December 5 -- 24 Days of Christmas

December 5^th - 24 Days of Christmas

Suggested Goal: Seek out a person who needs to have a better day. Brighten their day for them!

True happiness comes only by making others happy. The practical application of the Savior's doctrine of losing one's life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service. It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring peace on earth, because it means good will toward men. (David O. McKay)

Reading: 3 Nephi 17: 5-6.9

Song: I need Thee Every Hour, Hymn 98

Story/Thought:

This poem is an old English Christmas carol that was adapted into a children's song.

Brian Stokes Mitchell sang it at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert a few years back. The poem by itself is cute, but the song is amazing. Here is the YouTube link if you want to watch it: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9K9MVmVxFA

The Friendly Beasts

Jesus our brother, kind and good

Was humbly born in a stable rude

And the friendly beasts around Him stood

Jesus our brother, kind and good.

“I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown

“I carried His mother up hill and down;

I carried her safely to Bethlehem town.”

“I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

“I,” said the cow, all white and red

“I gave Him my manger for a bed;

I gave Him my hay to pillow His head.”
“I,” said the cow, all white and red.

“I,” said the dove from the rafters high,

“Cooed Him to sleep that He should not cry;

We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I.”
“I,” said the dove from the rafters high.

“I,” said the camel, yellow and black,

“Over the desert, upon my back,

I brought Him a gift in the Wise Men's pack.”

“I,” said the camel, yellow and black.

Thus every beast by some good spell

In the stable dark was glad to tell

Of the gifts he gave Emmanuel,

The gift he gave Emmanuel.

December 4th -- 24 Days of Christmas

December 4^th - 24 Days of Christmas

Suggested Goal: Send a Christmas card to a missionary

Reading: Matthew 14: 15-19

Song: Tell me the Stories of Jesus –Children's Songbook 57

Thought/Story

Christmas Orange – Rewritten from an anonymous source by Laura Martin-Buhler

Sometime it is easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas. The busy traditions of the season and the appealing advertisements for material goods can leave the pure and simple truths far, far behind.

Jake was nine years old with tousled brown hair with blue eyes as bright as a heavenly angel. For as long as Jake could remember he had lived within the walls of a poor orphanage. He was just one of ten children supported by what meager contributions the orphan home could obtain in a continuous struggle seeking donations from townsfolk.

There was very little to eat, but at Christmas time there always seemed to be a little more than usual to eat, the orphanage seem a little warmer, and it was time for a little holiday enjoyment. But more than this, there was the Christmas orange!

Christmas was the only time of year that such a rare treat was provided and it was treasured by each child like no other food admiring it, feeling it, prizing it and slowly enjoying each juicy section. Truly, it was the light of each orphan's Christmas and their best gift of the season. How joyful would be the moment when Jake received his orange!

Unknown to him, Jake had somehow managed to tack a small amount of mud on his shoes through the front door of the orphanage, muddying the new carpet. He hadn't even noticed,. Now it was too late and there was nothing he could do to avoid punishment. The punishment was swift and unrelenting. Jake would not be allowed his Christmas orange! It was the only gift he would receive from the harsh world he lived in, yet after a year of waiting for his Christmas orange, is was to be denied him.

Tearfully, Jake pleased that he be forgiven and promised never to track mud into the orphanage again, but to no avail. He felt hopeless and totally rejected. Jake cried into his pillow all that night and spent Christmas Day feeling empty and alone. He felt that the other children didn't want to be with a boy who had been punished with such a cruel punishment. Perhaps they feared he would ruin their only day of happiness. Maybe, he reasoned, the gulf between him and his friends existed because they feared he would ask for a little of their oranges. Jake spent the day upstairs, alone, in the unheated dormitory. Huddled under his only blanket, he read about a family marooned on an island. Jake wouldn't mind spending the rest of his life on an isolated island, if he could only have a real family that cared about him.

Bedtime came, and worst of all, Jake couldn't sleep. How could he say his prayers? How could there be a God in Heaven that would allow a little soul such as his, to suffer so much all by himself? Silently, he sobbed for the future of mankind that God might end the suffering in the world, both for himself and all others like him.

As he climbed back into bed from the cold, hard floor, a soft hand touched Jake's shoulder, startling him momentarily and an object was silently placed in his hands. The giver disappeared into the darkness, leaving Jake with what, he did not immediately know!

Looking closely at in the dim light, he was that it looked like and orange! Not a regular orange, smooth and shiny, but a special orange, very special. Inside a patched together peal were the segments of nine other oranges, making one whole orange for Jake! The nine other children in the orphanage had each donated one segment of their own precious oranges to make a whole orange as a gift for Jake.

