#ASaviorisBorn - December 22

My favorite part of Christmas decorating is hanging lights. I can look past the awful knots in the box, and how 90% of the bulbs are out, and see the beauty of the lights. I love driving around my town and seeing the lights other people have set up. Last year I came across a house that has synced their lights to the radio.

However my favorite display of lights would be those at temple square.

The thousands of little lights are just so beautiful and with the temple there as well, it makes you feel at peace. Even though it's difficult for me to go there for a date because of Christmas plans, I still love going and seeing the lights.

As I've said, lights are my favorite part of Christmas decorations, and just make you feel like its really Christmastime.

The first light of Christmas was the new star in the sky when Christ was born. The light was so brilliant, that it was as if there was no night at all. This star is how the wise men found the baby Jesus. But this star played a bigger part in the believers of Christ among the Nephites. It saved them from the wicked men who wanted to kill them. But more about that story on a later day.

The idea of Light is well associated with Jesus Christ, as well as all throughout the scriptures. The very first thing that was created is light (Gen 1:3). Joseph Smith's account of his First Vision tells how he "saw a pillar of light exactly over [his] head, above the brightness of the sun" (JSH 1:16). The Light of Christ resides in all things, and knowledge and light is typically used synonymously within the scriptures.

Jesus calls himself the Light. "I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end" (3 Nephi 9:18).

A friend of mine once used an analogy of a lamp being turned on in an empty dark room. When the lamp was off, nothing could be seen. No light entered into the room. However, when the lamp is turned on, suddenly the entire room become visible. You see everything that's in the room.

As it is with Christ. Without Christ, we don't see anything. We can't see what we need to see. However, if we invite Christ into our lives (turn on the Light) we can see all.

But perhaps the most interesting, is the same title Christ uses for himself, he uses for us. "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a 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" (Matthew 5:14-16).

Christ uses his faithful servants to shine His light unto the world. Not only is He the light, but we are the light. We need to shine the light to all the world.

Who else just burst into song?

I hope we can look to the Christmas lights and think of Him. Whether they be the thousands of lights at the temple, or if they just be the one string hanging humbly on your Christmas tree, look at them, and remember Christ. Remember that He is the Light. As are you.

Wait up for my next thought tomorrow!

-Nathaniel

If you missed the first two days of my #ASaviorisBorn posts check them out! Here's the links!

Day 1

Day 2