In our day, there are many things people
look forward to in the Holiday season. Some look forward to the decorations and
the smell of fresh cut trees. Others rejoice over the excitement of giving or
receiving presents. Some are excited by shopping for sales and procuring the
greatest deals. Others just want to spend time with family, warm fireplaces,
and hot chocolate. For others, it is the food and treats. Many look forward to
the music of the season—from seasonal songs to spiritual carols. This is a time
when many things vie for our attention and we are in constant danger of being
distracted from the real reason we celebrate Christmas.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson shared a thought
that can help us avoid becoming lost:
QUOTE “We gain a
testimony of what is real as we read the word of God in the scriptures—both
ancient and modern…”UNQUOTE
The
prophets of old knew of Christ, bore record of Him. They expressed in their own personal way, the true meaning of
Christmas. If we look to their writings, we can see what these prophets looked
forward to. I like to imagine these words being a representation of how they
would celebrate Christmas.
124 years before Christ’s birth King Benjamin looked forward to
the miracles that the Savior would perform. He prophesied:
QUOTE “For behold, the time
cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who
reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down
from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay,
and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the
sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their
sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases. And he shall
cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children
of men.” UNQUOTE
He then spoke of the need for this birth, he continued:
QUOTE “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. And lo, he
cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even
through faith on his name; And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among
all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and
tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same
might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy…”
UNQUOTE
So
I envision if King Benjamin were to celebrate this season, he would do so by
remembering the miracles that Christ performed and the miracle of His
sacrifice. I can similarly share with my Children, the miracles or tender
mercies our family has experienced which were made possible because of Christ’s
birth and life.
Isaiah’s
words, prophesying of the Savior birth were so moving that Handel was inspired
to create an entire oratorio!
QUOTE “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is
given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace.” UNQUOTE
A
Christmas celebration with Isaiah may center on the birth of a King, not just a
king, but the King of Kings. I can celebrate in this manner by allowing the
Savior’s teachings to rule my will, and his attributes to reign in my heart as
I interact with others.
722
BC We hear so many people seeking for peace in this world. When Micah
prophesied of Christ’s birth in Bethleham he also taught us how to find peace.
QUOTE
“But thou, Beth-lehem… though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet
out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose
goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting…. for now shall he be
great unto the ends of the earth. And this man shall be the peace” UNQUOTE
Perhaps
celebrating Christmas with Micah would eliminate the hectic nature of the
season, listening to the prayerful hymns about Christ and study scriptures to
find the peace He offers in our life.
Nephi
knew of the coming of our Savior, and wrote:
QUOTE “Even six hundred years from the
time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among
the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.” UNQUOTE
I
can, like Nephi, remember that our Savior was chosen and foreordained before
the world. Were we not part of those heavenly choirs that rejoiced and sang at
the birth of the individual who would redeem us from all our pains, sins,
difficulties, and woes? Can remembering Christ help me regain a portion of that
rejoicing?
This
same excitement for a Savior was shared by other prophets:
Habakkuk delighted, remembering that God sent
His son to go:
QUOTE “forth for the
salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed” UNQUOTE
Zechariah celebrated at Christ’s coming
QUOTE “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of
Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is
just, and having salvation; …” UNQUOTE
Moses
prophesied
QUOTE “unto them concerning the coming of
the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people[.] Yea, and even all the
prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken
more or less concerning these things? Have they not said that God himself
should come down among the children of men?” UNQUOTE
With
all of the prophets, a Christmas celebration would include joyful recollections
of the Messiah. These passages remind me that if I want to make Christmas more
spiritual, it is helpful to separate the traditions that help us remember,
rejoice, and celebrate Christ, and give those greater emphasis and priority
over other seasonal activities.
QUOTE “For, for this intent have we
written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a
hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we
ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were
before us.” UNQUOTE
Prophets
looked forward to the miracles the Savior would perform. The salvation and
redemption he would provide. They pointed out that the peace of the season
comes from focusing on Him. They were glad to have a king of kings to provide
and example and pave a path back to our Father in Heaven through a perfect life
and atonement. When we remember these and turn to the scriptures, we can
celebrate Christmas with the prophets.
