The Peace and Joy of Christmastime
Skyline Ward December 11, 2016
Do we greet others differently on the Sabbath day? Brother Wagner greets us all in our early morning Stake meetings with “Happy Sabbath”. I think that in other countries and cultures, a distinct Sabbath greeting is more common. For example, my family lived in Israel for a few years due to my work. In Israel, the common greeting on the Sabbath day is “Shabat Shalom”. Which means peaceful Sabbath. In fact, a normal greeting in Israel, like saying “Hello” in our culture, is “Shalom”. Which means “Peace” or Peace be unto you.
What is Peace? How can we experience it … especially in these times when life can be hectic, when the sins of the world can seem so pervasive, when conflict and unkindness seem so prevalent?
When Christ was born in Bethlehem, an Angel appeared unto the shepherds in the fields and declared, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord ...And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.” If you remember in the time of the Savior’s birth, the country was not at peace politically. They were under the rule of the Romans, who had conquered them and ruled over them. I’m sure the declaration of Peace to them was comforting. 
Jesus brought peace to the world. He life was a life of service, and love. He showed us how to live and treat others. He showed us how to have personal peace in our lives. By following His example, we can have peace in knowing that we are living as he would have us live and that will give us peace.
He also provided us Peace by atoning for our sins. His suffering in Gethsemane and on the cross allows us to be free from the guilt and suffering of our sins if we will repent. He invited us… “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
And then he declared, “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
This is the great message of Christmas...The Jesus Christ was born and has born our sins. Through His atonement, we can live again and be cleansed from our sins and have eternal life with our Father in Heaven.
President Monson spoke to us in the last conference about the Plan of Happiness. I think that when the Prophet knows that he can only give a short talk, that the message he give is truly the most important message that we need at this time. This is what he said,”From the depths of my soul and in all humility, I testify of the great gift which is our Father’s plan for us. It is the one perfect path to peace and happiness both here and in the world to come.”
Notice that the prophet mentioned that the plan of happiness is the perfect plan to peace.
When Christ was preparing to ascend to heaven, after teaching the apostles as a resurrected being he said, ... “the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Even when the world is in turmoil all around you, you can receive the blessing of inner peace. This blessing will continue with you as you stay true to your testimony of the gospel and as you remember that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you and watch over you.
Related to Peace, is Joy
“Joy to the World, the Lord is come. Let earth receive it’s King.”
How can we experience that Joy that comes from receiving the Lord?
President Nelson spoke to us about Joy in his last conference message. He talked about the perilous times that we live in and that we should not be surprised when we see the prophecies fulfilled.
These are the latter days, so none of us should be surprised when we see prophecy fulfilled. A host of prophets, including Isaiah, Paul, Nephi, and Mormon, foresaw that perilous times would come,1 that in our day the whole world would be in commotion, that men would “be lovers of their own selves, … without natural affection, … lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,” and that many would become servants of Satan who uphold the adversary’s work. Indeed, you and I “wrestle … against the rulers of the darkness of this world, [and] against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
As conflicts between nations escalate, as cowardly terrorists prey on the innocent, and as corruption in everything from business to government becomes increasingly commonplace, what can help us? What can help each of us with our personal struggles and with the rigorous challenge of living in these latter days?
He reminded us that the prophet Lehi stated that “Men are that they might have joy.
He then gave an example of when the saints were being driven from Missouri and 80 of them spent a bitter cold night in a cabin that was only 20 feet square. Most of them sat or stood all night. But there wasn’t any complaining. They even sang hymns.
He said “That’s it! Saints can be happy under every circumstance. We can feel joy even while having a bad day, a bad week, or even a bad year!
My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.
When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation, which President Thomas S. Monson just taught us, and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy. We feel it at Christmastime when we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.” And we can feel it all year round. For Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ is joy!”
Is this not the most wonderful time of the year? The way people treat each other with kindness and love. The way we reach out to help each other and have the spirit of giving. This makes this time of year special.
Elder Nelson concluded with this “Anything that opposes Christ or His doctrine will interrupt our joy. That includes the philosophies of men, so abundant online and in the blogosphere, which do exactly what Korihor did. If we look to the world and follow its formulas for happiness, we will never know joy. The unrighteous may experience any number of emotions and sensations, but they will never experience joy! Joy is a gift for the faithful. It is the gift that comes from intentionally trying to live a righteous life, as taught by Jesus Christ. He taught us how to have joy. When we choose Heavenly Father to be our God and when we can feel the Savior’s Atonement working in our lives, we will be filled with joy.
Every time we nurture our spouse and guide our children, every time we forgive someone or ask for forgiveness, we can feel joy.
Every day that you and I choose to live celestial laws, every day that we keep our covenants and help others to do the same, joy will be ours.”
I bear testimony of the Peace and Joy that come through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
