9 days till Christmas

Scripture ~ Helaman 14:3-6

 3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.     UAdd a Note 

 4 Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.     UAdd a Note 

 5 And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you. 

 6 And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven.

Story ~ "Freddy" 

Memories of a very special Christmas gift presented to me ten years ago are still among the most inspiring and meaningful of my life.

I had the good fortune to be a volunteer teacher at a home for mentally retarded children, where my duties included helping the children with their normal daily routines, teaching music, reading to the children, and creating various forms of recreation. As I grew to know and love these special children, I realized that a very important part of their lives was being neglected, and that was when I began to teach the gospel to the most receptive and eager group of students I have ever known.

My eight students, who ranged in age from eight to sixteen, were so excited to learn about Jesus Christ that it was very difficult for me to control their enthusiasm. A whole new world was opening up to them, and despite their various capacities to learn, they did learn and respond, each in his own way. There was one exception, however, and his name was Freddy.

Freddy was fourteen years old, mildly retarded and severely emotionally disturbed. He had been abandoned when he was very young, as had many of the children at the home, and outside the people who lived or worked at the home, no one really cared about Freddy. This was the reason I allowed Freddy to become a member of the class, even though he was the center of every disruption imaginable. At times I felt like sending him out of the class, but I knew that rejection was not the answer to Freddy’s problems, so the class endured the situation.

It disturbed me that I was not able to get through to my little troublemaker. While the rest of my class had a concept of Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, and what they represented, Freddy seemed oblivious to the whole thing. Each week it was my practice to present each child with a Bible verse that he could understand. While most of the children could not read, each one received a copy of the scripture to place among his personal belongings, so he could look at it or read it every day. Many times I would have the children draw pictures to represent the verse I had given them, and if they were not able to draw, I created something visual to correspond to the verse. Most of the children hung their verses and pictures above their beds so they could be reminded of it as they offered their evening prayer, which was a requirement in my class. Each time I gave Freddy his verse, he would tear it up in front of me. All in all it was very frustrating for me because I knew that Freddy was not as severely retarded as many of his classmates but he couldn’t or wouldn’t learn.

Seeking a solution to Freddy’s disruptions, I tried many forms of creative discipline, but nothing seemed to affect him. At times I had the urge to just shake him, but that would have accomplished nothing. Freddy was surely putting me to the test, and I was failing. I was running out of answers, I had already run out of patience, and I was beginning to seriously consider removing Freddy from the class.

As Christmas was approaching, I explained to my children the true meaning of Christmas. They were curious and very receptive. All except Freddy. Several days before Christmas, the entire home held a party for everyone: staff, volunteers, students, parents, and anyone else who wanted to come.

As the party progressed, I noticed Freddy was not to be seen. I searched for him and found him in his room, laboring over a very crumpled, worn-looking package that he was obviously wrapping by himself. I left him to his task and returned to the party. Shortly after, Freddy approached me and threw the package in my lap and ran away. When I opened the package, I found the most beautiful gift I have ever received. It was a ragged piece of coarse fabric, hand sewn at the top, with a piece of cork glued in the middle. It was a wall hanging, and the cork in the middle was to be used to tack the weekly Bible verse to. I was told that Freddy worked three months on the gift and the design was his own idea. It was indeed a labor of love, sacrifice, and above all patience, because I knew the frustrations Freddy must have suffered while making it. I also knew that in his own way Freddy understood what I had been trying to teach him, and in some ways, he understood even better than I.

Freddy now lives with our Heavenly Father, and with few exceptions, I am sure that he has been forgotten on earth. The gift he gave me still hangs in my home as it always will. It is a little older and much more tattered, but as I look at it I see Freddy and remember the sacrifice he made to teach me the virtue of patience. When I feel frustrated or want to give up, Freddy is there, gently nudging me to go on.

Freddy’s Christmas gift has changed my life, and the lesson it taught is deep within my heart. I am so very grateful to have had that very precious child as my teacher.

By Dianne Holmes Despain

10 days till Christmas

Today's Scripture:

 Mosiah 3:5-12

 5 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.

 6 And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.

 7 And lo, 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.     UAdd a Note 

 8 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.

 9 And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourgecrucify him. him, and shall

 10 And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men.

 11 For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.     UAdd a Note 

 12 But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today's Story:

"Jello Christmas"

It was but a few short days until Christmas in 1966. Two young elders of the Mormon church walked the streets of Laredo, Texas, knocking ondoors in search of someone who would listen to their gospel message. No one, it seemed, in the entire city had time to hear the teachings of theSavior, so intent were they that the celebration of His birth should suit their own purposes. Filled with discouragement, the two young men turned their backs to the approaching twilight and began the long walk home. Retracing their steps of the afternoon, they came upon a low, windswept riverbank. Jutting from its brow stood the barest means of a shelter, constructed of weathered wooden slats and large pieces of cardboard. Strangely, they felt moved to go to the door and knock. A small child with tangled black hair and large dark eyes answered. Her mother appeared behind her, a short, thin woman with a tired but warm smile. In her rich Spanish alto, she invited the young men to come in and rest awhile. They were made welcome and seated on the clean-swept floor.

