Even His birth brought salvation

Dear friend

The birth of Jesus Christ happened in a small town near the holy city of Jerusalem. Best estimates suggest the population of Bethlehem at the time would be no greater than 1000 people. That sounds like a small rural farming village, although it is referred to as the "city" of David. Maybe city meant something different back then.

The blessed babe's birth in that tiny township surely went unnoticed to most in the world. A few people may have remarked on what looked like a new star or some other sign, but they likely would not understand the significance. The holy family eventually settled in Nazareth, which was an even smaller settlement than was the birthplace. Despite the very limited provincial parameters of His existence, Christ's life and death, and life again, was affective for the whole world, not just Judea. He died that we all might live. He brought universal salvation.

But in at least one part of the world it was the birth of the Babe that initially provided salvation, years before His Atoning act. This event is found in the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 1:4, 5, 9.

4 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the ninety and second year, behold, the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to be greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people.
5 But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite.
...
9 Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.

The believers were in grave danger, but their faith in the face of fatality was rewarded when the Lord revealed a reassuring rescue the day before the dire deadline. His words are recorded in verse 13.

13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

Everything about Christ's life blesses someone. In this case His followers were vindicated for their faith in Him. He saved their mortal lives by His birth; their eternal salvation would come later.

It is absolutely right to focus on the events that brought an end to Christ's mortal ministry as the major moments of His saving grace. He died that we might live. But as this story illustrates, even the event of His earthly entry saved some diligent disciples who were in danger.

As we contemplate the joyful arrival of the Babe of Bethlehem, I pray that we will look to Jesus to save our lives as we demonstrate our faith in Him, even when faced by our modern unbelieving world.

Samuel.

What does it mean to behold?

Dear friend

There are words and phrases we read in the scriptures which we may pass over, because we assume we understand what they mean. For me one such word was "behold". It turns out that on many occasions, just as I had thought, it simply means "look". However there are instances when an occurrence of behold holds much greater significance. This is especially true when spoken in some form of announcement.

The word "behold" has very interesting roots and variants including from Greek, German, French and Latin. It is used as an interjection for emphasis. When you read "behold" it could be saying, "be sure to see", "don't miss this", "don't neglect to take notice", "remember this", "this is of utmost importance". With this expanded meaning in mind consider (or reconsider) these instances of "behold" by inserting these etymological emphasis phrases in place of behold.

Firstly, John the Baptist and then Pilate from the New Testament, John 1:29 and John 19:5.

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

And then the words of the Father announcing to the people at Bountiful the arrival of Christ following His Resurrection, as found in the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11:7.

7 Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

I think that sometimes, if we replace in our mind as we read, the word "behold" with phrases like "take notice because this is very important", or "be sure to see this and never forget it", it adds to our understanding of the speaker's or writer's full intent.

Perhaps we should "behold" how all of the examples quoted relate directly to the Lord Jesus Christ (and there are more). He is certainly the one we must see as beong of utmost importance, remember, not miss, and look to every day of our lives. I hope we will always "Behold the Lamb of God, ... the Man, ... the Beloved Son".

Samuel.

Sons and daughters of the Father

Dear friend

What would it be like to have the perfect relationship between ourselves, as the child, and Heavenly Father, as the parent? The relationship may already be there, but is it an ideal one? As with so many aspects of the gospel, the example of perfection in this regard is found in (and through) the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the point just after His greatest achievement, the Atonement, Christ announced himself to His followers in the New World; as found in the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 9:15-17.

15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.
16 I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled.
17 And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, ...

These verses give us an insight into the perfect Father/son or Father/daughter relationship. They also point the way towards achieving that blessed state. Like Jesus, we too can state our claim as children of God by virtue of Him being the Father of our spirits; although Christ's Sonship goes beyond that fundamental familial affinity. We too were with the Father in the beginning, but here's the question: are we now, at this time "in the Father" and can we sense "the Father in me"? Also, do we live our lives such that we bring glory to the name of the Father?

The way to reach that unity or "oneness" which is necessary for the Father to be in us and us in Him is to receive Jesus Christ fully into our lives, starting with believing in Him. He is the only one who has the power to elevate us to the kind of sonship or daughterhood that Christ Himself enjoys.

I feel sure the Father wishes to have the same closeness with us that He has with Jesus. And it is possible, if we seek it.

Samuel.

The idolatry of things

Dear friend

If you ask most people what they could not live without they might well list things like their smartphone, their car, their games console, their home computer, laptop or tablet, or some other possession. These sorts of things have become very useful, even enjoyable and convenient, or simply essential to our lives. But I think there is a danger that this kind of materialistic thinking - the pleasure of having "things" - is stopping people from recognising what is truly essential to a happy life. More than this, people are elevating these objects to a status of veneration that begins to match the behaviour of worship. If we adore, exalt, extol and praise these man-made things, I believe we are in danger of the charge of idolatry.

If we idolise something, if we treat it as a special treasure, this could indicate a false God has taken over our heart. Consider a verse from the Old Testament, Leviticus 19:4.

4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God.

I've come to think of an idol as any man-made object we revere to excess. And I don't just mean statues or totems to which we might bow down, pray, or sacrifice to. If we lend some object a status of elevated respect, it begins to look like a verse from the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 21:17.

17 Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee, and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands;

We must not let ourselves worship the work of our hands. The reason is given in Doctrine and Covenants 1:16.

16 They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish ...

I hope we will be aware of the potential dangers of the idolatry of man-made things. No object should become so essential that it replaces God, gospel or goodness.

Samuel.