to focus on Christ’s birth. On Christmas Eve, all the pieces were in place, but the baby Jesus. My 12-year-old son really wanted to catch our benefactors and began to devise all kinds of ways to trap them. He ate his dinner in the mini-van watching and waiting, but no one came. Finally we called him in to go through our family’s Christmas Eve traditions.

But before the kids went to bed, we checked the front step – No Baby Jesus! We began to worry that my son had scared them off. My husband suggested that maybe they dropped the Jesus and there wouldn’t be anything coming. Somehow something was missing that Christmas Eve. There was a feeling that things weren’t complete. The kids went to bed and I put out Christmas, but before I went to bed I again checked to see if the Jesus had come – no, the doorstep was empty.

In our family the kids can open their stockings when they want to, but they have to wait to open any presents until Dad wakes up. So one by one they woke up very early and I also woke up to watch them. Even before they opened their stockings, each child checked to see if perhaps during the night the baby Jesus had come. Missing that piece of the set seemed to have an odd effect. At least it changed my focus.

I knew there were presents under the tree for me and I was excited to watch the children open their gifts, but first on my mind was the feeling of waiting for the ceramic Christ Child. We had opened just about all of the presents when one of the children found one more for me buried deep beneath the limbs of the tree. He handed me a small package from my former visiting teaching companion.

This sister was somewhat less-active in the church. I had been her visiting teacher for a couple of years and then, when she was asked to be a visiting teacher, she requested to go with me. I had learned over time they didn’t have much for Christmas, so that their focus was the children. It sounded like she didn’t get many gifts to open, so I had always given her a small package – new dish towels, the next year’s Relief Society lesson manual – not much, but something for her to open.

I was touched when at Church on the day before Christmas she had given me this small package, saying it was just a token of her love and appreciation. As I took off the bow, I remembered my friendship with her and was filled with gratitude for knowing her and for her kindness and sacrifice in this year giving me a gift. But as the paper fell away, I began to tremble and cry. There in the small brown box was the baby Jesus. He had come!

I realized on that Christmas Day that Christ will come into our lives in ways that we don’t expect. The spirit of Christ comes into our hearts as we serve one another. We had waited and watched for him to come, expecting the dramatic “knock” at the door and the “scurrying of feet,” but he came in a small, simple package that represented service, friendship, gratitude, and love.

This experience taught me that the beginning of the true spirit of Christmas comes as we open our hearts and actively focus on the Savior. But we will most likely find him in the small and simple acts of love, friendship and service that we give to each other. This Christmas I want to feel again the joy of knowing that Christ is in our home. I want to focus on loving and serving. More than that I want to open my heart to him all year that I may see him again!

            Yesterday in sacrament meeting our Bishop recounted an experience that happened during sacrament meeting two weeks previously. His three-year-old son came from the audience to sit on his father’s lap during the talks, and the speaker was sharing some ideas of how we can share the spirit of Christmas with others. The little boy whispered to his father, “What are you doing for Jesus?”

            The Bishop’s immediate thought was, “I am the Bishop. I am always trying to do the Lord’s work.” As he considered the question over the next two weeks, he realized that being the Bishop was not enough and there was much more that he could do for Jesus. The Bishop was correct because he is always serving members of the ward. He is definitely the busiest member of the ward, yet he realized that he could do more.

            I have been pondering the little boy’s question for the past two days and wondering what more I can do for Christ. So, I ask my readers, “What are you doing for Jesus?” I have some better questions: Will you continue to do things for Jesus after the Christmas holidays are over? Will the Savior be welcome in your home all year? Will you wait for Him to knock at the door, or will you recognize Him in the little ways that He comes into your life?

Levels of Christmas

                Most of us are aware that Christmas is celebrated in several ways, but few of us even recognize them as levels of spirituality.  The first level is of course the Santa Clause level, and the second level is the Baby Jesus level.  Do you have any idea of what is in the third level?  The first level brings the excited of Christmas – Santa Clause, Christmas trees, stockings, and presents.  The second level brings in the story of the birth of the Savior of the world with all its sacredness.  Neither of these two levels will matter in a few weeks if we do not also celebrate on the third level.  Find out how to celebrate Christmas on the third level and make Christmas last all year long.

