Christmas pageants have power to touch our hearts

There I was, center stage, inside the rock church in Farmington on a December Sunday in 1948.

I had been chosen to be Mary in the annual Christmas pageant, and up until then, never in my life had anything so thrilling happened to me.

The costume may have been old sheets, but to me it was as wonderful as a princess' gown. My mother had curled my long brown hair in ringlets that would have made Shirley Temple jealous.

A few weeks ago, as I sat watching our LDS ward's Nativity program during a party, all those feelings came flooding back to me, and I felt happy and warm inside.

As I watched this Nativity, I noticed one of the lambs on all fours sneaking behind the shepherds to make his getaway.

Laughing, I leaned over to point it out to my friends, Sandra Hadley and Elouise Jensen, who were in charge of the party with me.

Elouise said, "You know there is a pecking order up there after doing it these last five years?"

Later talking to Rachael Jacob, the Primary president, I found it was true. Each year the kids know exactly what part they are going to perform, and most look forward to it, except perhaps the 4-year-olds who, of course, are the lambs.

Our granddaughter, Ellery, probably will always remember her great moment. She was about 5 years old and insisted on being the angel at a Young family gathering.

The week before she had watched as her experienced cousin, Tayler, who for a 10-year-old had a beautiful singing voice, perform at another family party.

Ellery determined that was her future.

Shayne, her mother, tried to talk her into doing another part, but Ellery insisted. Ellery's mother then tried to help her with what she should say or sing, but Ellery just smiled.

So on the night, the Young family gathered and all the children were dressed and ready and the pageant started.

Grandpa Grit with his big bass voice started by reading from the Bible. He got to the part where the angel of the Lord comes to announce Jesus' birth.

At that point Ellery came out looking regal and smiling. She took a deep breath.

As we watched she opened her little mouth and with great confidence sang, "I wuv youuuu, you wuv meeeeee, we're a great big famaweeee …"

Yes — Barney's song!