Christmas advent

image from Midnight Oil Productions

There are several traditional symbols of Christmas. Some I like, some I don't really relate to. For example, mistletoe. I just don't care about mistletoe. But one symbol of Christmas I love is the star. I like to decorate with stars and I like to have a star on my Christmas cards; stars on wrapping paper and a star on top of the tree. The star is, of course, a reminder of the star of Bethlehem that the wise men followed to find the King of kings.

"... behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him" (Matthew 2:1-2).

"...they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy" (Matthew 2:9-10).

It is clear from the actions and faith of the wise men, as well as the response of the people in Jerusalem, that it had been prophesied that a new star would appear as a sign to believers that Jesus Christ had indeed been born on earth. I will quote one such prophecy from the Book of Mormon:

"And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you" (Helaman 14:5).

I love lights at Christmas time. Twinkly lights and candles remind us of the star that showed the way to the true Light. May I share with you some of my favorite passages that speak about the Light of Christ?

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12).

"He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death" (Mosiah 16:9).

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined" (Isaiah 9:2).

"O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord" (Isaiah 2:5).

Come my friends, let us walk in the light of the Lord. He is the true Light that lights the whole world. What a great reminder we have of His goodness and gift to us. We can see physical light around us and let it remind us to fill our hearts and homes with heaven's light.