What
scriptures will you study and share with your family, your friends, on social
media, and in your interactions this holiday season that will direct thoughts
back to the true meaning of the season. It is my prayer that we will make room
at the inns of our hearts to keep the prophecies and scriptures at the center
of this season. It is my hope you will invite the prophets for your Christmas celebration.
DAVID
As we read and
listen to the Christmas messages throughout the years of President Thosmas S.
Monson, we often hear our beloved prophet speak of “the True meaning of
Christmas” or the “Spirit of Christmas.” In order to better understand how our
prophet uses these phrases, all of the quotations I share today will come from
Him.
QUOTE
“When we keep the spirit of Christmas, we keep the Spirit of Christ, for the
Christmas spirit is the Christ Spirit. It will block out all the distractions
around us which can diminish Christmas and swallow up its true meaning.”
UNQUOTE (President Thomas S. Monson, 2011 First Presidency Christmas
Devotional).
In preparing my
remarks this week, I noticed that the prophet has focused on a variety of
different aspects of the Christmas Spirit. Though they are all attributes or part
of Christ, I believe it helpful to identify them separately. And so, like
Ebenezer Scrooge who was visited by Marley and three other spirits, I would
like our congregation to be visited by what I believe are four spirits of Christmas
from our prophet’s words.
The First of these is the Spirit of
Remembrance
President
Monson lamented,
QUOTE
“I am saddened to see Christmas becoming less and less about Christ and more
and more about marketing and sales, parties and presents. And yet, Christmas is
what we make of it. Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ
is at the center of our celebration. If we have not already done so, we can
establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will
help us capture and keep the spirit of Christmas” UNQUOTE (“Because He Came”
2011 First Presidency Christmas Devotional).
In the 2012 Christmas
devotional he reminded us that,
QUOTE
“Finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying
to get more done, nor is it found in the purchasing of gifts. We find real joy
when we make the Savior the focus of the season. We can keep Him in our
thoughts and in our lives as we go about the work He would have us perform here
on earth” UNQUOTE (“Christmas is Love” 2012 First Presidency Christmas
Devotional).
His own
recollections of Christmas resulted in the following insight,
QUOTE
“The Christmases we remember best generally have little to do with worldly
goods, but a lot to do with families, with love, and with compassion and
caring. UNQUOTE (“The Spirit We Feel At Christmastime” LDS.org).
Of all the
things this Spirit of remembrance should turn our hearts to at this season, the
most important is our covenant to always remember Him.
QUOTE
“When we have the spirit of Christmas, we remember Him whose birth we
commemorate at this season of the year: “For unto you is born this day in the
city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
“In
our day the spirit of giving gifts plays a large role in commemorating the
Christmas season. I wonder if we might profit by asking ourselves, What gifts
would the Lord have me give to Him or to others at this precious season of the
year?” UNQUOTE (“Rediscovering the Christmas Spirit” Ensign, Dec. 2012).
QUOTE
“Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to
become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace
each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us
more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.
“Because
He came, there is meaning to our mortal existence.
“Because
He came, we know how to reach out to those in trouble or distress, wherever
they may be.
“Because
He came, death has lost its sting, the grave its victory. We will live again
because He came.
“Because
He came and paid for our sins, we have the opportunity to gain eternal life.” UNQUOTE
(2011 First Presidency Christmas Devotional).
The Christmas
season is a time to reflect and act upon the blessings and opportunities we
have because of the birth, life, Sacrifice, Redemption, and Resurrection of our
Savior, Jesus Christ. Truly, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son” (John 3:16).
Truly remembering the Savior always results in a desire to
change and do better. Therefore it naturally follows that The Second Aspect of the Spirit of Christ the prophet has focused on
is the Spirit of Obedience.
