Christ in Christmas

 

Christmas time is a magical celebration where people are trying to be more charitable, and it is fun to witness. People go out of their way to care for those in need, give gifts to those they love, and try to be more like Jesus. I have been a recipient of receiving anonymous gifts for my family while being in graduate school and I am grateful for it. I believe that they are blessed for their charity. One day I will be able to do the same to other families that have a tight budget. Recently us geeks shared our favorite Christmas traditions. I would like to share another tradition we do on Christmas Eve.

 

We celebrate Jesus’ birth on Christmas, but He more than a baby born in a manger. I loved Elder Gary E. Stevenson talk in April 2023 “The Greatest Easter Story Ever Told” he quoted a “New Testament scholar N. T. Wright suggested: ‘Take Christmas away, and in biblical terms you lose two chapters at the front of Matthew and Luke, nothing else. Take Easter away, and you don’t have a New Testament; you don’t have a Christianity.’” So, on Christmas Eve we have a Passover dinner to remind us of Christ’s loving sacrifice. 

 

We sit on the ground with blankets spread around the floor in dim light and we eat plain foods that could have been in a Passover meal. “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ” – 2 Nephi 25:26

After the meal is over, we all take turns reading Luke 2 because this is what this holiday represents, his birth. This is not my family tradition, but my in-laws and I like it and will continue this tradition in the future. 

Image: Nancy Lee Moran

I am grateful that our Savior was born and that we can learn about his teachings. I believe in Jesus Christ. I know that he cares for each of us and wants to help us return to live with our Heavenly Father again. As we pray and read His words we can learn of His love.  

The Touch of the Master's Hand

Aside from Aslan, Edmund is one of the best characters written in the Narnia series. We all can relate to him. His is the prodigal son that left his family for Turkish delights but returned repentant. Like Edmund we all make mistake and when I saw Narnia for the first time and read the books, I felt like I related to Edmund the most. I like Edmund have made mistakes, I am learning repent daily, I am happier than I have been compared to when I was sinning. I don’t regret the mistakes I have done, but I wish I learned to repent sooner, and I pray that I can be strong enough to not fall into temptations, especially those I have repented of. One way that has been strengthening my resolve is by reading the scriptures.

I am trying to learn to love the scriptures more and as I have been reading the Book of Mormon, I recently came across a new person that I haven’t noticed before, Zeezrom (Alma 11- 15). Alma and Amulek are teaching the people in Ammonihah and Zeezrom bribes Amulek to deny his belief. Amulek refuses and testifies of Jesus resurrection and judgment which astonished Zeezrom, and he began to fear for his sins. As Alma expands what Amulek testifies to the public they (Alma and Amulek) were thrown into jail. During there imprisonment many faithful saints were murdered and after Alma and Amulek were freed they found Zeezrom sick due to his iniquities. Because of Zeezrom faith he was healed and was baptized by Alma.

Even though we may feel worthless because of the actions we have made we can repent and feel loved. God won’t leave us abandoned if we try to build our testimonies and become more converted. Like Edmund we can come back to our family. I love the poem by Myra Brooks Welch, “The Touch of the Master’s Hand". 

’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile:

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”

“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?

Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three—” But no,

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,

And going, and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand

What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:

“The touch of a master’s hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,

A game—and he travels on.

He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,

He’s “going” and almost “gone.”

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the Master’s hand.

I hope that as your read this that you can feel the touch of the Master’s hand in your life. As I have repented, as I have obeyed, I have felt strengthened, loved, and charitable. I am not a perfect instrument, but I believe in Jesus Christ, and He will help me become perfected. He has paid for our sins let us embrace his commandments to the best of our abilities.

Regenerations: Bishops and The Doctor

So in honor of Joe getting married this week, I'm gonna talk about two of his least favorite things: Bishops and Dr. Who. (Okay, maybe he doesn't really have a thing against bishops.)

Recently, a friend was talking to me about his new bishop. There was an interesting idea that would this bishop give the same responses to my friend's concerns as his previous bishop. Because, after all, they're guided by the same source.

I had an analogy all worked up, but he didn't know Doctor Who (how sad for my friend). So I'll give it to my readers. But first, I finally found an answer far later to my friend's question. At least, an answer that I see and feel to be accurate. For this example, I'm not using anyone's personal experience. I'm just focusing on the generic.

If Bob goes to Bishop Jones and confesses of something. And if Bishop Jones says to Bob, "Let's talk about this again in two months and see how you're doing", he is correct. But, you have to remember that this man, despite his call to lead a congregation, is still a man. He still has what he thinks and feels is best for you as an individual.

During this two months, Bishop Jones is released and replaced by Bishop Smith. (Anyone see the Doctor Who reference?)

Remember Bishop Smith is a completely different man. His thoughts and feelings on a subject are different. And Bishop Smith may listen to you and say "I think I'd like to have you meet with me in two weeks and please don't take the sacrament until after we meet again." Guess what, Bishop Smith is also just as correct.

But...wait....if Bishop Jones is led by God and Bishop Smith is led by God, then how come they can come up with a different response/approach to the same thing? Ignoring the "well, Bob has continued in his sin" idea, I'm going to point to the fact that each man sees things differently. To Bishop Jones, your problem, your past, and you as a whole are seen in a certain light. Bishop Smith sees you differently.

One can fault Bishop Smith for being too pious. Too by the book. Too young in his calling. One can just as easily fault Bishop Jones for being too apathetic. Too hands-off. Too trunky in his calling. (How many readers actually saw it that way?) Here's the thing, each man has a different approach to express his love as well as to help us use the atonement in the way to best receive forgiveness. I doubt Bishop Smith doesn't know what he is talking about and I doubt that Bishop Jones was just ready to be done.

Now let's take the Doctor Who approach. Rose is different than almost any other companion in the modern Dr. Who series. She is the only one to have seen two doctors. (Yes, Clara will shortly, but we haven't seen her and the 12th (not counting War) interact a lot yet.)

For Rose, she had gotten used to a "fantastic" Doctor. But then we get the ginger-obsessed 10th doctor whose teeth feel weird. Yes, everything about him is different. Including his personality. I think the key to these regenerations is that each doctor has a physical quirk to him. You go from distinguished to carrying a recorder to looking like a clown to having the longest scarf known to man, to keeping celery to the most obscure coat to a red "Riddler's" cane to a steampunk outfit to a biker jacket to a pair of converse to a bow tie.

The point is, that a bishop is like The Doctor. No, he doesn't travel around in a blue Police Box and have interchangeable companions like a bad boyfriend. But he does view things differently and still be able to do the job that he is asked to do.

This same analogy works for all callings...

 Alien abductions are involuntary, but probings are scheduled.