Greatest of All Gifts

This Christmas, I am most grateful for the transcendent gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

"This little child, born in a stable and cradled in a manger, was a gift from our loving Heavenly Father. He was the promised Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, the Son of the living God. He was with His Father before He came to earth in mortality, the Creator of the earth upon which we stand.

"The...Apostle John gives us a sense of the greatness of this child in the courts on high, from which He came: ‘Without him was not any thing made that was made.’ Yet He came to earth in humble circumstances.

“He worked as a boy and a youth in the carpenter’s shop of Joseph in Nazareth. In His mortal ministry He walked the dusty roads of Palestine, healed the sick, raised the dead, taught His gospel to people who rejected Him, gave His life on Calvary’s hill, and rose on the third day in what began the Resurrection to break the bands of death for us all and so became “the firstfruits of them that slept.”

“Above all, the Savior whose birth we remember this season of the year paid the price of all of our sins. Again the prophet Isaiah, long before our Lord’s birth, saw the gift beyond price of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

[Isaiah] ...gave us this description of what the Savior did for us:

‘Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

‘But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

(Henry B. Eyring, “The Gift of a Savior,” December 5, 2010)

Christmas Gifts

In the following quote, President Thomas S. Monson reminds us that the greatest gift we can give this Christmas is the gift of ourselves.

"Finding the real joy of the [Christmas] season comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done or in the purchasing of obligatory gifts. Real joy comes as we show the love and compassion inspired by the Savior of the World, who said, ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these ... ye have done it unto me.’

“At this joyous season, may personal discords be forgotten and animosities healed. May enjoyment of the season include remembrance of the needy and afflicted. May our forgiveness reach out to those who have wronged us, even as we hope to be forgiven. May goodness abound in our hearts and love prevail in our homes.

“As we contemplate how we’re going to spend our money to buy gifts this holiday season, let us plan also for how we will spend our time in order to help bring the true spirit of Christmas into the lives of others.

“The Savior gave freely to all, and His gifts were of value beyond measure. Throughout His ministry, He blessed the sick, restored sight to the blind, made the deaf to hear, and the halt and lame to walk. He gave cleanliness to the unclean. He restored breath to the lifeless. He gave hope to the despairing and bestowed light in the darkness. He gave us His love, His service, and His life.

“...With the pure love of Christ, let us walk in His footsteps as we approach the season celebrating His birth.” (President Thomas S. Monson, “The Spirit of the Season,” December 6, 2009)

The Christmas Spirit

“I am the Christmas Spirit—

“I enter the home of poverty, causing palefaced children to open their eyes wide, in pleased wonder.

“I cause the miser’s clutched hand to relax and thus paint a bright spot on his soul.

“I cause the aged to renew their youth and to laugh in the old glad way.

“I keep romance alive in the heart of childhood, and brighten sleep with dreams woven of magic.

“I cause eager feet to climb dark stairways with filled baskets, leaving behind hearts amazed at the goodness of the world.

“I cause the prodigal to pause a moment on his wild, wasteful way and send to anxious love some little token that releases glad tears—tears which wash away the hard lines of sorrow.

“I enter dark prison cells, reminding scarred manhood of what might have been and pointing forward to good days yet to be.

“I come softly into the still, white home of pain, and lips that are too weak to speak just tremble in silent, eloquent gratitude.

“In a thousand ways, I cause the weary world to look up into the face of God, and for a little moment forget the things that are small and wretched.

“I am the Christmas Spirit.” ( E. C. Baird, “Christmas Spirit,” in James S. Hewitt, ed., Illustrations Unlimited (1988), 81.)

What Is Your Gift

“The spirit of Christmas is something I hope all of us would have in our hearts and lives—not only at this particular season but also throughout the year.

   

“When we have the spirit of Christmas, we remember Him whose birth we commemorate at this season of the year: ‘For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord’ (Luke 2:11).

“In our day the spirit of giving gifts plays a large role in commemorating the Christmas season. I wonder if we might profit by asking ourselves, What gifts would the Lord have me give to Him or to others at this precious season of the year?” (Thomas S. Monson, “Rediscovering the Christmas Spirit,” Ensign, December 2012)

Seeking Jesus

Remembering the following counsel from a talk given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf will help me stay focused on the birth of Christ during this busy and festive season.

