today i gave a special christmas lesson to our young women. we have been focusing on personal revelation this year, how to receive it, how to recognise it and what to do with it. i felt like this would really resonate with the girls and let them know that it's something for everyone! as we spoke about each person, i set up my nativity on the table in our classroom. i also told the girls that i am sure to always place jesus and his parents at the centre of the nativity, as they are truly the centre of christmas. it was a great lesson and i could see them thinking a lot about each thing we spoke about.
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Opening Hymn – Silent Night (LDS Hymns 204)
Our lesson
today is about how each person mentioned in the nativity story prepared
themselves to meet Christ. Each person received a witness, personal revelation
if you will, to prepare them for His arrival.
We are
going to start with two videos and then we will talk about each person.
Read Luke
2:1-20 (Nativity story)
Mary – How
was Mary prepared?
She had
lived a pure and virtuous life, she was visited by an angel to tell her, she
had great faith, which is why she accepted what the angel said without a
question
Joseph –
How was Joseph prepared?
He had
chosen a virtuous woman to be married, an angel spoke to him as he slept to
tell him of Jesus’s arrival, he accepted what the angel said and took Mary as
his wife even though she was pregnant prior to their marriage
The
Shepherds – How were the shepherds prepared?
They lived
a simple and righteous life. They were dedicated to caring for their sheep,
meaning they had great love for them and I would assume for others. The angel
spoke to them and although they were visibly afraid, they followed his
instructions and went to see the baby.
Read
Matthew 2:1-12 (Wise men arrive)
The wise
men – How were the wise men prepared?
The wise
men were well respected and educated men. They had wealth and servants and knew
of prophecies that had been made concerning a Saviour who would come. They had
studied the skies and watched and waited for many years knowing the signs that
would be given. They were perhaps the most well prepared for him.
Were any of
these people frightened? Yes! Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. Why? Mary was
pregnant and unmarried, Joseph had a pregnant fiancée, the shepherds thought
someone would attack their sheep. But everyone watched and listened to prepare
themselves for Jesus. Personal revelation is not always something we want to
hear or something we can prepare ourselves for, but once we have it, we can
change ourselves and prepare to do what we have been instructed to do. It
doesn’t mean it won’t ever be scary though.
What can we
do to prepare ourselves and allow Christ to enter our homes and hearts?
Study the
words of the prophets as the wise men did, pray for guidance and understanding,
love others as he did and keep Christ at the center of our lives. Where there
is light, darkness cannot be. Allow the light of Christ to fill our lives each
day throughout December by drawing slips from our jars and always, by
continuing to read the scriptures each day once the month is over.
Share
experiences from the advent calendars.
Bear
testimony and witness of the Saviour.
Close with
O HOLY NIGHT VIDEO
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