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| Title: | The Glory of God is Intelligence. |
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| Moderator: | BSS::RONEY |
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| Created: | Thu Jan 28 1988 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Apr 25 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 460 |
| Total number of notes: | 6198 |
17.0. "Christmas Stories & Programs" by FSTRCK::ROLLINS () Fri Dec 16 1988 16:21
Here is a favorite Christmas story of mine, transcribed from a talk given
by Elder Paul Dunn:
"I learned a great lesson as a young Latter-Day Saint in combat. I belonged
to the 77th Infantry Division. At the time we were fighting General Yamashita,
who was the General McArthur of the Japanese infantry. This was a crack
outfit. We had just taken the Valencia airport and secured it on the island
of Lehti, just about two days before Christmas, 1944."
"In making preparations for the final assault on a rather large mountain, we
were commissioned, of course, to dig in our foxhole at the base of a hill.
There were about one thousand of us in our particular garrison. We did not
know it at the time, but the enemy holding the top of the ridge numbered
approximately three thousand, and whenever you take the offensive in combat,
just like football, you need a little greater power. But we didn't have that
intelligence at our disposal at the time."
"My heart and mind naturally drifted back home. I was a nineteen-year old boy
at the time and Christmas was always very special in our home, and so I was
naturally thinking of mom and dad and my brothers and my girlfriend, and what
they would be doing on that special occassion. As Christmas Eve approached,
a slightly drizzly rain set in on the mountainside. It was cold and shivery
for those of us who knew better circumstances, but dug in we did. I was even
bold enough to keep a family tradition going; a little 37 anti-tank gun was
located near my foxhole position and I hung my stocking on the muzzle.
[We] settled in for the night. The rain continued; it turned to bitter cold,
high in the Lehti mountains."
"We knew, because of the characteristic of the enemy, that about midnight, they
would commence to invade out lines. They would often send in suicide squads to
weaken our front and then follow with great attacks. And so we were preparing
for the inevitable."
"About 11:00 that evening, Christmas Eve, 1944, out of nowhere on the side of
the hill, ... a young tenor whom I had never met before and still haven't,
somewhere on our infantry line, in a beautiful voice, sang a solo, 'It came
upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old,' and by the time he got to
the second verse, 1000 American soldiers joined him. Why you would have
thought it was the Mormon Choir, these hard-crusted old infantrymen. He sang
'Hark The Herald Angels Sing,' 'O Come All Ye Faithfl,' and a great medly of
songs that are very dear to us, and then he concluded with 'Silent Night, Holy
Night,' and I guess because of the circumstances I haven't been touched quite
like that since or before."
"Twelve o'clock came, and the enemy didn't come. For the first time in my
combat experience, they had not worked according to schedule. One o'clock,
two o'clock, and all night we sat ready with our weapons, and the enemy didn't
come. The next morning, as Christmas dawn broke, we very carefully came from
our foxholes, gave each other an exchange of greetings, talked about home,
girls, the things that mattered most. The day proceeded; we had an interesting
Christmas dinner, as you can in a front-line situation; and then into Christmas
night, and finally, about five minutes to twelve, as Christmas was fading into
another year, the first enemy crossed our line, and World War II had commenced
again."
"But for twenty-four hours, I was a personal witness that peace on earth, good
will toward men can actually occur when people are touched by a true spirit.
And I couldn't help but wonder, as I watched this marvel unfold before me, if a
simple Christmas carol will do that between a Christian and a non-Christian,
what would the gospel of Jesus Christ do for people everywhere if you and I,
as you are, embued by that same sweet spirit, would bring the gospel to people
of all nations ?"
| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 17.1 | Another Christmas Story | SLSTRN::RONDINA | | Mon Dec 19 1988 09:53 | 9 |
| I heard a similar story that took place during World War 2 in which
Americans and Germans were poised for a great battle Christmas Eve
and an American soldier began to sing Silent NIght. Soon other
Americans joined, then the Germans echoed the song in German and
for that night and Christmas Day, hostilities were halted.
Does anyone know the story in more detail.