“Jesus Christ was born in a stable surrounded by lowly animals. He was raised in a disparaged town on the fringes of civilization. He did not go through the pattern of worldly education. He was not trained in worldly schools of philosophy, art, or literature. Some who heard His teachings questioned the origins of His education, saying, ‘How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?’  and they said also, ‘Whence hath this man (his) wisdom? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren . . . and his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?’

“The sophisticated and the proud, those who placed their trust in worldly learning, could not see Him. Jesus the Christ was not wealthy, nor did he hold a political office. He lived and taught among humble people in a nation that was in bondage to the Romans. Therefore He did not seem worthy of notice by the political leaders of the day.... They were far too busy to pay attention to a humble preacher of righteousness. When Jesus stood before Pilate, the powerful Roman governor could see only a teacher who was the cause of a disturbance in his political jurisdiction.

“The wealthy and the influential, those who were caught up in their busy affairs of commerce and government, could not see Him.

“The scribes and Pharisees... were so steeped in their own traditions and so blinded by their own narrow interpretation of scripture that they could not see the humble man who walked among them....

“The self-righteous and unteachable, those whose hearts were closed to the Spirit, could not see Him.

“But who saw Him?

“Simeon, an elderly, devout, and just man, saw the Christ. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple, Simeon knew through the power of the Holy Ghost that this was indeed the Christ, the Son of the Most High. And he took the baby in his arms and blessed Him.

“Humble fishermen and laborers saw Him. The ailing, the humble, and the distraught saw Him and recognized Him as the Salvation of Israel. But there were those among the rich and powerful who were teachable and therefore could see the Christ. Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, saw Him, as did the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea and Zacchaeus the publican....

“Sometimes when we read about people who could not see the Savior for who He was, we marvel at their blindness. But do we also let distractions obstruct our view of the Savior—during this Christmas season and throughout the year? Some are external distractions—the gifts we worry about, the decorations, or the clamorous advertising—but often it is what is inside us that blinds us from seeing the Christ.

“Some may feel a certain level of intellectual aloofness that distances them from Christ. In an age when vast amounts of knowledge are at our fingertips, the familiar story of Jesus the Christ can get lost amid the flood of scientific advances, pressing news, or the latest popular movies or books.

“Some are so caught up in the details of running their lives that they don’t make time for much else. They might pay lip service to the things of the Spirit, but their hearts are so focused on the world that they cannot see the Christ...

“This is a season of rejoicing! A season of celebration! A wonderful time when we acknowledge that our Almighty God sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world! To redeem us!

“It is a season of charitable acts of kindness and brotherly love. It is a season of being more reflective about our own lives and about the many blessings that are ours. It is a season of forgiving and being forgiven.

“But perhaps most of all, let it be a season of seeking the Lamb of God, the King of Glory, the Everlasting Light of the World, the Great Hope of Mankind, the Savior and Redeemer of our souls.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Can We See the Christ in Christmas?" December 6, 2009; emphasis added)

I hope throughout this Christmas season and throughout the coming year I will be one who will seek Him.

Do Unto Others

In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior said to His disciples, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them..." (Matthew 7:12). This is the Golden Rule. The following story illustrates the importance of this principle in our relationships with others:

"A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered

"The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

"The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. 'We must do something about father,' said the son. 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'

"So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

"When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

"The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

"One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded, 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. ' The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

"The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

"That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled." (Author unknown)

This simple story gives us a vision of how different the world would be if each of us lived the Savior's injunction and treated other people the way we would like to be treated.

Qualities of a Disciple

On my discipleship journey, I am striving to become more like Christ. My hope is to become more like Him by focusing on developing the sublime attributes of His character. Without a doubt, this will be a lifetime process.

Elder Robert D. Hales spoke in General Conference of the attributes of our Savior:

"Christian love. The Savior valued everyone. Kind and compassionate to all, He left the ninety and nine to find the one, for “even the very hairs of [our] head are … numbered” to Him.

"Christian faith. Despite temptations, trials, and persecutions, the Savior trusted our Heavenly Father and chose to be faithful and obedient to His commandments.

