The Ultimate Gifts

     The ultimate gift-giver is our Savior, Jesus Christ. If you were to reflect on your life, you would realize that the majority of your most important gifts have come from the Lord. Or, if you cannot see how the Lord has blessed you, you can pray for the spiritual eyes to comprehend His hand in your life. The miraculous thing to me is that the Savior's gifts most essential to our salvation apply to each and every one of us.

     The gifts that I found to be most meaningful include the following:

1. The Gift of a Mortal Body and World
     The Apostle Russell M. Nelson said,

I testify that the earth and all life upon it are of divine origin. The Creation did not happen by chance. It did not come ex nihilo (out of nothing). And human minds and hands able to build buildings or create computers are not accidental. It is God who made us and not we ourselves. We are His people!    The Creation itself testifies of a Creator. We cannot disregard the divine in the Creation. Without our grateful awareness of God’s hand in the Creation, we would be just as oblivious to our provider as are goldfish swimming in a bowl. With deep gratitude, we echo the words of the Psalmist, who said, “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.”1

2. The Gift of Power over Death
     Church Apostle Dallin H. Oaks stated,

The possibility that a mortal who has died will be brought forth and live again in a resurrected body has awakened hope and stirred controversy through much of recorded history. Relying on clear scriptural teachings, Latter-day Saints join in affirming that Christ has “broken the bands of death” (Mosiah 16:7) and that “death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:54; see also Morm. 7:5). Because we believe the Bible and Book of Mormon descriptions of the literal Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we also readily accept the numerous scriptural teachings that a similar resurrection will come to all mortals who have ever lived upon this earth.2 As Jesus taught, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19).3 

 3. The Gift of Power over Sin
     Perhaps the most touching gift the Savior has given us is the gift of His Atonement. Through that prayer in Gethsemane, Jesus was able to understand, experience, and suffer all of our afflictions. Our wrongs, our pains, sicknesses, and worries. He understood what was required and deliberately chose to see it through. Because of His sacrifice, He can literally empathize with each individual person; and He became infinitely qualified to act as our advocate with the Father. After we have given all that we can, and have repented of our sins, it is still not enough. We must rely on the Savior's mercy and love to redeem ourselves. He will fill in all the gaps that we cannot! If we come unto Him and do our part, He has promised us that He will do His.

4. The Gift of Scripture, Revelation, and Prophets
     These gifts are to promote our return to a loving Heavenly Father. In His love for us, Jesus has provided a way for us to receive instruction from heaven. We have a record of God's laws for His children in the time before Christ and during his mortality in the scriptures. And now, through the restored gospel, we have a prophet and apostles with the proper authority to speak with and on behalf of the Lord once again. In addition to spiritual direction, within scripture and prophecies are also things we can do in this life to bring us happiness.

     Then, we have all of the personalized gifts that we can recognize in our own lives. These are the ones that have been tailor-fit to our own circumstances and needs. I have had so many of these through the years that it is hard to comprehend Jesus Christ's love for my family and me. Most recently, we have been given the gift of life, health and recovery for my dear mother.

     Several weeks ago, my parents went down to help with funeral arrangements for my Grandmother's death. While there, on Thanksgiving morning, my Mom (in her early 50's) had a paralyzing stroke. She was in the Neuro-ICU for over a week, and we weren't sure if she would survive- or if she did, to what extent she would recover. For a number of weeks, things were slow and uncertain. She received priesthood blessings from my father and others in the church for quick recovery and healing. Against many odds, a month later, Mom is regaining nearly all that has been lost! Though still with limited motion, she can move her left side, which had been still for weeks. She has even started to feel tinglings in her limbs as well. Her mind is strong, and her faith is pure. She was able to be home for Christmas- which we acknowledge as no small miracle. Many may say that she is just one of the lucky ones who recovers quickly, but since we are blessed with the gospel we can see her situation for what it truly is: a God-given miracle. (I am sure I will revisit this event in future posts.)

     I would encourage you to take a few moments to ponder what the Lord has given to you. Once you take the time to consider it, you will come up with more things than you could have imagined. And, if you are like me, you will be able to see more clearly where our gifts are coming from- and that more often than not, they are from Christ.

Published by Jen
1. Nelson, Russell M.. "The Creation". The Ensign. May 2000.
2. 1 Cor. 15:22; 2 Ne. 9:22; Hel. 14:17; Morm. 9:13; D&C 29:26; D&C 76:39, 42–44
3. Oaks, Dallin H.. "Resurrection". The Ensign. May 2000.

