A PRICELESS GIFT

 

 

When Jesus was born on this earth, He brought with Him salvation for all mankind. When He left, He left a priceless gift, not to the world, but to His Church. This gift is the gift of the Holy Ghost (John 14:16).

Prior to His death, the Saviour told his sorrowing disciples: “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you” (John 16:7).

Until Christ’s ascension, the Holy Ghost administered to the children of men as a testifier of truth only. The gift of his presence was promised to only them who believe, and were baptized in His name, “after that Jesus was glorified” (JST John 7:39a).

The gift of the Holy Ghost would have to be the greatest gift to man second to salvation. Imagine the privilege of having a member of the Godhead with you always……It’s a gift worthy of un-surpassing appreciation yet the one that we as members of the Church often take for granted.

Cast your mind on all the gifts you just received this Christmas as you celebrated the birth of Christ. How valuable are they to you? What will you do with them and how will you cherish the ones you really love? Some Christmas gifts will even be tossed aside unwanted and some gifts will stay with us unutilized…..much like the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Consider this explanation: “There is a difference between the gift of the Holy Ghost and the enjoyment of the gift…..

“The actual enjoyment of the gift of the Holy Ghost is a supernal gift that man can receive in mortality. The fact of its receipt is a witness that the saints so blessed are reconciled to God and are doing the things that will assure them of eternal life in the realms ahead.” (Bruce R.  McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 257). In other words, this gift is a gage of how well we are doing.

Before Christ’s ascension, the Saviour told His disciples that they shall receive power when the Holy Ghost comes upon them and because of that they will become His witnesses ‘unto the uttermost part of the earth’ (Acts 1:8).

By virtue of our discipleship and as baptized members of His Church, we too have this power upon us. This is its’ value:

“The gift of the Holy Ghost quickens all the intellectual faculties….it inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling.

“It develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual mind. It strengthens, invigorates, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.” (Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology, p 101)

Have you a Christmas gift that could possibly equal such a gift as this that the Saviour made possible to come into the world??? May we show our appreciation and gratitude throughout the next year as we strive to be worthy of his presence and may we be reminded every Christmas after that of this great gift of the Babe of Bethlehem that tells us we are His own.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Beloved Son by Danny Hahlbohm)

TO HONOUR HIM

 

The scriptural account of the visit of the wise men to Jesus and His mother states that they fell down and worshipped Him and presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

The gifts that were given to Christ child were costly gifts that were by custom given to royalty but the Magi gave them to more than a king. Matthew records that ‘there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem’ asking ‘where is the child that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him’ (Matthew 2:2). However, the Joseph Smith Inspired Translation reads ‘where is the child that is born the Messiah of the Jews?’

Bruce R. McConkie noted the probability that the Magi were themselves Jews who lived, as millions of Jews then did, in one of the nations to the East. He went on to say that it was the Jews who were acquainted with the scriptures and the prophecies regarding Christ’s birth and that first witnesses of His birth were to come from the House of Israel and not from the Gentile nations (see Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah Book 1, 358)

If this is so, the gifts presented to Christ child were gifts fit not only for a King but for a God. Much has been written about these gifts by way of speculation but a close look reveals that these gifts might not have been given by chance and that the Magi were more in tune with the divine than we think. Consider just one of them, frankincense.

When Jehovah instructed Moses to make an holy anointing oil, He named specific sweet spices and instructed how they should be made with ‘pure frankincense’ and added: “Upon man’s flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it….it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you….whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people”. Instruction was also given for making of perfume with frankincense which was ‘holy for the Lord’ and not meant to be used for the congregation (Exodus 30: 37).

The mental and physical healing properties of the frankincense oil are well documented. It is best known for its ability to clear and focus the mind suggesting a spiritual quality to it. Today its price can range between $30.00 and $14,850. A gift fit for a god indeed…..for all the earth is His and everything in it!

My favourite Christmas song is The Little Drummer Boy. I don’t know how many tears I have shed listening to this song. What touches me most is that the little drummer boy had no gift to give to the King. Such a contrast to the wealthy Magi.

I was born and raised in a socialist country but in a strong Catholic community. Exchanging of gifts at Christmas was not a custom. There was no commercialism. The birth of Christ was revered in my childhood. Since I have lived in Australia, I have never figured out why we give each other gifts when we celebrate Christ’s birthday. Does it help us remember He is our greatest gift?

The Little Drummer Boy had no riches to give the King but he gave something of himself and it was accepted. Perhaps it would be more advantageous to give the Saviour something of ourselves this Christmas….such as an act of service, a missionary moment, a commitment to give up a weakness or a sin, to meaningfully partake of the Sacrament each Sunday, to express more love, to judge less, to be more merciful, to obey Him more, to love Him more, to strive to be like Him……after all, the best gift He would want would be ME and YOU.

We are worth far more than frankincense.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Holy Men by Liz Lemon Swindle)

THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

I saw a Christmas movie recently in which the main character opened a pop-up Christmas card which revealed a Christmas tree with myriad of Christmas presents underneath it. The caption said: "What will you get for Christmas?" Upon seeing this bounty of gifts the main character exclaimed: "Now that's the essence of Christmas!" Needless to say I was rather perturbed by this. It made me realise as never before that we have turned Christmas into a meaningless holiday based on a lie. That lie being a fat man in a red suit delivering presents he has made to children all over the world in one night. This lie has pushed us all into frenzied consumerism.

I had never heard of exchanging gifts at Christmas until I came to Australia at the age of 14. I was raised in a Catholic country where the only focus at Christmas was Christ. It has always baffled me that we give each other gifts at this time of the year because let's face it, it's not our birthday. It's someone else's. Even if it is celebrated at the wrong time of the year. They say Christmas is really for children. I have been a witness to this as a parent. Now that I'm older and my children are grown, Christmas doesn't hold as much appeal for me anymore, except this year it has made me reflect on one absolute truth: we are all children. Children of a Father of all fathers. Children of royal birth. Children temporarily distanced but never forgotten. Why is this knowledge important to remember at Christmas time? Because through remembering we cannot fail to see that the Father who always gives good gifts has given us one gift that surpasses them all: the gift of eternal life through His only begotten Son: Christ the Saviour, the Babe of Bethleham, the Hope of Israel. If we can have eternal life, what other gift could we possibly want or need?

The magnitude of such a gift reminds me of a story that tells of a wealthy man and his son who loved to collect rare works of art. The son tragically died in the Vietnam war. One day a fellow soldier he had saved came to the father’s door and presented him with a portrait of his son he had painted as a gift. This portrait became the most valuable work of art to the grieving father. When he died some months later his collection of art was auctioned to many influential people who had gathered eager to see many great paintings in hope to purchase them for their own collection. The first painting that was auctioned was the painting of the wealthy man’s son. Nobody was willing to buy it and they pressed the auctioneer to display the more prestigious works. The auctioneer persisted exclaiming: “The son! The son! Who will take the son?” Finally a humble gardener from the deceased man’s estate offered $10. When nobody raised the bid, the auctioneer proclaimed the painting sold and advised the eager audience that the auction was over. When asked about the paintings of the famous masters they had come to see the auctioneer replied: “I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything.”

Much like the auctioneer, I imagine the Father would at Christmas time wish to ask us: “Who will take the son?” Because you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.