I know I don’t need to tell you this, but school is out in two weeks, and Christmas is three weeks from today. Christmas is my favorite holiday. It is actually pretty crazy if you think about how much this season impacts us. In the United States alone, we spend over $700 billion in retail sales to celebrate Christmas. We pull out boxes and boxes of decorations and rearrange our furniture to make room for a tree. After the dust settles and we vacuum up the pine needles, we have totally redecorated our homes. We then take on the outside of the house, risking our lives climbing around on rooftops and in trees putting up lights that we hope will work when we plug them in. This can be a bone-chilling experience for those of us living in Rexburg. We even change our wardrobe to include ugly sweaters, Christmas ties, and Santa hats. (Some of you may have seen me this week in my Santa hat). The radio and television stations switch into Christmas mode and begin playing Christmas music and movies. We have all sorts of Christmas parties and functions where we load up on goodies and give each other ridiculous white elephant gifts. We participate in family traditions that we never do any other time of the year. For example, in our home, we have a crazy tradition we call “Elfville.”
We put on our elf hats and go to work building an entire elf village out of empty appliance boxes, duct tape, and Christmas lights. We then eat and sleep in our newly built elf homes. In case you were wondering, I am the little guy sitting down in the photo. And truth be told, I have actually been asked more than once in public, by children, if I was an elf (and that is without even wearing an elf hat). It is truly amazing how many ways Christmas changes our thoughts and behavior. There is a magic in the air, and hopefully we are all beginning to feel and enjoy it.
It used to bother me that we keep moving Christmas earlier and earlier every year, and spend more and more money on decorations and lights, but I have changed my mindset. Now I just imagine that everyone is so excited and thankful for the birth of the Savior that they just can’t contain themselves. We must love Christ more than ever! As I see all the trees, lights, and decorations, I just think, “There is another house that is so happy about the birth of the Savior.” I have come to connect Christmas lights to Jesus Christ. Every light we see can be a reminder to us that we have a Savior. I try to think, “All of these lights and decorations are for Him!” I hope every time we see a Christmas light, we will remember Him. If we allow them to, every decoration we see can help us keep our sacrament covenant to always remember the Savior.
I don’t speak Spanish, but as a young boy, I remember learning that the word más means more—which, in my mind, meant that the word Christ-mas must simply mean more Christ! This December has gotten off to a great “more Christ” start. Saturday, many of us may have participated in a worldwide day of service. Sunday, we were able to fast and bear testimony of the Savior, as well as renew our baptismal covenants to follow the Savior. And then, that night we were able to hear from our prophet in the First Presidency Christmas devotional.
We have been invited to “Light the World.” Here is the video the Church produced to remind us of this charge we have all been given this week.
I testify that Jesus Christ is the Light and the Life of the World. He is our perfect example and the Savior of the world.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ taught His disciples:
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.[1]
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are under covenant to stand as witnesses of Christ everywhere we go. As members of His Church, we have a sacred responsibility to look and act like Him always. Abraham was promised that through his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed. We are his seed. Are we blessing and lighting the world?
When the resurrected Christ visited the people in the Book of Mormon, He introduced himself as “the light and the life of the world.” [2] He invited them to be the light of the world just as He had been for the disciples in the old world. After teaching, healing, and ministering to them, Christ taught the Nephites:
Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you. . . . Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. [3]
So how do we light the world? We do our best to act like Jesus Christ! We simply strive to keep our sacrament covenants! We stand as witnesses of God at all times and all places. We try to do what He would do in every situation we encounter. We need to do all we can to learn of Him and then live like Him. This is not an easy task, but it is what we have covenanted to do as members of His Church. (And by the way, it’s also the happiest way to live.)
We can learn much about the character and nature of Jesus Christ by looking at one day in the life of the Savior. The day I’ve picked to look at was a particularly difficult day. It begins with Him getting news that His dear friend John the Baptist, who was in prison, had been beheaded for defending His teachings. In Matthew 14:13 it reads, “When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.” [4] (Not just a few people—five thousand men, plus women and children.)
How would you respond in this setting? You have just been given some terrible news and have tried to go and be alone. You look up and see a huge crowd of people following you. How would you view the crowd in such a difficult time? I know that when I have had a really bad day, that last thing I want is thousands people following me around. After asking them to leave, I think would either run away and hide or get really frustrated with them. Just imagine this entire congregation in the I-Center following you around after learning your friend had been murdered. What a test of patience! Notice what Christ does in this situation: “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” [5]
So how do we light the world?
One of the first lessons we learn from Christ is, despite our situation, we should look upon others with compassion.
How do we view the world? How do we view the people all around us?
