One way to draw closer to Christ and to Family this Christmas

Many of us will, this next week, gather to celebrate Christmas. In this short post, I wanted to share a few suggestions that can make your Christmas more meaningful, and draw you closer to Christ.  Then I'll close with a short video that I've shared before, but it's my favorite.

Favorite Traditions
One favorite I have is of course, on Christmas Eve, spending time in Luke 2, or watching the Nativity, or maybe this year watch the new Christmas movie put out by the Church.  And the spirit of the Lord often is so strong.  And especially as I look at this picture, and read the scriptures, I realize that Christ had a family, too.  And he wants to preserve it and all of ours.  And during this holiday time, maybe on Christmas Day, there is something you can add that can draw you closer to Christ, and your Family. 

That little bit extra that adds the world
In the time you spend this Christmas, whether alone or with family and friends, I challenge you to take some time on the Family Tree Mobile App, or on the Family Search Website, and look at some of your ancestors' stories and histories, and maybe read some of their testimonies of the Savior, if recorded.

Or, if you don't have any stories, and you are with family, get your family talking about family stories, and their testimonies of the Savior.  Then you can record them, and upload them.

You will feel even closer to your family, and especially closer to Christ this Christmas as you draw in those who have gone before.  That baby in Bethlehem made it possible for families to be forever.  In addition to feeling the spirit of the Lord, you may be able to feel the presence of your ancestors from beyond the veil.  You will realize you are not alone, and that, as the scripture says, those who are with you are more than those against you.

For Families or for those who are alone
This can help, especially for those of us who feel alone, or sad, or in other ways have a difficult time at Christmas.  And I have another suggestion that can be the icing on the cake.

Take another step
Then, take a moment to tap the "ancestors with tasks" section of the Mobile App, and try to discover new records of deceased relatives whose work hasn't been done.  There is another post on this blog that help you know how to use that, as well as another post on how to discover an insider tip that reveals your family history work really hasn't been done.  Hint, your work isn't already done-no one's is.

Go to the temple with your own names or others
As Christmas Day draws to a close, make a plan so that sometime this next month, maybe during your Christmas Break if your local temple is open, you take either your own names to the temple, or go to "Ordinances Ready" on the Family Tree Mobile App, and take some relative's names to the temple. It will be the perfect start to the new year, and can be the perfect close to this Christmas Season.

My testimony of this Work
As I have engaged in Family History and Temple work, I have felt the spirit draw near, and have experienced the heavens open, and blessings poured out upon me and my family.

I have drawn closer to the Savior. I have had miracles happen in my life, and I have felt the Love of God comfort my soul, and lift my burdens.

Now that doesn't mean that everything is made all right. There are still trials. But the Lord is there to help me through them.

What is most important is that my testimony of Christ, this church, and this work of salvation has increased.  I testify that Christ is at the head of this work. One of the greatest joys of my life is to know I'm teaming with the Savior to help him in this vicarious work of Salvation, and that he magnifies my tiny little efforts.

My Greatest Hope is that others may feel of the Love of God.  It's also why I write this little blog. 

I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and I hope that some of these suggestions will help you draw closer to the Savior this Christmas. It's about him. I know he lives, I know he loves all of his children, and I pray that we all may feel of his love this Christmas.

Now here's the video promised

Start on the Family Tree Mobile App, or at the Family Search Website. You can also find many helpful articles on this blog. 

The Christmas that Changed their lives

The family sat around a sumptuous dinner table, with steaming hot, savory mouth watering food, but there was no happiness there. Something had happened, and everyone seemed disconnected. 

The only time they had felt together was when they were putting up the Christmas tree and their nativity set.  There was Christmas music, laughter, and a feeling of family.

But since then, Helen had gotten caught up with problems with her online purchases of presents for Christmas, her husband Mark had to work overtime until Christmas, and the kids seemed to be pulling away. Both of them new teenagers, they seemed to be withdrawing.

That one Sunday
In a spare moment on Sunday a few weeks before Christmas, Helen was pondering about what that first Christmas Eve was like. As she thought of the Savior of the world as a little baby, she was reminded of how it felt to hold each of her own babies when they were born. 

How it must have been that sacred night for Mary to hold this baby. Helen folded her legs undeneath her, and grew thankful for this Heavenly Father who sent his Son to save all of hers. 

She walked into the living room where Mark was sitting, reading, and then looked at her two children, one on a tablet, and another playing a video game.  She decided something had to change. 