                John Bytheway, beloved author and speaker, shared the “Three Levels of Christmas” by William B. Smart (Messages for a Happier Life, [Deseret Book, 1989], 33-34) on Facebook.  I encourage you to read the article and apply it to your life.  

Focus on the Savior

                Celebrating the birth of Jesus the Christ is the purpose of Christmas; therefore, He is the reason for the season.  Our focus should be on the Savior of the world, particularly at this time as we celebrate His mortal birth.

                Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, Primary general president, explained:  “When our focus is on Jesus Christ, we clear away the rubble that obscures the path, and we build a foundation for our families on the rock of our Redeemer.  The winds will blow and the mighty storms will beat upon us, but we will not fall.”

                Sister Wixom and her counselors, Sister Jean A. Stevens and Sister Cheryl A. Esplin, suggested three building blocks to help us focus on the Savior and strengthen the foundations of our homes.  Those three building blocks are prayer, scriptures, and temples.  

                Sister Esplin explained, “Our Heavenly Father isn’t concerned with how clever, brilliant, rich, or famous we are.  He loves us because we are His children.  He has given us a lifeline to Him – it’s called prayer.”  She continued, “Prayer is essential in building a Christ-centered life and a Christ-centered home.”

                In explaining the power of searching the scriptures, Sister Wixom quoted Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve:  “Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high.”  She continued, “Those packets of light illuminate minds and help build a foundation upon the `rock of our Redeemer….  They testify of Jesus Christ, and through the power of the Holy Ghost, individuals come to know Him as they read.

                “When reading the scriptures becomes a daily habit, we are drawn to searching them and we love them….”

                Sister Stevens discussed the power of the temple and explained that the temple and family history work are central to accomplishing the Lord’s work of salvation.  “I can imagine that the Lord, with His infinite power, could design a way to bring salvation to all His children without directly using our help….  But for whatever reason, He did not.  Could it be that our participation in temple and family history work is designed to not only save our ancestors, but to save us and our children as well?”

                Individuals receive great blessings by focusing on temple worship and family history work, and even little children can receive great blessings.  Some ways to teach children about the importance of temples is having a picture of a temple in each child’s bedroom, singing songs about the temple, sharing stories about ancestors. 

                Sister Stevens continued, “The blessings of the temple are available to us all – young and old and everybody in between….  It is in the temple that we remember who we really are and see with clarity who we really can become.  In this we will feel the Lord’s love for us in a personal way.  It draws us to Him.”

                We all have our priorities in how we spend our time, energy, and resources.  We can see our priorities clearly by determining where our focus is.  If our priorities are prayer, scripture study, and the temple, we will focus our time, energy, and resources on those three priorities.  We may think they are our priorities, but we will be mistaken unless we focus on them.   If our focus is on the Savior, we will put Him first in our lives.  He will be the center of our lives, and everything else will revolve around Him.

                I have personally discovered that my life runs much more smoothly when I focus on the Savior.  My days run smoother when I start them with prayer and scripture study.  My weeks go better when I attend the temple.  In order to focus on the Savior, I must write prayer, scripture study, and temple into my daily and weekly schedule. 

The Son of God

                Christmas is the day and season to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; however, we do not celebrate Christmas because a baby was born.  We celebrate the birth of Christ because of what He did during His life; we celebrate Christmas because He gave His life and then overcame death.  We celebrate Christmas because of what Easter represents.

                Many prophets have testified that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  Jesus also testified to this fact when He appeared to ancient Americans.  “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world” (Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 3 Nephi 11:10).

                Have you ever considered what our world would be like if Heavenly Father had not sent His Son to earth?  It is hard to imagine a world without the example, principles, and teachings of Jesus Christ.  Without Jesus Christ, we would be living in a very wicked world with no hope for a better one.  God the Father gave His Son to the world that we might have an opportunity to gain eternal life, and Jesus Christ gave His life to provide that opportunity to all who believe in Him.

                John, the Beloved Apostle of Jesus Christ, wrote, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

                I know a little bit about sending a beloved son out into the world to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In fact, both of my sons went on such missions, and each of them spent two years of their lives sharing the teachings of the Lord.  I know some of the concerns of such a parent.  I can only imagine what it was like for our Father in Heaven to send His Son, knowing full well the suffering He would do.

