The Christ Child: A Nativity Story | #LightTheWorld

"Little Lamb" Painting

"Little Lamb" by Jenedy Paige

Little Lamb by Jenedy Paige 

A few years ago, I began to feel that I should attempt a Nativity painting. This of course was a very daunting idea, but I figured the best place to start was with research. I began with Luke 2:7, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

I also came upon an article of archeologist, Jeffrey R. Chadwick, and found it eye opening and inspiring. Jeffrey R. Chadwick has worked in Israel as a researcher and field archaeologist for over thirty years, specializing in the backgrounds of biblical narratives. He suggested that the manger would have most likely been carved out of white limestone, one of the most abundant natural resources in the Israelite region, and showed pictures of many similar mangers they have uncovered on archaeological digs. And while we like to think of the baby, “asleep on the hay”, he also states that this was also unlikely, as grass was available on the hills surrounding Judea year round. They really would have had no need to store hay, and the mangers were most likely used for water.

I also learned that while we often think of “swaddling bands” as scraps of fabric, showing the poverty of Mary and Joseph, they were actually a big part of Israelite culture. When a young woman was betrothed she immediately began embroidering swaddling bands, which were 5-6” wide strips of linen that would be embroidered with symbols of the ancestry of the bride and groom. Thus the bands symbolized the coming together of the two families as one. They also symbolized the integrity of the woman, as she strove to make both sides of the embroidery match exactly, symbolizing to her soon to be husband that she was as good on the inside as she was on the outside. These bands were then wrapped around the hands of the couple at the wedding ceremony. So the bands the Savior was swaddled in may have included the lion of Judah and the stem of Jesse.

As I wrapped my head around these rather mind altering ideas, I realized that many of the concepts that we have of the Savior’s birth revolve around paintings of European artists from centuries ago. I’m sure they painted according to the best of their abilities and knowledge, but I also wondered why more modern painters had yet to illustrate these concepts. I felt up to the task and began sketching right away. I picked up limestone from a stone yard, I bought linen from the fabric store, and just in time one of my good friends had a baby boy, and oddly enough, his name was Luke. I put all these components together and created this painting.

As I’ve sketched and worked, my heart has been so full as I’ve uncovered this image. For when you take away the Hollywood drama, the traditions of centuries, and the wood and the hay, all you’re really left with is a babe in white linen on white stone. And my mind immediately went to the purpose of the Savior’s life: He was born to die. He came as the sacrificial lamb for all mankind; so how fitting that He would begin his life on a stone altar of sorts, and be wrapped in white linen, like he would after His death. And of course He would be placed in a trough for water, for He would be Living Water, and would bring life to all. I also found myself weeping for the Father, and how it must have felt to see His Son begin life foreshadowing His death. My heart was so full of gratitude that He would send His Only Begotten to be the Savior for us all. That He would send His Son, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, to die so that we all might live. What good news, what comfort and joy, what a gift was given to us all. O come, let us adore Him."

He is the Gift—Christmas Video—#ShareTheGift

Be of Good Cheer; I Have Overcome the World

·         Jesus said, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Later He added, “I will that ye should overcome the world.” D&C 64:2

·         Overcoming the world is not a global invasion but a private, personal battle, requiring hand-to-hand combat with our own internal foes.

·         Overcoming the world means treasuring the greatest commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” Mark 12:30

·         Overcoming the world is keeping our promises to God—our baptismal and temple covenants and our oath of faithfulness to our eternal companion.

·         Overcoming the world is trusting in the one voice that warns, comforts, enlightens, and brings peace “not as the world giveth.” John 14:27

·         Overcoming the world means turning ourselves outward, remembering the second commandment: “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” Matthew 23:11

·         Overcoming the world brings humility, empathy, patience, and compassion for those different than yourself.

·         Overcoming the world will always mean that we will have some beliefs that are ridiculed by the world. The Savior said: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own.” John 15:18-19

·         Overcoming the world is being less concerned with our online connections and more concerned with our heavenly connection to God.

·         Overcoming the world is remembering, even when we are discouraged, the times we have felt the love and light of the Savior.

·         Overcoming the world does not mean we live a cloistered life, protected from the unfairness and difficulties of mortality. Rather, it opens the more expansive view of faith, drawing us to the Savior and His promises.

