I had a great week this week! Full of teaching and caroling and fun and freezing cold bike rides- dashing through the cold, on our crappy Walmart bikes, oe'r the hills we go...... oh what fun it is to ride in a freezing winter storm whew! I want to kill my self some days lol! Actually it has been pretty warm lately so I'm not complaining haha!
I didn't like the song I sang at zone conference.. I'm singing in church on the 31st! A song called Make me Whole. I will have to have somebody record it. We had an awesome ward Christmas party! There were like 7 non member families- all thanks to invite to ignite yeah buddy! We sat next to a non member family and a dope family the Anderson's and we had awesome conversations about the church and The Lord. They came to church the next day too!
So for Christmas the plan is to go to the Forbes around 1 to face time! so 3 your time! We are not sure yet but we can shoot you a text through their phone when we are ready! Other than that plans consist of brunch or dinner at like 2 and movies at night and zone gathering and playing cash flow at an investigators house!
I got all the Christmas presents and I opened them all! I love them all thank you so much! I love the tie and sure I'll take another white shirt haha! Thanks so much. I enjoyed your testimonies the most thank you for sharing they were touching to me! I got mail from grandma you Avery, dad, Izzy and that's about it I think! I have been doing the nativity and studying in depth the scriptures in the new testament. I will send you a picture when it is complete. I don't know what I will do with the tree after Christmas though because I kept the one from last year and I want to save them. I might have to ship it back home. I'm shipping your Christmas presents tomorrow so hopefully you will get it in time.
okay I do have a Christmas message I want to share. and I will had my witness...
I
love Christmas! It is my favorite season of the year! Especially when
serving the Lord full time like Peter and the apostles did when they
dropped their nets and left everything behind to follow the Savior Jesus
Christ. Christmas is an interesting time of year. For those that don't
know Christmas is actually a a paganistic holiday that we have adopted
to recognize the Lord. Christmas was not initially celebrated
in the united states. Actually it was banned to celebrate it in the late
1800's. those that would celebrate would face serious punishment. the
story or folktale of Santa Claus was the reason why Christmas was not
celebrated. Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas and the German folktales are
actually totally different then how we now perceive the jolly old
bearded man with a white beard who loves children and gives good gifts. But we have adopted and have made changes to Santa so that it could fit
our culture.
But you're probably wondering why
I'm talking about Santa Claus and a little back ground about how he came
to be. That's because I want to make a relation to Santa Claus and
Jesus Christ! Now I'm not saying that we can put Santa and Christ in the
same category and I'm not trying to diminish Christ's divine role by
any means. But I want to give you a perspective you have probably never
have thought of before. Every child Longs for gifts under a tree with a
signature of Santa Claus on each gift. Every Child anxiously awaits and
imagines Santa a white bearded man coming down from the sky in his
sleigh and leaving gifts for them eating a couple of cookies and some
milk before he departs. Why is that?????!!!! Why do children get so
excited when they picture Santa Claus coming down the chimney in his fat
red suit. I think its because every child's soul longs for the coming
of our savior Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon says children are alive
in Christ. Do you know most American homes the celebration of Christ is
forgotten or not celebrated! and children grow up not understanding the
true meaning of Christmas! but no matter if they are taught or not they
all have the light of Christ burning inside of them. I think of a lot of
times we shoot down the idea of Santa Claus because we try to focus on
the Savior. but I feel that Santa should remain apart of the season
because he helps point us to Jesus Christ. He comes in a red cloak, He
comes in his chariot (sleigh) of fire accompanied by many angels (his
reindeer). He has a white beard, He gives good gifts to his children he
knows them by name and he knows whether or not they are naughty or nice!
I love the comparison because it is true. I Will continue to keep Santa
apart of my Christmas because he helps me remember the reason for the
season Jesus Christ!
I have a testimony of his birth life and resurrection. It is because of him that we have the greatest gift of
all! His everlasting sacrifice that grants us the ability to be forgiven
to try a little harder and become a little better each and every day! I
love him! I would be nothing without him! I have caught a glimpse of
the savior's life as I have tried to be fully submissive to the
commandments of God and serve him with all my heart. I'm thankful that
we celebrate his birth but I'm thankful we can celebrate his birth and
life and resurrection not just Christmas day but every day of our lives!
I know he lives and I too can live again! In the name of him the one we
celebrate this season even Jesus Christ, Amen
Love you guys I will see you truly in a week ;)
Elder Brown
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