                I had a little taste of what the Father must have felt as He watched His Son suffered, bleed, and die.  When my sixteen-year-old daughter broke her tibia playing soccer, the break was such that surgery needed to be performed for her leg to heal correctly.  The doctor made a hole in the broken bone just under my daughter’s knee, sucked out all the bone marrow, and inserted a titanium rod that went from the ankle to the knee.  The pain was excruciating.

                When she recovered from the surgery, she was taken to a hospital room before the doctor’s orders arrived at the nurses’ station.  My daughter was in great pain, and I would call for the nurse to give her something for the pain.  The nurse came immediately but could only give her enough medication to last a few minutes while she awaited the doctor’s orders.  As I watched my daughter suffer, I hurt just knowing how she was suffering.  I would have done anything to save her from the pain, but all I could do was call for the nurse to give more pain medication and pray for God’s blessings upon her.  As I watched my daughter suffer such great pain, the Holy Ghost whispered to my soul, “This is how Heavenly Father felt as He watched His Son suffer.”  There is nothing worse for a parent than to watch one’s child suffering.  How grateful I am that Heavenly Father loved us so much that He allowed Jesus Christ to suffer for our benefit.  Heavenly Father’s gift came at great sacrifice for both Himself and His Son.  Heavenly Father gave His Son, and Jesus Christ gave His life for us.

                “Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who condescended to come into this world of misery, struggle, and pain to touch men’s hearts for good, to teach the way of eternal life, and to give Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind.  How different, how empty our lives would be without Him.  How infinite is our opportunity for exaltation made possible through His redeeming love” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, Stand A Little Taller, p. 376).

                The testimony of Luke states that the anguish of the Savior was so great that “his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44). 

                The suffering of Jesus Christ in Gethsemane and on the cross of Calvary included both physical and spiritual pain.  King Benjamin said “he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people” (Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Mosiah 3:7).

                The Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation in March 1830, and in this revelation Jesus Christ described His suffering.  “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all….

                “Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit – and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink –

                “Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19).        

       

                I love the Father, and I love the Son.  I am so very grateful for the sacrifices of both of them.  I am grateful for this Christmas season when I can join with millions of others in singing praises for the birth, life, death, and resurrection of the Son.  The Savior has done more for me and for all mankind that any of us could do for ourselves.  He has brought meaning to our life here on earth and has given us the gift of eternal life.  His influence in my life has stirred me to be a better person, to be more kind, and to show more love, concern, and respect to other people.

                I love the Christmas carols proclaiming joy for the birth of the Savior.  They bring such peace to me in this uncertain world and hope for a much better world.  I loved to sing many hymns praising the Father and the Son, but I especially appreciate a hymn entitled “I Stand All Amazed” (Hymns, 193; text and music by Charles H. Gabriel).  It describes my feelings about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

                I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.

                I tremble to know that for me he was crucified, That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

                I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine to rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine.

                That he should extend his great love unto such as I, Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

                I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!  Such mercy, such love, and devotion can I forget?

                No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat, Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

                Chorus:  Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me Enough to die for me!

                Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

What Is Christmas?

                We each have our own favorite ways to celebrate Christmas – or not.   There is something special about the Christmas season, something that is different than any other time of year; it is the Christmas spirit.  I believe this special feeling is the spirit of Christ; I believe it is His love shedding forth on earth through those who love Him and follow Him.

                This time of year is “simple in origin, deep in meaning, beautiful in tradition and custom, rich in memories, and charitable in spirit.”  We are attracted to this wonderful time of year, and we receive a “measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree in which we have turned our mind, feelings, and actions to the spirit of Christmas.”  Even though Christmas is a large part of who we are, do we really know what Christmas is?

                President Thomas S. Monson, while serving as a counselor in the First Presidency, shared his thoughts about what Christmas is.  He said that Christmas is 1) children, 2) remembering, 3) giving, 4) prophecy fulfilled.  (“What Is Christmas? Ensign, Dec. 1998).  

                What would Christmas be without children, memories, and giving?  I would miss those three ingredients in Christmas, but the most important part of Christmas is that it fulfills prophecy.  President Monson is a master story teller, and he tells this story so well that I will use his words to do so.

                “On the eve of His birth, the voice of the Lord came unto Nephi, saying, `Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets’ (Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 3 Nephi 1:13).

                “What did the holy prophets of old declare?  Isaiah, more than 700 years before the birth of Christ, prophesied, `Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

                “On the American continent, King Benjamin said, `For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent … shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay.  … He shall suffer temptations, and pain.  … And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary” (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 3:5, 7-8).

