Christmas talk

 I am giving a talk in sacrament meeting today. Normally I don't "write" a talk but share remarks as prompted by the Spirit. Today, for whatever reason, I wrote the talk and printed it. I felt that I would include it here as a way to record my testimony.

When brother Stockham called and asked if I would speak today, I asked him if there was a topic that he wanted me to speak on. He indicated that there wasn’t a specific topic but reminded me that today is the last Sunday before Christmas. As I have pondered what I might say I was led by the Spirit to read through the talks given at the recent Christmas devotional. Sister Craven shared personal experiences from her childhood and about heavenly hugs extended to her family in answer to a fervent prayer. Elder Nielson shared the experiences of his father who had been deprived of Christmas for 3 years as he served in the military during World War II. Elder Holland recounts the nativity scene and reminds us of how often revelation comes in the form of a dream of the night. President Nelson shared a video of an adorable little girl, Claire Crosby, singing Silent Night while he played the piano and reminded us of the divine gifts that are given so freely by our Father in Heaven. As I thought about these talks and what I might say today my mind went back to some of my Christmas memories, the Spirit whispered to me, interestingly enough, during several nights this past week to share those experiences and make my remarks personal.

One memorable Christmas experience was when a friend of mine, Rick Gerisolli who was serving in the bishopric at the time used “The Living Christ” as a talk for Christmas. He had been participating with the young men in the ward by memorizing The Living Christ and as he recited it he replace “I” inserting himself into it like we are encouraged to do with the scriptures. I have not memorized The Living Christ but would like to read some of it personalizing it.

“As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, [I] offer [my] testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

[I] solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.”….  

My earliest childhood memory of Christmas is from when I was about 5 years old. Each year in Santa Clara Utah there is a Christmas Eve program. The program started out as a primary activity when Santa Clara only had one ward, as the town grew and the wards multiplied the program became a community event that still takes place today. The script of the little play is different every year, different families take turns being in charge and each year the family in charge writes the play. Although the script is different each year the elements are same, each age group of kids learn a song to sing from nursery age all the way up to 12 years old. There are songs about missing front teeth, Santa Claus coming to town and getting nothing for Christmas. 2 elements are always included, most importantly the nativity scene is always portrayed, and after the closing prayer there is always a “special” visitor. Once the closing prayer has been offered everyone in attendance sings Jingle Bells as loud as they can to summon the special visitor. Sometimes he comes the first time, sometimes we would have to try and sing again. When Santa Claus arrives, he is brought to front and center on the stage where he has a gift for all of the kids in attendance. As a 5-year-old this is the climax of the evening and what I was waiting for. This particular night I received a rather large package, and as I carried it off of the stage, because of its size and shape I knew with certainty what was in the package. When I set it on the floor and began to unwrap it, I started to exclaim that this is exactly what…. As I uttered the word what I got my first glimpse of what was inside the package, my brain quickly sent a message to my mouth and changed what I was saying mid-sentence because of the new information that it now had and I finished my sentence …. I didn’t want…. Everyone got a good laugh about the statement; the story has been told many times over the years. As I have pondered this Christmas event, I realize that of all of the years that I attended the Christmas Eve program as a child and later with my brother’s kids and my own kids that this particular gift is the only one that I remember. My exclamation that it was exactly what I didn’t want is not what I find significant about the gift. What I find significant is that of all of the Christmas gifts I received as a child I remember this one. I remember what it was, and I remember playing with it. It was a gift given by those who knew me, knew my interests and knew that it was something that I would enjoy.

Another Christmas gift that I remember very clearly came a few years later. I was maybe 10 at the time and enjoyed taking things apart and putting them back together. I had asked for my own tool set and that Christmas morning I awoke to find exactly what I wanted under the tree. These were not toy tools, this was a real mechanic’s tool set. Most of the tools from that set I still have to this day. I put them to use, I took apart and fixed my bike. I learned how to fix the lawn mower, I later learned to work on cars. As I learned I have added to the tools set expanding it. The brethren in the ward who helped us move into our home a year ago can testify to how the tool set has grown. As it grew so did my ability. I worked in automotive shops through high school and took a job as a mechanic at a gold mine after my mission. As I was thinking about these two gifts form my childhood, I found an analogy in them that ties them back to the gospel. The gifts can be likened to answers to prayers. Answers that are gifts from a loving Heavenly Father. Sometimes when we pray, and we are earnestly seeking an answer, the answer that we get is “exactly what I didn’t want”. Our Heavenly Father who knows us better than we know ourselves will sometimes answer our prayers in a way that is unexpected or in a way that is not what we were seeking. If we will accept the answer, the gift He offers, will bless our lives. Much like the gift that I got when I was 5. I exclaimed while opening the gift that it was “exactly what I didn’t want”, however, my words in the moment were not communicating what my actual thought was. The actual thought was, “this is not what I thought it was going to be” As I accepted the gift, played with it, enjoyed it, it became one of the few that I remember through the years, the gift that was “exactly what I didn’t want” was a gift given by those who knew me better than I knew myself. I can still recall this gift when there are so many others that I have no lasting memory of.

The tool set was a different experience. It was exactly what I wanted and had been asking for. Like the prayer that is offered with real intent and purpose, where we have studied and pondered what we really want and how it will apply in our lives. I was blessed with an answer that I put to use. As I used the tools, I learned new things, I added to the tool set and as I did so I gained new abilities and skills. The purpose of the tools and the enjoyment and blessing I get from them is different than the blessing of the toy. The tool kit too was given with love by those who know me well.

At this Christmas time may we remember the gifts that have been given by our loving Heavenly Father, the gift of His Son and by our Savior the gift of the atonement. May we remember the gifts we receive on a daily basis, the ones that come to us in night dreams, through study of the scriptures, or listening to a talk. May we remember the gift given at baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost. May we remember that we are entitled to have His Spirit to be with us always. My we remember the gift of a living prophet to guide us and who blesses us, literally. I will end by quoting President Nelson’s blessing that he closed his Christmas Devotional remarks with. Quote “May you and your families be blessed with peace, with an increased ability to hear the voice of the Lord, and receive revelation with an enhanced capacity to feel how much our Father and His Son love you, care for you, and are ready to guide all who seek after Them. I join my words with those of Moroni and “commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, … may be and abide in you forever.” Close quote. I pray with President Nelson that this blessing might be received and accepted in our lives, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.