I was in Sacrament meeting (the Mormon version of mass) last Sunday. I had gone to my brother’s ward (congregation) because he was blessing his son. (Sort of like a Christening but without the baptism. Or the godparents. Or the- actually, all unknown Mormon terms are described better here, so if you see something you don’t understand, try that.)
[Photo provided by Allaboutmormons]

So the blessing was over and we had sung the Sacrament hymn and the priest (16 or 17 year old boy) up front starts saying the Sacrament prayer. He says the first line and then you hear this other voice, it’s a disorganized sound, high and then unaccountably low, kind of like that of a pubescent boy, but more so.

 The voice repeats the last word or two of what the priest said. Then the priest says the next line and the voice again repeats most of the syllables, some recognizable as the words we just heard, some not. And the prayer continues that way, the whole way through.

After we all said amen I looked up at the table where the Sacrament had been prepared and blessed and I see a very large, obviously mentally challenged man stand up. And next to him I see my oldest nephew, the priest who had helped him through the prayer.

And I thought I was as proud as I could be.

And then they started passing the Sacrament and I saw another nephew walking around, not passing but helping another very large, obviously mentally challenged man pass the sacrament.

And there was another man doing the same for another not as large but just as obviously mentally challenged boy.

The deacons in this ward were not the most polished I’ve seen. They were not all wearing white shirts and they were not all tucked in, but I learned more in those few minutes about loving and sharing the blessings of the gospel than I have in a long time.

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In all of the craziness, it’s all too easy for me to forget what this season is all about. We are, of course, celebrating the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ. I like to celebrate and remember His life and example as well. After all, His whole life was about love, about service, about sacrifice, about giving — about all which should be motivating me during this season and always.

Last week, the theme in our Sacrament Meeting (the weekly congregational meeting where we partake of bread and water, the sacrament, and where members of our congregations speak on an assigned topic) was, interestingly enough, forgiveness. I can’t recall a time in the past when the chosen theme at the holiday time was something like this. But it helped me reflect on the kinds of gifts that really are of most lasting value. And I remembered a quote that has long been a favorite of mine for this time of year (all quotes below come from this talk by President Howard W. Hunter). I shared it with my family last week for our scripture study, and wanted to share it here.

This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.

President Hunter also shared this:

Give to your enemy forgiveness,
To your opponent tolerance,
To your friend your heart,
To all men charity, for the hands that help
are holier than lips that pray,
To every child a good example,
and to yourself—respect.

While I’m frantically trying to wrap all of my presents, I am also working to do more to unwrap my heart — to be more kind, more patient, more loving, more compassionate, more forgiving.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would give Him a lamb,
If I were a Wise Man,
I would do my part,—
But what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

I’ve included a video below that is a beautiful reminder of the power of forgiveness, featuring President James E. Faust’s last General Conference address before he passed away.

What quotes, stories, music, thoughts, or other things help you focus on the true meaning of Christmas?

The post Words that Inspire Us: Gifts of the Heart appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.