This is truly the most wonderful time of the year. I used to wonder from time to time why it is our church - the true church of Christ - does not discourage the celebration of Christmas: a tradition of Pagan origin, Christianized by Constantine during the age of apostasy. In the end, although Christ certainly wasn't born during this time of year, the anniversary of His birth is worthy of the most joyous of celebrations! And how strong is Spirit all around us as people reflect on the importance of family, their goals in life, and possibly even their relationship with God and His Only Begotten! As a missionary, I do believe the tradition of Christmas is an universal tool the Lord likes to use to soften the hearts of His children and bring to pass His Work. Our district's Living Christmas Cards are still working wonderfully. We've been getting into more houses than ever, spreading the story of Christ's birth and bringing His Spirit into family's homes. The Cub Scouts in one of our wards made a bunch of Nativity Christmas ornaments that we've began to pass out while we carol; the people absolutely love it!
On Thursday night this week, just a few of us Elders when out to Bonanza Ward (my old area) to carol to a few houses there. The Bonanza Elders decided to go see an old couple they only ever talked to once before very briefly - no member's that sent them or anything. They answered the door and we sang our very best "Silent Night" we had ever sang. We greeted them and gave them their nativity ornament; we asked if we could step in to share the story of Christ's birth, and they gladly invited us in. They hang up the ornament on their tree as we recited the beautiful words of those scriptures to them. By the end they were in tears, telling us how wonderful it was to see young people like us sacrificing our time to share what we believe with them. It was a powerful experience, paralleled by very few on my mission so far. Now whenever they look at the nativity ornament, they'll think back to the time the missionaries came to their house and brought the Spirit into their home. I don't know if this will be the first of a chain of events that will lead to their conversion (and it just might be), but at least I know there will always be that. When we first came up with the idea to do this, it was the kind of experience that we ended up having at Harold and Sheryl's that we were hoping and praying for. We got to testify to many more families beside them, but that was really something special I'll never forget.
On Wednesday, we had our annual Christmas Conference in the mission. We got to play Family Feud with questions about the Book of Mormon and the missionary handbook. It was, sadly, Sister Spencer's last mission conference, and she got to go up and share her "dying testimony" with us towards the end of the meeting. It's hard to believe that her time has come to an end (and I'm not too far behind). It's been wonderful serving with her (counting the MTC, we've actually been in the same district three times!!), and I've been able to see a great, positive change in her.
We got news about transfers on Saturday. President Browning called me early to tell me that I'm going to be the new district leader and that I'm getting a new companion - Elder Esplin.
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy this time to dwell on God's greatest gift to us all - His Only Begotten, Jesus Christ.
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace; good will toward men." -Luke 2:12-14
"IT'S A FESTIVUS FOR THE REST OF US!" -Frank Costanza
Elder Miller
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