"Christian sacrifice. Throughout His life the Savior gave of His time, His energy, and ultimately, through the Atonement, gave Himself so that all of God’s children could be resurrected and have the opportunity to inherit eternal life.

"Christian caring. Like the good Samaritan, the Savior was continually reaching out to rescue, love, and nurture people around Him, regardless of their culture, creed, or circumstances.

"Christian service. Whether drawing water from a well, cooking a meal of fish, or washing dusty feet, the Savior spent His days serving others—lifting up the weary and strengthening the weak.

"Christian patience. In His own sorrow and suffering, the Savior waited upon His Father. With patience for us, He waits upon us to come to ourselves and come home to Him.

"Christian peace. Throughout His ministry He urged understanding and promoted peace. Especially among His disciples, He taught that Christians cannot contend with other Christians, notwithstanding their differences.

"Christian forgiveness. He taught us to bless those who curse us. He showed us the way by praying that those who crucified Him would be forgiven.

"Christian conversion. Like Peter and Andrew, many recognize the truth of the gospel as soon as they hear it. They are instantlyconverted. For others it may take longer. In a revelation given through Joseph Smith, the Savior taught, “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day,” the perfect day of our conversion. Jesus Christ is “the light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth.”

"Christian endurance to the end. In all His days, the Savior never gave up doing His Father’s will but continued in righteousness, goodness, mercy, and truth to the end of His mortal life." (Robert D. Hales, "Being a More Christian Christian," Ensign, November 2012, emphasis added)

This is a good reminder of what I need to focus on to become a better disciple of Christ. I hope that through His grace I can receive the help to more fully develop these qualities.

 

Happy Thanksgiving

I am grateful for the blessings I have received.

Alma taught that we should "live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which...[the Lord] doth bestow upon" us (Alma 34:38). Bonnie D. Parkin said:

"Gratitude is a Spirit-filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of God’s love. This grateful awareness heightens our sensitivity to divine direction. When we communicate gratitude, we can be filled with the Spirit and connected to those around us and the Lord. Gratitude inspires happiness and carries divine influence.” (Bonnie D. Parkin, "Gratitude: A Path to Happiness", Ensign, May 2007)

The hymn Count Your Blessings teaches me of blessings that flow from a grateful attitude:

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed.
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost.
Count you many blessing; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what The Lord has done. 

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count you many blessings; ev'ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by. 

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has proimised you his wealth untold.
Count you many blessings; money cannot buy,
Your reward in heaven nor you home on high. 

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count you many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end. 

Count you blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count you blessings;
See what God hath done.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught"

"The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy."(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Forget Me Not", Ensign, November 2011)

I hope that I will recognize and be grateful for my blessings not just today but every day throughout the year.

Rushing to Judgement

At times we react to the behavior of those around us based on incomplete information. We fill in our information gaps with broad and often incorrect assumptions about the motives of others. We make rash judgments. Anger and pride cloud our understanding and distort our assumptions. Fractured relationships can ensue. The following old Welsh story illustrates the problems we can get ourselves into when we rush to judge others' motives based upon incomplete information and faulty assumptions.

"...A prince...returned home to find his dog with blood dripping down its face. The man rushed inside and, to his horror, saw that his baby boy was missing and his cradle overturned. In anger the prince pulled out his sword and killed his dog. Shortly thereafter, he heard the cry of his son—the babe was alive! By the infant’s side lay a dead wolf. The dog had, in reality, defended the prince’s baby from a murderous wolf." (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "One Key to a Happy Family", Ensign, Oct. 2012.)

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf notes the following about this sad tale: 

"Though this story is dramatic, it demonstrates a point. It opens the possibility that the story we tell ourselves about why others behave a certain way does not always agree with the facts—sometimes we don’t even want to know the facts. We would rather feel self-justified in our anger by holding onto our bitterness and resentment. Sometimes these grudges can last months or years. Sometimes they can last a lifetime." (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "One Key to a Happy Family", Ensign, Oct. 2012.)

In our lives, we need to ensure that we aren't rushing to judge the motives of others. We need to be cautious about assuming what people's real intents are toward us. We need to avoid taking offense. As we do, we will avoid fracturing our relationships with others and better live the Savior's command to love one another.

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