It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
Lea Salonga sang so last night with the Tabernacle Choir at their Christmas Concert we were privileged to go to. It was fabulous, exhilirating, inspiring, touching, gloriously spectacular and soul-stirring! A definite highlight in the program, honoring Him who is the Light of the World, we were participants in the telling of Endless Gifts, Endless Light: The Nicholas Winton Story by Sir David Suchet, who, near the end of this Christmas story, invited all of us in the audience to hold up the light on our cell phones. As the program directed:
If you’d like to join in, have your phone ready and hold it up like a Christmas star — still and steady. While you’re holding up your phone, you’ll also have the opportunity to join us in singing a new verse of “Once in Royal David’s City.”
Light of God grow bright within us,
Let thy love in us increase,
Shine through us in all our service,
Lift us up in joy and peace.
Lead us in Thy path, we pray,
Make us one this holy day.
Other exciting news — we got our visas! And our travel arrangements! In ten short days we leave for India — departing from the Idaho Falls airport early Wednesday morning, 28 December, arriving 26 (!) hours later in New Delhi!
Yes, we are coming home to Rexburg on the day after Christmas to leave our vehicle in garage protection, depositing our winter clothes and other stuff we brought here in October, and saying goodbye again. It is finally happening —leaving the comfort zone of familiar sights, sounds, smells, routines and rhythms of life here to begin Phase 4 — life as bona fide humanitarians!
Other mention-worthies:
On Wednesday, we had a two-zone luncheon in the Wasatch Room on the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The meal was absolutely delicious, and it was a great opportunity to get to know our fellow missionaries a little better. We were entertained afterwards by the Taylorsville High Madrigals, a very energetic and talented group of young performers!
Another musical program we were blessed to enjoy last Sunday was The Schubert Singers. My sister LuJean sings with them, to our delight!
I had the chance to visit and give service to a friend on Wednesday as well, and on Thursday we were blessed to be able to visit with family at the Taylor/Padgett residence. Dear Aunt Fran — we love you! (Aunt Joan and Uncle Wayne were there too, and it was great to see them, and express our mutual love and appreciation!) While we were there Aunt Fran’s daughter, my cousin Ardie, looked up the total number of records her mom had indexed or reviewed — a phenomenal 2,166,550!
Today I finished rereading the Book of Mormon — which I was determined to do before we left. I’m looking forward to starting again, and reading it in conjunction with our study of the New Testament next year. Reflecting on Moroni 10, I am profoundly grateful to know that Moroni’s promise is real! And as Taunya wrote last week, “our knowledge of the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith and his inspired understanding of Jesus Christ helps us to know Christ better.”
Since Joseph Smith’s birthday is next Friday the 23rd, I want to bear my testimony of him too. What a time to live, when we are the beneficiaries of his life and work! I know he is the Prophet of the Restoration, chosen and called as the instrument in God’s hands to bring the world Another Testament of Jesus Christ and restore the Lord’s Church and Kingdom in these Last Days. The Lord Jesus Christ lives! The Babe of Bethlehem will come again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and my soul yearns for His approbation as he finishes preparations for and begins His Millennial Reign!
Have a Most Wonderful Christmas Time this coming week and beyond!
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