Current Lesson No. Four
Our Testimony of the "Why" of Christmas
In this message we desire to follow the inspired suggestion of Elder Dallin Oaks when he wrote:
“We live in a world where the power and influence of God in our daily lives are downplayed and dismissed and where the need for a Savior is ignored and even mocked. For those who are devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ, there has never been a greater need for us to profess our faith in our Savior, privately and publicly….
“This Christmas season, each of us will have many opportunities to proclaim our belief in Him to friends and neighbors, fellow workers, and casual acquaintances. I hope we will take these opportunities to express our love for Him, to bear our witness of His divine mission, and to renew our determination to serve him. As we do, we join ‘a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace good will toward men’” (Ensign, Dec. 2015).
The Christmas Story – The birth of the Savior is recorded in Mathew 1 – 2 and in Luke 2. These chapters speak of shepherds, wise men, angels, and a star. Because of the wonder and beauty of the Christmas Story we might overlook the most important part of Christmas which is to understand the doctrine of Christmas and remember why he was born.
The angel told the shepherds that he brought “good tiding of great joy which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10). The Book of Mormon explains why they are “glad tidings of great joy” (Mosiah 3:3).
The “why” of Christmas brings salvation unto the children of men – The angel taught king Benjamin the doctrine of Christmas or why the Lord came down from heaven to live on the earth as a man:
“For the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged of thy righteousness, and hath sent me to declare unto thee that thou mayest rejoice; and that thou mayest declare unto thy people, that they may also be filled with joy. (It is the why of Christmas that brings joy and rejoicing)
“For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven…
“And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.
“And lo, he cometh unto his own that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all of this they shall…scourge him, and shall crucify him.
“And he shall rise the third day from the dead” (Mosiah 3:4-5, 8-10, emphasis added).
Jesus was born to atone for our sins – The birth and the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, Christmas and Easter, cannot be separated. The Lord explained the why of Christmas to the Nephites:
“Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you – that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
“And my Father sent me that I might be lifted upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me…” (3 Nephi 27:13-14, emphasis added).
We testify that through making and keeping sacred gospel ordinances and covenants we experience the “why” of Christmas, and receive the full redemptive power of the atonement.
We also testify that through Christ-like service to others we can celebrate and rejoice in the why of Christmas year around.
With love and appreciation for the goodness of your lives,
Larry and Susan Lunt
Christmas 2015