Dear Matt,

You asked for my Christmas ideas.  Your mother is impressed with the concept pointed out by James E. Talmage in Jesus the Christ that witnesses to Christ’s birth were provided from all walks of life.  This was so that the rich could not dismiss the humble shepherds’ testimonies as idle tales, nor could the poor think that this was something intended just for the elite.  Kings, prophets, and humble people all bore witness to His birth.

Marjorie also heard a newscast the other day about a group that’s making a concerted effort to take Christ out of Christmas.  They’re putting up billboards; and one lady was quoted as saying, “Do the world a favor, and stay home from church on Christmas.”

If only such people could see how ignorant they look to those coming from our perspective.  I think they would be amazed, embarrassed, and ashamed.  They’re in for a rude awakening.  Though it took place 2,000 years ago, Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection are among the best-attested events on earth.  Hundreds saw and heard the resurrected Christ in New Testament times.  Add to those the additional thousands the Book of Mormon tells about, and I can’t think of any other ancient historical event that has left such a cloud of witnesses.  Anyone who chooses to ignore such testimonies is truly ignorant, in my estimation.  I feel sorry for them.  I wrote about this in my article “Christ Has Come” on page 74 of My Heart Is Brim with Joy.

I’ve been thinking of Jesus’ mother.  Do you suppose that anyone loved Him more than she did?  Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce her soul.  That surely happened as she watched her own son be crucified.  Knowing how we love and feel about our own children, we can only imagine the extreme anguish she felt as she witnessed that awful event.

But then we have to remember that she was undoubtedly an eyewitness to His resurrection a few days later.  She had to be among those faithful ones to whom He appeared.  Imagine her joy!

I think, too, of Mary Magdalene and the extreme grief she was experiencing as she went to the tomb Sunday morning before it was even light.  (Was she Jesus’ wife?)  Her grief knew no bounds, yet in an instant her extreme grief was turned to unimaginable joy when she suddenly recognized her beloved Savior.  She, a woman, was the first eyewitness to the Savior’s resurrection.  She was the first person to behold a resurrected person.  No one had ever been resurrected before.  Because of this event, we will all be resurrected also.

Then I think about Joseph.  This morning I wrote an article about him which I’ll soon email to the family.

I’ve tried to think of other Christmas things in my books.  It might be a fun exercise to read these to your family before Christmas.  In My Favorite Stories there is a list of my favorite Christmas stories on page 229.  One of those, “Where Love Is, There God Is Also,” is printed in its entirety starting on page 250.  On page 265 is another story that is a must read.

Then on page 109 is my “Christmas at Wal-Mart” article, but it’s not one designed to put you in the Christmas spirit.  The same is true of “Christmas 1998” found on page 38 of Random Writings.  They’re just fun articles for the family.

One of the best Christmas stories I’ve written is Zack Wright’s experience from his youth.  I think it’s in my upcoming book.  I’ll post it by email to everyone sometime in the next few days.

“The Other Witness” on page 103 of Random Writings is my fictional attempt to bring together unexplained facts about Jesus’ birth.  It’s food for thought, and, I think rather well done.

These are my thoughts.  I think that I’ll send this letter to all of my kids so that they might use these things with their families, too.

Dad