Christmas 2014

Christmas 2014

Gregory B. Talley

Christmas. Within that word is the name of our Savior. And, while we should rejoice and be happy when we utter that word, I wonder if at times is we shouldn't speak it with reverence.

Christmas. Your perception of Christmas is most likely dependent upon your age, how you were raised, where you lived when you were growing up, what your economic situation was and is, and what you have learned about Christmas over the span of a lifetime. Some, like me, have evolved from sitting on Santa’s lap and leaving him a wish list to becoming Santa and receiving the wish list. Somewhere in there I learned to leave cookies and milk for Santa along with a thank you note. Then, gradually over time, gifts that came from Santa were replaced by gifts from parents. Later I sought to find just the right gifts for my parents, friends, and other loved ones. The intrinsic value of those gifts became more significant as I spent my own money for gifts as opposed to borrowed dollars from my parents. Likewise, I began to understand the meaningful value of gifts given to me, sometimes at great sacrifice during some fairly lean times.

As children of God we are beneficiaries of the greatest gift of all time, the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Often undeserving and through no effort of our own we have been given the gift of immortality with the potential to live in God’s presence through eternity. Merely by accepting the grace of God we are entitled to have His Spirit to comfort us in times of trial. He is there to take upon Himself our pains and sicknesses and to stand by our side through temptations (Alma 7: 11-12). Indeed, “God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3: 16).

As we mature in our knowledge of His gospel we come to understand the meaning of loving him “because He first loved us” (1 John 4: 19). As such, it is only appropriate that we think in terms of gifts having eternal value that we may return to the Savior, not because we fear Him and not because we want a reward from Him, but because we love Him. In the course of loving Him we should come to emulate Him in every way possible. Therefore, what manner of men and women ought we to be? We ought to be even as Christ is (3 Nephi 27: 27). But, what acceptable gift may we offer Him in return? Prophets and the Savior Himself have given us guidance on this. Perhaps you could call it His Christmas Wish List. Let me share it with you.

“If ye love me keep my commandments” (John 14: 15).

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37 - 39).

Be “willing to mourn with those that mourn;…and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and… stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death” (Mosiah 18:9). Remember that, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).

“(S)ee that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day” (D&C 4:2).

He invites us to come unto him, all “that labour and are heavy laden, and (He) will give (us) rest” (Matthew 11:28). Said the Savior, “Come, follow me” (Luke 18: 22).

And lastly He asks that we repent of our sins and present unto Him “a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 12:19).

“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which (I) give of him: That he lives!” (D&C 76:22). He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, our Savior and Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the great I Am. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Wise men sought Him, and so should we. May we be willing to take upon ourselves His name and “always remember Him and keep His commandments” which He has given us” (D&C 20: 77), I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.