CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS: II Christmas Devotional

What else do two holiday homesick missionaries in New York do to celebrate the holidays?  Well  . . . we won't be home for our traditional Watts Family Christmas Devotional where we share talents,

eat good food,

and act out the Nativity. 

We will miss these events.

But we can and we did watch The First Presidency Christmas Devotional. 

Elder Watts and I opened the Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center after hours.  We usually close at 6:00 PM in the winter, but we kept it open until after the devotional was over at 9:00 PM, inviting missionaries to bring friends to watch it in the large theater at the center.   Unfortunately, blizzard like conditions kept many away, but there were 18 of us in the theater, young Sister Missionaries, young Elders, Senior Couples, and one investigator.

And even though it was cold outside, the devotional warmed our hearts and we were filled with the Christmas Spirit.

And, as usual, it was excellent!  We loved the music provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square.

President Dieter E. Uchtdort spoke first using one of my favorite children's stories, The Grinch, to illustrate the importance of focusing on the meaning of Christmas, encouraging us to "Rejoice in the birth of our Savior".

Next President Henry B. Eyring reminded us that part of the Spirit of Christmas is to bring joy to others and to remember the importance of the Atonement.

President Monson concluded with a message about giving with love.  He told of a man named John who was stationed in Germany after WWII.  John had a frail German woman that cleaned his house.  She gave him a gift out of her poverty that he remembered the rest of his life.

The gift was some worn postcards from the way this woman remembered the Germany that she loved before it was destroyed by war.  She had placed 10 of these cards in the shape of a star and left them on his desk with a handwritten message "Merry Christmas."  John said this humble gift taught him the true meaning of giving.

Look for our next post on how Holiday Homesick Senior Missionaries celebrate by serving.