N

C i tr us He i ghts Sta k e, M e s a, AZ

FINDING PLACE FOR THE SAVIOR IN OUR HEARTS

SACRAMENT MEETING TALK

December 25, 2011

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David Senior

Finding Place for the Savior in our Hearts

A) Introduction

to share the Christmas Story account from

the vantage point of Nephi, who saw this
I love Christmas when it falls on Sunday.
advent 600 years before it occurred. Nephi
What better day and in what better way
desires of an angel to show him the dream
can we show our love for the Savior, evihis father saw and its interpretation. He is
dence our deep and profound feelings, and
given the following vision:
celebrate His advent by figuratively kneeling before the manger in a covenant to fol- 13...in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virlow our Eternal King.
gin, and she was exceedingly fair and
white.
An indelible childhood memory was lying
in bed listening to my father sing. After
14AndI saw the heavens open; and an
we had been put to bed for the night my
angel came down and stood before me;
parents would gather, Mother accompany- and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholding on the piano and my Father by her
est thou?
side, and sing the beautiful songs that became familiar to me. The melodies would 15And I said unto him: A virgin, most
carry through the floor boards and heating beautiful and fair above all other virgins.
vents to my basement room. During
The angel then asks Nephi a leading quesChristmas I would fall asleep being seretion: 16...Knowest thou the condescension
naded by the voice of an angel singing O
of God? and Nephi responded:
Holy Night.
17I know that he loveth his children;
"O Holy Night" is a well-known Christmas nevertheless, I do not know the meaning
carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 of all things. Nephi is beginning to have
to the French poem Minuit,
his eyes opened and the angel provides
chrtiens" (Midnight, Christians) by the
further instruction:
poet, Placide Cappeau.
18Behold, the virgin whom thou seest
The carol was adapted for singing by John is the mother of the Son of God, after the
Sullivan Dwight reflecting on the birth of
manner of the flesh.
Jesus and of humanity's redemption. This
beautiful hymn reminds us of the great gift 20And I looked and beheld the virgin
again, bearing a child in her arms.
of the Father that took mortal form two
millennia ago, when Joseph and Mary,
21And the angel said unto me: Behold the
called to be the earthly stewards of Gods
Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the
own son, made their way to Jerusalem and Eternal Father! The angel continues in his
in Bethlehem gave birth to Jesus. Allow me line of question, NOW ...Knowest thou
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the meaning of the tree which thy father

saw?

ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited

me: I was in prison, and ye came to me.3

22And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is

the love of God, which sheddeth itself
abroad in the hearts of the children of men;
wherefore, it is the most desirable above
all things.

During the Christmas season our family,

individually and collectively, attempt to
accomplish our assignment and by so doing hope to to find that ...love that sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men.

24 And the angel said unto me again:

Look and behold the condescension of
God!1

C) I Was An Hungered

There are those in need, who experience

want for even the basic life sustaining
Wikipedia has an entry under Love of
nourishment: I was an hungered, I was
God2 that in my opinion is entirely too
long. It should be the shortest entry in the thirsty. I can testify to you that there are
those within the boundaries of our Ward
entire database and should merely read:
who commune with God and act as angels
Jesus Christ.
to satisfy that hunger and sate that thirst,
The celebration that we make at this time
who lift up the hands that hang down and
of year is, as Nephi described, simply the
strengthen the feeble knees. They are the
love of God manifest in the form of His
hands of God in performing the work that
Son, Jesus the Christ. How is does this love He would have done.
find place in our hearts.
I learned this lesson from the only GrandB) Matthew 25 Tradition
mother I ever knew. She had her share of
Our family has a Shelly inspired Christmas trials, raising 5 sons alone, during times of
tradition know as Matthew 25. This tradi- depression and want, but it brought her
tion began in our small family when there close to the Lord and she lived by the Spirit, teaching her posterity to live by the
was much less to spare. At the beginning
same.
of the season in an attempt to unlock our
hearts to the Christmas spirit we seek to
On December 1, 1932, my grandmother sat
emulate, in a very small way, the teachings
at the dinner table with her two small boys
of the Savior. Lots are randomly drawn
and prepared to eat the contents of a
from a bag, one by each member of our
Christmas box received from a generous
family, upon which are inscribed the serAunt. I quote a passage from her journal:
vices rendered to the King in Matthew 25:
The depression was at its height. I was
I was an hungered and ye gave me meat:
alone with my two little boys eating the
I was thristy, and ye gave me drink: I was
evening meal. I heard a voice say, Take
a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and
Mrs. Smith a pound of butter. I looked at
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each of the boys and perceived they hadnt

heard anything so I thought I will take her
the butter when we are through eating, but
I didnt say anything out loud. I immediately heard the voice say take it now. I got
up from the table and put a pound of butter in a sack and went across the avenue to
Mrs. Smiths house.