We may need to adjust our vision. We may need to put on our “glasses of compassion.”
I love how Elder Dale G. Renlund teaches this principle:
In the Church, to effectively serve others we must see them through a parent’s eyes, through Heavenly Father’s eyes. Only then can we begin to comprehend the true worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all of His children. Only then can we sense the Savior’s caring concern for them. We cannot completely fulfill our covenant obligation to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort unless we see them through God’s eyes. This expanded perspective will open our hearts to the disappointments, fears, and heartaches of others. [6]
As you look around you right now, what do you see? How do you view those sitting around you? There are people all around us in need of light and healing. We need to be looking at them with our compassion glasses. Are we praying to know who and how to help? I love the counsel and promise of President M. Russell Ballard:
In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help. . . . If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible. [7]
We simply need to turn outward and focus more on the needs of others than ourselves. The Savior could have said, “I need my alone time. I’m sad and I will help you later. Please just leave me alone.” But he didn’t. Turning outward with love is one of the defining elements of Christ’s character.
I am touched by the words in Mark 10:21, where the Savior is having a conversation with the young man known as the “rich young ruler.” It reads, “Then Jesus beholding him, loved him.” Jesus simply loves those he sees, whether it be a crowd of thousands or one individual asking him a question. Are we wearing our “compassion glasses”? They will help us turn outward and more effectively light the world.
Meanwhile back in Matthew 14, Christ has healed their sick, and the sun is going down. It is dinner time, with thousands of people and no catering services in sight. His disciples come to Him and suggest that they send the multitude away, to which Christ replies, “They need not depart; give ye them to eat.” [8] His disciples reply, “We only have five loaves and two fishes.” I love this part of the story for two reasons. First of all, Christ takes care of those around him—no matter the conditions. If you simply spend time around the Savior, you will leave having been healed and nourished. I know people like this. Every time I spend time around them, I leave better than I came. They feed and nourish me with hope and love—and sometimes cookies. I hope we can all have this effect on others.
Secondly, to make a difference, we don’t have to do anything big, just simply give whatever we have to the Savior and let Him do the miracle. We may sometimes feel like we have to do something amazing to make a difference, but remember the words of President Howard W. Hunter, who taught that “frequently it is the commonplace tasks that have the greatest positive effect on the lives of others, as compared with the things that the world so often relates to greatness.” [9]
Think of the lights we put on our Christmas trees; we decorate them with hundreds of small lights rather than one great big one. I think there is a lesson in this. Like the boy who gave his small offering of fish and loaves, small and simple things truly have a great impact on others. A smile, a compliment, a hello! To make my point: How many of us have kept a simple little note someone has written us? We hang onto them like they are treasures. They are just simple pieces of paper, but we keep them with our special stuff, never wanting to lose them. There is great power in love and kindness. If you don’t have time or gifts to give, you can give away a smile. They are free and always available. A simple smile can have an incredible impact on us. Just look at these photos.
How do they impact you? Do they make you smile?
“British researchers found that one smile can generate the same level of brain stimulation as up to 2,000 bars of chocolate.” [10] I would love to be in that study (smiles and chocolate).
Endorphins, “happy hormones,” are released when we smile. These are triggered by the movements of the muscles in our faces, which our brain interprets, and then releases these “happy chemicals.” Endorphins make us feel happy, and they also help lower stress levels. So, smile through your finals and through the Christmas holiday and beyond. It’s cheaper than buying chocolate, and more effective. I love this poem on the power of a smile:
Smiling is infectious; you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realized I'd passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile then I realized its worth,
A single smile, just like mine could travel ‘round the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected.
Let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected!
Anonymous
We have approximately 100 nations and all 50 states represented on this campus. If we will simply smile and say hi to those around us, we will literally light the world every day on this campus. Let’s not wait. I would invite you to start spreading the smile epidemic right now by taking three seconds to pause and smile at the people around you. Wow! Now that is a lot of endorphins! As you seek to light the world, remember, small and simple things can have a huge impact when put in the hands of the Savior.
Returning to our story in Matthew: After feeding the 5,000, the Savior sends them home, healed and filled. His disciples then set off in a ship to cross the Sea of Galilee. Night passes, and a storm arises on the sea. Christ sets out walking on the sea to go the other side. As He walks past the disciples in their boat, they see Him. Peter then asks if he can come out of the ship and join the Savior on the water, to which the Savior replies, “Come.” [11] I love that Peter was so inspired by the Savior that he wanted to do what He did. Christ’s example was an inspiration to Peter to the point that he was willing to do things he had never done before. As we sincerely try to imitate the Savior, our example will be a light to others, naturally inviting them to improve and change.