                “Then came that night of nights when the shepherds were abiding in the fields and the angel of the Lord appeared to them, announcing:  `Fear not:  for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy.  … For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord’ (Luke 2:10-11).

                “The shepherds with haste went to the manger to pay honor to Christ the Lord.  Later, wise men journeyed from the East to Jerusalem, saying, `Where is he that is born King of the Jews?  For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.  … When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him:  and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts:  gold, and frankincense, and myrrh’ (Matthew 2:2, 10-11).

                “Since that time, the spirit of giving gifts has been present in the mind of each Christian as he or she commemorates the Christmas season.  Our Heavenly Father gave to us His Son, Jesus Christ.  That precious Son gave to us His life, the Atonement, and victory over the grave.  What will you and I give for Christmas this year?  Let us in our lives give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps.  It was said of Him that He `went about doing good’ (Acts 10:38).  As we do likewise, the Christmas spirit will be ours.”

                We gain from the Christmas season the measure of happiness that fits the degree to which we have the spirit of Christmas.  This Christmas spirit can be found in children, in our memories, in giving to others, and in studying the original Christmas story, a story of prophecy fulfilled.  I hope we can all remember to be grateful to the Lord for all that He does for us and to show our gratitude by living His teachings, following in His footsteps, and doing good. 

Birth of Christ

                    I love the story of the birth of Jesus Christ because it illustrates so well how much God loves His children.  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).  Jesus Christ is God's gift to the world, the first gift of Christmas; his birth represents the love of God for the world.

                    Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He has a plan for us to return to His presence after we complete our "schooling" on earth.  He is so all-knowing that He knew the exact conditions that we would need to have in order to learn all that we need to know.  He planned the creation of this earth.  In anticipation for the Fall of Adam and Eve, He planned for a Savior to make it possible for all the rest of His children to return to His presence.  This Savior is Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of our Heavenly Father.

                    Our Father in Heaven is mindful of each of His children.  He knew Zacharias, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph well enough to call them by name and to guide them through their individual missions.  He sent angels to the shepherds in order to give them the opportunity to become witnesses of the birth of Jesus Christ.  God placed a new star in the sky, which not only led the wise men to the house where Joseph took his family.  The wise men brought financial assistance to Joseph as well as becoming additional witnesses of Christ's birth.  God also warned the wise men and Joseph that Herod would try to kill the young child.  The new star in the sky not only led the wise men to the Child, but it also announced the birth of Christ to the ancient inhabitants of the American continents.

                    The story of the birth of Jesus Christ in the scriptures is both simple and wonderful.  In Luke, Chapter 2, we read that Caesar Augustus had issued a decree that "all the world" or at least all his subjects should return to his own city to be taxed.  "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

"To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child."  While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem paying their taxes, the time came for the birth of her child.  Joseph could not find room in any inn and took Mary into a stable:  "And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; …"

Meanwhile, an angel of the Lord appeared to some shepherds who were "keeping watch over their flock by night."  The angel said to them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

The shepherds went with haste into Bethlehem "and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

"And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child."  The shepherds returned to their flocks "glorifying and praising God" for the wonderful tidings they had both seen and heard. 

About  the same time, wise men in the east saw the new star in the sky and followed the star into Jerusalem where they visited with King Herod.  They asked Herod, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?  For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him" (Matthew 2:1-2).

King Herod had no knowledge of the new King and questioned his chief priests and scribes who told him of the prophecies that the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem.  Herod returned to the wise men, asked them when the star appeared, and sent them out to find the Christ Child.  The star "went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him:  and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

"And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

"And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

"When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

"And was there until the death of Herod:…..

"But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

"Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

"And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel….

Joseph was still concerned because Archelaus reigned in place of his father Herod:  "notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

"And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth:  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene" (Matthew, chapter 2).

The birth of Jesus Christ demonstrates the great love that our Heavenly Father has for the world.  The first gift of Christmas is the love of God embodied in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Spirit of Santa

                    Families, communities, and nations are strengthened when the rising generation is taught about the spirit of Santa Clause.  When children become old enough to question the reality of Santa, they are old enough to be taught about the spirit of Santa.  The "spirit of Santa Clause" is actually the "spirit of Christ."  Children must be taught the simple but true principle that "it is better to give than to receive."  When young people understand this principle, they bring strength to their families and communities.

