The Spirit of Christmas is the Spirit of Christ.

As my son, Golden, was reading a story from Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it triggered a memory in my mind that had been long forgotten.

On Christmas morning, we children were not allowed into the room where the Christmas tree was until we had had breakfast and dishes were done. We were living at 2916 South 7th East in Salt Lake City, Utah. I was about three or four years old [1930 or 1931]. As I recall, our home was built in such a way that we could walk through the house in a circle so we had access to the tree from the livingroom on one side, and the kitchen on the other side.

In our excitment on Christmas morning we were prone to sneak to that room for a peek at what was under or around the tree, only to find that we didn't have access to the room. My mother and father had removed the doorknobs from the two doors that would give us access to that room.

As breakfast was being prepared, we children took our turns at the doors, peeking through the opening that was available where the doorknobs had been, and we reported to each other what we were able to see as we took our turns trying to see what we could see.

As was our daily custom, when breakfast was ready we were called to kneel at the side of our chairs which were situated around the breakfast table. Daddy would call us to pray before we could do anything else. We couldn't eat breakfast fast enough so that we could get to where the Christmas tree was.

I remember the excitement that I felt when I looked through the little hole in the door and spotted a rocking chair with a baby doll sitting in it. I knew that it was mine! Times were pretty tough during those years, so I felt very blessed that I was able to receive my requested presents. The rocking chair was second-hand. Daddy worked at P.W. Madsen furniture store at that time, and was able to get second-hand items for a smaller price. With a little paint, they looked like new. Mom was able to do the same for the dolls. As a seamstress, she had made new clothes and put the dolls into them.

As I recall, my brother Joseph was thrilled with his present of a newly repainted sled. We girls (Hilda, Grace, and I) all got dolls.  I think by brothers Ted and Hank got bicycles that year.

As a small child, I didn't think my father would ever get through the prayer. He expressed his gratitude to the Lord, and seemed to go on and on forever. The very idea of the expression of gratitude to our Heavenly Father for all we had received through the adversity we were experiencing and His tender mercies helped me to know my parents' feelings about Christmas. Both of my parents were converts to the Church and were very strong in the gospel and were a great example to their children.