One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Mary, Did You Know?” The songwriters cause us to ponder about what the mother of Jesus knew when Christ was only a baby. With hindsight they look back on the miracles He performed, His mission here, and the influence He has had on mankind.
Have you ever thought about what others in the future will write about us? Will they be strengthened by our faith, courage and willingness to move our feet, notwithstanding our limited knowledge of the future? Will they be inspired by our response to current prophets as they guide us in these latter days?
At this time of year we ponder the accounts of the Savior’s birth given by His parents, the shepherds and the wise men. Each of them recognized through the Spirit, the divinity of this Babe in Bethlehem and they were drawn to Him. The spirit of this season has even more meaning as we contemplate the Second Coming of the Savior and our role in its preparation. We happen to be alive at an exciting and important time in the history of the world. Here are a few of the statements President Russell M. Nelson has made about our time:
“My dear young brothers and sisters, these surely are the latter days, and the Lord is hastening His work to gather Israel. That gathering is the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty. And if you choose to, if you want to, you can be a big part of it. You can be a big part of something big, something grand, something majestic!”
“Think of it! Of all the people who have ever lived on planet earth, we are the ones who get to participate in this final, great gathering event. How exciting is that!
“Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that.”
This holiday season our physical, in-person gatherings, will be limited. But we do have the opportunity for the type of gathering that comes through engaging in family history. There are many who are waiting for us to participate in this great gathering. They too will feel the joy of this Christmas season as they see us participating in activities that will enhance family ties, connect individuals to their families, and prepare to do the ordinances that will bring eternal joy. Let us be part of this big, grand, and majestic event in history. –Dave Castleton, Director- Granite Family History Center