·         While perfection is not complete in this life, overcoming the world keeps our hope aflame that one day we “shall stand before [our Redeemer]; [and] see his face with pleasure,” Enos 1:27

--"Overcoming the World" by Elder Neil L. Andersen, Apr 2017

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Three Ways You Can Build a Relationship with God

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

John 17:3

God is our loving Father, and we can have a strong and meaningful relationship with Him. You can build and strengthen your relationship with God by doing three simple things every day.

1. Study the word of God

Jesus said, “Learn of me . . . and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

God is our loving Father, and He wants a relationship with His children. The first way we can learn about God is by reading about Him. Like the Bible, the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It has helped millions of people find God and feel His love.

2. Pray to God

God loves His children, and He wants to hear from them. As His child, you can ask God for help and guidance. He is eager to bless you and help you find happiness. Jesus promised, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:22). At first, it may not feel easy to learn how to pray in faith and to recognize God’s answers, but it is possible. Chat online or talk to missionaries in person to learn how to pray and recognize God’s answers.

3. Follow Jesus Christ

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Learning about Jesus and His teachings is an important part of building a relationship with God. We can read about these teachings in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. As we live these teachings, we will truly come to know Jesus and Heavenly Father.

Holy Ghost recognizes Plain Truth & Plain Nonsense

05-06 October 2019: General Conference

Church Signs of the Times

Testimony of Lord Jesus Christ

God's Size

Prayer is a Key

Prayer is a key.

Pray to know what to stop doing and what to start doing. Pray to know what to add to your environment and what to remove so the Spirit can be with you in abundance.

            Plead with the Lord for the gift of discernment. Then live and work to be worthy to receive that gift so that when confusing events arise in the world, you will know exactly what is true and what is not.

            Serve with love. Loving service to those who have lost their way or who are wounded in spirit opens your heart to personal revelation.

            Spend more time—much more time—in places where the Spirit is present. That means more time with friends who are seeking to have the Spirit with them. Spend more time on your knees in prayer, more time in the scriptures, more time in family history work, more time in the temple. I promise you that as you consistently give the Lord a generous portion of your time, He will multiply the remainder. – Pres Russell M Nelson

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Good Thoughts Shine Out of Your Face Like Sunbeams

One Elder Holland Quote to Help You in Different Situations

One Elder Holland Quote to Help You in Different Situations by Emily Abel LDSLiving

http://www.ldsliving.com/An-Elder-Holland-Quote-for-Every-Situation/s/90924?utm_source=ldsliving&utm_medium=email

            As much as we would all love to get in-person life advice from Elder Holland (and he would probably love to give it), that is unlikely to happen to most of us. But somewhere on this handy list, there's a quote from this passionate apostle that will speak directly to your situation.  

If You Need a Good Pep Talk

"Please remember tomorrow, and all the days after that, that the Lord blesses those who want to improve, who accept the need for commandments and try to keep them, who cherish Christlike virtues and strive to the best of their ability to acquire them. If you stumble in that pursuit, so does everyone; the Savior is there to help you keep going. If you fall, summon His strength. Call out like Alma, 'O Jesus, … have mercy on me.' He will help you get back up. He will help you repent, repair, fix whatever you have to fix, and keep going. Soon enough you will have the success you seek." "Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders Among You," April 2016 General Conference

If You Feel Like Life Is Slipping Out of Control

"Are we all just hanging in a cold canyon somewhere in an indifferent universe, each of us searching for a toehold, each of us seeking for something to grip—with nothing but the feeling of sand sliding under our fingers, nothing to save us, nothing to hold on to, much less anything to hold on to us? Is our only purpose in life an empty existential exercise—simply to leap as high as we can, hang on for our prescribed three score years and ten, then fail and fall, and keep falling forever?