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Good Tidings of Great Joy!

Read of the "good tidings of great joy", the reason for the season, and cause which brought "joy to the world" in the New Testament,(Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 2:1-2; 7-11).

 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

  3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

  4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

  5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

  6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

  7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn...

                                       

Merry Christmas!

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Book of Mormon Prophecies of Christ

How the Book of Mormon prophecies of Christ changed my life

By Guest Blogger: Walter Lenel

I grew up without much in the way of Christian teachings.  I was not impressed with the conduct of many people I knew who professed Christianity and went to church regularly.  In my view, there was no strong reason to believe in God, so by the time I was into my teens, I was confident that agnosticism or atheism were the appropriate choices for a person of integrity and intellectual honesty.  Organized religion was a complete turn-off.

I knew that the Bible prophesied of Christ and testified of His earthly ministry in the Old World, but because of my negative feelings about religion, I did not allow it to influence me or touch my heart.  When I began to investigate the teachings of Mormonism as a teenager, however, my heart began to soften and my mind started to open.  I really wanted to know not only whether He lived on the earth and did the things the scriptures said He did, but whether He was alive now.

In addition to really reading the Bible for the first time, I began to study the Book of Mormon in earnest.  I was absolutely amazed at how often this book talked about Jesus Christ and His teachings, and at how it spoke of Him.

One of the most powerful things to me about the Book of Mormon is the absolute clarity and surety with which it prophesies of Jesus Christ, before His coming.  From Nephi, the first prophet to write in the book, to another Nephi who lived centuries later, the message about Christ is unmistakable: He would be the literal Son of God; be born of Mary in Bethlehem; set a sinless example of love, service, and righteousness; and perform the Atonement which allows all people to be resurrected (without condition) and saved (if they choose) through His power.

In the very first book, 1 Nephi, the prophet Nephi testifies, “And behold he cometh, according to the words of the angel, in six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem.”  (1 Nephi 19:8)  Later Nephi was shown a vision that included Jesus being born of Mary, healing the sick, being judged and crucified. (1 Nephi 11:31-33) 

In one of the most amazing sermons ever recorded, the prophet and king named Benjamin prophesied of Christ also.  He spoke of His name and His mother’s name, His works of love and miracles, the nature of His incomprehensible physical and spiritual suffering to atone for our sins, His resurrection, etc.  See Mosiah 3: 5-11.

As the birth of the Savior drew much closer, other prophecies of Christ were recorded in the Book of Mormon—one was only 5 years before His birth (and the prophet specified that – see Helaman 14:2-8), and the other was the day before His birth (3 Nephi 1:13)!

The great detail and specificity, and therefore the great power in these recorded prophecies, have always impressed me deeply.  As I have pondered these things, along with the testimony of biblical prophets, it has been obvious to me that either Jesus Christ and His atonement (and the scriptures which testify of Him) are either an elaborate fairy tale and hoax, or else they are the truth.  I knew I could not depend just on logic, reason, or other people in making up my mind.  I would need for God to tell me personally, through his Spirit.  Then it wouldn’t matter what anyone else said or thought, or what happened to me.

I am more grateful than I can express that I have asked for and received the spiritual witness that the scriptures are true.  Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  He lived on the earth and wrought the Atonement.  He lives now, and loves me and all of us unconditionally.  It is worth every effort to draw close to Him.  This knowledge has brought indescribable peace and joy into my life, and continues to inspire me to never give up trying to follow Christ’s perfect example.

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Old Testament Prophecies of Christ

Guest Blogger Melanie shares insights on Christ through Old Testament prophecies.

If you look for the name “Jesus Christ” in the Old Testament, you will not find it.  He is called by many other names, The Good Shepherd, the King of Glory, Jehovah, the Messiah to name a few. But by whatever name, Jesus is the center of the Old Testament.  Indeed, the purpose of the Old Testament was to prophesy of Christ:  to teach of Him and His mission; to prophesy of His coming, to prepare the people for Him.  And yet for the most part, the people missed this.  There are literally dozens of prophecies declaring the coming of the Messiah, and Jesus fulfilled them all.  Some of them were fulfilled very publicly, others very quietly.

The prophet Amos said, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)  So Prophets have always taught that Jesus would come, that He would deliver His people.

Jeremiah foretold His lineage, that he would be of David’s line. (Jeremiah 23:5)  The scriptures tell us both Mary and Joseph were of the lineage of David.

