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The Fourth Gift(This monthly message comes with a suggested listening and reading list. Songs have been chosen from The Collection cd and readings have been selected from scripture.) I have always loved Christmas time. I love everything about it. I love putting up the tree. I love the music. I love the food – I love the food a little too much. I love giving and receiving gifts. One year, when I was about 16 years old, I did the unthinkable. I was overly anxious for Christmas to come and to know what gifts were under the tree for me. So one day, about a week before Christmas and when no one else was home, I took all of my presents out from under the tree and up to my room. One by one, I slowly pulled off the tape being careful not to tear the wrapping paper so I could rewrap each package. (It takes a great deal of patience and the skill of a steady hand, but I was equal to the task.) As I successfully removed the wrap, I peeked into each box to see what it contained. It was so exciting. Then, after I had opened every last one, I realized Christmas was over for me. I was so disappointed that I knew everything and that I had spoiled the surprise. Speaking of gifts, in Matthew 2:11 talks about the wise men who came to worship the Savior at His birth. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” The First Gift - GOLD Before gold can reach its full potential it must be refined. Refining is the separation and purification of gold from other metals. Raw gold contains other metals and those metals must be removed before the gold is considered pure. Final refining of gold is a two-step process. First, the crude gold is melted and chlorine is bubbled through the molten metal converting all the other metals to chlorides which are floated off. This yeilds 99.5% pure gold which is cast into anodes. Second, the anodes are placed in an electrolytic cell and on passing a current, 99.99% pure gold is deposited at the cathode. (I totally knew that information off the top of my head…not.) Just as gold is refined and separated from impure metals our lives become a gift to the Father as we become refined and separate ourselves from the impurities of the world. Perhaps we could put down a book that is only 99.5% pure and read one that is 99.99% pure. Maybe we could excuse ourselves from a conversation that might have impurities. We could even “let virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly.” Helaman 3:35 “Lead Me Home” The Second Gift – FRANKINCENSE Frankincense is an aromatic gum resin that has been harvested for thousands of years and used by many faiths and for medical reasons. It has been used to treat ailments such as asthma, insect bites, colds, cancer, pneumonia and many other things. There are over 52 references to Frankincense in the Bible. It is holy incense and is considered to help improve communication with God. President Hinckley said, “We can draw nearer to the Lord in our prayers. These can become conversations of thanksgiving. I can never fully understand how the Great God of the Universe, the Almighty, invites us as His children to speak with Him individually. How precious an opportunity is this. How wonderful that it actually happens. I testify that our prayers, offered in humility and sincerity, are heard and answered. It is a miraculous thing, but it is real.” Psalm 55:17 “He Hears Me” The Third Gift – MYRRH Myrrh was the third gift given by the three wise men. Even before the baby Jesus received Myrrh as a gift, over 2000 years ago, Myrrh was one of the most desired and most sought after items in the world. It was used as incense in religious rituals and it promotes spiritual awareness. It is interesting that myrrh, believed to increase spirituality, was so highly valued and sought after. It begs the question, “Am I seeking that which promotes spiritual awareness?” Am I seeking His word by reading the scriptures daily? Am I seeking the companionship of the Holy Ghost by being obedient? Am I seeking inspiration in the temple? Abraham 3:25 “Prove Me” President Faust said, “We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. But there is a difference between presents and gifts. The true gifts may be part of ourselves – giving of the riches of the heart and mind – and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store.” Just as the wise men brought valuable gifts – we too have gifts that we can give to the Savior. The Fourth Gift There is one more gift. It is a gift that only you can give to the Savior. It must be something from your heart, a true gift…part of yourself. It is for you to decide what the fourth gift is. Jude 1:24-25 “All My Days”
May the joy and peace that only the Savior can bring fill your home this Christmas Season.
Merry Christmas ~ Hilary |  |