The little one-room shanty seemed to be filled with shy, smiling, dark-eyed children. The mother proudly introduced each of them ---eight in all-- and each in turn quickly bobbed his or her head. The young men were deeply moved at the extreme poverty they saw. No one in the family had shoes, and their clothes were ill-fitting and in condition beyond mending. The walls of the little home showed daylight between the wooden slats, and eight little rolls of bedding were pressed tightly into the cracks to help keep out the draft until they were needed for sleeping. A small round fire pit dug in one corner marked the kitchen. An odd assortment of chipped dishes and pots were stacked beside an old ice chest, and a curtained-off section with a cracked porcelain tub served as the bathing area. Except for these the room was barren. The mother told how her husband had gone north to find employment. He had written that he had found a job of manual labor and that it took most of his small wage to pay his board and room. But, she told the young men, he had managed to save fifty cents to send them for Christmas, with which she had purchased two boxes of fruit gelatin. It was one of the children's favorites and would make a special treat on Christmas day.

The next morning, as soon as the local shops opened, the young men hurried to the dime store and purchased as many crayons, cars, trucks and little inexpensive toys as they could afford. Each was carefully wrapped in brightly colored paper and all were put in a large grocery bag. That evening the two youong men took their gifts to the shanty on the riverbank. When they knocked, the mother swung the door open wide and invited them in. They stepped inside and in halting Spanish explained to the children that they had seen Santa and he had been in such a hurry, he'd asked if they would deliver his gifts to the children for him. With cries of delight the children scrambled for the bag, spilling its contents upon the floor and quickly dividing the treasured packages. Silently the mother's eyes filled with tears of gratitude. She stepped>forward to clasp tightly one of each of the young men's hands in hers. For long moments she was unable to speak. Then, with tears still welling from her eyes, she smiled and said, "no one ever has been so kind.

You have given us a special gift, the kind of love that lights Christmas in the heart. May we also give you a special gift?" From the corner of the room she drew out the two small boxes of fruit gelatin and handed them to the young men. Then all eyes were moist. All knew the true meaning of giving, and none would ever forget that at Christmas, the greatest gift of all was given.

By Sandra Bateman

  

11 days till Christmas

Scriptures for today ~
1 Nephi 11:14-21

14 And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?
15 And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.

16 And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?
17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.
18 And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.
19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!
20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!

Story ~ "The Little Wise Men"  By Alma J. Yates
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matthew 25:40).

My little brother, Joel, and I had been waiting for days to take our friend Robby to see the lights and the manger scene on Temple Square. Ever since we mentioned going, Robby had been counting the days.

You see, Robby had never seen Temple Square at Christmastime, and this was his first Christmas outside of a hospital in two years. He still can't walk, and his right hand and arm are all crooked and bent. The only way that he can get around is in his silver wheelchair with someone pushing him. Robby couldn't go to a lot of places. He didn't go to Primary, so Joel and I tried to take some Primary to him. We'd go over to his house, sit by his wheelchair, sing him the songs, and tell him the stories we'd learned in Primary. Robby loved it, and all week long he'd have us repeat what we'd done in Primary.

One afternoon in December we told Robby the Christmas story about Jesus being born in the manger. When we finished, he sighed and said, "Oh, I wish I could have been one of the shepherds who visited Jesus on that special night. Or one of the Wise Men who later followed the star. I would like to have seen the Baby Jesus and given Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." There's a manger scene on Temple Square, Joel said. It's not the real one, but it looks real. Robby's eyes got big, and his smile seemed to go from the tip of his chin to the ends of his ears. That's where I'd like to go for Christmas, he said. Then his smile disappeared. but I don't see how I could, he said, running his good hand over his wheelchair.

Robby had recently moved to Salt Lake City. He was the only child in his family, and his mom and dad traveled a lot. They didn't ever seem to have time to take Robby anywhere. Of course, Robby had Mrs. Helber, who took care of him while his mom and dad were away; but she was older and didn't drive a car.

We'll take you to Temple Square, Joel declared one afternoon as we all sat at Robby's window and watched a million snowflakes flutter to the ground. I'll get Dad to help us, he said firmly, Won't we, Jeremy? Do you really think you could? Robby asked, glancing at me pleadingly. I'd like going, Jeremy more than anything else! I smiled. We'll get you to Temple Square, I told him. That's a promise.

