Missionaries Share the Gift

I've probably overdone the cliche about the true gift of Christmas, but my emphasis today is not on the Gift given in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, it's on the gift that missionaries give people every day. Jesus Christ is, of course, the focal point of this season, but it takes more to tap into the power of His Atonement than to just believe in Him and be grateful that He lived and died for us. Missionaries help people reap more of the blessings of His Gospel (more of the gift, if you will) by inviting them to come unto Christ through baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. No one else can do that. Pretty Christmas lights can't do it. Uplifting Christmas music can't do it. Only the people who have the true gospel and access to Priesthood Ordinances can give our Christian friends more of the gift than they already have. That means that in order for them to get more of the Christmas spirit, they need to talk to the missionaries, and that means we need to talk to them.

As we invite people to come to our church buildings, talk to our missionaries, and read and pray about the Book of Mormon, Another Testimony of Jesus Christ, we can give them more of Christ's gospel than they can get anywhere else. It's daunting, and it may feel awkward, but if there's a time of year when it's not as awkward to talk about Jesus Christ, this is it. Let's have the courage to try to share the gift with our friends and neighbors. I know it's short notice to talk to anyone about the Gospel before Christmas, so we may not get another opportunity like this until next year, but with New Year's Eve less than ten days away, "next year" is right around the corner. If we can't manage to share the gift with them by Christmas, at least we can try to share the gift with them then. It is the greatest gift we've ever been given, and it's the greatest gift we could ever give them.