She told stocky, brown haired, brown eyed Jake, lithe, athletic, blue eyed and blonde Ellie, and her husband Mark to gather around.

Amidst a pile of complaints that their fun had been interrupted, she gathered her teens together, and as Mark quizzically put down his book, she began. 

The story unfolds
She related what she had been thinking about the Savior, and how sacred that night was, and how grateful she was for each of them.  And gradually, they started to soften. 

Mark suggested they read a bit of Luke now, even though Christmas was a couple of days away.  So, with the blinking lights of the Christmas tree casting a dim glow over the room, Mark started reading from his phone the story of Christ's birth that still captures hearts today. 

As he did, he felt a sense of gratitude for his Father in Heaven who gave his only begotten son so that his family could be together forever. 

What can we do?
As the spirit touched them, there were still questions. Tender hearted Jake spoke the words that Mark was also thinking.  He said, "If Jesus came to save everyone, what about the ones who aren't sealed as a family? I know they say that Family History work can help people return to Christ and be sealed together, but how can it be done?"

Ellie excitedly spoke up. She said "I saw a quote someone put on Facebook from the prophet Joseph Smith where he said that everyone who accepts Christ's gospel, and their ordinances, would eventually be sealed together and to Christ in one grand link!"

Mark nodded his dark haired head and agreed, "The gospel is going to touch everyone, and everyone will have the chance, but I'm not sure how to get started."
 
The Change-Following the Spirit
Then, unexpectedly, there was a peace that descended upon the Family.  No one spoke for a bit, but each one felt the power of the ordinances that sealed them together as a Family.  They knew that Christ came so that could happen.  And each of them, in an individual way, knew that they could do something to help. 

Video games and Streaming movies forgotten, the Family opened up the Family Tree Mobile App on each of their mobile devices, and for Helen on the Family Search Website, and read some stories about their Ancestors to each other.

And all of a sudden, they didn't feel so alone in the world. They felt connected to the Lord, and to others.  And it almost seemed, even though they couldn't see anyone, that their ancestors were there in the room with them.  And there was the spirit of the Lord there as well, encouraging them.

The Beginning that changed the family
Then Ellie saw a section of the app called "Ancestors with Tasks," and after looking at some instructions on what that was for, and how to use that section of the App to find people to add to their family tree, they excitedly set to work. And they began to find people.

A couple of hours later, after alternating between focusing individually, and occasionally chattering to each other, they found 6 people to add to their family tree. And their ordinances weren't done yet.  And since Ellie and Jake were old enough to do baptisms for the dead, they reserved the names, and made plans to go as a family to the temple before Christmas.  

Though Mark and Helen are fictional, their experience is representative of the real life changes that come to all who engage in this work.  One Sunday, and one Christmas season can change the lives of all who engage in this work.  And it won't just change your life.  Your ancestors on the other side of the veil can rejoice this Christmas to know their work will be done soon.  You don't need to do Family History every day, but could gather once a month, and could find more of their ancestors to take to the temple.  Even if just ten minutes on a Sunday.  That's all it takes.

Other ways to help
Sometimes you, either individually or together as family, can try to find more family names, and sometimes, you can just use the "Ordinances Ready" part of the app to reserve names for the temple that someone else has done.  And each time you go, your life can change.  

If you do that, the spirit of Christmas can last all year round.  Over a lifetime, each of you can end up finding many more people to take to the temple. And the heavens and earth will rejoice as your actions answer Jake's question of how it could be done.  You are the answer to that question.  Each of us are. 

Getting Started, Promises
You may not be an expert, but there is always a way to get started.  This blog has several resources.  Maybe you use the "Ordinances Ready" section of the Family Tree Mobile App to do the temple work for someone who can't go to the temple, but is doing Family History work. 

And maybe after a few months of that, you start to learn just a bit more, and you find your first name to take. 

I know that as we will start doing Family History, we will realize many promises given by the Lord himself.  There are a couple of other blog posts with promises from Elder Renlund, and from Elder Scott and Elder Bednar about blessings that come from engaging in this work. 

And while many of us have some time this Christmas, it's a great time to get started. 

Testimony of he whose season this is
I testify of the divinity of this work, and that the once tiny baby from Bethlehem, now the Resurrected Lord, is at the head of it.  I know he lives.  As we engage in his work, we will feel of his love and gratitude.  And our lives will change. 

Get started today on the Family Tree Mobile App, or on the Family Search Website. 

Picture is "The Angels of Christmas" by Greg Olsen, available at his website.