This Christmas season, Brad and I have been trying to focus more on the opportunities to serve around us, and have been amazed by the many others we have seen doing the same. I am extremely grateful for a wonderful mother who taught me about the importance of service and to think of others needs before my own. As I look back at my most memorable Christmases, they are when I have focused on others needs. I am so grateful I have a loving husband that feels the same way I do and will always support me. This past Sunday in young women's we as a presidency each picked a special message we wanted to share with the girls about remembering the "true" meaning of Christmas. It is wonderful how through the spirit we each had a different message and yet after each was shared, they built upon the previous one. I am so grateful for the wonderful women I serve with and the inspired leaders that they are. I appreciate your friendship and support! Thank you! thank you!
As I was preparing my thoughts for Sunday, I came across this First Presidency message from December 1988 by President Ezra Taft Benson. I picked a few nuggets that touched me and thought I would share. Click here to read more.
"As we commence this Christmas season, a season of giving and receiving, I would like to discuss a few of the many gifts we have received from our Lord, Jesus Christ, and what we in turn might give to Him.
First, He gave us the perfect model—
Himself—after which we are to pattern our lives. He said “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (
John 15:13.)
Not only did He set for us the perfect example of earthly living, but for our sake He willingly gave His life. He went through agony both in body and spirit, which we cannot comprehend, to give to us the glorious blessings of the Atonement and the Resurrection. (See
D&C 19:15–19.)
Some men are willing to die for their faith,
but they are not willing to fully live for it. Christ both lived and died for us. Through His atonement and by walking in His steps, we can gain the greatest gift of all—eternal life, which is that kind of life of the great Eternal One—our Father in Heaven.
Second, in addition to the gift of the life of Christ,
is the gift of His Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—“the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.” (
D&C 1:30.) The Church is the organized means which God uses to establish and expand His work.
We must work with it and in it, build it up, and move it forward.Third, in addition to the gifts of the life of Christ and His Church,
is the gift of scripture, particularly the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon was written for our day. Mormon, who compiled it, saw us in vision and was directed to put into the book those things God felt we would especially need in our time. We therefore should know the Book of Mormon better than any other book. Not only should we know what history and faith-promoting stories it contains, but we should understand its teachings. If we really do our homework and approach the Book of Mormon doctrinally, we can expose the errors and find the truths to combat many of the current false theories and philosophies of men.
“So I ask you, what can we possibly give to the Lord this Christmastime? Considering all that He has done and is doing for us, there is something that we might give Him in return.
Christ’s great gift to us was His life and sacrifice. Should that not then be our small gift to Him—our lives and sacrifices, not only now but in the future?...Yes, men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can.
He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life.”
Try as you may, you cannot put the Lord in your debt. For every time you try to do His will, He simply pours out more blessings upon you.
Sometimes the blessings may seem to be a little slow in coming—perhaps this tests your faith—but come they will, and abundantly. It has been said, “Cast your bread upon the waters and after a while it shall come back to you toasted and buttered.”
"But just as when one loses his life in the service of God, he really finds the abundant life, so also when one sacrifices all to God, then God in return shares all that He has with him." - President Ezra Taft Benson - Ensign 1988 - page 2. I could truly share experience after experience of wonderful Christmases past... but not enough time in the day to do so. Enjoy your final preparations for Christmas and may we all be reminded of the "true" meaning this year!!