did so to mine and became a lasting testimony strengthened one Christmas Eve
1979. I was a young missionary, 4 months
new in the country of Japan. Everything
was yet vibrant and exciting and I had developed feelings of love and respect for the
people I was serving and those I was serving with. To save the expense in the costly
Japanese missions, two companionships
shared an apartment. As Christmas approached, my first ever away from home, I
was thrilled that both companionships
would be taken in by the Bishop of the
ward on Christmas Eve. I eagerly looked
forward to this event but as fate would
have it, one of the Elders in the other companionship became ill. I thought to myself, no problem, my companion and I
will celebrate Christmas Eve without
them. I soon learned the mission hierarchy as I was told that the two Senior
companions would be attending the
Christmas Eve function while I stayed
home to nurse the sick Elder. Oh the unfairness of it all! But I soon learned of the
blessing the Lord had in store for me. I
tended to my duties to the sick Elder Tozer
and my heart was changed as I forgot myself and rendered service to another in
need. I fed him a meal, cared for his needs
and made sure he was comfortable in bed
resting and recovering. Later in the
evening, in a quiet moment while Elder
Tozer slept, I settled in upon the floor in
the corner and plugged in the little
Christmas tree and opened a gift sent from
my parents 5,628 miles away. In 1979 a
remarkable event occurred with the publishing of the new edition of the King

My grandmother knocked on the Smiths

door and it was answered by her daughter.
When Mrs. Smith finally came out, my
grandmother saw that she had been crying. From her journal: I said, what is the
matter Mrs. Smith, and she said, I was
just sitting in that chair wondering what I
was going to put on my childrens sandwiches for lunch tomorrow and I thought I
dont even have any butter for their bread
so I went into the bedroom and prayed
and I told the Lord that if I couldnt even
have any butter for my childrens bread, I
would know that there was not a God. I
told her, said my Grandmother, that there
was a God and gave her the butter and
said Here is your butter.4
As my grandmother walked as Jesus did,
she no doubt felt in her heart: I was an
hungered and ye gave me to eat. I was
thirsty and ye gave me drink. Not only
was the Smith family blessed with both
physical and spiritual nourishment, but
my single grandmother fed her small family through the great depression and her
example of faith fed generations after her.
D) I Was Sick and Ye Visited Me
The Love of God that sheddeth itself
abroad in the hearts of the children of men.

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James Bible, complete with cross referencing and a topical guide. I was thrilled to
unwrap this gift from my parents and
opened to Luke and began reading And it
came to pass in those days, that there went
out a decree from Csar Augustus, that all
the world should be taxed. The Lord had
me exactly where he wanted me, a softened heart, quiet, alone. It was at that
moment that revelation from heaven began to flow and overcame my young soul.
As I read the Christmas story my heart
found place for the soon to be parents of
the Lord. My heart was open to the birth
of the King. My heart worshipped with
the Shepherds and wise men. The Heavens were open and sweet revelation
flowed. The Savior made His abode with
me and I obtained a more sure witness
from the Holy Ghost of Jesus Christ.

adiesphysical, emotional, and spiritual.

And I beheld multitudes of people who
were sick, and who were afflicted with all
manner of diseases. And they were
healed by the power of the Lamb of God.
Alma also prophesied that he shall go
forth, suffering pains and afflictions and
temptations of every kind; and he will
take upon him the pains and the sicknesses
of his people.
That his bowels may be filled with mercy,
that he may know according to the flesh
how to succor his people according to their
infirmities.12
16When the even was come, they
brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the
spirits with his word, and healed all that
were sick:5

I filled the role: I was sick and ye visited

me. Yet it was I who was visited. My life
was indelibly impressed and changed with
pure testimony that from Heaven flowed.
In the days and years since, my heart has
been buoyed and my spiritual reservoir
filled as my mind has hearkened back to
that moment, in a darkened apartment, left
behind to care for a sick Elder, in a strange
non-Christian country, on a Christmas Eve,
with nothing more than a sick companion,
the New Testament and an opportunity.
The Lord made the most of it and found a
place forever in my heart.

