Elder David Baxter of the First Quorum of the Seventy some years ago spoke of a common feeling among the human family that, if there were a God, why would He allow all the suffering and agonies that are so apparent in the world? They cite this as evidence that there cannot possibly be a God, for if there were a God, they say, either He doesn't care or has not the power to do anything about the problems we see so clearly all around us.

Elder Baxter taught, "There is a God, the Father of us all, and He has done something about the problems."

Elder Baxter then cited two verses of scripture: one from the Bible and the other from the Doctrine and Covenants. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

That verse from John chapter 3 is probably the best known verse of scripture in the Christian world. It also happens to be one of a very few verses in the Bible that give a clue about why Jesus Christ is so vital to the salvation of mankind. Can you see the Fall, as discussed in the past two Christmas e-mails, in the phrase "should not perish"? Mankind's fate, without the redeeming powers of the Son of God, would be to perish, simply by virtue of the effects of the Fall of Adam. The Book of Mormon teaches this doctrine more plainly and clearly than any other book. Armed with this knowledge and understanding from the Book of Mormon, Latter-day Saints can then see it plainly in the Bible. That is the purpose of the Book of Mormon: to show what the Bible has been teaching all along, but which has been lost through the Great Apostasy and is missing from the Christian churches of our day.

Note "his only begotten Son," as we discussed earlier. "Begotten" means born. . . . Jesus is the only Person born on the Earth who had God the Father as the literal and immediate father of His birth. This too was discussed here previously. . . . The repetition can only strengthen it. This is the doctrine of Christmas---the Christmas story---centered on the Divine Sonship of Jesus Christ, out of which foundation arises even the mighty Atonement itself.

Note the conditions attached to the avoidance of the "perish" state spoken of by John: "whosoever believeth in [Jesus Christ]". The Greek word here is "pisteuo" and goes far beyond merely "believing" in Him with a nod of the head of mental assent. The Greek means, "to trust their salvation to". When we understand the doctrine of Christ clearly, we shall see that we are dependent upon Jesus for every shred of salvation. This is a truth that evades a lot of Latter-day Saints, as well as people in the world. If we truly appreciated this truth our worship, our reverence, our obedience in every aspect of our lives would be significantly altered and enhanced, resulting in greater happiness and joy. . . . This is the Christmas story.

The other verse cited by Elder Baxter is as follows: "Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments [instruction, light, truth, keys, covenants, laws]." . . . That verse is found in section one, the Lord's own preface to His book of Doctrine and Covenants.

The only way to get to Gethsemane is through the Sacred Grove. . . . This is the Christmas story.

Each of the opening chapters of the three books of scripture given to us through Joseph Smith is a marvelous balance of warning and deliverance. Think of how this is true in 1 Nephi chapter 1, . . . and in Moses chapter 1. It is astoundingly clear in this section one of the Doctrine and Covenants, the first sixteen verses of which sound a clear voice of warning to the peoples of the earth. Then, verse seventeen introduces the deliverance, and even the seam of the page separates the warning from the deliverance as we find that the Lord has indeed acted to save the world from itself and from the evil warned about. . . . This is the Christmas story.

One concluding thought that will act as a summary for all we have said in these three Christmas e-mails:

It is apparent to many that Jesus was not born on December 25th, but more likely in the Spring, when the earth is renewed in the Northern Hemisphere, and new life comes to the earth. So why do we celebrate the Birth "in the deep midwinter"? It is the perfect time to do so! Consider:

The Romans used to hold a full week of festivity over the final seven days of the year---a Saturnalia, they called it---in which they would celebrate in drama, feasting, song, dance (and revelry) the Creation of the world.

The longest, darkest day of the year is the first day of Winter, December 21st. The ancients would wait the usual three-day period to make sure, then they would celebrate the lightening of the days, the end of the darkening, the return of the Sun. Surely we can see that this is a type of the Fall / Atonement doctrine that we have tried to spell out so clearly. . . . This is the Christmas story. . . . Creation --- Fall --- Atonement are the essence of the whole plan of happiness. . . .

. . . This is the Christmas story. . . . If there were a God, surely He would do something for the cheer and consolation and rescue of His children. My friends and family, He has done something. . . . And you can only get to Gethsemane through the Sacred Grove.

God bless us all to catch this story, to pay the price in study and obedience to catch it early and catch it clearly, and to live accordingly.

Steve