We learn another important lesson from Peter: we need to get out of our comfort zones and have the courage to truly be like the Light of the World—not just looking for others to serve but actually serving them, taking action. Peter gets out of the boat and leaves his comfort zone to come to the Savior. We, like Peter, must have the faith and courage to get out of our boats of comfort and come to Christ in a bolder way than we have in the past. As others see you living like Christ, they will be inspired to do the same. It is contagious—much like a smile. It can be very difficult to get out of our comfort zones and take action, but we must learn, as we were recently taught by Sister Michelle D. Craig in general conference, to “never suppress a generous thought.” [12] Sister Jean B. Bingham reminded us last week in devotional that how we respond to our ministering assignments will tell our Father in Heaven how serious we are about returning to live with Him. [13] To be an effective minister requires us to get out of our comfort zones and act in a higher and holier way than we have in the past. As we let our light shine rather than withhold it in our comfort zones, we will see miracles, growth, and blessings in ways we never thought possible. We all have a much greater capacity to love and lift those around us than we may be currently showing. Don’t be afraid. Get out of your comfort zone and let your light shine.
Years ago, I observed a powerful example of letting your light shine. We were living in Salt Lake at the time. My wife and I were watching the evening news, and they announced that there was a huge shortage of blankets at the homeless shelter.
The next day for family home evening, we invited our kids to come outside into the backyard without their coats. We all stood in a small circle in the snow and talked about what it would be like to live outside in the winter. As we stood there shivering in the cold winter air, we told the kids about the shortage of blankets, and invited them each to go into the house and pick one of their blankets that they would be willing to give to the shelter. My wife and I grabbed a couple of comforters that we had been given when we were first married that we had never used. They were not super attractive or stylish, but they were warm. Each of the kids returned to the family room with a blanket. Our oldest daughter came into the room with her special blanket that she slept with every night—the one we wrapped her in when we brought her home from the hospital. She absolutely loved this blanket! When I saw the blanket she had chosen, I asked my wife to grab a back-up blanket “just in case.” As we drove down to the shelter, I noticed she was holding her blanket very tightly. We walked into the shelter, and it was dinner time. We could see many people of all ages talking and eating at tables in the other room. We pointed out to our kids that these were the people they would be helping. One by one, each family member handed their blanket to the woman at the desk. All but our oldest daughter. She was standing at the back of the room, just holding her blanket tightly with tears in her eyes. I motioned to my wife to grab the back-up blanket. We told her that she could just give this other blanket instead and that it would be fine. To be honest, we really did not want her to give away the blanket either, because of the sentimental connections we had with the blanket. Our daughter just stood there clutching her blanket and looking at families eating in the other room. I again told her she could just use the back-up blanket, to which she replied, “If I was one of those girls in that room, I would want this blanket. This one is the warmest and most cuddly.” She then, with tears in her eyes, walked up and sat the blanket on the desk and turned and walked away sobbing. We were taught a great lesson that night by our daughter. She had seen others with her “compassion glasses.” She got out of the boat and did her small part to “light the world.”
As we have talked today, I hope that you have felt a greater desire to let your light shine. I hope that we remember and act on the principles of looking at others with greater compassion, doing the little things, and getting out of our comfort zones. In the spirit of Christmas list making, I would invite you to take a moment right now to write down the names of two or three people you could lift, love, or help this Christmas season and what your plan is to help them.
I testify that we are truly children of light, with a sacred responsibility to represent Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the World. Every time you see a Christmas light this season, I would invite you to remember the Light of the World and the challenge we have all been given to assist Him in this sacred work. May we all go forth smiling, lifting, and serving with greater conviction this Christmas season, letting the Light of Christ that is in us shine brighter than ever before, is my hope and prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Matthew 5:14-16; emphasis added.
[2] 3 Nephi 11:11.
[3] 3 Nephi 18:16, 24; emphasis added.
[4] Matthew 14:13.
[5] Matthew 14:14; emphasis added.
[6] Dale G. Renlund, “Through God’s Eyes,” Ensign, Nov. 2015.
[7] M. Russell Ballard, “Be Anxiously Engaged,” Ensign, Nov. 2012.
[8] Matthew 14:16.
[9] Howard W. Hunter, “True Greatness,” Ensign, May 1982.
[10] Meg Selig, “The 9 Superpowers of Your Smile,” Psychology Today, May 25, 2016; www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/changepower/201605/the-9-superpowers-your-smile.
[11] Matthew 14:29.
[12] Michelle D. Craig, “Divine Discontent,” Ensign, Nov. 2018.
[13] Jean B. Bingham, “Keys to Progress: An Eternal Perspective,” BYUI devotional, Nov. 27, 2018.