#ASaviorisBorn - December 20

When you see this man's face, you just think, Christmas. You've known who it is since you were a little child. Since your first Christmas on this earth, you've known about Santa Claus. The great man who delivers gifts to every child on Christmas is a legend. His red coat, his team of reindeer, and his home in the North Pole are known by nearly every child who celebrates Christmas.

But Santa Claus has many similarities to our Savior. Whether intentional or not, Santa is a symbol of Christ. First, there's his looks.

Red Coat and White Beard

When Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the newly dedicated Kirtland Temple, they recorded the experience in D&C 110. "His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters" (D&C 110:3).

Joseph Smith also received revelation concerning the Second coming of Christ. "And the Lord shall be red in his apparel, and his garments like him that treadeth in the wine-vat" (D&C 133:48).

Coming in the Night

Christ used many parables to help his disciples watch for his coming. Of these is the parable of the ten virgins. Ten virgins were waiting for the bridegroom to come, but he was taking longer than they'd expected. "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him" (Matthew 25:6).  The Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night" (1 Thes 5:2).

While Santa is not quite a thief (just the opposite actually), he will come in the night, when we don't expect him. And many of us will be asleep when he comes.

Naughty or Nice

Somehow, Santa knows how each person has been behaving the whole year.

And because he makes a list, and checks it twice, he can tell who is naughty and deserves coal or who is nice and deserves a puppy.

When we are judged for our sins, Christ will be our judge. "His lord said unto his, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matthew 25:21).

It's also worth mentioning the the naughty get coal, and hell is portrayed with fire and brimstone. When I have kids, I will personally see to it that they understand the connection.

Comes with Gifts

When Christ was born, the wise men brought him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This is the reason we give gifts on Christmas. However, we were also given a gift from Him. Last year, the LDS church put out this video.

When God sent his only Begotten Son to us, to save us from our sins, and our pains, and our sadness, he gave us the greatest gift we could ever ask for.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in his should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Christ atoning sacrifice for us was a gift given to us 2,000 years ago. When we see that jolly big man, and his bowl full of jelly, we should be reminded of Christ. How we celebrate his birth. How he came into the world, and how he lived and died for us.

Watch tomorrow for my next thought.

-Nathaniel