He is the Gift

Christmas. The very word brings such a variety of memories and thoughts to me. I like to think of the changes and progression of what it has meant and has come to mean in my life over the years. 

My first real memory (at least the first one that I can still remember) of Christmas brings up a picture of the fireplace and mantle in the house that used to be my Great Grandpa’s where we lived in Raymond (that was later McKee’s old house before it burned down). We never used the fireplace but on Christmas eve Mom and Dad would hang our stockings from the mantle and in the morning they were miraculously filled with candy, treats, toys and always a real Japanese orange – a rare treat for me back then.

I do have memories of certain toys as I grew a little older (my real Lionel electric train was a highlight), but more than that of our family Christmas traditions that just always happened. We always had a program at our house on Christmas eve with Grandpa and Grandma Turner there with us (Grandpa always sang and Grandma always told a story).  Christmas day always brought a big Christmas dinner at Grandma’s house, in the living room with the best dishes, with all of us and usually Uncle Rube and the Meldrums and some of Grandma and Grandpa’s friends. The afternoon then passed with the kids and cousins and friends playing upstairs while the grown-ups and others who stopped by would visit downstairs. Whenever I think about those times I again get a feeling of love and comfort and peace.

As I hit my late teens and started to think about who I was and what I knew, and whether I was going on a mission or not, Christmas changed. I finally started to make the connection to what it was that we were really celebrating and who Jesus Christ was. I knew what gifts were but it wasn’t till I was 17 or 18 that I began to realize just what a great gift that Christ was and had given. As a family we were having some difficult economic struggles and we didn’t have much for earthly stuff but it really didn’t matter – we had the gospel and the church and our friends. The winter and Christmas that I was 18, I was attending the Lethbridge Junior College, living at home and commuting, with one other active Latter-day Saint, David Iwaasa, and with 4 less active or non-member Raymondites.  Although there were lots of opportunities to go either way, I can remember making conscious choices to turn towards the Lord and away from the other things that I saw. I think that was the first Christmas I had where I can remember really trying to focus on Christ and what He had given me. It was quite an experience and has affected my whole life.

Right now the Church has a program for all of us to us titled “He is the Gift” with a pass along card and some internet resources to help people feel Christ in Christmas. Just yesterday I had a good discussion about Christ with a real estate lady as she was showing us some possible Elder’s apartments and the Spirit witnessed to me again, just what a Gift Christ is and how much we have to celebrate. He is the only Saviour, He is the king, He is our hope and salvation, and Christmas is a celebration of His coming to earth to live and fulfill that blessing. I know that. Through the years, men have added many things to the celebrations, some are good, and some detract, but ultimately what we celebrate is the miraculous birth in Bethlehem of a babe who was and is the Saviour of the whole world, who loves us, helps us, guides us and saves us. All He asks is that we believe in and follow him, and He gives us the gift of Eternal Life. I love Christmas for its celebration of that truth.

We love YOU and will be thinking of you on Christmas Day and always!

Christmas Prayer

When I was about 7, all I wanted for Christmas was a horse.  I remember that being my first fervent prayer.  I would say over and over again:, "Please Heavenly Father!  All I want is a horse!  Just put it in the garage and I will find it!"

Now let me give you a little background.  At this time we were living in Heyburn, Idaho.  Mom was single and had 5 kids ranging in age from 11 to 3.  She was a waitress and didn't make much money.  And to make matters worse, we would sneak into her room when she was sleeping and steal her tips so we could buy her a Christmas gift!

We lived in a very small house.  Chris, Arlene and I slept in one double bed.  I think Steve slept in a room by himself and I'm not sure where Mary slept.  Probably in the room with Mom.

I remember that times were tough.  Sometimes we would have water on our cereal because we had no milk.  I remember one winter that I had to wear my much older cousin's ballet slippers to school because for several weeks until Mom got paid and could afford a new pair of shoes for me.  But we were happy!  I don't remember feeling poor.  I always knew that Mom loved us and that she was doing her best for us.

I must have been taught a good lesson on prayer and how they are always answered because I was SURE that if I prayed, I would get a horse!  Well, Christmas morning came.  There was no horse in the garage. Or tied up outside.  Or under the Christmas tree.  I think I got a doll that year that Mom ordered from the back of a cereal box.  I remember I really wanted that, too, so I'm pretty sure I was happy.

So, do you think my prayer wasn't answered?  My prayer was answered.  And the answer was no!  Heavenly Father knew our situation.  There was no way that we could have a horse in our circumstances.  He knew we needed something better.

That something better came about 6 months later.  That's when Mom married Dad (Merle), on June 16, 1960.  He brought with him 5 more siblings for us.  He loved us and he took care of us.  He was a good man.

If, in my 7 year old mind, I had had the wisdom to ask for what I needed and for what our family needed, I would have asked for a Father.  Heavenly Father knew our greatest need and he answered the prayer that I should have been asking for.

Heavenly Father always answers our prayers.  Sometimes the answer is yes.  Sometimes it's no, and sometimes it doesn't matter because we are capable of making some decisions on our own.

I want you to know that we are always watched out for and our prayers are answered.  Many times I have seen that the answer to my prayers was in the process even before I knew what to pray for.  I know that this can happen to you, too.

I pray that during this Christmas season, and always, you will remember to add to your prayers that you want to do His will, and have your prayers answered the way He wants them to be answered.  I did not need a horse, but I certainly needed a Dad.  He always knows what is best.

We love you all very much.  We know that your prayers are helping us on our mission.

Symbols of Christmas

Is it starting to feel like Christmas to you?  It's hard to feel it here.  There is no snow.  No Christmas music.  No people hurrying to shop.  They celebrate Christmas here, just in a different way.  We know that Christmas really isn't about all of that stuff anyway.  It's about the birth of our brother, Jesus Christ. 

Have you ever wondered why we put up certain decorations to celebrate Christmas?  Here is a list of some of the symbols of Christmas.  Maybe you could read the scriptures to understand why these symbols are important.

We know that Christ was born and that he changed the world!  He is our brother, our friend, and our Savior.  We hope that you will feel it, too

We love YOU!