I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I joined back in 1964 after a long struggle with faith. I had loved the Savior ever since I could remember, but the church of my youth deserted me as it moved into the intellect movement of the 60's. Without spiritual guidance, I fell away. The Lord distinguished between the words of my mouth and the longing of my heart. He knew that I wanted to believe and so he sent a young woman who told me the story of the Restored Gospel. She bore her testimony of Jesus Christ and promised me that I could know for myself and have my own testimony.

Now forty-six years later I can only thank her from the bottom of my heart for introducing me to the church. Indeed I do have my own testimony. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, called to restore Christ's church to the earth. We have a prophet today who leads and guides us. I am so grateful for Latter-day scriptures that bear testimony of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is the Word of God. It stands as another witness of the Savior and it's truths have touched my life in very personal ways.

I hope that my poetry reflects the growth of my testimony and my love for Jesus Christ.

Jesus, Lord at Thy Birth

The celebration of Christmas in our community was almost universal when I was a child.  Even school would have bulletin boards with the Nativity Scene.  The overwhelming majority celebrated Christmas.

  Over the years America has become very diverse.  We have so many different religions represented today that any particular group's celebrations cannot be recognized as universal to a community.  However, Christmas still is a national celebration.  School will be out.  Businesses may close.  Government offices will be closed.  The decorations and lights of Christmas are everywhere around us.  But that is the secular part of Christmas.  We all can enjoy that part and I am glad that we do.  It brightens the dark days of December. 

Nevertheless I feel a sadness as I look around or  listen to the music.  The community at large focuses on the secular part because it is the part we can all share and enjoy.  The real meaning of Christmas - the acknowledgement that this is the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World - that is no longer the public celebration.  I am not angry about it.  It can no longer be that way in our diverse communities.  Yet I know too many "Christians" for whom the holiday is also secular and that is what makes me sad.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)