The Spirit of Christmas is AMAZING!!!

December 24 2012

I want to thank you and all that have sent me cards for the holidays, I love the drawings and messages that the younger ones have done! I truly do love all of you and am so thankful for all the love you have for me, if you still have any.

Dear Home,

The Spirit of Christmas is AMAZING!!! I love how everyone loves everyone, it needs to be like this everyday of the year.

Its wonderful that Jesus Christ was born into this world to show us the path to return unto our Heavenly Father and also that he died for you and me that we may be saved; but I think that it is even more special that he lives to day to be our companion through all that we go through. Jesus Christ during the Atonement went below man so that he can lift us from our feet.

We had a Christmas Conference with half our mission, about 80 missionaries, and sang tons of Christmas songs and talked about the true meaning of it. We talked about the Atonement more and learned about the wise men that came to Jesus as a child. I encourage you to read Luke 2 closely about the birth of Christ. It doesn't say three nor that they arrived the day he was born or who they are. Its very interesting.

I want to thank everyone for the gifts you have sent me and continue to send me, I can feel the love you have for me. But gifts are not what I want. I want to hear/see the words on paper of how you are doing. Letters are one of the most treasured thing that missionaries can receive while here because you know that whoever wrote it loves you, they took time out of their day to sit down and talk to me; thank you.

President Thomas S Monson said something I really like. "Someone who gives money gives much, one who gives time gives more, and one who gives their life gives all." Gifts are great but time spent is greater and those memories that are made won't deteriorate over time but only have a lasting effect upon you. So what can you do besides gift giving to someone for Christmas?

I was able to sit down and talk with a couple people this past week and talk with them about Gospel Principles. One being about the Restoration of the Lord's Church. We were talking with a lady named Stephany and her son who is 8 named Cruz. She has been to many churches such as the Catholic Church, Presbyterian, Methodist, and other Christian churches. Her father joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about 2 years ago. She had a lot of questions about what her dad was doing. We talked with her and she loved and understood what she knew about the Gospel of Jesus Christ that she had learned in the Bible. She really has a desire to come closer with God and wants it to be a part of her family. We invited her to come to church this past Sunday and she said yes. She didn't come and told us over the phone that she didn't want to be disloyal to another church. My companions and I were heart broken because she was so interested. We met with her that night and asked her about what happened and she discussed that she didn't know what to do. We told her to pray and shared a spiritual message with her. She will talk to her dad a little more and then to us.

Oh by the way there is this Christmas song that I heard someone sing that I really really liked. I think its something like "Do you have room" or something like that. I don't know the title but its now my favorite.

Have a Merry Christmas and may you feel the Spirit of the Lord in this time of year.

Sincerely in Love, Elder Leonhardt

Mom I will call you at 10 Christmas morning so hopefully everyone will be up and awake. Love you