“As a 12-year-old deacon, I was pleased to accompany the bishop to deliver Christmas baskets to the widows of our ward in Vernal, Utah. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles I’m sure we all feel that way when we sing and ponder the birth, the mission, and the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.” 3 Christmas as a DeaconĮlder Dallin H. They are so sacred that speaking openly of them would seem in some way to desecrate them. “Just as the Savior’s mother pondered sacred things in her heart, so some of our deepest feelings of reverence and gratitude are unspoken and unsung. By the time we sing our closing song, “Silent Night,” we truly feel the real spirit of Christmas. Then we sing our favorites about the Savior. Of course, we sing the whimsical ditties about Santa and many more. Then we sing carols, accompanied by pianists and other instrumentalists. We read the scriptural accounts of the Lord’s birth from the second chapter of Luke and from the Book of Mormon. One night preceding each Christmas, our extended family-brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins (and our parents before they passed away)-crowd into our living room for the children to stage their annual Christmas pageant. “Music has always been an important part of our family activities, especially at Christmastime. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles As we do so, the spirit of this season will enlarge our hearts and expand our joy beyond measure.” 2 Christmas Music I pray that in addition to giving good gifts, we will strive to become good and grateful receivers. “This Christmas season and always, I pray that we will see the marvelous gift of the birth of the Son of God through the blessed eyes of a child. “Isn’t one of the joys of Christmas seeing the excited faces of little children as they take in their hands a wrapped gift that is just for them? It was simple, not fancy at all, but oh, how I cherished that gift because it came from him! He had found a wood stick in the park near our home and carved from it a small toy knife. How I love her for that! Another year my brother, who is 12 years older than I, gave me a precious gift. It could not have been a work of art, but she treated it like a treasure. One year, I remember drawing a picture as a Christmas gift for my sister. They went to great lengths to make Christmas a special time for our family. Although I grew up in modest circumstances, my parents wanted Christmas to be a time of joy and wonder for their children. “Like many of you, I find that some of the warmest and most vivid memories of Christmas come from my childhood. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency May every heart open wide and welcome him-Christmas day and always.” 1 Gifts Received as a Young Man ‘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). “Heavenly Father is ever mindful of those who need, who seek, who trust, who pray, and who listen when He speaks. A warmth, a feeling of indescribable joy, filled my heart. Tears came easily to me as I closed the door to the empty rabbit hutch. “He took the box, climbed the fence, and headed for home, a Christmas dinner safely assured. Immediately I took my friend by the hand and rushed to the rabbit hutch, placed the rabbits in a box, and handed the box to him with the comment, ‘Here, take these two rabbits. Then I remembered I did have two pet rabbits. There was no prompt response-just a downcast glance and the comment, ‘I dunno. I asked what his family was going to have for Christmas dinner. “It was then that I realized that my friend had never eaten chicken or turkey. “Again a question: ‘What does chicken taste like?’ “I responded, ‘Oh, about like chicken tastes.’ A neighborhood pal of mine asked a startling question: ‘What does turkey taste like?’ We were preparing for the oven a gigantic turkey and anticipating the savory feast that awaited.
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