Are you ready for Christ?

This came in an e-mail from my sweet friend Rebecca, no, it's not been written as offical Church doctorine, but the message rings true.

Our gift - conversion

Elder David A. Bednar asked members of the Salt Lake Chapter of the BYU Management Society on Dec. 16, to try to look at symbols of Christmas differently.He noted that the tree is the central figure in Lehi's vision (1 Nephi 8). "The tree is Christ and the fruit on the tree are the blessings of the Atonement," he said. Quoting from 3 Nephi 11, he spoke about Christmas lights: "It is not a coincidence that the Savior, on the American continent, where the sign of His birth was a day and a night and a day where there was no darkness . . .said, 'I am the light and the life of the world.'"
Then Elder Bednar spoke about the shepherds whose flocks were destined for divine sacrifice. "There were many shepherds in Palestine, but only to those who watched over the temple flocks did the herald angels come. Only they heard the heavenly choir. Those were not ordinary sheep," he said. "Next to trees covered by lights, many times there are manger scenes with Joseph and Mary and the baby Jesus, and sheep and shepherds. Please don't look at the sheep and shepherds quite the same way again.
"He said that at this time of year people often ask, "Are you ready for Christmas?" He added, "I don't think the question is, 'Are you ready for Christmas?' The question is 'Are you and I ready for Christ?' . . . "The Father's gift to us was His Son. The gift from the Son to us is His Atonement. Perhaps the only thing that we could give Them is a growing conviction, a deepening conversion of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and what it means in our lives. Perhaps the only thing we could give would be a more diligent desire and commensurate study, to not just know about the Atonement, but to know Him who brought the Atonement and to more fully understand the blessings of the Atonement in our lives."
Elder Bednar closed by saying in this Christmas season there isn't anything he loves more than declaring his witness — even a special witness — of Jesus Christ. "He lived, He walked the earth. He taught His doctrine. He organized His Church. He is the Son of God. I witness that He was crucified, and more important, that He is resurrected, that He lives, that He speaks, that He stands at the head of His Church in this very day."

— Sarah Jane Weaver© 2008 Deseret News Publishing Company

President Monson has asked us what our gift to Christ will be this Christmas time. I know what my gift to the Savior of the world will be. What will YOU give to Him? Happy Christmas.

Debbie