Christmas

Today at church we had our Christmas Program. The chapel was full an the overfill was overflowing! There were a lot of faces I had never seen before and many familiar ones too. I was amazed at the turn out! The program was filled with mostly songs about Christmas and Christ. I love Christmas Songs and Hymns. I think music speaks in way nothing else can. Music can soften Spirits and bring emotions out that you didn't know you had. The Senior Primary sang "I wonder when He comes Again" and it made me tear up!

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After the program, the Bishop stood and gave his thoughts on the Season. His mother passed away last week and he told how he was so sad the first half of the day she passed. It was the same day as his dad's birthday. He then realized that his mom was now with his dad and that they were celebrating together. He spoke about how Christmas is more than a holiday celebrating Christ. Christ's birth is one of the most important things that has ever happened to this world, and to us. It is part of the plan of happiness, the plan of Salvation. Christ's birth was an important part of the Plan. If He would never have been born, He could never have taken on all of our sins and Died for us!
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I have been thinking a lot of Mary this week. I can not imagine what she went through in her lifetime. She has to be one of the most courageous women ever to have lived! She was visited by an angel and told she would carry the Savior of the World! She gave birth in the lowliest of places! I can not imagine having a child in a stable! With no doctors, no friends, no family but her loving husband, Joseph. To also know and understand that her beautiful Son would have to die to save us all! The love that Mary had for her Son, for her Father, and for all of us! I believe she had to love us almost as much as Jesus did! To give her Son to die for all mankind! Simply amazing and courageous! As a mother myself I can not imagine all that she went through! I think there is special place for her in heaven!

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I love my Church calling. I am the Sec. in the Primary. I serve with amazing women and beautiful children! I am mostly a 'behind the scenes' kind of person. I don't conduct or do Sharing Time. I do a lot of stuff that no one really ever knows about. But the Children in Primary have touched my testimony in so many ways! They are so smart and so amazing! Their testimonies make mine grow every week and I love each and every one of them! I am grateful to be able to serve them and hopefully help them become stronger in the Gospel!

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I am so thankful for this time of year! What other time can you openly rejoice for Jesus? What other time of the year can celebrate with strangers and friends alike over something religiously based? The world tries to take Christ out of everything. You have to censor things at work and at school. But during the holidays, it seems that the censoring is lightened and we are all brothers and sisters celebrating Our Saviors Birth! Some may not understand the importance of it. Some may only celebrate for the trees and the presents. However, maybe, just maybe, we can help change that a little with our testimonies of Christ,with our examples of love, and our message that Christmas is more!

Merry Christmas!