The following story shares a fun way to teach this important principle.  The author of this story is unknown, but the story is entitled "The True Story."

                   

                    I remember my first Christmas party with Grandma.  I was just a kid.  I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb:  "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered.  "Even dummies know that!

                    My grandmas was not the gushy kind, never had been.  I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me.  I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns.

                    Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm.  Between bites, I told her everything.  She was ready for me.  "No Santa Claus!" she snorted.  "Ridiculous!  Don't believe it.  That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad.  Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

                    "Go?  Go where, Grandma?" I asked.  I hadn't even finished my second cinnamon bun. 

                    "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything.  As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars.  That was a bundle in those days.

                    "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it.  I'll wait for you in the car."  Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

                    I was only eight years old.  I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself.  The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.

                    For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.

                    I thought of everybody I knew:  my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.  I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobbie Decker.  He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class.

                    Bobbie Decker didn't have a coat.  I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter.  His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobbie Decker didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat.  I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement.  I would buy Bobbie Decker a coat.

                    I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it.  It looked real warm, and he would like that.  "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.

                    "Yes," I replied shyly.  "It's … for Bobbie."  The nice lady smiled at me.  I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.

                    That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons, and write, "To Bobbie, From Santa Claus" on it -- Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy.  Then she drove me over to Bobbie Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers.

                    Grandma parked down the street from Bobbie's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk.  Then Grandma gave me a nudge.  "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

                    I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.  Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open.  Finally it did, and there stood Bobbie.

                    Forty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my grandma, in Bobbie Decker's bushes.  That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were:  ridiculous.  Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

                   

                   

Christ's Gifts

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you! Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. He is the reason why we celebrate this season. He came to earth in the same way that all babies come, but He is the Son of God. We don’t celebrate His birth simply because He was born. We celebrate His birth because of the life He lived. Because He lived a perfect life, and then was willing to give up His life, all of us may live again after we leave this mortal life.

Jesus Christ gave us many gifts. He gave us freedom from death through the power of His Resurrection. By His power over death, He made it possible for all of us to have our bodies and spirits united in such a way that they will never be separated again.

Jesus Christ also gave us freedom from sin through the power of His Atonement. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and exercises that faith in the process of repenting for his/her sins will have the sins forgiven and will become clean. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the principle of repentance, we can all enjoy freedom from sin.

Freedom from death and freedom from sin are not the only gifts that God has given to His children. We received our very first gift - agency, the freedom to choose – before we left our Father’s presence. Other gifts or freedoms come from living in obedience to the commandments and teachings of Jesus Christ. By living as God wants us to live, we can be free from causing abuse or divorce or contention or war. Jesus Christ is the great Peace Maker. Those who follow His teachings receive the great gift of peace in their lives no matter what happens around them. They will also receive the greatest gift of all - the gift of eternal life. I hope that you enjoy your celebration even more today because you know that Jesus Christ has given us the greatest gifts of all.

True Meaning of Christmas

The true meaning of Christmas becomes clear when we remember the reason why we celebrate Christmas. We must remember that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” There would not be Christmas without Christ!

The following items are connected with Christmas, but their meaning is often lost. Many years ago I received a handout with the following information. I hope that you will find it helpful in remembering and teaching the true meaning of Christmas.

And Santa whispered, "Teach the children the true meaning of Christmas."

The Star: A heavenly sign of prophecy fulfilled long, long ages ago - the shining hope of mankind.

Red: The first color of Christmas - symbolizing the Savior's sacrifice for all.

Fir Tree: Evergreen - the second color of Christmas - shows everlasting life. The needles point heavenward.

The Bell: Rings out to guide lost sheep back to the fold - signifying that all are precious in the eyes of the Lord.

The Candle: A mirror of starlight reflecting our thanks for the Star of Bethlehem.

Gift Bow: Tied as we should all be tied together in bonds of goodwill forever.

Candy Cane: The shepherd's crook used to bring lambs back into the fold - a reminder that all of us are our brother's keeper.

The Wreath: A symbol of the never ending eternal nature of love - having no beginning and no end.

Children are innocent and need to be taught truth by those who love them, but children are often the greatest teachers as shown here.