Isaiah told the people of the Old Testament that a virgin would conceive and bear a son. (Isaiah 7:14)

Micah prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, a small village of no importance in the Jewish society of Jesus’s time.  (Micah 5:2)  Hosea prophesied that the Messiah would be called out of Egypt.   (Hosea11:1)  This might have sounded like the Prophets didn’t agree,  but Luke tells us of his birth in a stable in Bethlehem, the City of David. And Matthew tells of Herod’s evil decree that all boy children should be killed and Joseph taking his little family to Egypt for safety.

The Prophets didn’t stop at Jesus’s birth.  They talked of His ministry: that it would begin in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2), that he would teach in parables (Psalms 78:2), that it would be marked by miracles (Isaiah 35: 5 – 6.) They talked of his crucifixion:  that He would be sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12), be betrayed by His friend (Psalms 41:9), deserted by his associates (Zechariah 13:7), have His hands and feet pierced (Psalms22:16).  They talked of His resurrection:  that he would rise from death (Psalms 2:7), and of His mission: that He was wounded for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5) and that He made it possible for all the dead to rise (Daniel 12:2).

We are preparing to celebrate Christmas.  We have two ways to approach this.  We can celebrate like the world does, which if you watch TV apparently means buying expensive cars with big red bows and going to parties.  Or we can focus on Jesus Christ.

I hope we all recognize our Savior.  I hope we celebrate not just the Baby, but the life and ministry and sacrifice of the Man.  I hope we all worry less about the world and more about the Savior of the World. Each day, we have the opportunity to celebrate His divinity.  He will come again; the prophets have been telling us that for thousands of years.  It is our responsibility and privilege to seek diligently with pure hearts in order to recognize the signs, in order to know our Savior.  He came, He atoned for our sins, He died and rose from the dead, and He will come again.  May we all be ready to welcome Him. 

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Favorite Christmas Stories

Pattern of Love

By Jack Smith

I didn’t question Timmy, age nine, or his seven-year old brother Billy about the brown wrapping paper they passed back and forth between them as we visited each store.

Every year at Christmas time, our Service Club takes the children from poor families in our town on a personally conducted shopping store. I was assigned Timmy and Billy, whose father was out of work. After giving them the allotted $4 each, we began our trip. At different stores I mad suggestions, but always their answer was a solemn shake of the head, no. Finally, I asked, “Where would you suggest we look?”

“Could we go to a shoe store, Sir?” answered Timmy. “We’d like a pair of shoes for our Daddy so he can go to work.”

In the shoe store the clerk asked what the boys wanted. Out came the brown paper. “We want a pair of work shoes to fit this foot,” they said.

Billy explained that it was a pattern of their Daddy’s foot. They had drawn it while he was asleep in a chair.

The clerk held the paper against a measuring stick, then walked away. Soon he came with an open box. “Will these do?” he asked.

Timmy and Billy handled the shoes with great eagerness. “How much do they cost?” said Billy.

Then Timmy saw the price on the box. They’re $16.95,” he said in dismay, “We only have $8.”

I looked at the clerk and he cleared his throat. “That’s the regular price,” he said, “but they’re on sale; $3.98 today only.”

Then with shoes happily in hand the boys bought gifts for their mother and two little sisters. Not once did they think of themselves.

The day after Christmas the boy’s father stopped me on the street. The new shoes were on his feet, gratitude was in his eyes. “I just thank Jesus for people who care,” he said.

“And I thank Jesus for your two sons,” I replied. “They taught me more about Christmas in one evening than I had learned in a lifetime.”

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Why Christ's Birth is Significant

      I am sure that we all, as Christians, realize the true meaning of Christmas. But in the hubbub of getting gifts ready for our loved ones, baking cookies for our neighbors, going to plays and choir concerts and band recitals, and Christmas carols and shopping, it is possible to lose sight of the depth of its meaning. At Christmas we celebrate one of the most important events- arguably the most important- ever to take place in this world. Jesus Christ is of infinite worth in terms of our salvation, but His birth, specifically, was foretold by many in the scriptures and was (and is) absolutely essential.

