Bishopric Message
We love the Christmas season for so many reasons: the gatherings with family and friends, the music, the movies, the lights and decorations, the snow, the food, the gifts, and more. We love all these things, but more than anything it is the feelings of Christmas that we love. Feelings of kindness, generosity, forgiveness, love, gratitude, unity, joy, peace and hope. And it’s not just the feelings, but we love how these feelings inspire us to act, to serve, to reach out to others. In 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge’s nephew Fred describes Christmas as “a time when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely to their fellow creatures.” It is ennobling, isn’t it, to witness how Christmas brings out the best in people. Brothers and sisters, all that we love about Christmas, all of these good things, come from and because of the very namesake of Christmas of course, even Jesus Christ.
The Prophet Mormon taught: “how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing? … behold, God … sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing. And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come. … and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them. Wherefore, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing.” In these verses Mormon makes clear that all that is good comes from Christ. He is the very light and life of the world. I know, and testify, that in Jesus Christ is the power to change the world, to change the hearts of each man, woman and child. I am grateful for that power for good, and for how it has blessed my life, and those that I care about. Merry Christmas!
Brother Smith
Spiritual Message
The young men are learning the Young Men's Theme. The first line of the theme states: I am a beloved son of God and He has a work for me to do. God's prophet on earth, President Nelson, has invited us all to do the same, to do God's work by helping in the gathering of Israel. Each of us can gather Israel by participating in family history work, inviting others to come unto Christ, or recommitting ourselves to more closely following the example of Jesus Christ. Rich and eternal blessings will come to us and to others as we do so. Blessings such as greater peace, a feeling of meaning, and greater love for our family and friends. Jesus Christ is real and he will help us participate in this great work.
Brother Guymon
