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Many different thoughts are swirling through my mind during this last week before Christmas-last minute preparations for family parties, last minute gifts to be purchased and wrapped, my article to write for Meridian Magazine-and I am trying my best to think only of what matters most. Years ago on just such a day, I escaped alone to our cabin in Hobble Creek and wrote a song which has helped me to focus better during the inevitable Christmas bustle. A few of the words are, “I love to see the friendly sights of Christmas / The shoppers and the presents by the tree / But ev’ry year I like to pause / Far from toys and Santa Claus / To speak these gentle words on bended knee / Lord, I worship Thee’.”
So instead of working on my to-do list this morning, I am sitting in my recliner reading and pondering President Thomas S. Monson’s words from the Christmas 2012 Ensign:
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?’
In this marvelous dispensation of the fullness 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, deeds to be done, and souls to be saved.
A Favorite Christmas Story
This short Christmas story-poem, by Jenette McKay Morell (sister of President David O. McKay), was printed in The Juvenile Instructor magazine of the church over a century ago (1911). I can barely still read my faded mimeographed copy.
Twas the day before Christmas, a long time ago,
And our beautiful earth was all covered with snow;
Down the street with their sleighs came two manly boys,
Who paused at the window to look at the toys.
Already two others were there looking in;
But their faces were sad, and their clothes old and thin.
And the little one said, “Is it because we’re so poor
That Santa doesn’t come to our door anymore?”
The older one patted his wee brother’s head,
And hugged him up closely, as softly he said:
“Oh, maybe he will come tonight, little Tim,
If we ask in our prayers for the Lord to send him.”
The little face smiled, but the boys saw a tear
In the eyes of the one who quelled little Tim’s fears.
Then slowly and sadly the waifs went their way
To the place they called home, where that night they would pray.
The boys, with their sleighs, followed closely behind
And neither one spoke, but in each childish mind
A beautiful thought said as plain as could be:
“I’ll share with these boys what Santa brings me.”
When the two reached their home, to their father they ran
And eagerly told him their unselfish plan.
He was proud of his boys who now felt that same love
That sent our dear Savior from His home above.
Next morning, still filled with their beautiful thought,
They scampered downstairs to see what Santa had brought.
And they, with the help of their father and mother,
Selected the presents for Tim and his brother.
And as the first light of dawn came into view
The two went their way with the toys bright and new,
And crept very quietly up to the door
Where they’d seen the boys enter the evening before.
As they hurried back home toward their own Christmas joys,
They could not even dream how the other two boys,
On finding that Santa had really been there,
Sent their joy to the One who had answered their prayer.
That night when the “Santas” were ready for bed,
With a hand of their father on each curly head,
They knew, when they thought of two poor, happy boys,
What’s the truest and choicest of all Christmas joys.
Years ago, Orrin Hatch and I wrote a Christmas song based on the experience of a family who exemplified President Monson’s words, “Today there are hearts to gladden, kind words to say, deeds to be done, and souls to be saved.”
Click to listen
Chorus
Repeat Chorus
Repeat Chorus
To our hearts
Feeling the Spirit at the Prison
One of my favorite recent Christmas memories was visiting the Men’s Prison in Draper, Utah a few days ago to present a Christmas fireside.
Doug and I had visited the Women’s Prison a few weeks earlier and had a marvelous spiritual experience in being with them. But for some reason
I felt some apprehension about visiting the men. I wondered whether men in prison would enjoy singing my Primary song medley? We drove there in a rain/snow storm and were held up in accident traffic for some time, which heightened my anxiety. We barely arrived in time.
As we entered the fireside hall and Doug began connecting our sound equipment, their prison choir was rehearsing a piece I had written last year with Orrin Hatch, “God in Heaven, Guard the Manger,” and as I listened to them and felt the earnestness in their singing, I felt a palpable peace come over me and I knew all would be well. We had come to try to bring the spirit into the prison, but the inmates brought the spirit to us before we even began our program. They were not hesitant at all to sing the Primary songs with us and we felt we were in the presence of goodness during that hour. On our closing song, “I Am of Infinite Worth,” they joined me in singing the chorus each time: “I am of worth, of infinite worth / My Savior, Redeemer, loves me / Yes, I am of worth, of infinite worth / I’ll be all He wants me to be / I will praise Him, I will serve Him / I will grow in His love / And fulfill my divine destiny” (words by Joy Saunders Lundberg). As we sang, the Spirit testified to me that everyone there was of infinite worth to the Savior.
