Pres. Uchtdorf told the following story:
One night a grandfather was reading a story to his four-year-old granddaughter when she looked up and said, “Grandpa, look at the stars!” The older man smiled kindly and said, “We’re indoors, honey. There are no stars here.” But the child insisted, “You have stars in your room! Look!”
The grandfather looked up and, to his surprise, noticed that the ceiling was peppered with a metallic glitter. It was invisible most of the time, but when the light struck the glitter a certain way, it did indeed look like a field of stars. It took the eyes of a child to see them, but there they were. And from that moment on, when the grandfather walked into this room and looked up, he could see what he had not been able to see before."
We are now leaving the Christmas season. Hopefully you have heard the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus Christ at least once during this holiday time. At our home, we read it every Sunday through the month of December and again on Christmas Eve. One of my favorite parts in Luke is when the angels announce the birth to the shepherds: “For Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” And they said to themselves, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass” (Luke 2:11, 15).
As we embark on a new year, I hope that we will “see this thing which is come to pass” and not be like this grandfather that had the stars right above him and he hadn’t even seen them. In order for that to happen, we have to know what things came to pass. The story of Jesus Christ did not stop at this miraculous birth. That was just the beginning. He lived an exemplar life—one in which he not only wanted us to see, but do as he did. In John 13: 15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
He didn’t come to earth to be greater than us, but to be equal with us and to show us that we can be and do as he did.
Also in John 14: 5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
We must follow Jesus Christ. We must do as He did. We must know what he did to do what he did.
So today, I thought it would be fun to look at the life of Jesus Christ.
When I looked up Jesus Christ in the topical guide I found a section called the summary: pg. 240—
(read through these) There’s his life in a nut shell. But it didn’t tell the miraculous things he did in between his baptism and his crucifixion.
Give small groups (about 3 people) a scripture reference that tells about something the savior did. Read it. Discuss it.
What can we do to follow the example that Jesus set for us?
What do we learn from this segment of the Savior’s life?
If we are to ACT and not be acted upon, then what does it teach us to do?
What do we learn from this segment of the Savior’s life?
If we are to ACT and not be acted upon, then what does it teach us to do?
(Be humble, accepting, serve the children & do all to help & teach them)
2. Mary and Martha: Luke 10:38-42
(take time to learn the things of Christ & His ways)
3. Christ and the Samaritan Woman: John 4:3-30, 39-42
(Don’t judge)
5. Other healings: Matthew 9: 27-31, 32-35, 36-38
(compassion and love for others)
6. Feeding the 5000 with a few loaves of bread: Mark 8:1-9
(service—compassion & charity)
7. Raising the dead: Luke 7:11-17
(No one asked him to heal this woman’s son—Jesus had compassion when he saw them)
8. Forgives the adulterous woman: John 8:3-11
& those that crucified him: Luke 23:33-34
9. Washing the apostles feet: John 13:4-15, JST John 13:8
(serve—be humble, never better than anyone else)
10. Changed the water to wine—wedding in Cana: John 2:1-11
(He cares about the things that are important in our lives)
11. Healed the Nephites: 3 Nephi 17: 5-20
(Love, compassion, charity)
12. Respect for family/mother: John 19:25-27
14. Raised Lazarus from Dead: John 11:1-45 (Love, compassion, charity, service, friendship)
15. Cleansing the temple: Matthew 21:12-15; Mark 11:15-17
(stay clean & pure)
Tell us what is the story of your scripture: What did Jesus do? Tell us what we learn from it and how we apply it to our lives. (write these on the board)
Jesus Christ went about doing good. His life wasn’t about “himself” for he was doing the work of His Father’s. He was always concerned with the one and who needed help. There are many, many, many examples of Him healing, helping, serving and teaching. Jesus Christ served and taught the people because he loved them. In everything you read, his love emanates. John 15:9 “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”
What is our life all about?
Do we only do those things that will benefit ourselves or are we looking out for others?
Do we have compassion and charity for our neighbors?
Do we love as he loved?
Do we reach out to others?
Challenge: Draw closer to the Savior—learn of Him.
Follow His example.
Be more compassionate. Keep your eyes and thoughts always looking for someone who needs your help. A smile, a conversation, a listening ear, some of your time, forgiveness, a non-judgmental attitude.
Our lives are very busy. But we must “do as he did” and I know that “happy are ye if ye do them”.
You will have hope for what is to come, you will feel peace, you will feel joy and happiness.
Pres. Monson said in closing in last April’s general conference: “My counsel for all of us is to look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what its beacon light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. The lighthouse of the Lord sends forth signals readily recognized and never failing.”
Look to the Lord. See what you've not been able to see before. Follow his example.
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