Friday, December 25, 2015

Remember Him



As this Christmas season has gone by, I notice a great difference in my attitude towards it.  At the beginning of the season I hated Christmas.  I knew what the real meaning of Christmas was and that we were supposed to focus on it.  However, I didn't understand exactly how or even how much it could change the whole season for me.  I set apart a time each day specifically for thinking about Christ and his birth and life.  This not only helped me focus on Him during the short period of time I was studying or writing about Him but, it also helped me to pay remember him all the time.  Even while shopping for Christmas presents something would always remind me of Him and the true meaning of Christmas.  Christmas is not just about the presents, parties, goodies, or eggnog.  Christmas is about the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.  It is a time set apart especially for Him.


Now how can we remember Him throughout the rest of the year?  One thing that I am going to do is to keep setting apart a time specifically to dedicate to Him and studying about him in the scriptures.  This will constantly help me to have Him on my mind and in my heart.  It will allow me to continuously be reminded of how willing He is to help me in all aspects of my life.  Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.  He is the Son of God.  He is the one that we need to get to know.  He loves us.  Throughout this year and the rest of your lives I challenge you to personally get to know Jesus Christ.  Develop a strong relationship with Him.  Know him in a way so that you would recognize him when He comes in His glory.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

The Night of Christ's Birth


"The baby cried out softly, and His mother, Mary, held Him close. She kissed His cheek and hummed a sweet song. The sleepy baby closed His eyes. Joseph and Mary watched the baby sleep, amazed at the miracle that He was. Months earlier an angel had told them that Mary’s baby would be Jesus Christ—the Son of God. And now, here He was, a tiny baby asleep in Mary’s arms.

Mary had wrapped baby Jesus in swaddling clothes to keep him warm and safe. Now she placed Him in the manger so she could rest.

Hundreds of years before this night, prophets of God had written of the birth of Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah called Jesus “Wonderful,Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). All of those important names describe the Savior. But on this night in Bethlehem, He was also a baby boy, loved by His mother and father.

The prophet Isaiah said, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6). Isaiah didn’t say, “unto Mary and Joseph” or “unto the people in Bethlehem.” He said, “unto us.” Jesus Christ was born to bless everyone. He was born to bless you. What does this mean to you?"

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Mary and Joseph



Mary and Joseph

By: Susan Winters


The more we know about Mary and Joseph, the more we come to appreciate the two special people who were chosen to be the earthly guardians of our Savior,Jesus Christ. Mary was the noble woman from whom Jesus would obtain a body of flesh and blood. Joseph, a kind and spiritual man, received the assignment to watch over and care for the boy Jesus.
Modern Latter-day Saint scholars have commented on several aspects of the lives of these two remarkable people.

Could Joseph have been a king?

Actually, both Mary and Joseph were of royal lineage. “Had Judah been a free and independent nation, ruled by her rightful sovereign, Joseph the carpenter would have been her crowned king; and his lawful successor to the throne would have been Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [1916], 82).


What were the names of Joseph’s and Mary’s fathers?

Mary’s ancestors were the same as Joseph’s. She was a descendant through the royal line of King David. “Matthew says Joseph was a son of Jacob, and Luke says that he was a son of Heli. It appears, however, that Jacob and Heli were brothers and that Heli was the father of Joseph and Jacob the father of Mary, making Joseph and Mary first cousins with the same ancestral lines” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, 4 vols. [1979–81], 1:316).

What does it mean that Joseph and Mary were espoused? 

“Espousal among the Hebrews was significantly more binding than are our engagements today. It was entered into by written agreement and was considered the formal beginning of the marriage itself. While the couple might not actually live together for as much as a year after the betrothal—a time designed to allow the bride to prepare her dowry—the espousal was as legally binding as the formal marriage” (Gerald N. Lund, in Celebration of Christmas: A Collection of Stories, Poems, Essays, and Traditions by Favorite LDS Authors [1988], 31).


How old were Mary and Joseph at the time of their marriage?

“No hint of the age of either Mary or Joseph is given in the scriptural text, but from existing sources we can make some educated guesses. … Marriage at earlier ages than to which we are accustomed was the general rule. … For a girl, probably the most common age of marriage was fifteen or sixteen. Sometimes it was later, sometimes earlier, but it is likely that Mary was around sixteen and Joseph, her espoused husband, only two or three years older than that” (Gerald N. Lund, inCelebration of Christmas, 31).

Why was it necessary for Jesus to have a mortal mother?

“As the Eternal Father’s Only Begotten Son in the flesh, Christ possessed the inborn power to withstand death indefinitely, and this just as naturally as that He, being the offspring of a mortal mother, should derive the ability to die. Jesus Christ inherited through the operation of the natural law of heredity the physical, mental, and spiritual attributes of His parents—the Father immortal and glorified, the mother human. He could not be slain until His hour had come, the hour in which He would voluntarily give up His life, and permit His own decease as an act of will. … Consider for example this: ‘Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again’ (John 10:17–18)” (James E. Talmage, The Vitality of Mormonism [1919], 57).

