In Mormon culture, Samuel the Lamanite is well-known for prophesying of the birth of Jesus Christ to the then-wicked Nephites, but what I had forgotten until reading Helaman 13 with my family earlier this evening was that before telling the Nephites about Jesus' upcoming birth, he gave them a much-needed call to repentance.
Christmastime is a time for the joyful celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, and I hope not to detract from that joy, but in light of what I read this evening, I wonder if Christmas isn't also a good time for self-reflection and repentance. While we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, let us also remember why He was born in the first place: to show us a perfect example and to make it possible for us to repent. Let us consider how we could better follow His example, and repent, if necessary. While thinking about the Atonement is really more of an Easter thing, striving to become more Christlike is something we should certainly do at Christmastime and all year round.
Christmas is a joyous time for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. While we celebrate His birth, let us think about what His birth and life mean to us and how we might repent and become more like Him.
1 comment:
You are right. Without the Atonement, Jesus' birthday would be no more special than any other baby's birthay. To truly celebrate His birth, we need to accept Him as Savior, repent, and follow Him. Marry Christmas!
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