Wishing you a Christmas filled with Love
"Love, without Love there would be no Christmas. Every person in the Christmas story acted out of love: Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men and especially our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Because of their love for us, God's own son "descended below all things" (D&C 88:6). First as a baby in Bethlehem and throughout his mortal life, He was the embodiment of love. In Gethsemane and Golgotha, the Lord exemplified pure and perfect love. And because of Him, we can return to our Heavenly Father's presence and feel a fullness of love. Christmas is a time for rekindling love, for expressing love, and certainly for feeling an abundance of love. The beloved Primary song says it so well: "How could the Father tell the world of Love and tenderness? He sent His son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness."
Virginia Pearce, daughter of President Gordon B. Hinckley said "One of the remarkable qualities about God's love for us is that not only do we experience it as validating and affirming, but it also produces growth and change in us. It literally moves us forward, toward Him and our own eventual exaltation. It is a sculpting, correcting and purposeful kind of love.
We don't have to be perfect to love one another. In fact, our love for each other enlarges when we give each other room to grow, to make mistakes, to repent, and to forgive.
Jesus said, "a new commandment I give unto you. That ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34
President Gordon B. Hinckley said "Christmas is more than trees and twinkling lights, more than toys and gifts and baubles of a hundred varieties. It is love. It is the love of the Son of God for all mankind. It reaches beyond our power to comprehend. It is magnificent and beautiful."
The Prophet Joseph Smith said: Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the Sons of God. A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race."
The last verse of "Oh Holy Night" sweetly sings of love: "Truly he taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace." (from a Christmas treasury by Lloyd and Karmel Newell)
May the love you feel for, and the love you feel from our Savior fill your heart and abode this Christmas. May we each search this new year for opportunities to share the love that our Savior has offered us. Let it renew and restore our faith in each other, our faith in ourselves to endure and most especially our faith in Him. He is able to carry our burdens. He is able to show us the way to a fullness of joy. It is through Him we can do all that is required of us in this life. "So blessed that moment of wonder,,,,,,when love was born on earth."
This Christmas may your heart rejoice knowing you've received from Him the greatest gift of all. And "Let all that you do be done with Love"
Love from,
Addie Simper President Centralia Stake Relief Society
Sally Montgomery 1st Counselor
BJ Barnes 2nd Counselor
Heidi Simper Secretary
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