The Christmas Story

Hey Dad Kris Anni and Davo, and the rest of you.

So first, the way you say Merry Christmas in Tagalog, is Maligayang Pasko! Ha fun stuff. Also I am so happy I got to talk to you guys. You all sound so great and like you are having fun in the new house, and in Wyoming. I hope you are enjoying every new moment there!

So Merry Christmas!! I hope you all had a wonderful day, and I hope you remember that this is the day we celebrate Christ's Birth!! It is so great to have that opportunity. It is definitely a blessing from god. The whole Christmas season and meaning really is a gift. Not just getting gifts but giving. I know that is kinda cheesy and we all know it's about giving, but I have kinda learned a different way to think of it now..

So Christ came to earth, and that is what we celebrate! Christmas! The wise men, (Wise Ben's) (Calling the 3 wise men the 3 wise Ben's is a family joke if you didnt get that) came to Christ and gave him presents. Theirs that word, GAVE! So that is like the first one. then others came and also praised and gave him presents. the shepherds. And of course all through out his life Christ was always giving to all those around him, he gave them blessings, he gave them life, he cleaned many, physically and spiritually. He healed also physically and spiritually. Then he gave his life, he gave his WILL for us. HE did what no one else could do, he gave what no one else could give. He gave us eternal life, a chance to be made clean of all our sins, the opportunity to be with our families FOREVER! It is only through him that these blessings can be received. He gave the ultimate sacrifice.

There was another who sacrificed greatly for us as well. He has the same love for us as our savior Jesus Christ did, He is our Father in Heaven. He GAVE his SON! Imagine for a second, that all but one of your children were lost and there is only one way to save them. You must give up the one you have, and even then it isn't a sure thing that the others will be found, but it is the only way. Would you do it, could you do it? Well our father did it for us. He sent his ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, the only child that wasn't lost because he is perfect, and he sent him to die. This was his mission to die for us. And he willingly did it! I can't imagine how Our Father In Heaven, GOD, felt as he watched his son, suffer in the garden of Gethsemane for the rest of us, I can't imagine his feelings when his other children took bound, judged, and killed their brother. It was for sure the greatest sacrifice, and at the same time the greatest blessing of all, given to us, because our FATHER IN HEAVEN loves US! HE has PERFECT Love for us! HE gave his son, our brother Jesus Christ for us. And he also gave us AGENCY, the choice to accept his gift, or deny it. I Pray that we all realize the greatness of this gift, and accept it in our lives. I hope we learn and realize how we can use this knowledge to bless the lives of those who maybe don't have it or don't realize they have it.

So Christmas is great. It is a time of giving, but it is a time for receiving and accepting as well. Lets not only give, but ACCEPT the sacrifice, and the gift the savior Jesus Christ and OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN has given us.

I love you all, and hope you are all happy and ready to give to those around you.

I love you guys, Maligayang Pasko. and Maligayang Bagong Taon. Happy New Year.

Love,

Elder Benjamin L. Larson