Sharing what we truly value is the true spirit of Christmas. Our Heavenly Father gave us His beloved Son. May we, like the children in the orphanage, find ways to share His love with others less blessed.

December 3 -- 24 Days of Christmas

December 3

Suggested Goal: In one of your prayers today, give thanks for all the blessings you can think of, do not ask for anything.

Reading: Luke 17: 12, 14, 15, 17

Song: Count Your Blessings, Hymn 241

Thought/Story

A Christmas Memory

Thomas S. Monson – From “Treasured Gifts” Ensign, Dec. 2006, 5-6

At home in a hidden-away corner, I have a small black walking stick with an imitation silver handle. It once belonged to a distant relative. Why do I keep it for a period now spanning more than 70 years? There is a special reason. As a small boy I participated in a Christmas pageant in our ward. I was privileged to be one of the three Wise Men. With a bandanna about my head, Mother’s piano bench cover draped over my shoulder, and the black cane in my hand, I spoke my assigned lines: “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” 2 I vividly remember the feelings of my heart as the three of us “Wise Men” looked upward and saw a star, journeyed across the stage, found Mary with the young child Jesus, then fell down and worshipped Him and opened our treasures and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

I especially liked the fact that we did not return to the evil Herod to betray the baby Jesus but obeyed God and departed another way.
The years have flown by, but the Christmas cane continues to occupy a special place in my home; and in my heart is a commitment to Christ.

December 2 -- 24 Days of Chirstmas

December 2

Suggested Goal: Reflect on your testimony today, what can you do to make it brighter?

Reading: Mosiah 3:5-6, 8-10 

Song: Christmas Bells, Children'sSongbook 54

Story/Thought:

Longfellow's Christmas/Christmas Bells – Edward Herrman told this story at a Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert. Here is the link for the concert video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXfzp296zhA

“Christmas Bells” is a minor, yet well known, poem written by a very melancholy Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on Christmas Morning in 1863 during the midst of the Civil War. It is anti-slavery poem as well as a seasonal favorite.

The poem was written six months after the battle of Gettysburg, where 40,000 soldiers lost their lives. In addition to despairing over the bloody war, Henry was also mourning the death of his beloved wife Fanny Appleton Longfellow. Fanny died in a tragic fire the same year that the Civil War broke out.

In November on 1862 another personal tragedy added to his plan. His son, Union Lieutenant Charles Appleton, was wounded in the Army of the Potomac. On Christmas morning in 1883, while sitting at his desk at the Craigie House in Cambridge, MA, Henry was inspired to write a poem as he listened to the church bells pealing. Their constancy and joyous ringing inspired him to write “Christmas Bells”. In spite of his sadness, Longfellow expresses his belief in God and innate optimism that indeed:

God is not dead; nor doth he sleep

The Wrong shall fail;

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men!Sometime after 1872, Longfellow's poem was adapted into a Christmas Carol. John B. Caulkin (1827-1905) was a famous English composer who set the lyrics to a gentle, melodic tune which is reminiscent of bells ringing. The carol is entitled “I heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Alternative tunes have been written for the lyrics but Caulkin's melody remains predominant.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said:
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

December 1 of the 24 Days of Christmas

24 Days of Christmas --

December 1st:

Suggested Goal: Watch a Christmas Mormon Message on You Tube Today

 Reading: Luke 2:7

Song: Away in a Manger

Thought/Story:

Twas many, many a year ago when Christ first came to earth
And each year December rolls around when we celebrate His birth.

He came to earth, then dies for us, to save us from our sins;
So let us, as we celebrate, allow His Spirit in.
For as we become so busy with our special preparations,
We tend to lose the sight of the real reason for celebrations.

Let's hold on to the mirabcle of our loving Savior's birth
And bring back to our memory the reason He came to earth.
So instead of being commercialized, with gifts to outdo all.
Let's give the gift of 'ourselves', whether it be big or small.
Let us not so dwell upon the gifts that money can buy
But let us give a 'heart gift'. and His Spirit will stand us by.

As we go about our preparations in the next few weeks ahead
Let us hold deep within our hearts the greatest miracle instead
Of whose gift is the greatest, the bst that money can buy;
Let us count our blessings and tehn let each one try
To bless those lives around us, and bring the Spirit in
Put "Christ' back into Christmas:

Let the Miracle Begin

24 Days of Christmas

So tonight our ward (church) had their Christmas party. It was a wonderful and fun time.

At the end our bishopric gave each family a present. It is called the 24 Days of Christmas.

It contained a short letter of gratitude for the Savior and how we should remeber Him during this time and how we can grow closer to Him.

Then it gives us 24 days of things we can do to grow closer to Him and grow closer as a family.

 

Come back each day for the next 24 days to see how you too can grow closer to Heavenly Father with your family during this holiday season.