Believe and Remember

The following comes from A Child Is Born by W. Jeffrey Marsh, pgs. 14-23:

A few years ago a Church News editorial described three levels of Christmas. The first was called the 'Santa Claus level.' It is the level of Christmas trees, food, fun, decorations, colorful packages, shopping and socials in warm open houses, excited children, and exhausted but loving parents; the level at which we eat too much, spend too much, and do too much - and enjoy every minute of it. But soon the tree dries out and the needles fall. The toys break, the dieting begins, and we notice the lonely and hungry are still with us.

A higher and more fulfilling level of Christmas could be called the 'Silent Night level.' It is the enjoyment of all beautiful Christmas carols, the magnificent Nativity, the shepherds in the hills near Bethlehem, angels with their glad tidings, the new star, and wise men traveling from afar in search of the Holy One. But even this level will not long satisfy the desperate needs of a fallen world. Those who keep Christ in the manger will never find the mature Savior, and will, in the end, still be disappointed and empty.

For Christmas to meet all the expectations of both child and adult, for Christmas to last all year long and grow in beauty and spirit it must have the power to change lives. And that only happens on the third level, the 'level of the Resurrected Lord,' the level of the adult Christ. It is here we find lasting joy, lasting hope, and lasting peace. This level teaches us of charity, forgiveness, and love for the unlovable, forgiveness for enemies. This is the adult Christ who gave us a perfect example and asked us to follow Him. "Accepting that invitation is the way--the only way--to celebrate Christmas all year and all life long.

BELIEVE Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. When Christ came into the world he also came unto the world. He was sent here to each of us. His whole 'work and glory' is to bring to pass our eternal life and immortality. In Gethsemane and on Calvary, He worked out the infinite and eternal Atonement. It was the greatest single act of love in recorded history. Then followed His death and miraculous Resurrection. "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 up on the cross." "To this end was I born, for this cause came I into the world."

"REMEMBER, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God that ye must build your foundation.....a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." Similarly, if we build the symbols of Christmas on Christ, we won't fail to experience the real spirit of Christmas.

President David O. McKay observed, "What you sincerely in your heart think of Christ....will determine what you are [and] will largely determine what your acts will be."

I am still reading this book and it is opening my mind and my eyes to a higher and better way to celebrate this wonderous time of year. I highly recommend grabbing this book. At www.deseretbook.com it is marked down to half off, about $6.95. What a bargain!!

Happy Christmas to all as we BELIEVE and REMEMBER our Savior, Jesus Christ.