Paul
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| 17.2 | I heard about that story, too. | NEXUS::S_JOHNSON | | Mon Dec 19 1988 10:29 | 12 |
| Yes.
The story is by Paul H. Dunn and occurs when he is in the war.
I just read it but I don't remember where.
They were sitting in foxholes waiting for there enemy to attack
on Christmas Eve and the attack never occurred. On Christmas Eve
and during the whole day, the fighting ceased and on the night of
Christmas Day, the fighting continued. I think it was in the Ensign
or Church News or something like that.
scott
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| 17.3 | one idea ... | MIZZOU::SHERMAN | ECADSR::SHERMAN 235-8176, 223-3326 | Mon Oct 30 1989 12:12 | 49 |
| Last night my wife and I were discussing what we might suggest for our ward to
do in its Christmas program. (Actually, now is about the right time to think
about such things since it might require a lot of preparation.) One of the
ideas we hit on seemed kind of interesting. Basically, the program would start
off with a mother and child doing some kind of preparations for Christmas.
The child starts off with a question:
CHILD: Mom, why do we celebrate Chistmas?
MOM: Because that's when we celebrate the Savior's birth.
CHILD: Why?
MOM: Because it was important for Jesus Christ to come to the world.
CHILD: Why?
From here on, the choir comes in with a Christmas hymn. We phase back and forth
between the mother answering the child's question (it's always "Why?"). There
would be a manger scene as well as special choir numbers and scriptural
readings, often with the mother starting the reading and fading to narration
by one speaking the part of an angel, for example.
We're not sure about the ending. Maybe something like:
MOM: So, Jesus came to the world because your Father in Heaven loves you.
CHILD: Why?
MOM: For the same reasons that I love you.
CHILD: Why?
MOM: Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's just because you are you. I think I've
always loved you, even before you were born. And, I think I will always love
you.
CHILD: Well, I love you too, Mom. And, I love Jesus. I'm glad we're
celebrating Christmas.
MOM: Why? (giggles, hugs and kisses)
Ending with traditional Chrismas hymns with the congregation.
Any thoughts, other ideas?
Steve
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| 17.4 | Well, that was my first child! | XCUSME::QUAYLE | i.e. Ann | Wed Nov 01 1989 18:14 | 48 |
| It sounds great! It also sparked a memory for me. When my oldest
daughter was five years old, she took part in a Christmas program
which opened much as you propose. She played the youngest daughter
in a large Mormon family, and was to open the program by asking,
"Daddy, why do we celebrate Christmas?" That was the only line she
would speak.
As this memory unfolds (my older memories being far more accessible
than my newer ones - this would bode not well for eternity if there
weren't a perfected body in store!) I am reminded of a recent
discussion in this conference re parents over-controlling their
children. Guilty, as charged.
I rehearsed with my dear Lisa frequently, often asking her to speak
her line to me as we drove, walked, shopped, cleaned, baked, etc.
She knew her line and delivered it well, with expression and (may I
say) charm.
The last week before the program, I made a real nuisance of myself
and she informed me that she was fed up, and would only recite for me
the first time I asked each day. I realized I was harassing her, and
agreed that once a day would be fine.
On program Sunday, as we drove to Sunday School, she recited her
line perfectly. What a little beauty she was, dressed in red velvet
and lace, with shiny black patent leather shoes, her long brown
hair in ringlets and her blue eyes sparkling! She took her place on stage,
sitting at her "Daddy's" feet. The audience quieted expectantly,
as we waited for the program to begin. And waited.
I looked at her, and smiled encouragingly. And waited. Nodded my
head to coax her to speak. And waited. She smiled at us all - as
we waited.
Finally the stage daddy, a versatile brother, said, "Uh, Lisa, let
me tell you why we celebrate Christmas," and the program went forward!
I asked her later, but she would never tell me whether she suffered
from sudden stage fright, or felt (with some logic) that since she
had already recited once that day, she had fulfilled her part.
I've wondered since whether, if I had had the presence of mind to
leave the chapel, she might have spoken up. She certainly looked
self-possessed and at ease up there...
Parenthood - not for the faint of heart!
aq
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