Since being assigned to speak on Christmas
Sunday, I’ve been contemplating the question “What does Christmas means to me?”. This question has multiple, correct yet different
answers. Of course Christmas means
family and traditions, but above everything else, it means the gift of our Savior.
Our
family has a number of Christmas time traditions that range from fun to family
to faith building, from snow shoeing on Christmas Eve, to participating in the
neighborhood Sub-for-Santa, from cutting down our tree in the mountains to
sending and receiving Christmas Cards.
One of our longest running traditions is the re-enactment of the
Christmas Nativity, which at the conclusion we always sing the hymn Silent
Night which ends with the phrase “sleep in Heavenly Peace”. My talk today will focus on the Peace
that comes through the birth of the Savior.
Our
Christmas nativity, in reality, is not very peaceful. Ironically enough, I have to collect the Baby Jesus from our
Nativity on display in the foyer and hide it before the little nieces and
nephews come over because for some reason, they all want to remove the baby
Jesus from the nativity and play with it.
There’s obviously something about that special, little baby that warms
our spirits.
Charlie
and I just finished reading the book “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”. This is a story about a large family of
unruly, unreligious, vagabond children who make there way into the local church
Nativity play. The Herdmans are
absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie and steal and smoke
cigars. They talk dirty, hit
little kids, cuss their teacher and set fire to the neighbor’s tool house. Nobody likes them and everyone is
afraid of them. When the Herdman’s
hear there are treats in church, it’s just too much to resist and they show up
for a visit on the same day the Church is organizing it’s annual Christmas
Nativity pageant.
Out
of intimation and safety for their lives, none of the other children volunteer
for the main parts and the Herdmans who have never heard the Christmas story
before suddenly find themselves in the main rolls of Mary, Joseph, the Angel of
the Lord, and the Wise men. It
takes some effort for the director of the play to teach this non-traditional
family the significance of this miraculous story, but slowly the Herdmans begin
to understand the importance of the little baby Jesus.
The
only speaking part in the entire play is spoken by Gladys, the youngest and
perhaps the meanest and most intimating of the children. To make sure the shepherds understood
her important message, she yells to them “Hey, Unto you a child is born!”. The 3 wise men instead of bringing the
usual fine, rare gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, bring the Child the ham
from the food basket they received for charity from the church; a real
sacrifice for this poor family.
Finally, something even more unexpected happens. During the hymn “Silent Night”, Imogene
who is Mary starts to cry as she cradles the baby doll Jesus in her arms.
The
Narrator of the story says “For years, I’d thought about the wonder of
Christmas, and the mystery of Jesus’ birth, and never really understood
it. But now, because of the
Herdmans it didn’t seem so mysterious after all. When Imogene had asked me what the pageant was about, I told
her it was about Jesus, but that was just part of it. It was about a new baby, and his mother and father who were
in a lot of trouble – no money, no place to go, no doctor, nobody they
knew. But for Imogene, Christmas
just came over her all at once, like the case of chills and fever”.
The
birth of the Savior, significant in and of itself, is often used as a
springboard to discuss the Saviors mortal mission, His mighty miracles, and of
course the culminating events of His Crucifixion and Resurrection. Elder Christofferson in his article in
this month’s Ensign entitle “Be at Peace” says “I think it’s appropriate this
time of year to just think about that baby in the manger. Don’t be too overwhelmed or occupied
with what is to come; just think about that little baby. Take a quiet, peaceful moment to ponder
the beginning of His life”
Take
a moment and recall the last time you held a perfect, peaceful infant in your
arms, try to remember how you felt.
For me it was just a few days ago.
There is something calming about looking into the face a new baby,
straight from the presence of God.
It is one of the most peaceful experiences in this life.
I
love the older Luke II video, we watch it every Christmas Eve. With the exception of a few phrases
uttered by the Wise men as they ponder the prophesies in the scriptures, there
are no words in this 5 minute video of the Saviors birth, but it does an
excellent job at portraying the feelings surrounding the Saviors birth. The final scene is in the manager where
the Shepherds have gathered to worship the baby Jesus. You know that it’s dark and cold
outside, but the inside of the manager feels warm and peaceful.