"The answer to those questions is an unequivocal and eternal no! With prophets ancient and modern, I testify that “all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things." "Where Justice Love and Mercy Meet," April 2015 General Conference

If You Need Some Solid Common Sense

"One would truly need a great and spacious makeup kit to compete with beauty as portrayed in media all around us." "To Young Women," October 2005 General Conference

"No misfortune is so bad that whining about it won’t make it worse." "The Tongue of Angels," April 2007 General Conference

"Imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we." "Lord, I Believe," April 2013 General Conference

“Like thieves in the night, unwelcome thoughts can and do seek entrance to our minds. But we don't have to throw open the door, serve them tea and crumpets and tell them where the silverware is kept!” "Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul," April 2010 General Conference

If It Feels Like Your Service Isn’t Amounting to Anything

"A journalist once questioned Mother Teresa of Calcutta about her hopeless task of rescuing the destitute in that city. He said that, statistically speaking, she was accomplishing absolutely nothing. This remarkable little woman shot back that her work was about love, not statistics. Notwithstanding the staggering number beyond her reach, she said she could keep the commandment to love God and her neighbor by serving those within her reach with whatever resources she had. 'What we do is nothing but a drop in the ocean,' she would say on another occasion. 'But if we didn’t do it, the ocean would be one drop less [than it is].' Soberly, the journalist concluded that Christianity is obviously not a statistical endeavor. He reasoned that if there would be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety and nine who need no repentance, then apparently God is not overly preoccupied with percentages." "Are We Not All Beggars?" October 2014 General Conference

If You Need a Healthy Dose of Optimism 

"We know for certain that if and when everything else in the latter days is down or dying; if governments, economies, industries, and institutions crumble; if societies and cultures become a quagmire of chaos and insecurity, nevertheless, through it all the gospel of Jesus Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that bears that gospel to the world will stand triumphant. It will stand undefiled in God’s hand until the very Son of God Himself comes to rule and reign as Lord of lords and King of kings. Nothing is more certain in this world. Nothing is more sure. Nothing could be more of an antidote to anxiety." "Be Not Afraid, Only Believe," February 6, 2015, Address to CES Religious Educators

If You Feel Far from God

"I do not know who in this vast audience today may need to hear the message of forgiveness inherent in this parable, but however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines." "The Laborers in the Vineyard," April 2012 General Conference

If You Feel Like a Bit of an Oddball

“On those days when we feel a little out of tune, a little less than what we think we see or hear in others, I would ask us, especially the youth of the Church, to remember it is by divine design that not all the voices in God’s choir are the same. It takes variety—sopranos and altos, baritones and basses—to make rich music. To borrow a line quoted in the cheery correspondence of two remarkable Latter-day Saint women, 'All God’s critters got a place in the choir.' When we disparage our uniqueness or try to conform to fictitious stereotypes—stereotypes driven by an insatiable consumer culture and idealized beyond any possible realization by social media—we lose the richness of tone and timbre that God intended when He created a world of diversity.” "Songs Sung and Unsung," April 2017 General Conference

If the Future Feels Daunting

"There is help. There is happiness. There really is light at the end of the tunnel. It is the Light of the World, the Bright and Morning Star, the 'light that is endless, that can never be darkened.' It is the very Son of God Himself. In loving praise far beyond Romeo’s reach, we say, 'What light through yonder window breaks?' It is the return of hope, and Jesus is the Sun. To any who may be struggling to see that light and find that hope, I say: Hold on. Keep trying. God loves you. Things will improve. Christ comes to you in His 'more excellent ministry' with a future of 'better promises.' He is your 'high priest of good things to come.'” "An High Priest of Good Things to Come," October 1999 General Conference

If You Wonder If God Knows You

"Brothers and sisters, I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other." "The Other Prodigal," April 2002 General Conference

If You Are Confronted with Emotional or Mental Illness

"So how do you best respond when mental or emotional challenges confront you or those you love? Above all, never lose faith in your Father in Heaven, who loves you more than you can comprehend. As President Monson said to the Relief Society sisters so movingly . . . 'That love never changes. . . . It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve [it]. It is simply always there.' Never, ever doubt that, and never harden your heart. Faithfully pursue the time-tested devotional practices that bring the Spirit of the Lord into your life. Seek the counsel of those who hold keys for your spiritual well-being. Ask for and cherish priesthood blessings. Take the sacrament every week, and hold fast to the perfecting promises of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never lost. If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead." "Like a Broken Vessel," October 2013 General Conference

Mary & Martha in Art

Walter Rane

Does our Artwork of Mary & Martha Change How We View Them? by Jennifer Champoux

Years ago I brought a friend with me to a Relief Society activity at church, and when she asked me why we had a painting of Mary and Martha hanging in the room, I really didn’t know how to answer.  Of all the possible depictions of scripture stories of women that the Church might choose from, why that one? Although the scene was painted by old masters like Vermeer and

Velazquez, it has never been especially popular among other Christian groups. Yet, it is a subject painted by many artists in the Church and these images are common in meetinghouses and lesson manuals.