Holiday Trilogy

I recently read an article in a newsletter written by Glenn Beck in which he referred to the three holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's as "the big holiday trilogy," which is a time of preparation for the "renewal of Easter." I previously considered the three holidays to be separate and distinct from each other with only Christmas being related to Easter. Glenn's idea of the holidays being connected and all part of a whole gives the sense of some kind of divine plan or something. I always considered Thanksgiving to be a time to express gratitude, a special day to count my many blessings, one of which is family. Glenn considers Thanksgiving to be "a time to look forward to spending [time] with family, a wonderful `excuse' to gather together and remind ourselves that our families are the foundation upon which we build our lives. Our families are what enable us to be the very best version of ourselves, and for that we should give thanks." This idea would put family as the top item on a list of blessings. Do we really consider family to be the "foundation" of our lives? Christmas comes next. I always - at least after I got past the what-am-I-going-to-get stage - considered Christmas to be a time of love. Heavenly Father loved His children so much that He sent His Son to earth on a mission to save all of His other children. Jesus Christ loved Heavenly Father and all of His Father's children so much that He accepted and fulfilled that mission. We celebrate the birth of the Son because we love Him as well as the Father. We give gifts to our family and friends because we love them. Glenn considers Christmas to be "a transformative gift of redemption - a wonderful present we've all been given and once we open it, we finally understand how fulfilling and rich our lives can truly be." Does this idea of redemption make the love of Christmas much fuller and more abundant for you? New Year's is third. This holiday often meant the end of the Christmas season - the time that the children go back to school, adult children leave for college, and family members return to their homes. It also meant a time to set goals for self-improvement. Glenn considers New Year's to be "a clean page, a fresh start and a new beginning filled with endless possibilities." Is New Year's a new beginning and a fresh start for you? Glenn's idea has helped me to see the connection between family being the foundation for our lives, redemption made possible by love, and an opportunity to start over. I now understand better how the three holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's prepare us to celebrate the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter.

Nativity

I love the Christmas story that tells of the mortal birth of the Son of God. The Christmas season reminds us that Heavenly Father loved all of His children so much that He sent a Baby - His Only Begotten Son - to earth on a mission to save all of us. I love the description of Mary who is always depicted as young and virtuous, fair and beautiful. I honor Joseph who showed great love, courage and strength in his marriage to Mary. I am awed by the idea of a God being born in a stable. I feel the excitement of the shepherds as the angel announced the birth of Christ and understand the haste with which they traveled to the stable. I seek to find the Lord just as the wise men did when they followed the star. I love this story so much that I choose to decorate my home with scenes of the Nativity. At my latest count, I have twenty-nine Nativity sets of different sizes made of various materials. I have sets with multiple pieces as well as ones with all the figures in one piece. I have music boxes and snow globes as well as a quilt, pillow covers, a lamp, a cookie jar, a stamp for making cards, pictures of various types and sizes, books, and many ornaments. I have both very inexpensive sets as well as some very nice ones. Most of my sets cost less than $30, and none of them cost over $50. I should say that I have never paid more than $50 because I shop around and find some good Christmas sales as well as off-season sales. My newest Nativity set is one that I made this year from pre-printed fabric. The figures are cut out, sewed together and filled with batting. I like this set because it is my first one that I feel comfortable about putting under the Christmas tree. I have slowed a little in my collection of Nativity sets. Now I purchase only those which are extra special or fill a certain place. I also satisfy part of my need to collect by giving Nativity scenes as gifts to my children. I am always pleased to receive Nativity sets as gifts, especially those made in other countries. I have a desire for a particular Nativity scene. I want one of those large, outdoor Nativity sets with lights. I haven't seen any of them in the stores, but I haven't actually gone looking for them either. I am hesitating about this set because I don't know where I would store it. If I could solve the storage problem, I would immediately start shopping for one! My favorite Nativity scene is the one enacted by my family each Christmas Eve. My husband and I started this tradition more than thirty years ago when our oldest daughters were just tiny tots, maybe the year our oldest son could play Baby Jesus. I am pleased that our children are continuing this tradition in their own homes. Some of our family Nativity plays have been elaborate like the one where a roving reporter interviewed the various participants in the Christmas story. Some of them are very simple with just reading the story in Luke and Matthew as it is acted out. For many years, our costumes consisted of bathrobes, towels, etc. even though I wanted real costumes. After most of my children were adults, I started making costumes, usually adding just a couple or three every year. Last year I made six new costumes because I needed one for each grandchild. I have also found that graduation gowns serve very well as costumes. Everyone in the house participates in our Nativity play in some way, whether it is someone there for the evening or someone just stopping by for a few minutes. In fact, we have sometimes had friends stop by just to take part in our Nativity play! The saddest play we did was done with just four or five people using the figures from a small Nativity set to act out the parts - but the good years make up for the poor ones. I remember our Nativity from last year with fondness as we had nine grandchildren as well as five children and spouses taking part in our Nativity. There were two brand new babies to play the part of Jesus. Thank goodness that they never cried at the same time because we would pass the crying baby to his mama and put the non-crying child in the manger. We had three little two-year old girls playing the part of the wise men, riding on the back of the camel (our oldest son who also played the part of Mary's donkey). The wise men were all crying by the time they reached King Herod. Our oldest daughter always plays the role of King Herod because she is so realistic in the role, but she was not at all realistic last year as she took pity on the crying wise men. Our older grandchildren - all under the age of nine - played the parts of Mary, Joseph, the angel, and a shepherd. Adults filled helping roles - such as the fourth wise man that helped the little ones, the adults who accompanied the angel or served as shepherds as well as the inn keeper with his wife. Others took pictures and read the story from the scriptures. Most of my children and all of my grandchildren are spending Christmas with their other families this year so I have invited some neighbors and friends to join my husband and myself, along with our oldest daughter and husband, for the evening. I found a family with enough children to help with the Nativity as well as some other adults. It should be a pleasant evening - but nothing like it would be if all of our children and grandchildren could be with us!