We shared one song in particular that seemed to have special meaning for the men:
Click to listen
The Tragedy in Connecticut
For the last few days our whole country has been grieving the senseless slaying of young school children and adults in Newtown, Connecticut. It is beyond our comprehension to understand how it could happen and how we can process the sorrow we all feel for those who are suffering so terribly. The only comfort I feel as I hurt for the grieving families, is the thought of the complete joy and beauty those children immediately felt and saw as they abruptly left this world and returned to the arms of a loving Savior, Jesus Christ, for He has said, “Suffer the little children and forbid them not to come unto me; for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Click to listen
Men:
Suffer the children and forbid them not
For of such is the Kingdom of Heav’n
For of such is the Kingdom of Heav’n
Women:
He called his little ones unto Him
Each one a precious child
They are so teachable and innocent
They must not be defiled
Men and women:
They are sacred in His sight
To be loved and taught aright
To be blessed by everyone
As by Christ, the Son
For of such is the Kingdom of Heav’n
Of such is the Kingdom of Heav’n
(Men’s & Women’s parts blended together to the end.)
Conclusion
Christmas Day is fast approaching. I often wonder at this time of year, about the week before, or even the night before Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, and think how unaware most of the world was that such a momentous event was about to occur!Many believers on this the American continent knew because Nephi, the son of Nephi,
“. . . went out and bowed himself upon the earth, and cried mightily unto his God in
behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their
faith in the traditions of their fathers. And it came to pass that . . . the voice of the Lord
came unto him, 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; on the morrow come I into the world
to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the
mouth of my holy prophets. . . . behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign
be given.”(3 Nephi 1:11-14)
But in Bethlehem it was probably like any other night. The evening light was fading, perhaps candles were being lit as the peopleprepared to bed down for the night. While at the same time angel choirs were waiting in silence to herald Christ’s birth with songs of praise!
Click to listen
Softly falls the evening light
Drifting into candle light
The weary sheep lay low tonight
As shepherds rest with watchful eyes
Evening shadows now grow dim
On the town of Bethlehem
As unaware they close their eyes
Upon this hallowed, silent night
Chorus
A single star now marks the place
A humble manger now awaits
The holy babe whose healing light
Will pierce the darkness of this wondrous night
Angel choirs in silence wait
To herald Christ with songs of praise
Revealing to the eager earth
The wonder of His sacred birth
Men through ages long have prayed
That peace would come to earth one day
But who could know that God’s own Son
Upon this very night would come
Repeat chorus
Softly falls the evening light
Drifting into candlelight
The universe in rev’rence hums
Tonight the Savior comes
On this Christmas Eve I want with all my heart to be counted with the believers whose faith was strong in spite of threats on their very lives if the sign did not come to pass which had been given by Samuel the prophet.I want, with the shepherds, to be awakened by the sound of glorious angel choirs heralding Christ’s birth! I want to be, in spirit, there in the manger with Jesus on that night of all nights.
Every year I like to pause, far from toys and Santa Claus
To speak these gentle words, on bended knee:
“Lord, I worship Thee!” (JKP)
SONGS:
A CHRISTMAS HUG from the album “Come to the Manger” and can be found here. Save 50% on the album by entering the word Christmas in the Promo Code box when checking out. Album also available here on iTunes.
GENTLE SAVIOR from the album “He Brought Me Light” and can be found here. Save 50% on the album by entering the word Christmas in the Promo Code box when checking out. Album also available here on iTunes.
HIS LITTLE ONES from the album “The Savior of the World” and can be found here. Save 50% on the album by entering the word Christmas in the Promo Code box when checking out. Album also available here on iTunes.
SOFTLY FALLS THE EVENING LIGHT from the album “Come to the Manger” and can be found here. Save 50% on the album by entering the word Christmas in the Promo Code box when checking out. Album also available here on iTunes.
