Monday, November 17, 2008

30g - Did Lehi and his Descendants Look Forward to the First Christmas?

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TODAY'S THEME


FAMILIES ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT
TO US AT CHRISTMAS TIME! AND SO
ANCESTORS OUGHT TO BE REMEMBERED THEN ALSO!

Before we delve further into the writings of Lehi's descendants regarding their knowledge of the First Christmas and it's ultimate purpose, I am suggesting, to perhaps some of you to whom some of the concepts presented here are new, that you allow your view of your life's role to be broadened and to more fully include your relationships not only with your immediate family, your spouse and children, and with your children's children and so on, but also with all those family members who came before you, and may have already left this present state of life.

I say present state of life because Book of Mormon prophets such as Alma the Younger make it very clear to us that life continues after death. That dearly loved close relative you knew well who died is actually still in existence, but in another state of life. They actually are looking forward to seeing you when you leave this present life.
Alma 40:11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
Now let me broaden your view some more. The words in the next paragraph are those of Jesus Christ which were revealed to His latter-day Prophet, Joseph Smith. They clarify in a grand way the great purpose of our living, along with all our living loved ones and our ancestors going all the way back to Adam and Eve.
Moses: 1:39 For behold, this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
These truths can now be directly applied to the great purpose of the Son of God having been born as a mortal. He was born as The Babe In the Manger of Bethlehem so that in His mortal life he was much like the rest of us except for our Eternal (or Heavenly) Father being the father of His mortal body while Mary, was a mortal as were our mothers from our generation way back to Mother, Eve. The great purpose of Jesus's birth was to put him in the position where he could do that which only He could do in, "bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

He did His part by living the example of a perfect life and teaching us during His life how to do our part and then doing that which only He could do, atone for our sins and bring about the resurrection. Those of you to whom these truths are new and perhaps a little startling may desire to relax a little and let your feelings and mind settle down some and read these past several paragraphs over again. You may need to pray about all of this. Please do. Take your time!

As I said above, these concepts will help us more fully appreciate what a great blessing the First Christmas is to each and everyone of us, not just at Christmas time but all year round for the rest of our lives and into our time in post-mortality and forever.


Again, I will rely on the writings of another of Father Lehi's descendants to help us see the full meaning of what the birth and then life, atonement and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ means to all of us including our families, our descendants and our ancestors.

The words linked below were originally recorded first-hand by Nephi, who was called by the recently resurrected Jesus when he appeared to the Nephites in Central America, to serve as one of his apostles there. Mormon then added these words to the Book of 3 Nephi, one of the sub-books of the Book of Mormon.

The Resurrected Jesus Christ in A.D. 34 Teaches the Nephites in Central America -by John Scott

Please read this scripture:  III Nephi 27: 13-19

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This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.



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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Following: (The First) Christmas, Did Lehi and His Descendant Nephi (of 34 A.D.) Look Forward to That? - Post 30g When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use The Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed.)


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Neil Birch

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