His eye is on the sparrow, The Savior considers all and none are left without.
F) I Was In Prison
I am reminded of Chauncey Kammerman,
a member of the Alhambra Ward in California. Chauncey was a widower and attended when his health would permit and
possessed a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When Chauncey became further disabled his children had him cared
for in an assisted living center that was located within the boundaries of our ward.
The Christmas season was upon us and as
was tradition, the Bishopric and their families planned to carol to the widows, shutins, and any deemed to be in need of an
encouraging visit. Appointments had

E) The Saviors Love is Available to All

As Nephi saw in vision, much of Christs
mortal ministry was devoted to blessing
and healing the sick with all kinds of mal-

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been made in advance and on the appointed day the Bishopric gathered to assemble
Christmas treats, prepare our voices and
coordinate logistics. We visited many,
sang poorly to all but still brought the
Spirit of the season to their homes and our
hearts. As the evening progressed it became late into the school night and there
were many of our company who called for
us to return for soup, dessert buffet and
devotional that had been planned after
caroling. However, there was one last
name on the list that hadnt been visited:
Chauncey Kammerman. It was argued
that because it was past his facilitys visiting hours we wouldnt be able to see him.
Also, because Chauncey was in good
health we knew we could pay him a follow-up visit on another night. Finally, because of the lateness of the hour it was decided we would return home to complete
the evenings activity.

joy and peace expressed on Brother Kammermans face as he was taken to his room
for the night.
Chauncey Kammerman passed away that
night. He was given one last opportunity
to bear testimony, know of those who
loved him, and went to meet his Maker
with joy and gladness in his heart.
We filled the role I was in prison (physical) and ye came to me. Yet we were the
ones freed.
G) Conclusion
This Christmas tradition has provided our
family with a venue to find place in our
hearts for the the Savior of the the world,
our Eternal King.
The Savior Himself promised He and the
Father would find place in our hearts if we
open them to Him Jesus...said...If a man
love me, he will keep my words: and my
Father will love him, and we will come
unto him, and make our abode with him.6

As we got in the caravan of cars to return,

the Spirit of the Lord descended upon
Shelly and I instructing us to visit Brother
Kammerman and so our car took a detour
and made its way to the assisted living facility. We arrived just after the conclusion
of visiting hours. The receiving room was
large, yet vacant save one chair where the
faithful Brother Kammerman awaited a
visit from his Bishop. Our numbers had
dwindled to but one car load of carolers,
but the room was aglow with the Spirit as
together we sang Christmas noels, heard
brother Kammermans testimony and
communed Spirit to Spirit. The joy of the
season permeated everyoness heart. As
we left the facility we looked back to see

I have come to read Matthew 25 differently, for the servants reply inquiringly of the
King when saw we thee? But I now read
this question rhetorically. When saw we
thee an hungered, for it was really I who
was an hungered and was fed. When saw
we thee thirsty for it was truly I who was
athirst and given drink. When saw we thee
a stranger for it was I who was a stranger
and taken in. When saw we thee in prison,
for it was that was I that was bound and
now freed.
During Christmas I would fall asleep being serenaded by the voice of an angel
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singing O Holy Night. Those words ring

true today:
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Long live His truth, and may it last forever,
For in His name all discordant noise
shall cease.
And so I join with you, my brothers and
sisters, in singing joy to the world, let our
hearts ring out in praise of Merry Christmas and praise in celebration of the birth
of He who is our Savior!

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1 Nephi 11: 13-23

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_of_God

Matthew 25: 31-46

Leila Trumbo Ethington, Life History, p. 25

Kent F. Richards, The Atonement Covers All Pain, April 2011 General Conference, http://lds.org/general-confer-

ence/print/2011/04/the-atonement-covers-all-pain?lang=eng&clang=eng
6

John 14:23

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