God So Loved the World

I enjoy the Christmas season. I like the colors of Christmas. I like the Christmas music. I marvel at the softening of hearts that come at Christmas time. The spirit of Christmas is the Spirit of Christ. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (Saint John 3:16-17). God, our Father in Heaven, loves all of His children so much that He sent his First Born Son to live on earth that His other children might have the opportunity to return to God's presence. Our Father's gift to us is His Son Jesus Christ. He gave Christ to us for our benefit. As a parent, I learned a little about the great love that our Father in Heaven showed when He gave this gift. Some years ago my third daughter was playing soccer in Texas. She had the soccer ball and was on a break away run towards the goal. The opposing goalie ran out to stop my daughter from making a goal. In doing so, she planted her feet on my daughter's leg and broke both of the bones in her lower leg in several places. Our doctor would later tell us that he rarely saw such serious breaks from sports because they usually came from such things as car accidents. My daughter was treated in Texas and then made the long and painful trip back to Alaska. After a couple of weeks of pain, x-rays, and counseling with doctors, the determination was made that the bone would not stabilize on its own but would need more help than just a cast. Surgery was performed to install a titanium rod down the inside of her tibia. I've been told that bone pain is the worst kind of pain, even worse than child birth, and I believe it. I was with my daughter when she came out of surgery. She kept crying out with pain until a nurse would come to give her some pain killer. It seemed that only a minute or so would go by before she was crying out with pain again. It was a very difficult experience to watch a beloved child suffer such pain and to not be able to do anything to help her. I had to let her suffer until someone else would come to help her. While I was thus watching my daughter suffer, a thought went through my mind that I believe was personal revelation. The thought was, "This is how Heavenly Father felt as He watched His Son, Jesus Christ, suffer in Gethsemane and on the cross." This was a very shocking thought for me because I had never previously considered Heavenly Father's pain in connection with the Atonement of Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…." He gave us the greatest gift that He could give to us and at great personal cost. I know this to be true because I have tasted of that pain. How can we show Him that we appreciate His gift to us? The only way that we can adequately show our gratitude for this great gift is to make room in our hearts and in our lives for His Son, Jesus Christ.

