Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
By Jim Greer
LW Contributor
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland retold the nativity story in the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, “the setting was as peaceful as nature could provide.” He described how on that night in early spring, two lone figures knelt beside the infant savior, lying in a manger. In this setting, “the hopes and fears of all the years” were met that night in Bethlehem.
Holland described Mary as one “whose courage and conspicuous faith are as striking as anything ever recorded in Scripture.” Joseph, “who by definition must have been the most worthy man on earth,” was to raise the child “whom so much was already known, of whom so much had already been written, and regarding whom so much was already expected.”
Christ was the firstborn of the father in the world of spirits, foreordained to be the lamb “slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). He was Jehovah of the Old Testament, who helped Noah in the time of the flood and Joseph in the time of famine. We know his names; “Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (2 Nephi 19:6).
Jesus is Alpha and Omega, fulfilling the prophesy to “preach good tidings unto the meek; bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and open the prison to them that are bound” (Revelation 21:6).
The Messiah was to “tread the winepress of redemption utterly and entirely alone, with no mortal companion who would aid him and no heavenly companion who could.”
Holland bore witness that “in bearing all the sins and sorrows of mortality, he would bring the incomprehensible gift of salvation to the entire human family from Adam to the end of the world.”
Jesus is the “Shepherd and bishop of our souls (1 Peter 2:25), the Great High Priest of our Profession (Hebrews 3:1), the free-flowing fountain of all righteousness” (Ether 8:26).
But, on that spring night, Jesus was just “a baby in the arms of a mother who adored him, watched over by a father who was gentle and strong.”
On that night, shepherds came representing the poorest of men. Later, symbolizing the richest of men, the wise men came from the east bearing gifts. And a heavenly host sang, “Glory to God in the highest” (Luke 2:14), praising the divine babe who came to earth.
Angels marked the path to the manger. An angel came to Mary, announcing her divine role. An angel appeared to Joseph and encouraged him to marry her, who was “highly favored” by the Lord. After the Christ child’s birth, an angel instructed them to flee Herod’s slaughter and later notified them when it was safe to return from Egypt.
As we celebrate this sacred season, may we all remember not just Christ’s birth, but also his mission to “bear our griefs and carry our sorrows.” Although the pandemic threatens, may we feel the savior’s loving arms around us.