        The literal birth of Jesus Christ holds great significance for all mankind. In looking at the big picture, we know that God's laws require justice. He would be an unfair God if there were no consequences for sin. Though, we are all sinners (in some form or another), so we all are in danger of punishment, condemnation, and eternal separation from God and our bodies. However, in His love for us, Heavenly Father provided a Savior for us to overcome sin (the Atonement) and death (the Crucifixion and Resurrection). The Apostle James E. Talmage wrote in his book Jesus the Christ,

Moreover, since by the transgression of one man sin came into the world and death was entailed upon all, it is consistent with reason that the atonement thus made necessary should be wrought by one.1

        Just as we must be held accountable for our sins by the law of justice, a perfect, ultimate sacrifice throws the balance. If one perfect being submits Himself to all pain and suffering for naught, the law of justice is mocked. It is Christ's perfection that made room for mercy- He was owed justice, and uses it to grant mercy to all who would otherwise experience the same payment for sin He already suffered.

Jesus Christ alone was qualified to be our Savior:

1. -As the one and only sinless Man
2. -As the Only Begotten of the Father and therefore the only Being born to earth possessing in their fullness the attributes of both Godhood and manhood
3. -As the One who had been chosen in the heavens and foreordained to this service 2

The Apostle Paul taught,

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.3

        Christ needed to be born of a mortal mother so that He had the ability to die. But He also needed to be born of God to have power over death and sin- so that He would not submit to death until His "hour had come". His birth gave way to the possibility for redemption of all who ever have, or ever will, live on this earth. A reason for rejoicing, indeed.

        And so, each year, we celebrate the great love and wisdom of our Heavenly Father, and the love and willingness of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who,

[Descended] below all things, in order that He might raise others above all things; for if He could not raise Himself and be exalted through those principles brought about by the atonement, He could not raise others; He could not do for others what He could not do for Himself.4

And we look forward to the time when He who was once of lowly birth will return, with glory, to the earth.

Published by Jen
1. James E. Talmage, Story and Philosophy of 'Mormonism,' p. 111.
2. James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 20.
3. 1 Corinthians 15:22
4. Church President, John Taylor

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Finding Joy in Giving

Thanks to Guest Blogger Amy for sharing her experience in giving.

“Rather than exchange gifts with each other this Christmas, why don’t we pick some children in need and give our presents to them?”  Mrs. Nielsen, my third grade teacher queried.  “All in favor, raise your hands!”  Travis, Beth and Heidi all raised their hands.  The rest of us, who had our heads screwed on straight, kept our hands decidedly down.

Of course Travis raised his hand I thought, he’s rich; he’ll get all the Christmas presents he wants anyway.   I knew for a fact that Travis and his two older sisters each had private horseback riding lessons, a privilege I sincerely coveted.   I also knew my parents didn’t have the money to ‘pony up’ for such a luxury.

Why was Mrs. Nielsen trying to ruin our fun Christmas tradition?  At church my teacher said it was more blessed to give than to receive, but I didn’t believe it.  I liked getting something myself a whole lot better than giving something to someone else.

Luckily my vote was in the majority and my classmates and I once again exchanged gifts with each other.  Phew, crisis averted.

And now a few decades (or so) later I still LOVE to get presents, and I’m embarrassed to admit I probably still like receiving better than giving.  But even I have to admit, giving feels really good sometimes.

One Christmas season, my parents’ friends’ daughter (ya follow me?), who worked as a social worker, decided she wanted to help provide Christmas presents for all the families on her caseload.  My parents asked my siblings and me if we wanted to participate in the gift buying.  This time my hand went straight up in the affirmative.  My assignment was to buy a present for an eight year old girl.  She had specifically asked for a baby doll.  Probably my favorite, Christmas present of all time had been the Mandy doll I received when I was six years old.  Mandy and I went through thick and thin together and were bonded for life, so I was thrilled to be able to buy a doll for another little girl.

I spent a lot of time in the department store picking just the right doll.  After  I made my choice I couldn’t help but remember how, as a child, I had longingly looked at the pictures of the extra clothing and accoutrements shown on the doll box or  pamphlet  that were all sold separately.  I had always wanted those extra accessories, but like horseback riding lessons, they were dividends I never received.

However, I decided one particular eight year old girl on a social worker’s caseload was going to get the extras too.  I really didn’t have the extra money, but sometimes you do have to throw caution to the wind. I bought a bathtub, a stroller and a couple of extra outfits. I felt so privileged to be able to buy these small things for this young girl. I imagined her looking at the “extras” on the pictures on the box  and feeling glorious that she had all the paraphernalia too.

I heard from my parent’s friends that the little girl had really liked the doll, but I bet all the joy she had playing with her doll didn’t match all the joy I’d felt buying for her.

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