YW Christmas Lesson: Mary's Treasure Box

I asked the YW Presidency if we were doing a Christmas-themed lesson in the month of December. They said that sounded like a great idea and to let them know if I needed any help with it - haha! Lesson learned: don't give suggestions unless you're willing to do the work!

During the next week I really pondered on what would bring the spirit and share the message of Christ's birth. I came across this story book, Mary's Treasure Box. It is Mary, the mother of Jesus, talking to her granddaughter about the birth of Christ as they look through her memory box together. I thought it was a beautiful and unique way of sharing the message. I bought the book off of Amazon. It was a used copy and when it showed up it was signed by the author! Cool!

I wrote the script from the book, but changed it to a narrative (rather than a conversation). I also changed some of the wording a bit to incorporate more of the nativity and the gospel. In between sections from the story I wanted to show videos. Music is a such a powerful tool. I ended up editing all the videos into one long video with 5 seconds of black in between each section, that way I could just start and stop the video and not distract from the story by looking around my computer or youtube for each new video. It worked flawlessly!

I asked my friend Shannon to play the part of Mary. She's my VTee, an actress, and a high school drama teacher. I knew she would be able to play this part - and she totally nailed it on the head! I think it was so convincing and powerful coming from her!

  

Here's my script:

MARY’S TREASURE BOX

(Based on a storybook by that name, by Carolyn Walz Kramlich)
Mary, the mother of Jesus, now a grandmother, speaks to the Young Women about her memories of the birth of Christ.

WOODEN BOX

MARY: I wanted to share with you Young Women a special treasure box of mine. How many of you have a special place to keep things that are precious to you? Well, in this box I keep things to remind me of when my sweet baby boy, Jesus, was born. (Rubs her fingers over the fancy box) How I love this treasure box. Jesus was just about your age when He made it. He and Joseph spent many hours in the carpenter shop making such wonderful things.

(Carefully opens the lid) Ohhh, it’s been over forty years, but it seems just like yesterday. Even though I’ve opened the box many times, I always learn something new.

BUNDLE OF STRAW 

(Pulls out a small bundle of straw) Every time I see this straw it makes me think of humility. That night when Joseph and I got to Bethlehem, it was so cold, and I was so very tired. It was almost time for Jesus to be born, but there was nowhere in all Bethlehem that we could get a place to stay. We went everywhere! Finally we found a stable. There were all kinds of farm animals in it, cows, chickens, and sheep. That night, in a simple stable, Jesus was born. Joseph found a feeding trough with hay in it and that’s where we lay the sleeping baby. This straw came from that humble bed.

LINEN CLOTH

(Pulls out a linen cloth from box and feels it with her hands) This is a swaddling cloth. It may not feel soft, but it was very warm. I used it to wrap around Baby Jesus that night, years ago. This cloth makes me think of love, because God loves us and keeps in His care. That’s why He gave us His only begotten Son.

VIDEO: Mary, Did You Know? – Pentatonix (0-4:04) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE
or my version with photo slideshow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5LEKAEvlNU

WOOL

(Taking the wool out of the box) The shepherds came to the stable to see our new baby that night. They brought some wool from their sheep to help keep the baby warm. I always thought that the wool was like a gift from the shepherds. They didn’t have any fancy or expensive things they could bring–only this wool. Every time I see this wool it reminds me to be kind to others. Everyone has something to give the Savior, even if it is just a willing heart.

VIDEO: O, Come,All Ye Faithful (0-4:14) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjl-KIGrOWA&feature=youtu.be

BELL

(Taking a bell out of the box and playing a note or two) I keep this bell in my box to help me remember the angelic songs we heard from the Heavens that night. Oh how joyous were the angels! 

VIDEO: Angel We Have Heard on High (with David Archuletta and Piano Guys) (0-4:05) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrLoWt2tfqg

GOLD

Ah yes, the gifts from the Wisemen! From the East they came to visit Jesus when he was a small boy. My, what fancy clothes they had, the most beautiful I’ve ever seen! They left their faraway homes, followed a star, and looked for the greatest King of all!

There was a time when Joseph and I had to flee to Egypt to protect our baby Jesus from the evil King Herod. We used the gold the Wisemen brought us to help us establish our new life, and this is all I have left. The solid gold reminds me of purity. Jesus was God’s only Son, and He was pure in heart. You could see that in everything He did and the way He taught us to live.

VIDEO: Bible Video, Wise Men Seek Jesus, (3:00-4:38) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhD8lG9VDVc

FRANKINCENSE

(Lifts out frankincense and smells it) Mmm, how good this smells! As far back as I can remember frankincense has been a symbol of prayer, worship, and devotion. Even though He was the Son of God, Jesus worshiped His Heavenly Father. I learned so much from Jesus about how to worship the Father. I remember when he was only 12 years old we were returning home from Jerusalem and but we could not find him anywhere. We went back to the city and found him inside the temple. Even as a young boy, He knew His divine mission on this earth.

VIDEO: Bible Video, Jesus Teaches in the Temple (0:07-2:20) https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/young-jesus-teaches-in-the-temple?lang=eng

MYRRH

(Bringing out the Myrrh) Myrrh. It was the last of the gifts given to us by the Wisemen. Myrrh is used to anoint dead people, and it may seem like an odd gift to give to a new baby. But the Wisemen knew that Jesus was going to die for all mankind.

(Looking back at the Myrrh) Oh, we used the frankincense to worship on holy days. But this myrrh… I never had a chance to use it. When we went to the tomb to anoint Him with the myrrh, He had risen! Oh how wonderful that we can all have eternal life!

VIDEO: He is Risen, MoTab (0-3:12) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCJtfBR7T9E

(Putting everything back into the treasure box) Some wonder if looking at these things make me miss Jesus? Yes, I do miss Him. But I know why Jesus came to earth. I know why He had to die, and I know that because of Him we can all live together again.

VIDEO: Summary of the Nativity with President Monson (0-4:59) https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/glad-tidings-of-great-joy-the-birth-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng 

   

At the end we had the girls share their testimonies if they wanted to.  I love listening to their strength and conviction of different gospel principles.  Then we gave them a Christmas present: a copy of The Family, A Proclamation to the World.  I had one in my binder and a few months ago some of the girls asked where I got it.  Since I had made it, I made a new version with the Detroit temple for our girls.