Why I’m so grateful someone pushed through awkwardness to serve

While the Christmas season can be a time of joy for many, for some, it can also be a sad reminder of those who are no longer with us.

While other parents dream of their sons growing up to become astronauts, brain surgeons, or president, I dream of my son having a normal life. My son, Spencer, was diagnosed with autism at age 3. My wife, Katie, and I immediately had a thousand questions. Will he ever be able to get a job? Will he ever be able to live on his own? Will any girl see past his challenges to consider marrying him? We still have those questions, but we've learned to focus on more immediate questions.

Former The Voice contestant and Latter-day Saint singer and songwriter Madilyn Paige released a gorgeous Christmas song to #LightTheWorld this year. Check out her new song, "Come Unto Jesus."

How do the new changes announced by the First Presidency impact Primary classes, ordinations, temple attendance, camps, dances, ministering, and more? The Deseret News addressed these topics in a recent article.

Claire Ryann Crosby and her family decided to help #LightTheWorld this Christmas season by creating a family music video, "The First Noel." Along with the video, the family shared this message, "Merry Christmas from the Crosby family! We are so grateful to have this time to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Our love for Him is a feeling we hope to share with all of you this season, and always. #LightTheWorld."

Since becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I’ve encountered a few cultural differences that took a little adjustment. For example, in the Baptist church, the same preacher delivers the sermon almost every Sunday, so it was strange to me that in this Church we didn’t have the same preacher every week. To make things even stranger, it was folks from the congregation that delivered the sermons!

For many people the Christmas season is exciting and enjoyable as individuals engage in the hustle and bustle of varied festivities, and this is how we hope and want it to be. However, for some the Christmas season increases stress and can amplify feelings of sadness, depression, anxiety, loneliness, hopelessness, and even feelings of suicide. Oftentimes it is hard for those who do not deal with mental health struggles to comprehend why a time of year that is supposed to be uplifting and fun can be dark and empty for many.

As I have been reading and studying the Teachings of President Nelsonsince last general conference—and trying to better understand the counsel our Heavenly Parents have given to us through this inspired prophet—I came across a story striking in its simplicity. This short holiday story encompasses the meaning of Christmas in less than 170 words, yet it helped redirect me and refocus me on that which matters most.

I was teaching a courtship and marriage Institute class for young single adults when I first read The Family: A Proclamation to the World (hereafter referred to as the Proclamation). In 602 words, 15 prophets, seers, and revelators gave us the Lord’s priorities for achieving successful, happy relationships. After studying this inspired proclamation, I felt it was perfect to use with my students. I explained to them that this proclamation was a revelation from God and therefore doctrine for the Church. It was a guide for them to make a proper choice in a marriage partner in order to achieve a successful and happy marriage.