My study of art history and religious visual culture later led me back to thinking about the Church’s images of these New Testament sisters. Here are five things I learned as I investigated the portrayal of Mary and Martha in art:

Latter-day Saint images of Mary and Martha and of the parable of the ten virgins share visual symbolism.

Diego Velazquez

Portrayals of biblical women are scarce among images that are endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those women who are depicted are frequently shown as simplified, didactic, and solitary figures. The only time we see groups of women are in portrayals of the parable of the ten virgins and of Jesus at the home of Mary and Martha, and in all cases the women are divided into two groups: wise or foolish. Artists use symbols, such as candles, and formal elements, such as color and figure placement, to identify one group as wise and one as foolish. Latter-day Saint artists tend to apply the same symbolism to images of the ten virgins and to images of Mary and Martha, so we perceive a sharp division between the women in both cases.

Latter-day Saint images of Mary and Martha tend to follow earlier Christian interpretations that see Mary as inactive and, therefore, better than Martha.

Johannes Vermeer

The idea of Mary being the superior sister because she listens quietly is an ancient one. Philosophers as far back as Aristotle advocated for this kind of contemplative, unhurried life. In early Christianity, Augustine specifically applied this debate about the active life versus the contemplative life to Martha and Mary. In The Trinity, Augustine described heaven as a place of rest where the righteous will sit quietly at Jesus’s feet as Mary did. Following this tradition, all images of Mary and Martha that are included in the Gospel Media library, owned by the Church, or sold by the Church show Mary as a passive and focused listener and Martha as a busy and preoccupied housekeeper.

Although images of Mary and Martha endorsed by the Church all follow the same pattern, Church leaders have offered various readings of Mary and Martha.

Minerva Teichert

The story of Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha that is found in Luke 10 has been interpreted in various and nuanced ways by Church leaders. In an October 2007 general conference talk, President Dallin H. Oaks said, “It was praiseworthy for Martha to be ‘careful and troubled about many things,’ . . . but learning the gospel from the Master Teacher was more ‘needful.’”  Yet, in the October 2003 general conference, Relief Society General President Bonnie D. Parkin took a somewhat different view when she explained, “On this occasion, it seems to me that Mary expressed her love by hearing His word, while Martha expressed hers by serving Him. . . . I don’t believe the Lord was saying there are Marthas and there are Marys.” Similarly, in the April 2010 general conference, Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer pointed out that in John 11 Martha is the sister who runs out to Jesus and expresses great faith in the Savior. Clearly, Mary and Martha are not one-dimensional characters, although they often appear that way in art.

Minerva Teichert’s painting Jesus at the Home of Mary and Martha (1935), offers a dramatically different visual interpretation.

Church member Minerva Teichert’s rendition of the scene—which does not appear in the official art of the Church—is unique in that it shows both Mary and Martha as actively engaged disciples. Mary is shown reading Hebrew scripture from a scroll, while Martha reads over her shoulder as she carries in a tray of food. The three figures are a unified group. Very few images of Mary and Martha—both from within and without the Church of Jesus Christ—include written text, and never so boldly as in Teichert’s painting. Teichert also uses symbolism and formal elements to include both sisters equally. This distinctive imagining of the scene, along with Teichert’s sketchy style, creates space for new meanings and varied interpretations by the viewer.

These images of Mary and Martha illustrate broader patterns and questions about how the Church visualizes religious scripture and history.

Examining the way Mary and Martha are shown in the Church’s art raises broader questions about how religious art is created and viewed, such as the scarcity of images of biblical women and the way Church members incorporate visual imagery into their religious experience. Art can affect the way we think about scripture stories.

Just like we think of Nephi’s enormous forearms being barely contained in their leather gauntlets thanks to Arnold Friberg’s Book of Mormon paintings, our understanding of Mary and Martha is influenced by artists’ portrayals of them.  When all the images of a particular scripture story are essentially the same, as they are in the case of the Church’s images of Mary and Martha, then that interpretation can eclipse other perspectives and limit careful consideration by the viewer.  

