Oh Come, All Ye Faithful

Oh Come, All Ye Faithful

Wow, Merry Christmas! This Christmas has probably been one of my favorites! (Though I say that almost every year!) But I keep learning more and more each year; especially from my children and their Christlike examples to me. Christmas always has such a "magical" feeling; but that "magic" is simply love. Love of Christ to all of us as He began His descent to this earth where He would grow, learn, serve, suffer, and die for us. Love of God, who loved us so much that "he dgave his eonly begotten fSon, that whosoever gbelieveth in him should not perish, but have heverlasting ilife." This love of Christ to us and the love of God gives us hope and joy and reason to celebrate! Because of Christ, who came to earth, we have a way to return to God. Jesus taught us the sure and simple way to have eternal joy, and Nephi shares that with us in 2 Nephi 31: 20-21, which says, " Wherefore, ye must press forward with a asteadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of bhope, and a clove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and dendure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eeternal life. " And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the away; and there is bnone other way nor cname given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the ddoctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the eFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is fone God, without end." I am so grateful for this special, "magical" love that shines bright around the world at Christmas and I hope I can find ways to shine bright, year round, like my kids do to me through their unconditional love, quick forgiveness, (almost) constant bright spirits, and a heart full of hope and faith! This is just what Jesus taught us. Let us come to Him! With love and prayers for all, Jillene Smith