Now it was the Friday before Christmas. Joel and I had stopped by Robby's place late in the afternoon to see if he would be ready to go that evening. Robby's mom and dad were gone, and we could hear Mrs. Helber in the kitchen fixing supper. It was getting dark, and Robby asked anxiously, Your dad won't forget will he? I patted Robby on the shoulder. Don't worry, I said. we'll be back in an hour and a half to pick you up. Dad won't forget. But Dad did forget! He was getting ready for a meeting over at the church when we came home.

To a meeting? Joel gasped. But what about taking Robby to Temple Square? I cried. Dad groaned and hit his forehead with his hand. Oh, no! Was that tonight? Joel and I couldn't even nod. We just stared, suddenly feeling sick. Brother Thomas asked me to go over to a planning meeting, Dad explained. When he talked to me this morning, I forgot about our trip with Robby. I'm really sorry, boys. Can we go another time? How about tomorrow? Robby's been counting on going tonight, Joel mumbled. But I don't think Dad heard. I could tell that Dad felt really bad; he doesn't usually forget.

After supper Dad left for his meeting, and Joel and I told Mom we were going over to Robby's. We put on our coats, hats, gloves, and boots and stepped out into the dark night. The snow crunched under our boots, and big puffs of steam blew out of our mouths and noses as we breathed.
How are we ever going to explain this to Robby? Joel wanted to know when we were outside. We just can't let him down. He's been waiting for this for a long time. I don't know what we can do. Dad's already gone, and he won't be back till late. Joel grabbed my arm and whispered, Maybe we could take him, Jeremy.  I said. That's seven or eight, maybe ten blocks. Who'd we get to drive us down there?We'll push him in his wheelchair. We can do it! Joel coaxed. Most of it's downhill. Besides, we just have to take him, Jeremy! We can't tell him that Dad forgot. I thought for a minute. We'll ask Robby, I said. If he wants to go in his wheelchair, we'll take him.

When we got to Robby's place, he was waiting right by the front door, with his coat and hat on. A scarf was tied around his neck, and a blanket was tucked in around his legs. Let's go, he greeted us. I already told Mrs. Helber good-bye. I pulled off my gloves and stared at the floor. Dad can't come, I explained. He had to go to a meeting. I glanced up and saw Robby's smile droop. For a minute I wondered if he was going to cry.

But we'll take you, Joel blurted out. We'll push you. Do you still want to go?

Robby's smile returned, and he nodded furiously.

It will be cold, I warned. and it's a long way just walking.

We can make it! Robby grinned. I know we can.

A shiver of excitement tickled the back of my neck as I gripped the handles on Robby's wheelchair and began pushing it down the sidewalk.

We walked block after block. Since it was mostly downhill, it wasn't hard pushing Robby at first, but after a while all that walking made my legs tired. Joel tried to help, but he could barely see over the back of the chair, so I had to do most the pushing.

I was getting a little worried about whether I'd remembered the way right, because I had never gone to Temple Square without a grownup, when Robby called out, What's that?

What's what? Joel asked.

That gold statue lighted up on top of the pointy building.

Joel and I smiled. That's the Angel Moroni on top of the temple, I said. That's where we're going.

You mean that all we have to do is follow the light and we'll find the place?

That's all, I said.

Robby smiled back at me and said, We have our very own angel to show us the way. Robby wouldn't take his eyes off the gold statue on top of the temple. And I wasn't worried anymore because I knew we'd soon be there.

A few flakes of snow started to fall as we crossed the last street. We could see most of the spires of the temple now, and we could see the walls around Temple Square. Joel led the way as we squeezed through the crowds of people and made our way inside the wide gates. My legs were tired, and my cheeks were numb, but I kept pushing, knowing that we were almost to the manger scene. All the while, Robby was straining forward to see the colored lights.

I glanced back toward the street and suddenly realized that it was blocks and blocks back to our house all uphill! A sick feeling came over me, and I wondered if we would be able to push Robby back home. Then I saw Robby's face as he stared at the Christmas lights that Joel and I had told him so much about.

Temple Square was sparkling with thousands of lights on the trees, on the bushes, everywhere. And they all seemed to reflect off Robby's beaming face. It's beautiful! he whispered. More beautiful than you said.

We came to the manger scene in the middle of a big, snow-covered lawn just as a light shone down on a group of shepherds. A voice began to speak, and quiet music began to play. Robby didn't say anything. He just stared. The voice told the Christmas story almost the way Joel and I had told it to Robby, but it was so much better here, because we could see it almost like it had happened so many years before. Then the light shone on the manger, and we saw Jesus and Mary and Joseph. Finally the light fell on the Wise Men who were following the special star to see the Baby Jesus. Robby turned around and whispered, We followed a kind of star too. He pointed above us toward the Angel Moroni. Tonight we were like the Wise Men.

