Christmas Sabbath
Over the years, I have been blessed to work in careers that provided me with a significant amount of time off during Christmas. This time of year is a type of Sabbath to me, to reflect on the tender mercies Christ’s life has brought me in my life — His marvelous redemptive power and the gratitude I have for His birth, His life, and His restored Church in these latter days.
"Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." (Acts 3:21)
He is an all-powerful God who keeps his promises and has provided us a sure way in this time of confusion by establishing his church as he said he would:
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" (Ephesians 4:11-15)
In these latter days, He has restored his Church through Joseph Smith, that same organization that he established in Jerusalem over 2000 years ago.
The hand of God was in Joseph’s life in the establishing of His church. The faith of Joseph in Christ is profound and only comparable with those who have shared that holy calling as prophet. It is a great mercy for which I am thankful for, that Christ continues to reveal and guide us through his words and a living prophet today.