The True Meaning of Christmas: Receiving

       With the Nichols', there is no such thing as a quiet gathering. Every year for Christmas we gather for an epic night of chocolate fountains, surprise visits from the Grinch, Santa or sometimes his elves to publicly share embarrassing moments from the year that landed us on the naughty list. There are gift exchanges, and obviously, some great food. I feel so lucky to have the family I do. Gift exchanges between the cousins are a highlight of Christmas during my childhood. Opening up a present that was picked out with you in mind is such an exciting thing. Several years ago, my sister had drawn our cousin, Casey. I don't remember what else the gift included, but I remember that Cami had attached a packet of white gum and drawn over the plastic covering little black dots and a carrot nose, making little faces of snowmen. To anyone else, it really wasn't that big of a deal. But not to Casey. He squealed and laughed and "aww"'ed, until everyone fully appreciated that little packet of gum as the greatest gift ever given. Another cousin of mine, Ashley had received bottled water, and had a very similar reaction. The giddy receiving of these simple gifts gave an important reminder to the rest of us to show gratitude for the small and simple gifts given throughout the year.
       The scriptures talk about a lot of gifts. The gift of the Holy Ghost, the gift and power of God, gifts of translation and of tongues, of healing, and of believing. It's no hidden fact that Heavenly Father absolutely loves to bless His children. He delights in giving and I imagine that He looks for almost any excuse to pour out the blessings.

"Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

3 Nephi 14:7-11

        Heavenly Father has an endless supply of gifts and blessings He is eager to send to His children. He knows what things are meaningful and of most value to each and every one of us. In one of the most symbolic and sacred scriptural accounts ever recorded, Lehi teaches yet another lesson about God's perfect love and the nature of His character. In regards to that vision, Elder David A. Bednar taught the following:

"The central feature in Lehi’s dream is the tree of life—a representation of “the love of God” (see 1 Nephi 11:21–22). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Thus, the birth, life, and atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ are the greatest manifestations of God’s love for His children. As Nephi testified, this love is “most desirable above all things” and, as the angel in his vision declared, “most joyous to the soul” (1 Nephi 11:22–23; see also 1 Nephi 8:12, 15). Chapter 11 of 1 Nephi presents a detailed description of the tree of life as a symbol for the life, ministry, and sacrifice of the Savior—“the condescension of God” (1 Nephi 11:16).

The fruit on the tree is a symbol for the blessings of the Atonement. Partaking of the fruit of the tree represents the receiving of ordinances and covenants whereby the Atonement can become fully efficacious in our lives. The fruit is described as “desirable to make one happy” (1 Nephi 8:10) and produces great joy and the desire to share that joy with others.

Significantly, the overarching theme of the Book of Mormon—inviting all to come unto Christ—is paramount in Lehi’s vision."

Elder David A. Bednar, "Lehi's Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod", 2011

       Only a few chapters later, the scriptures describe this fruit as the "most precious and most desirable above all other fruits" and the "greatest of all the gifts of God." (1 Nephi 15:36) Chris and I love paying extra attention to scriptures with words like "always" or  "greatest" in them. Out of all the amazing blessings God can offer us, the GREATEST He offers to His children is the chance to use the Atonement of His only begotten Son and become clean from mortal mistakes. 

       One of the most meaningful Christmas's throughout my life was the Christmas I got to spend with my Chilean family during my mission. It was unlike any Christmas I had ever celebrated and will always stick out in my mind. So often in the church, we are in need of the reminder that Christmas is not about receiving but rather giving and serving those around us. The reason that Christmas stood out so much in my mind was because I made my Christmas all about receiving. Let me explain.

       One would think that while serving a mission, you are feeling your best. Your testimony is growing, you're obedient, and you're away from so many worldly distractions. Missionaries should feel at their highest spiritual level right? For me, and I'm sure for many other missionaries, my faults seem to magnify and triple in size. Every time that I seemed to overcome a weakness of mine, a new one showed up and by the time I got that one under control, the former weakness had snuck up on me again. I really started to understand why the prophets and apostles were always urging the members of the church to participate in daily repentance. One morning before personal scripture study, I was praying about how I could make that Christmas a personal experience. I had Elder Ballard's challenge in mind, to find one soul before Christmas and to invite them to come unto Christ. I was trying so hard to turn outward and serve everyone else. But the answer I got was to look inward, at least a little bit, and to make that year a year of receiving. To receive all the gifts my Father in Heaven had been trying so hard to offer me, but that I had been rejecting over the course of my life.

       Have you ever thought about what Christ wants for Christmas? He wants all of His brothers and sisters to receive Him. Has there ever been a time in your life where you have felt like the Atonement was just out of your reach, or that somehow you weren't quite worthy enough to participate in the cleansing process? I think there are so many times in our lives that we withhold those blessings from ourselves, feeling like we don't deserve forgiveness just yet, that we need to be punished for our sins just a little longer, or that we aren't truly capable of changing. That must hurt Christ more than any kind of disobedience. His suffering was incomprehensible; bleeding from every pour, asking the Father for another way because of the unbearable pain, He carried His own cross to Calvary and then suffered until death with nails in His hands and in His feet. The act of the Atonement was carried out through love and paid at a terribly difficult price. But it has been paid. And it was paid for all of us. Christ stands with this beautiful gift, offering it to anyone who stands in need of relief from pain, suffering and sin. Surely that includes all of us. 

       That Christmas on my mission was dedicated to sincere repentance, godly sorrow and an ultimate acceptance of the joy and peace that comes from feeling clean and forgiven by the Lord. Christmas became more than just giving and receiving temporal things, it became a spiritual experience that increased my testimony and appreciation for the Savior, Jesus Christ and His mortal ministry. I think this Christmas will always stand apart for me because I finally gave Christ the perfect gift; the acceptance of His.

       Make this Christmas a personal and spiritual experience. Be partakers of this heavenly gift (Ether 12) Christ is trying to offer you.