QUOTE “May I suggest that our Heavenly Father
would want each of us to render to Him and to His Son the gift of obedience. I
also feel that He would ask us to give of ourselves and not be selfish or
greedy or quarrelsome, … In this marvelous dispensation of the fulness of
times, our opportunities to love and give of ourselves are indeed limitless,
but they are also perishable. Today there are hearts to gladden, kind words to
say, there are gifts to be given, deeds
to be done, and souls to be saved”.UNQUOTE (“Rediscovering the Christmas
Spirit” Ensign Dec. 2012).
During another Christmas devotional, President Monson taught,
QUOTE
“There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to
rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ” UNQUOTE (2011
First Presidency Christmas Devotional).
One might ask
how we can accomplish such a task in our busy lives.
QUOTE
“With every step we take in His footsteps, we abandon a doubt and gain a truth.
“It
was said of Jesus of Nazareth that He “increased in wisdom and stature, and in
favour with God and man. Do we have the
determination to do likewise? One line of holy writ contains a tribute to our
Lord and Savior, of whom it was said, He “went about doing good … for God was
with him.”
“My
prayer is that at this Christmas season and all the Christmastimes to come, we
may follow in His footsteps. Then each Christmas will be the best Christmas
ever. UNQUOTE (“The Best Christmas Ever” Ensign.
Dec. 2008).
Thus our
remembering and obedience elevate our thoughts and
QUOTE
“brings to all of us a measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree to
which we have turned our minds, feelings, and actions to the Savior, whose
birth we celebrate. UNQUOTE (“A Bright Shining Star.” First Presidency
Christmas Devotional, 2010).
The Third Spirit of Christ is the Spirit
of Giving and Service.
Do you find
yourself in the same unfortunate situation as this holiday approaches—thinking
about your budget and what deals you can find before thinking of Christ?
President Monson shared a way to alter that focus.
QUOTE
“As we contemplate how we’re going to spend our money to buy gifts this holiday
season, let us plan also for how we will spend our time” UNQUOTE (“The Spirit
of the Season,” First Presidency Christmas Devotional).
And whom should
receive a generous gift of our service and time during this season?
QUOTE
“A segment of our society desperately yearning for an expression of love is
found among those growing older, and particularly when they suffer from pangs
of loneliness. The chill wind of dying hopes and vanished dreams whistles
through the ranks of the elderly and those who approach the declining side of
the summit of life.
“…What
they need in the loneliness of their older years, is in part at least, what we
needed in the uncertain years of our youth: a sense of belonging, an assurance
of being wanted, and the kindly ministrations of loving hearts and hands; not
merely dutiful formality, nor merely a room in a building, but room in
someone’s heart and life. …
“We
cannot bring them back the morning hours of youth. But we can help them live in
the warm glow of a sunset made more beautiful by our thoughtfulness, by our
provision, and by our active and unfeigned love” UNQUOTE (Ensign, May 1993).
In many
instances, the Prophet quoted from the short story The Mansion, by Henry Van Dyke where the main character asked a heavenly
guide about what gifts they counted in heaven. Came the reply.
QUOTE
“Only that which is truly given. … Only that good which is done for the love of
doing it. Only those plans in which the welfare of others is the master
thought. Only those labors in which the sacrifice is greater than the reward.
Only those gifts in which the giver forgets himself” UNQUOTE (2011 First
Presidency Christmas Devotional).
Our prophet has
also been apt to relate Ralph Waldo Emerson’s,
QUOTE
“Rings and other jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only [true]
gift is a portion of theyself” UNQUOTE (“What is Christmas?” Ensign. Dec. 1998).
Yet the best
gift resolve the desperation of those in need.
QUOTE “In
the early 1930s, Margaret Kisilevich and her sister Nellie gave a Christmas
gift to their neighbors, the Kozicki family, which was remembered by them all
their lives and which has become an inspiration to their families.
“Home to
Margaret back then was Two Hills, Alberta, Canada—a farming community populated
largely by Ukrainian and Polish immigrants who generally had large families and
were very poor. It was the time of the Great Depression.
