Choose To Remember Christ

Christmas time is here! Well for me it was hear after thanksgiving when I broke out the Christmas music, but once December hits it's safe to say "Christmas is here!" There was a movie my mother made us watch every year called "A Christmas Carol". The short story was about a man named Scrooge who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible. You remember this one? In the movie Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas when three ghostly visitors review his selfish past and foretell his future. Scrooge himself is the embodiment of winter and just as winter is followed by spring and the renewal of life, so too is Scrooges cold, pinched heart restored to the innocent goodwill he had known in his childhood. This movie is very symbolic to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. An even more powerful heart changer is contained in the Atonement our Savior Jesus Christ provides for us.

"Behold, [Jesus Christ] changed their hearts; yea, [Jesus Christ] awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the everlasting word..." Alma 5:7

The words of Christ can change hearts. Scriptures are given to us to help us remember Christ and His Atonement. As we read to remember what Christ our Savior did for us we can experience a change of heart and remember the true meaning of Christmas. We will give up our self, began to think of others and want to bring others joy and happiness. This is the true meaning of Christmas.

I wear a CTR ring, like most typical Mormon's. Wait! Before you judge I'm not going to tell you to Choose The Right, which is the abbreviation's most common exposition. I want to share with you how I've always recognized the classic Mormon abbreviation CTR. The CTR abbreviation means to me Choose To Remember Christ The Redeemer. Yea, it's more like CTRCTR but it's still cool. Helaman 5:9 In the Book of Mormon it teaches,

"O remember, remember, my sons...yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world"

The word remember is used 161 times in the Book of Mormon and 148 times in the King James III version of the bible. The word remember means to be able to bring to your mind an awareness of someone or something that you have seen, known, or experienced in the past. There are tons of references in the scriptures where prophets counsel the people to "remember" Christ and the covenants made with him at baptism.

"There is much more to say about memory and remembering our sacred covenants and God's commandments... Most importantly, we speak of the need to remember our Savior Jesus Christ and not just when convenient, but always, as He asks. We witness always to remember Him as we partake of the sacrament. In return, we are promised His Spirit will always be with us. Interestingly, this is the same Spirit sent by our Heavenly Father to 'bring all things to [our] remembrance' (John 14:2) Thus, by worthily receiving the sacrament, we are blessed by the Spirit to enter into a wonderfully beneficial circle of remembering, returning again and again in our thinking and devotion to Christ and His Atonement." (Marlin K. Jensen, Remember and Perish Not)

Christmas is a time to remember the priceless gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His birth, which we commemorate during this season, is more than the symbol of a holiday. He is the Son of God, the Redeemer of all mankind, the King of kings, the Prince of Peace, and our joy and salvation. This Christmas season will have greater meaning as we remember to live by His example and His teachings. And I hope that the circle of remembering Christ will continue on through out the up coming year. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and we can find peace and joy as we remember Him. Choose to Remember Christ The Redeemer!

Watch A Bible Video (click below)

The Life of Jesus Christ Bible Video: The Nativity