How many brothers and sisters did Jesus have?

In the New Testament, it mentions the brothers and sisters of Jesus. “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?” (Mark 6:3; see also Matthew 13:55–56).

“We don’t know how many other children there were in the family, but the New Testament names four boys and lists some sisters. The Greek manuscripts are helpful here. Matthew speaks of ‘all’ (Greek: pantai) his sisters (Matthew 13:56), suggesting more than two. The Greek term hai adelphia (the sisters) is used in the manuscripts, signifying a plurality—that is, three or more sisters. If the record had intended to convey that there were only two sisters, it is probable that the wordpantai would not have been employed, but instead the word amphoterai, meaning ‘both,’ would have been used” (Robert J. Matthews, Selected Writings of Robert J. Matthews [1999], 232–33).

Jesus could have had at least seven siblings.


Was Mary widowed?

“The last mention of Joseph is at the Passover in Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve years of age. At the wedding feast at Cana, when Jesus was about thirty, specific mention is made that Mary and Jesus were present, but no mention is made of Joseph (see John 2:1–10). Finally at the time of the Crucifixion, Mary is said to have stood at the cross with other women, but again no mention is made of Joseph. At this time Jesus gave his mother to the care of his beloved disciple, John (see John 19:25–27). The record of these events suggests that Mary was widowed sometime after Jesus was twelve years old and before he began his ministry” (Robert J. Matthews, Selected Writings, 233).

“There is a poignancy in the prospect of Mary’s widowhood with a family of children, all younger than Jesus. If this assumption is correct, it may be that Jesus was confronted with the responsibility in early life of providing for a widowed mother and several younger brothers and sisters. This makes most meaningful the scriptural statements that say the Lord is especially mindful of the widow and is a father to the fatherless (see Psalm 68:5; 146:9; James 1:27)” (Robert J. Matthews,Selected Writings, 233–34).

Monday, December 21, 2015

The Innkeeper

So there can be all this talk about commercialization at Christmas or Christ at Christmas but ultimately it is our choice which way we want to see Christmas.  We all know that Christ was born in a stable.  Luke 2:7 states, "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." Why is this?  Why was there no room for them in the inns?  Was it because it was full of other people or because there was no room in the hearts of the innkeepers.  Is there room in our hearts for Christ at Christmas time?


Sunday, December 20, 2015

Becoming Like Him


Throughout this year different attributes of Christ have been presented each month in the Ensign.  While studying these I came to better understand the importance of developing each of these attributes in ourselves.  Christ was the only perfect man that ever lived.  He is and was our perfect example of what we need to become.  The attributes of Jesus Christ are our guide to becoming like him.  Some examples of attributes that Christ possesses include faith, hope, charity, love, virtue, knowledge, patience, brotherly kindness, compassion, etc.  These are all wonderful attributes that we need to strive to obtain.  Each month in the Ensign they present only one or two attributes.  If you decide to focus on only one attribute each week or month it will help you become more like Christ.  When we think about Jesus Christ and how perfect He is, it may often be overwhelming to think that we have to become like him.  However as we learn and grow "line upon line, precept on precept, here a little and there a little" we will notice a difference in ourselves and the attributes we posses (2 Nephi 28:30).




As we think of Christ this Christmas season we may think of all the good he has done for each one of us and all the good that he will do.  We need to strive to become like him.  We need to work and develop the attributes that Christ has little by little.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Lovingly and Willingly

Christmas is a time to remember our savior Jesus Christ.  He is our savior and redeemer.  He died because He loved us and wanted us to be happy.  When many people think about Jesus Christ they of often picture a man wearing a crown of thorns, hanging from a cross.  With this picture in mind you are often led to believe that he was quite miserable.  However, I don't believe that that was the case.  I know that Jesus Christ is and was the happiest man that ever lived.  When I think of my savior I like to imagine a man who is wait for me with open arms and a big smile on his face.  He is the source of all happiness.  He is happy.  He happily and willingly atoned for each one of us because he loved us unconditionally.  There are many, many paintings out there of Jesus Christ.  A lot of which show him with a straight face, no smile.  Through these pictures I often find it hard to see the joy that he has.

Nowadays, because Christmas is so commercialized, it is hard to find the peaceful feeling of happiness that the true meaning of Christmas brings.  Instead we often focus to much on the temporal joy that comes from opening a cool present or eating a fancy gingerbread man.  When we find the true meaning of Christmas we begin to experience a different kind of joy.  A joy that comes from our Savior Jesus Christ.  He gave his life for us.  He was resurrected and provided a way so that we could all be resurrected too.  Jesus Christ loves us so much that he didn't mind suffering all the pains and afflictions required of him.  He happily volunteered to be our advocate in front of the Father on judgment day.  He only asks one thing in return "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).  Lets go about this Christmas striving a little harder to show our love and appreciation for what he has done by keeping His commandments. Not just keeping them but keeping them lovingly and willingly.