“Margaret’s
family consisted of her mother and father and their 15 children. Margaret’s
mother was industrious and her father was enterprising—and with all those
children, they had a built-in labor force. Consequently, their home was always
warm, and despite their humble circumstances, they were never hungry. In the
summer they grew an enormous garden, made sauerkraut, cottage cheese, sour
cream, and dill pickles for barter. They also raised chickens, pigs, and beef
cattle. They had very little cash, but these goods could be exchanged for other
commodities they could not produce themselves.
“Margaret’s
mother had friends with whom she had emigrated from the old country. These friends
owned a general store, and the store became a depot for folks in the area to
donate or trade surplus hand-me-down clothing, shoes, etc. Many of these used
items were passed along to Margaret’s family.
“Alberta
winters were cold, long, and hard, and one particularly cold and difficult
winter, Margaret and her sister Nellie noticed the poverty of their neighbors,
the Kozicki family, whose farm was a few miles away. When the Kozicki father
would take his children to school on his homemade sleigh, he would always go
into the school to warm himself by the potbelly stove before returning home.
The family’s footwear consisted of rags and gunny sacks cut into strips and
wrapped about the legs and feet, stuffed with straw, and bound with twine.
“Margaret
and Nellie decided to invite the Kozicki family, by way of the children, for
Christmas dinner. They also decided not to tell anyone in their family of the
invitation.
“Christmas
morning dawned, and everyone in Margaret’s family was busy with the
preparations for the midday feast. The huge pork roast had been put in the oven
the night before. The cabbage rolls, doughnuts, prune buns, and special burnt
sugar punch had been prepared earlier. The menu would be rounded out with
sauerkraut, dill pickles, and vegetables. Margaret and Nellie were in charge of
getting the fresh vegetables ready, and their mother kept asking them why they
were peeling so many potatoes, carrots, and beets. But they just kept peeling.
“Their
father was the first to notice a team of horses and a sleigh packed with 13
people coming down their lane. He, being a horse lover, could recognize a team
from a long distance. He asked his wife, “Why are the Kozickis coming here?”
Her response to him was, “I don’t know.”
“They
arrived, and Margaret’s father helped Mr. Kozicki stable the horses. Mrs.
Kozicki embraced Margaret’s mother and thanked her for inviting them for
Christmas. Then they all piled into the house, and the festivities began.
“The adults
ate first, and then the plates and cutlery were washed, and the children ate in
shifts. It was a glorious feast, made better by the sharing of it. After
everyone had eaten, they sang Christmas carols together, and then the adults
settled down for another chat.
“Margaret and
Nellie took the children into the bedroom and pulled from under the beds
several boxes filled with hand-me-downs they had been given by their mother’s
merchant friends. It was heavenly chaos, with an instant fashion show and
everyone picking whatever clothes and footwear they wanted. They made such a
racket that Margaret’s father came in to see what all the noise was about. When
he saw their happiness and the joy of the Kozicki children with their “new”
clothes, he smiled and said, “Carry on.”
“Early in
the afternoon, before it got too cold and dark with the setting sun, Margaret’s
family bid farewell to their friends, who left well fed, well clothed, and well
shod.
“Margaret
and Nellie never told anyone about their invitation to the Kozickis, and the secret
remained until Margaret Kisilevich Wright’s 77th Christmas, in 1998, when she
shared it with her family for the first time. She said it was her very best
Christmas ever.
“If we are
to have the very best Christmas ever, we must listen for the sound of sandaled
feet. UNQUOTE (“The Best Christmas Ever” Ensign.
Dec. 2008).
QUOTE “Many
years ago I read of an experience at Christmastime which took place when
thousands of weary travelers were stranded in the congested Atlanta, Georgia,
airport. An ice storm had seriously delayed air travel as these people were
trying to get wherever they most wanted to be for Christmas—most likely home.
