For 12 months or more I have been a distracted disciple. A year ago we sold our home in hopes of finding the “perfect” place (within budget constraints) to raise our family in California. I now know that this search for perfection has distracted my mind and heart away from God. Since moving three times in one year, we found three things out about ourselves:

1. A bigger house didn’t make us any happier.
2. A spiffy neighborhood didn’t make us happier.
3. Our children attending a higher rated school didn’t make us any happier.

What previously made us happy was the people we served, the interconnectedness and interdependence of our previous neighborhood and lives. We have met and loved new people while living in our rental homes, but because we saw ourselves as transient, we didn’t throw ourselves into serving our neighbors and ward members. What a mistake! We sought to find ourselves a new life, but our self interest left us spiritually adrift.

About six months ago I realized I was off track and committed myself to follow a self-made discipleship chart. My chart included regular family prayer, family scripture study, service, temple work and visiting teaching with the assumption of keeping the commandments. I did okay, and admittedly was doing better than the months prior to starting my chart, but at the end of a few weeks of dutifully following my chart I was left feeling overwhelmed and undernourished. I learned that goals are good, and should be made to make me a more effective servant of the Lord, but true discipleship wasn’t in check-marks and to-do lists.

Months passed, and I continued to think about discipleship. Some clarity came to me while listening to our Primary sing “Love One Another” during sacrament meeting last Sunday. This song led me to ponder on some of my favorite teachings of Jesus Christ.

Mark 8: 35-36

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall again the whole world (or a perfect house), and lose his own soul?

John 13: 34-35

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye alove one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Matthew 22: 36- 40

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

In these scriptures I found a key to becoming a better disciple: love. I also found my perfect place to live: with God. What I missed most about my old life was how connected I felt to the Lord. I felt Him guiding me to serve my neighbors and friends. Realizing that loving God and serving others is what brings me happiness, has reduced the pressure to find the “perfect” place to live. Opportunities for love and service can be found everywhere. I don’t need to be a distracted disciple any longer. I can recommit. I can reconnect. I can repent. I can learn to love God “with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind” again.

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To read more on discipleship please read the following articles.

The Path of Discipleship – By Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Discipleship by James E. Faust

Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship by Robert E. Hales

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By: Lindsay

This is one small way our family tries to remember the real reason for this sacred Christmas season: an advent calendar with scriptures to read together as a family every night. The first two weeks have scriptures that tell a story about the Savior’s life and his example to be a better person.  The next two weeks focus specifically on the events surrounding his miraculous birth and the wonderful first Christmas story.  Even with my young children, we have found this brings a greater focus on what is most important (and keeps our minds away from Santa Claus, presents, and candy canes).

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By: Brenda

Every Christmas Eve, my family gathers together in Sacramento, CA near my Grandparents’ house.  I say near, because my grandmother’s home is far too small to house their large family. My Grandparents have six daughters and one son. My Dad is the lone ranger in his family. All of my aunts have married and have had families of their own and have become grandmothers themselves. Many of my family gatherings have over 80 people in attendance including children. So we have Christmas Eve in a reception hall or at a local church each year to accommodate a full dinner and show.

A show?!?!?

My grandmother insists on having a Christmas program every year. My mother and aunts put together musical numbers. Tiny cousins sing Christmas carols and ring bells in time to the music. Stories are read. Sometimes we re-enact the Nativity. We always pray together as a family.  At times, we enjoy heckling each others performances. Last year my cousin’s daughter proved herself to be a musical prodigy by professionally singing a medley from the musical Wicked. We were amazed. Sometimes we bear our testimonies of the reality of the Savior Jesus Christ and other times my grandmother reads letters from our cousins who are serving full time missions for the LDS Church. As much as I hate the pressure to perform, the Christmas program is a very nice family tradition. This tradition has lasted for decades, here is a picture of me in 1979 at the family Christmas Eve party playing Mary.

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by Julie

Every November, as the Christmas season comes closer, the tradition I look forward to most is getting out my nativity collection and displaying the pieces in our home.  My small collection started with a very “average” nativity bought from a local store.  I feel blessed that people have brought me nativities from around the world.  When we were engaged, my husband brought one home from Uruguay, and a couple of years ago, a dear friend had her parents bring one home from Nepal.  I love them both!

I have several nativities for my children to play with.  I love watching them learn the real story of Christmas while they play with the figures, and sing “Silent Night”.

One of the nativities that is most special to me is a handmade Amish Nativity.  It’s so different and reminds me of a special time in my life.

What do you do to remember the Savior’s birth during this season?

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