Elder Dallin Schipaanboord: Remember the Savior

This week I'm not going to talk about myself but rather talk about what we are sharing, as missionaries, this Christmas season.

All too often during the holiday season, we get caught up in the temporal side of things, getting the right gift, and managing finances, but we forget the real reason that we even celebrate Christmas when its right there in the name, CHRISTmas. We celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. He suffered and died for all of us, he saved us from our sins, he bore our burdens and griefs, so that we can life a life full of happiness. Don't ever forget that! Christ suffered so that we can be happy, we learn in 2 Nephi that "Men are that they might have joy." When we feel like we are going through something that is too hard or takes away from that joy, remember that in 1 Corinthians God said he will never put us through something that we can not handle. However, it will be hard. When life gets hard and you feel like you are alone, do not fear, God is on your side; in the 105 section of the Doctrine and Covenants, Christ says that "He will fight your battles," He is there for us when no one else is. He will give us the strength that we don't have.

How great is that? That is the greatest gift that we could have ever received! Heavenly Father sent his Son to die for us so that we can return to live with him again. Remember that during this Christmas season. I would encourage all of you to go to Christmas.mormon.org and watch the 2 videos that are on the website titled "A Savior is Born" and "Imagine a World Without a Savior." These are two of the most powerful (2-3 minute) videos that I have ever seen and they are centered around Christ and Christmas.

I love you all so much and know that our Father in Heaven is always there for you and that Christ knows what you are going through, because he went through it to.

Elder Schipaanboord