Warm Wishes and Inspiring Ideas for Christmas
This Christmas, our missionaries have written some wonderful thoughts. We want to share them with the ward family to spread the warmth and love of this special holiday season. We love our missionaries!
Elder Cole Winegar (Sweden Stockholm Mission)
How blessed we are to have an extra reminder to celebrate our Savior Jesus Christ during this Christmas season. In my short 5 months on my mission, I have come to know and love the Savior in a more personal way. Jesus Christ is my brother, friend, and perfect example. His atonement has the power to change us, even the innermost desires of our hearts, so that we can become more like Him. He perfectly knows how to “succor His people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:12) and performed the atonement so that we could have peace in this life (John 14:27). He is always waiting with open arms to comfort, help, and strengthen us, no matter who we are or what our circumstances may be. He invites us ALL to come unto Him, “black and white, bond and free, male and female” (2 Nephi 26:33) because He loves each of us perfectly! None other has had, or will have a greater impact on our existence. I love Jesus Christ and cannot express with words my gratitude for Him. Let us all remember this Christmas season, and always, that He truly is “Joy to the World”!
Elder Zach Augade- (Arizona Flagstaff Mission)
On my mission I have gained a testimony of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Rock. Everything we believe and practice stems from Christ. Everything from the Plan of Salvation, to the word of wisdom, to tithing, etc. One of my favorite passages of scripture is John 6:66-69, where christ asked “Will ye also go away?” We should all have the testimony of Peter who says “To whom shall we go?.. we believe and are sure that thou art that christ, the son of the living God.” Brothers and Sisters, there is nowhere else to go. Take your questions or doubts to the lord before you leave. And amongst the chaos and fun of Christmas please remember why we are celebrating it in the first place. I love you all!
Elder Ethan Lignell- (Perú Huancayo Mission)
Jesus Christ is everything to me. He is the Son of God and the Savior and Redeemer of the world. He is the reason I’m on my mission. This is His true church. Without Him the church I am serving a mission for wouldn’t be. And more importantly I’m serving Him and our Heavenly Father. He is a perfect person and a perfect example to me. I want to become like Him.I love Jesus Christ and I know that he knows and loves me and all of us individually. I have so much respect for Him and all he has done for us so we can receive the mortal and eternal blessings we have been promised.
Elder Zach Winegar- (Norway Oslo Mission)
It is hard for me to use words to describe my feelings about Jesus Christ. But– Jesus, first and foremost, is my friend; He is my brother. He is the foundation for us to build ourselves on, and the safety net when we fall (3 Nephi 14:24-25). Through His life on earth, He gave us a blueprint on how we should live ours. Though life will never be easy, He makes the hard moments bearable, and makes life worth living (Mosiah 24:14). He is not only our advocate, but the advocate against all injustice in the world. I know that through him all injustices will be made right. And through His justice, He is equally as merciful; He provides the only true Just Mercy (Alma 42:15). Most importantly, I know Jesus Christ loves ALL (2 Nephi 26:33). For me, I have learned most that Jesus is my joy (John 15:11),my comfort (John 14:18), and my peace (Helaman 5:47). One of my favorite hymns is “the Lord is my Light”, and that He is. As that hymn says, He is “my all and in all, there is in His sight no darkness at all”. And, as many have described to me, Jesus Christ is everything. I’m so grateful for the chance that I have had to come to know Jesus Christ more deeply on my mission so far and during this Christmas season.
Elder Owen Ambrose- (Argentina Córdoba Mission)
Today I am extremely grateful for the chance I have to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ! But I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the Christlike examples of my friends! Elder Henry B. Eyring’s words have been stuck in my head when he said: “All of us will be tested. And all of us need true friends to love us, to listen to us, to show us the way, and to testify of truth to us.” I invite you to be a friend to someone who needs it!