“It
happened in December of 1970. As the midnight hour tolled, unhappy passengers
clustered around ticket counters, conferring anxiously with agents whose
cheerfulness had long since evaporated. They, too, wanted to be home. A few
people managed to doze in uncomfortable seats. Others gathered at the
newsstands to thumb silently through paperback books.
“If
there was a common bond among this diverse throng, it was loneliness—pervasive,
inescapable, suffocating loneliness. But airport decorum required that each
traveler maintain his invisible barrier against all the others. Better to be
lonely than to be involved, which inevitably meant listening to the complaints
of gloomy and disheartened fellow travelers.
“The
fact of the matter was that there were more passengers than there were
available seats on any of the planes. When an occasional plane managed to break
out, more travelers stayed behind than made it aboard. The words “Standby,”
“Reservation confirmed,” and “First-class passenger” settled priorities and
bespoke money, power, influence, foresight—or the lack thereof.
“Gate
67 in Atlanta was a microcosm of the whole cavernous airport. Scarcely more
than a glassed-in cubicle, it was jammed with travelers hoping to fly to New
Orleans, Dallas, and points west. Except for the fortunate few traveling in
pairs, there was little conversation at Gate 67. A salesman stared absently
into space, as if resigned. A young mother cradled an infant in her arms,
gently rocking in a vain effort to soothe the soft whimpering.
“Then
there was a man in a finely tailored grey flannel suit who somehow seemed
impervious to the collective suffering. There was a certain indifference about
his manner. He was absorbed in paperwork—figuring the year-end corporate
profits, perhaps. A nerve-frayed traveler sitting nearby, observing this busy
man, might have identified him as an Ebenezer Scrooge.
“Suddenly,
the relative silence was broken by a commotion. A young man in military
uniform, no more than 19 years old, was in animated conversation with the desk
agent. The boy held a low-priority ticket. He pleaded with the agent to help
him get to New Orleans so that he could take the bus to the obscure Louisiana
village he called home.
“The
agent wearily told him the prospects were poor for the next 24 hours, maybe
longer. The boy grew frantic. Immediately after Christmas his unit was to be
sent to Vietnam—where at that time war was raging—and if he didn’t make this
flight, he might never again spend Christmas at home. Even the businessman
looked up from his cryptic computations to show a guarded interest. The agent
clearly was moved, even a bit embarrassed. But he could only offer sympathy—not
hope. The boy stood at the departure desk, casting anxious looks around the
crowded room as if seeking just one friendly face.
“Finally
the agent announced that the flight was ready for boarding. The travelers, who
had been waiting long hours, heaved themselves up, gathered their belongings,
and shuffled down the small corridor to the waiting aircraft: twenty, thirty, a
hundred—until there were no more seats. The agent turned to the frantic young
soldier and shrugged.
“Inexplicably,
the businessman had lingered behind. Now he stepped forward. “I have a
confirmed ticket,” he quietly told the agent. “I’d like to give my seat to this
young man.” The agent stared incredulously; then he motioned to the soldier.
Unable to speak, tears streaming down his face, the boy in olive drab shook
hands with the man in the gray flannel suit, who simply murmured, “Good luck.
Have a fine Christmas. Good luck.”
“As the
plane door closed and the engines began their rising whine, the businessman
turned away, clutching his briefcase, and trudged toward the all-night restaurant.
“No
more than a few among the thousands stranded there at the Atlanta airport
witnessed the drama at Gate 67. But for those who did, the sullenness, the
frustration, the hostility—all dissolved into a glow. That act of love and
kindness between strangers had brought the spirit of Christmas into their
hearts.
“The
lights of the departing plane blinked, starlike, as the craft moved off into
the darkness. The infant slept silently now in the lap of the young mother.
Perhaps another flight would be leaving before many more hours. But those who
witnessed the interchange were less impatient. The glow lingered, gently,
pervasively, in that small glass and plastic stable at Gate 67.2
“My
brothers and sisters, finding the real joy of the season comes not in the
hurrying and the scurrying to get more done or in the purchasing of obligatory
gifts. Real joy comes as we show the love and compassion inspired by the Savior
of the World, who said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of
these … ye have done it unto me.”
