A few weeks ago a group of friends from my apartment complex decided to take a trip up to see the beautiful lights at temple square. As we entered the temple square we started to marvel at the temple, the reflection pool, and all the other beautiful light displays. As we viewed this display many of us started to pull out our phones. We started taking group photos and selfies of ourselves. We started to Instagram about our outing and update our snapchats with images of our friends in the lights. In the middle of taking these photos I heard one of my friends teasing us. She said "guys! You're all taking photos of the lights and taking selfies. It's not about that, it's about this!" As I heard her say this I looked up to see her pointing at something. I followed her pointed finger and found her pointing to the reflection pool that was hosting statues of Mary, Jospeh and the baby Jesus.
Now, do I think that it was a sin for us to be taking lots of photos of ourselves and the lights? No. And my friend didn't really think so either. But her words really stuck out to me. As i put my phone back in my pocket and started to really take a moment to survey the scene I focused on the nativity scene in the reflection pool. The scene was in the center of the busy temply square. There were tons of colorful lights surrounding the square and masses of chaotic groups of people. But in the midst of all this was the simple, beautiful nativity scene. As I looked at this I really started to realize how often I forget that, "this", the birth of Christ, is truly what it is about. The season is surrounded with so many good things but at the center of all this is the Savior and His birth and we get distracted from this sometimes.
After the birth of Jesus the wise men, sent by Herod the King to find Jesus, find Him as a young child in Bethlehem. Upon finding Jesus these wise men "fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh" (Matt 2: 11). As I pondered this I started to have some random questions and thoughts. These wise men brought Jesus many wonderful gifts fit for royalty. But did these men know that Jesus Christ would one day give us all a gift that was more precious than all the gold, frankincense and myrrh in the world? A gift that He would willingly pay for with His own precious blood and life? This young child born of an earthly mother and a Heavenly Father was born on earth so that one day He may atone for the sins and sufferings of all mankind.
This season my younger sister Rachel reminded me of this many times as she discussed the importance of the birth of Christ and its role in the atonement. She talked to me about how the birth of Christ was the first steps in Christ's mission here on the earth. This man born under the most humble of circumstances would grow up as a normal child and developed into a man who would walk the earth as a healer, teacher, prophet and friend. He would raise the dead, feed the thousands, heal the deaf, dumb and lame. He would eat with the sinners, forgive the adulterers, teach all those that would hear Him and He would love all those who were on the earth and all those who would ever be; regardless of whether or not they would hear and obey His word. And because He had (and still has) such a love for us He was willing to come to earth to suffer, bleed and die for us. He truly suffered all of our pains and afflictions in the garden of Gethsemane and because He did this He understands our pains, trials and feelings. By doing this He understands us individually like no one else on this earth will ever be able to.
After suffering such pains He would allow Himself to be humiliated, harmed and, finally, crucified on the cross. And because He did this we are now able to have the chance to be resurrected and return to live back in Heaven with our Heavenly Father.
Had Heavenly Father not had this grand plan that required a the Savior to be born we would not have been able to obtain those things which the Savior suffered for us. The season of Christmas truly is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ; one of the first steps of the amazing gift Heavenly Father gave to us through the willing Savior in order to bless all of man kind.
I am so grateful for this Christmas season and for all that it represents.I know December is almost over and that Christmas has pretty much come and gone this year but I would just like to add my testimony and witness of Jesus Christ, the Savior. I am so grateful for Him. I know that He came to earth to live as the best example for mankind only to be crucified and resurrected for us all. He is truly the Messiah and the Prince of peace. I know that I can never repay Him for all that He has done for me but I can try my best to do so while on this earth by living a life patterned after His own loving example; not only during Christmas but every day. I know that He lives and He loves each one of us. I also know that Heavenly Father loves us and looks after each of us even when we feel He has forgotten us. I am grateful for His plan of happiness that, with the help of Christ, will allow us to repent every day and the ability to develop and grow so that we can reach our full potential.
Merry Christmas everyone.