Christmas in America

For millions of Christians, Christmas is the happiest as well as the busiest holiday of the year. The celebrations vary depending on the country, heritage, and customs of the people involved. Most Americans and Canadians decorate their homes, offices, schools, and stores with trees trimmed with lights, tinsel and colorful ornaments as well as wreaths and other Christmas decorations including Nativity sets. Yards and city streets are bright with colorful lights. The sounds of bells and Christmas carols fill the air. People send holiday cards to family members, friends and business associates. Children write letters to Santa Claus to tell him of their desires for gifts. Malls hire substitute Santas to listen to requests from children and to hand out treats. Presents are placed under the Christmas trees to be opened either on Christmas Eve or on Christmas morning. Children hang Christmas stockings so that Santa can fill them with candy, fruits and small gifts as he travels from house to house in his sleigh pulled by reindeer. A special part of the Christmas celebration is being with other people. Carolers walk from house to house singing Christmas carols. Special Christmas services are held in churches decorated with evergreen branches, red poinsettias and Nativity scenes. Families and friends join together for special feasts. A traditional American feast includes turkey with dressing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, other dishes, and wonderful desserts. Some people have ham or roast goose instead of turkey. Eggnog is a favorite drink for many people. In various parts of the United States and Canada, some ethnic groups celebrate Christmas using customs from their native countries. Some people in the American Southwest observe traditional Spanish customs. Some people in the Quebec, Canada, area observe French customs. Some Black Americans combine Christmas with the Afro-American holiday called Kwanzaa.

Keeping Christ in Christmas

Jesus Christ is the reason that we celebrate Christmas; therefore, without Christ, there would be no Christmas. A dictionary definition of Christmas is "a holiday on December 25 celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ" (New World Dictionary of the American Language, Second College Edition, 253). An encyclopedia entry on Christmas begins "Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ" (World Book Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p 528). These two independent sources confirm my statement that Jesus Christ is the reason for the Christmas season. Even though the people of the world do not know the exact date of Christ's birth, most Christians observe Christmas on December 25. "The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, an early English phrase that means Mass of Christ" (World Book, p 528). Most of the information that we have about Christmas comes from the Christmas story as found in the New Testament. St. Luke 2:1-20 tells the story of how Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to pay their taxes. While they were in Bethlehem, Mary went into labor. The inns in Bethlehem did not have enough room for all the people coming to town, particularly Joseph and Mary, but Joseph was able to find some privacy for Mary in a stable. After Jesus was born, Mary wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manager. The new little family was still in the stable when shepherds came to visit them. The shepherds were alerted of the birth of Christ by an angel. They went with haste to see the new baby. St. Matthew 2:1-11 tells us that wise men in the east saw a new star in the sky and recognized it as the one prophesied to arise at the birth of the Messiah. They followed that star to Bethlehem, but by the time they arrived the family was living in a house (v 11). The wise men brought treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the new King. We do not celebrate Christmas simply because a little baby was born. We celebrate Christmas because the Son of God was born. He was born of a mortal mother in order that He could experience all the pains, experiences and problems of being mortal. Because He was the Son of God, He had the power to withstand the temptations to sin and to overcome all of the other problems of mortality. We celebrate the birth of Christ because of the person He became. As an adult He taught about faith in God, repentance, baptism by immersion, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. Jesus Christ was killed because of the priestcrafts and iniquities of the Jews. Jesus allowed Himself to be killed in order that He could pay the price of the sins of all mankind. The reason He came to earth was to make an atonement for all those people who believe in Him. He overcame death by His resurrection that all mankind may live forever more. As we go into this Christmas season, let us remember the Man whose birth we celebrate. Let us be like the shepherds and the wise men who followed heavenly instructions and found the Babe. Let us seek this Jesus who was born in Bethlehem. We can seek Jesus Christ by developing Christ-centered family traditions. When we put Christ at the center of our Christmas celebrations, we bring the true spirit of Christmas - the Spirit of Christ - into our homes. Some ideas that you might consider are: 1) Emphasis Christ rather than Santa by focusing on Christ. Decorate with nativity sets and pictures of Christ. Read the scriptural accounts of the birth of Christ. Act out the nativity story. Sing or play Christmas carols about Christ. Count your blessings. Show gratitude by thanking Heavenly Father for the greatest gift of all - our Savior and His Atonement. 2) Simplify gift giving because Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ - not an excuse to empty the stores. There is no need to go into debt for Christmas. If we spend only what we can afford to spend, we can reduce financial pressures and feel more peace. 3) Spend time doing those activities that bring peace into your home. 4) Serve others in ways that are appropriate for you and your family. Go Christmas caroling. Invite a lonely person to join in your celebration. Volunteer at a local charitable organization. Give homemade treats to neighbors. As we remember that Jesus Christ is the reason that we celebrate Christmas, we can make each Christmas better than the previous one. We can bring the true spirit of Christmas into our lives - not only at Christmas time but throughout the year.