“At
this joyous season, may personal discords be forgotten and animosities healed.
May enjoyment of the season include remembrance of the needy and afflicted. May
our forgiveness reach out to those who have wronged us, even as we hope to be
forgiven. May goodness abound in our hearts and love prevail in our homes. UNQUOTE
(“The Spirit of the Season” First Presidency Christmas Devotional, 2009).
QUOTE A few
years ago I received an anonymous letter from a kindhearted dentist who
demonstrated brotherly love and goodwill. I’d like to share it with you:
“Dear
President Monson:
“I feel
remiss in that I should have sent you a thank-you note sooner. Last December I
listened to your talk given during the Christmas devotional. You spoke of an
older woman who could not afford to pay for the registration for an automobile
she had recently purchased. Others came to her aid. All involved were touched.
“I am a
dentist by profession. Not long after the devotional, my receptionist informed
me that an acquaintance of hers was coming into my office. She had problems
with two of her teeth. She knew this woman and told me of her circumstances.
The woman carried many burdens. The family business, which she ran, was doing
poorly, and the family was three months behind in paying rent. They had five
children, many grown into adulthood, but all had moved back home because of
difficult personal circumstances. By sheer force of will, she had kept her
family together for some time. Now two teeth were broken.
“The woman
arrived for her appointment and explained about her dental problem. She asked
if I would allow her to pay her bill over time. She explained to me that her
family had experienced several financial reversals and were just recently
starting to pay some overdue bills.
“I assured
her that her credit was good with me. She asked if I could repair just one of
the two broken teeth at that time. I assured her that I could, and we began.
“Since I
had the time, I repaired both teeth, for which she was grateful. When the work
was completed, thinking of your talk, I told her that if she would not be
offended, I should like to make a Christmas present of the dental work, for
which there would be no bill. She was astonished. I could sense the depth of
the stress and strain she had carried, as uncontrollable tears of gratitude
gushed forth due to a small, simple act of kindness. It must have been years since
someone showed her some little favor. Not able to speak, she made her way out.
“Both my
assistant and receptionist were so moved by her reaction that they also [shed]
tears and could hardly speak. I, on the other hand, was doubly glad. One part,
in seeing such a simple act have such a happy effect on another. And the second
part, for once in my life having a patient in my office crying for joy and not
for pain!
“To you, my
very best wishes.
“Sincerely,
“A brother
in the gospel.” UNQUOTE
Least we overexert ourselves, President Monson warned of a
counterfeit spirit of Christmas giving.
QUOTE “For many people, “overdoing it” is
especially common at this time of the year. We may take on too much for the
time and energy we have. Perhaps we don’t have enough money to spend for those
things we feel we must purchase. Often our efforts at Christmastime result in
feeling stressed out, wrung out, and worn out during a time when instead we
should feel the simple joys of commemorating the birth of the Babe in Bethlehem.
Usually,
however, the special spirit of the season somehow finds its way into our hearts
and into our lives despite the difficulties and distractions which may occupy
our time and energy” UNQUOTE (“The Spirit of the Season” 2012 First Presidency
Devotional)
The Final Aspect of the Spirit of
Christmas is the Spirit of Love
QUOTE
“True love is a reflection of Christ’s love. In December of each year we call it
the Christmas spirit. You can hear it. You can see it. You can feel it. But
never alone” UNQUOTE (“The doorway of love” Ensign
October 1996).
QUOTE
“The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of
goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon
the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things.”
UNQUOTE(“The Precious Gift,” First Presidency Christmas Devotional, December 3,
2006.)
QUOTE “Recently I thought back to an
experience from my boyhood—an experience I have related on another occasion or
two. I was just 11. Our Primary president, Melissa, was an older and loving
gray-haired lady. One day at Primary, Melissa asked me to stay behind and visit
with her. There the two of us sat in the otherwise empty chapel. She placed her
arm about my shoulder and began to cry. Surprised, I asked her why she was
crying.