Three times that night we listened to the Christmas story, standing in the cold and looking at the manger. Even when Robby started to shiver from the cold, he wouldn't let us leave the beautiful manger scene.

But it was getting late, and I knew we'd have to go back. We pushed Robby through the gates, and I stopped and gulped. My feet were numb, my nose and cheeks burned with cold, and an icy wind had started to blow, making tears come to my eyes. I was so tired that I wanted to cry, but I knew that I couldn't, not with Robby and Joel depending on me. Instead, I bowed my head and said a little prayer, asking Heavenly Father to help us get home safely.

After going about a block, a voice called, Jeremy! Joel! Robby! I turned, and there was Dad hurrying across the street, waving to us. He rushed up to us and hugged Joel and me and patted Robby on the shoulder. I thought you were lost for sure, he panted, looking more worried than I had ever seen him. Then I remembered how much you had been counting on bringing Robby here.

A few minutes later we reached our car. Dad put Robby and Joel on the back seat and set the wheelchair in the trunk. I climbed up front with Dad.

I hope you're not mad, I said. We just had to bring Robby. I looked down at my hands. We won't do it again, but we couldn't let Robby down, not at Christmastime.

Dad took a deep breath as he started the engine. Sometimes there are more important things than meetings, he whispered. I learned that tonight. He put his hand on my shoulder and pulled me against him. It was so beautiful, I whispered. I could feel a lump in my throat. We followed the light and went right to the manger, just like the Wise Men. I was quiet for a moment. But we didn't leave a gift, I mumbled. Not like the other Wise Men did. We didn't have any gold or frankincense or myrrh.

Dad held me close for a moment while he drove. Then he told me, Oh, but you gave an even better gift. You gave a gift of love to Robby. What you gave to Robby, you were really giving to Jesus, and a gift of love is the very best gift of all.

Are you sure, Dad? I whispered.

I'm sure, he said. 

                                                     

 
 
 

12 days till Christmas

Scriptures for the day:
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a asign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7
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 gGod, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
 
The Story for today ~ "Pattern of Love"
Every year at Christmas time, our Service Club takes the children from poor families in our town on a personally conducted shopping tour. I was assigned Timmy and Billy, whose father was out of work. After giving them the allotted $4.00 each, we began our trip. At different stores I made suggestions, but always their answer was a solemn shake of the head, no. Finally I asked, "Where would you suggest we look?" "Could we go to a shoe store, Sir?" answered Timmy. "We'd like a pair of shoes for our Daddy so he can go to work." In the shoe store the clerk asked what the boys wanted. Out came the brown paper. "We want a pair of work shoes to fit this foot," they said. Billy explained that it was a pattern of their Daddy's foot. They had drawn it while he was asleep in a chair. The clerk held the paper against a measuring stick, then walked away. Soon, he came back with an open box. "Will these do?" he asked. Timmy and Billy handled the shoes with great eagerness. "How much do they cost?" asked Billy. Then Timmy saw the price on the box. "They're $16.95," he said in dismay. "We only have $8.00." I looked at the clerk and he cleared his throat. "That's the regular price," he said, "but they're on sale; $3.98, today only." Then with shoes happily in hand the boys bought gifts for their mother and two little sisters. Not once did they think of themselves. The day after Christmas the boys' father stopped me on the street. The new shoes were on his feet, gratitude was in his eyes. "I just thank Jesus for people who care," he said. "And I thank Jesus for your two sons," I replied. "They taught me more about Christmas in one evening than I had learned in a lifetime."

Christmas time

I love Christmas, but I don't love how people overfill their days with things to do leading up to Christmas.  With that in mind I have decided to make this Christmas a simple one. I'm trying to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.  This is a wonderful time to think of others and give of ourselves.We should of course carry the spirit of Christ with us throughout the year, but at this time it is so much easier to focus on our Savior and try to be more like him (and we should take advantage of that). 

We have decided to only give each other only small gifts this year. We really have all we need, especially when you consider there are so many families that are struggling financially during these hard economic times. I'm so grateful for the blessings I have in my life and I hope that I can share what I have with others. I had the opportunity at work to "adopt" one child to give Christmas to from a list of homeless families in the community.  I chose to buy gifts for a little girl named Isabella. It felt so good to know that I was going to bring joy to a little girl on Christmas. I can remember when things were tough for my family when I was 16 and the fact that people stepped in to help our Christmas be merry and bright. I will forever be grateful to those anonymous people who helped us.

Tomorrow starts the 12 days of Christmas so I will be sharing some scripture passages and a story each day. Stay tuned for that.