Happy Easter: Jesus Christ is the Difference!

Listen to General Conference this weekend & learn more about our Savior

Ask, Seek, Knock...

Historic Photo Taken Today at Rome Italy Visitor Center

First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 

in front of statues of Jesus Christ and original Twelve Apostles

Treasure Heavenly Things

Three Tools to Help Us Navigate Tough Topics

Why We Shouldn't Be Afraid of Church History + 3 Tools to Help Us Navigate Tough Topics

by Katie Lambert 06 Feb 2019

The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is full of beautiful moments. The First Vision, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the organization of church meetings, and the restoration of temple ordinances are all just a few examples of moments from our history that impacted the world. 

However, as with all histories, there are moments that were not beautiful. In fact, there are moments in our history that have caused many to doubt the truthfulness of the gospel. So do we avoid studying Church history for fear that it will cause us to doubt as well? 

Or is it that we arm ourselves with tools to help us discover and understand our past?

"My boss for a long time was Rick Turley, and he would always say, 'The problem is not Church history. The problem is not reading enough Church history,'" Latter-day Saint historian Dr. Janiece Johnson says in an LDS Living All In podcast. 

As Latter-day Saint historians Dr. Jenny Reeder and Johnson discuss in the podcast, history is often messy, but there are valuable lessons to be learned from the past. To help Latter-day Saints navigate studying Church history, Reeder and Johnson mention a few things members need to take in consideration. 

1. Understand the context.

Reeder says often we look at Church history through a lens of presentism, meaning we look at the past with a 21st-century point of view. Instead, we should try to understand the context surrounding Church history events.

For example, Reeder discusses early Church polygamy and how the women of the Church at the time had to develop their own testimonies and witnesses of plural marriage because it was so grating to their time and culture. 

"Part of me is really grateful that I didn't have to be there and when the clipboard was passed around in heaven, I did not sign up for Nauvoo," Reeder says. "But part of me is completely respectful of them and their experiences, and I believe them and I recognize the torment they had to go through, but I also recognize the power of personal revelation."

2. Know the source.

Reeder says, as historians, she and Johnson are trained to be very careful when it comes to sources. Knowing who the source is and the time period they lived in can greatly impact the way facts are presented and the overall tone. 

"There's no such thing as an objective history," Reeder says. "It's always subjective. You're always looking at it from a specific lens. But if you can recognize who's talking, who's giving the sources, who's giving the facts even, you recognize that there are some kind of biases."

In the podcast, Reeder shares an experience where she came across some material about Joseph Smith and plural marriage that she hadn't seen before. 

"I was sitting there and it was like my mind was being blown," Reeder says. "I was completely disgusted. I was like, 'What is this?'"

Reeder says when she has these moments and she prays about it and tries to use a historian's lens, she realizes that she is looking at history with a presentist's point of view or she looks at the source and finds they could be someone who wrote what they did to defame the Church or its leadership. 

"I actually think the study of history has allowed me to recognize sources and to recognize content and to recognize bias and to recognize the need for me to find out for myself and to pray for myself," Reeder says.

Both Reeder and Johnson suggest that if members are looking for sources about Church history that they begin with a book like Saints and the sources the book uses, along with the Gospel Topics Essays. 

"That is a good jumping off place," Reeder says. "Once you understand some of the foundation, you can dig in deeper wherever you are interested." 

3. Real life is messy.

"Real life is messy, and understanding the past is a foreign place and it's going to take the ability to deal with some messiness to be able to really understand what has happened in the past," Johnson says in the podcast. 

Having worked for 10 years researching the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Johnson is no stranger to the messy side of history. 

"When we are dealing with human beings who are limited and mortal, there is going to be messiness," she says. "And I believe that if we approach the messiness head on, there is strength and power in that. The gospel will still be true. . . . As I am methodical, as I lay things out, as I try to understand and I always use the Spirit as a guide, I'm going to be okay." 

Reeder also says that seeing the messiness in Church history has helped her in her personal life. 

"Seeing this messiness in these people's lives from our past helps me realize that my messiness in my life is okay," she says. "I read these women's stories to know that I am not alone."