Merry Christmas! For many of us, this is one of our most
favorite days of the year. Many have received packages from home and loved
ones. You are looking forward to Skyping with your loved ones. Up to this point
in your life, you may have looked forward to Christmas with eager anticipation,
thinking more of what you would receive than what you might give. This year
will likely be one of your most memorable Christmases for the rest of your
life. Not because you are surrounded by family, friends, Christmas decorations
and all of the traditional activities to which you are accustomed. Rather,
because you are away from all of these things. This Christmas will be
remembered more for what you gave, or for what you are giving, than for what
you received.
As you labor full-time in service to the Lord Jesus Christ,
it will be your privilege to come to know and understand Him with greater
clarity than ever before. He has promised, “Draw near unto me and I will draw
near unto you”(D&C 88: 63). You will find peace, comfort, strength and
forgiveness of sins as you understand and apply His atoning sacrifice in your
own life (Alma 7: 11-13). You will find indescribable joy as you help others
partake of His gifts to all mankind (see 1 Ne. 8: 12). You will even find
blessings for those days that seem filled with rejection and opposition (3
Nephi 12: 11-12).
This is truly a unique experience in each of our lives. Seek
to follow the example of the Master as you give the gift of yourself – your
time, your talents and your testimony – to all those who will listen. He does
not ask us to give what we do not have. Rather He asks all of what we do have.
I am reminded of the words of the apostle Peter as he healed a lame man at the
gate of the Temple who had asked alms of him, “Silver and gold have I none; but
such as I have give I thee” (Acts 3:6). The lame man had only asked Peter for
money, not knowing of greater blessings he possessed. Many of those whom you
meet might look upon you only as an interesting friend, or someone who can
teach them to speak English, not knowing of the real gifts that you bear.
And this is the gospel, the glad
tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us—
That he came into the world, even
Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to
sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;
That through him all might be
saved (D&C 76: 40-42).
May we gladly proclaim to all within the sound of our
voices the glorious message of the restored gospel this Christmas season. It is
the greatest gift that any of us could ever give. I so testify in His holy
name, even Christ, the Lord.
President Blickenstaff
PS. This Tuesday there is a very important meeting in Taipei
that will include local Church leaders and Taiwan government officials. They
are attempting to resolve the concerns that have led to our foreign
missionaries not being able to obtain visas. Please join Sister Blickenstaff
and me in petitioning the Lord that these problems may be resolved. We should
pray that hearts will be softened and that appropriate solutions can be found
so that our missionaries can be allowed to come and serve with us. If you were
not able to participate in our mission fast yesterday, I invite you to fast on
Tuesday, if possible. This is an important issue that could have significant
impact on missionary work in Taiwan for many years.
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