“She replied, “I can’t seem to get the Trail
Builder boys to be reverent during the opening exercises of Primary. Would you
be willing to help me, Tommy?”
“I promised Melissa that I would. Strangely
to me, but not to Melissa, that ended any problem of reverence in Primary. She
had gone to the source of the problem—me. The solution was love.
“The years flew by. Marvelous Melissa, now in
her 90s, lived in a nursing facility in the northwest part of Salt Lake City.
Just before Christmas I determined to visit my beloved Primary president. Over
the car radio I heard the song “Hark! The herald angels sing glory to the
newborn King!” I reflected on the visit made by wise men those long years ago.
They brought gifts of gold, of frankincense, and of myrrh. I brought only the
gift of love and a desire to say thank you.
“I found Melissa in the lunchroom. She was
staring at her plate of food, teasing it with the fork she held in her aged
hand. Not a bite did she eat. As I spoke to her, my words were met by a benign
but blank stare. I took the fork in hand and began to feed Melissa, talking all
the time I did so about her service to boys and girls as a Primary worker.
There wasn’t so much as a glimmer of recognition, far less a spoken word. Two
other residents of the nursing home gazed at me with puzzled expressions. At
last one of them spoke, saying, “Don’t talk to her. She doesn’t know
anyone—even her own family. She hasn’t said a word in all the time she’s been
here.”
“Luncheon ended. My one-sided conversation
wound down. I stood to leave. I held her frail hand in mine, gazed into her
wrinkled but beautiful countenance, and said, “God bless you, Melissa. Merry
Christmas.” Without warning, she spoke the words, “I know you. You’re Tommy
Monson, my Primary boy. How I love you.” She pressed my hand to her lips and
bestowed on it a sweet kiss filled with love. Tears coursed down her cheeks and
bathed our clasped hands. Those hands that day were hallowed by heaven and
graced by God. The herald angels did sing. The words of the Master seemed to
have a personal meaning never before fully felt: “Woman, behold thy son!” And
to His disciple, “Behold thy mother!” UNQUOTE (“Christmas is Love” First
Presidency Christmas Devotional, 2012).
The prophet has
been quite clear on this spirit:
QUOTE
“Where Love is, there is no disputation. Where love is, there is no contention.
Where love is, there God will be also” UNQUOTE (“A Doorway Called Love” Nov.
1987).
QUOTE
“Our celebration of Christmas should be a reflection of the love and
selflessness taught by the Savior. Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom
the Christmas spirit. We feel more kindly one to another. We reach out in love
to help those less fortunate. Our hearts are softened. Enemies are forgiven,
friends remembered, and God obeyed” UNQUOTE (“The Real Joy of Christmas” First
Presidency Christmas Devotional 2013).
QUOTE
“Let us make Christmas real. It isn’t just tinsel and ribbon, unless we have
made it so in our lives. Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of
getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self
and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the
true values. It is peace because we have found peace in the Savior’s teachings.
It is the time we realize most deeply that the more love is expended, the more
there is of it for others” UNQUOTE (“Christmas is Love” First Presidency
Christmas Devotional 2012).
QUOTE
“Our Heavenly Father’s plan contains the ultimate expressions of true love. All
that we hold dear, even our families, our friends, our joy, our knowledge, our
testimonies, would vanish were it not for our Father and His Son, the Lord
Jesus Christ. Among the most cherished thoughts and writings in this world is
the divine statement of truth: “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.”
“This
precious Son, our Lord and Savior, atoned for our sins and the sins of all.
That memorable night in Gethsemane His suffering was so great, His anguish so
consuming that He pleaded, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from
me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Later, on the cruel cross,
He died that we might live, and live everlastingly. Resurrection morning was
preceded by pain, by suffering in accordance with the divine plan of God.
Before Easter there had to be a cross. The world has witnessed no greater gift,
nor has it known more lasting love UNQUOTE (“Gifts” May, 1993).
I so testify
