Christmastime is Here

Because I don't believe in being politically correct (better yet, I'm anti-PC), I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. About two months ago, my Native Lit. Professor, Dr. Lundquist, gave us a beautiful poem by Diane Glancy. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

A Hogan in Bethlehem

& so it was in a country across the water, she gave birth to a

son & wrapped him in a buffalo robe. The raccoon & elk &

deer gathered in the hogan-manger. & there were shep-

herds, or animal-watchers, in the field, & lo, an angel, a

spirit-being with wings, a bird-person, appeared the way a

coyote or tumbleweed crosses the headlights on a reserva-

tion road at night. & the high-beam of Wakan Tanka, the

Great Spirit, shined as if all the campfires of the stars

burned at once. & the animal-watchers, the shepherds,

were afraid. But the angel said, fear not, for the news is

good. Unto all people this night is born a Chief who is

Wovoka, Christ our Lord. & suddenly there were an-

els & hosts of spirit-beings in war-paint & feathers shout-

ing their war-cries & praising Wakan Tanka, the Great

Spirit, who had sent a Chief to walk among us. Though

still a baby he would be the light for our darkness. He

would be the sustenance for our lives. & the angels & war-

beings chanted glory in heaven & on earth, a peace-pipe.

Then all the spirit-beings flew back to heaven, & the elk &

deer & caribou returned to the woods, & the Wovoka baby

slept in the manger. Meanwhile, 3 scouts, 3 Medicine Men,

made their vision-quest under one star still burning like a

yard-light on the prairie. As if the Great Spirit didn't want

to leave the baby, or in case the baby wanted to migrate

back from earth. So the Medicine Men hurried with their

bundle-gifts to find a hogan in Bethlehem. They hurried to

find the Wovoka-child wrapped like a holy ear of corn.

In the Doctrine & Covenants, it says that the Lord reveals things in the language of the people. I believe this to be true. Taking my Native Lit. Class has strengthened my testimony of the gospel. We read a book called "Native and Christian" (a compilation of essays by various Native American authors) that was about the religions of Native Americans during the European conquest of America. It's interesting to see how much truth they really did have. They did have the "Great Spirit" and the love of our Heavenly Father. I believe this. They were taught that their religious ancestors were savages and evil, but this couldn't be farther from the truth. To me, when I look at the faith of the Native Americans, it just makes sense that the Book of Mormon is the true word of God. It is an account of the gospel proceedings of those people living in the Americas. To me, it makes perfect sense that the gospel was had over here. It doesn't make sense to me that Heavenly Father would neglect his children on the other side of the globe. I know that not everyone had the gospel, but they had forms of the truth, and they were wonderful, believing people. They are my ancestors. I know that Jesus Christ came and visited those people-- his brothers and sisters-- in this land, before ascending to heaven to be with the Father. My all-time favorite chapter of scripture is 3 Nephi 17...

"And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.

And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.

Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.

For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you...

And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears...

And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome.

And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and bade them arise.

And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.

And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude did bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

And when he had done this he wept again...

And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them..."

Now, I wasn't there when this happened, but through the witness of the Holy Ghost, I know that this is a true account, and that it really did happen. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that he loves all of us. I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate and remember his birth during this Christmas season. I believe he is the Savior & Redeemer of the world. His love is extended to all.

Now, on another note, I am really, really, really, really, really excited to go home this week. Yay! All we have to do is push through finals (should be plenty do-able this semester) and then it's homeward bound. Our family has a great chest of traditions, compiled through the years but no less wonderful during their annual occurrence. I am looking forward to those traditions. My mom and dad are just hilarious, as you will see. They sent me this digital postcard via dad's email. Take a look:

Yep. As you can see, dad's up to his old tricks. He swapped their faces. I laughed so hard, I nearly soiled myself. It was great. :) hehe. I love my family and I can't wait to see them. And for the record, this is what mom & dad really look like:

I'm sure I'll say it again in a future blog post this month, but, to the whole five of you who read this...

Merry Christmas!