Our
family has a tradition each year of camping in a different State or National
park in Utah. We’ve seen a lot of
our beautiful state because of this.
The best part of the camping trip is at night when all the work is done
and we get to build the campfire.
Everyone gathers around the warmth and glow of the fire, we are
mesmerized by it. It’s like a
power that draws you in. It’s hard
to leave its presence and return to the dark, cold tent to go to sleep.
I
imagine this is what the manger felt like 2000 years ago as the shepherds
gathered to witness the baby Jesus.
They left their fields and gathered around the peaceful glow of the
Nativity and were warmed and comforted by the Saviors sweet baby spirit.
When
the shepherds first heard from the Angel that the Lord had been born they were
afraid. But the Angel reassured
them saying that he brought them good tiding of great joy, the Shepherds were
told where to find the baby Jesus and then a host of angels appeared to them
proclaiming “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace good will toward
men”. In this proclamation from
the Angels on high we are encourage to have peace.
My
Dad’s favorite word to say when his children were fighting or agitated or upset
with someone or something was “peace”.
Just the word “peace” nothing else. Sometimes he’d even repeat the word several times in a calm
tone “peace, peace, peace”. That
one word declaration was more effective that any trivial thing he could have
said to calm our anger.
The
Saviors gift to each of us this Christmas season is Peace. He states “Peace I leave with you, my
peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither
let it be afraid”
Even
in the darkest hour and in the worst situation, peace is possible. In an appearance with the Tabernacle
Choir in 2002 Walter Conkrite shared this well known story.
"As
the Christmas of 1914 drew near . . . the nations of Europe were at war.
"Between
the opposing trenches was an area about the width of a soccer field aptly named No Man's
Land. Littered with barbed wire and frozen corpses, it was a
sobering reminder of what the future might bring. . . .
"In
December the war slowed. . . . As they contemplated their desperate situation,
nights grew long and hearts yearned for peace.
"Dec.
23, a group of German soldiers quietly moved to the ruins of a bombed-out
monastery. There they held their Christmas service. Later on that night, a few
Christmas trees began to appear along the German fortifications, their tiny
candles flickering in the night.
"Across
the way, British soldiers must have taken an interest in those lights as they
sang together the carols of their youth. Word spread, and heads peeked
cautiously over sandbags at the now thousands of Christmas Trees glowing like
Christmas stars.
"Two
British officers ventured over to the German line and, against orders, arranged
a Christmas truce. .
"Lieutenant
Sir Edward Hulse 'assaulted' the enemy with music. . . . The Germans responded
with a Christmas concert of their own. It was not long before the cold air rang
with everything from 'Good King Wenceslaus' to 'Auld Lang Syne.'
"For
the next two days, those tidings continued to spring from the hearts of common
men.
"Whatever
the Spirit of Christmas had been before that hour, it was now, above all, the
spirit of peace.
"As
Christmas Day dawned over the muddy fields, both sides cautiously picked their
way through the barbed wire and together buried their dead. . . .
"Men
who had shot at each other only days before gathered in a sacred service for
the fallen. Prayers were offered. . . .
"As
the Christmas of 1914 drew to a close, soldiers who had sung together, played
together and prayed together returned to their trenches. They must have felt
reluctant to let the common ground between them become No Man's
Land again. But even
as the darkness fell around them, a lone baritone voice floated across the few
yards of earth on which they had stood together as one.
"In the true spirit of Christmas, one voice, then another, joined in. Soon the whole world seemed to be singing, and for a brief moment, the sound of peace was a carol every soul knew by heart."
"In the true spirit of Christmas, one voice, then another, joined in. Soon the whole world seemed to be singing, and for a brief moment, the sound of peace was a carol every soul knew by heart."
It
is possible to have the gift of peace in your Christmas this year. Our personal lives might feel like the
battlefields of WWI, and the war might pick up again after this short Christmas
time respite. Despite all this,
place your trust in the Lord and let Him give you his gift of peace. This is my prayer to you that you let
your hearts and soul be warmed by his birth. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior, which is Christ the Lord…and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, The might God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”. I have testimony of the Peace the
Savior can give to our lives.
