Prince of Peace

[Road to Emmaus, by J. Kirk Richards]

"And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24:31-32, see v. 13-35)

Christ the Lord is risen today. He often walks with us and we do not recognize Him. But He lives and touches our hearts and changes our lives day by day, if we let Him. 

He lives. 

Happy Easter. 

His Holy Interruption

A couple of weeks ago at a church meeting, a man in our congregation gave a small sermon. He started out by talking about a documentary he had watched about a group of ex-gang members in inner-city Chicago called the “Interrupters.” These people have broken the cycle of violence in their own lives and are trying to help others break that cycle. They show them that there is a different way to resolve conflicts; there is more to life than revenge and killing.*

The man then related the work of the “Interrupters” to God’s work—God also calls us to change our lives, and to break those cycles of pride, violence, apathy, bitterness, etc. He tells us that there is more to life than what we see, and that we “don’t have to live like this.” We can change. We can improve.

The man’s mini sermon was impromptu; he didn’t know he was going to speak that day, but his words really touched me and I have thought a lot about them. We speak of worshipping the God of deliverance, of worshipping the God who weeps. But what does it mean if we worship the God who interrupts? And what does that mean at Christmas time?

Especially because the Christmas story—indeed, Christ’s story—is a series of interruptions from the very beginning.

The story starts in medias res, as many stories do, and we learn that in a certain city called Nazareth, there is a certain “virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” (Luke 1:27)

Mary is simply going about her life. She is a good girl, just getting ready for her upcoming wedding. Excited, no doubt, but just living life.

But then comes the interruption of her life.

“And [an] angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.” (Luke 1:28-31) 

Blessed Art Thou Among Women, Walter Rane 

What a disruption! Here is Mary, a young woman engaged to a man she cares deeply about. Of course she has thought about their life together—with their own home, garden, and little children to teach and love. But this—how could this be? What was the angel saying? What kind of message was this? What kind of God would ask a normal, upstanding country girl to agree to something so strange, something that could ruin her reputation forever?

To Mary, Gabriel’s message was initially troubling. She didn’t understand how or why the Lord chose her to be the mother of the Son of God. However, she gave her consent. She agreed to be part of this miracle, even though she could not possibly comprehend it . . . even though it interrupted her life in a very drastic way, and even though it threatened her relationship with Joseph.

According to Thy Word, Elspeth Young 

Because this was not just an interruption in Mary’s life. It disrupted Joseph’s life, too. He agonized over it. This lovely couple—who I think were in love with each other and hopeful about a future together—had their ordinary lives interrupted quite abruptly by a baby—a baby Joseph knew was not his; a baby Mary did not completely understand, yet unconditionally loved.

I find it striking that when Joseph and Mary were confused and frightened by this news that an angel—a heavenly interrupter—told them each to “fear not.”

To Joseph: “Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins.”(Matthew 1:20-21)

And to Mary: “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. [. . .] The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. [. . .] For with God nothing shall be impossible.”(Luke 1:30, 35, 38)

Fear not. Yes, this interruption is alarming. It is different than anything you’ve ever known. It will change your life—and the world—as you know it. But fear not. Choose faith. Choose action. Choose to believe.

And that is what Mary and Joseph chose to do. They embraced this holy interruption with humility and dignity. They changed their lives completely.

The Road to Bethlehem, Jospeh Brickey 

Christ’s birth, like all births, was an interruption. Although you can prepare for a child, and even though you expect and plan and wait, ultimately, a birth—any birth—comes at an unexpected and inopportune time. Christ’s birth was no different.

Nativity, Brian Kershisnik 

Now we plan for Christmas. We buy gifts. Make dinners. Sing carols. But no one was prepared for the first Christmas.

How were Mary and Joseph to plan for an inconvenient census trip to Bethlehem—with Mary’s due date drawing closer and closer?

How was the couple to prepare for the fact that there was no room at the inn?

And how could the shepherds have anticipated a glorious announcement of their long-awaited Messiah that first Christmas night?

Just as Mary and Joseph were unprepared for Christ’s interruption in their lives, the shepherds were unprepared for the heavenly interrupters—those angelic messengers—announcing the birth of a Savior. Their Savior:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, 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 this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

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.”(Luke 2:8-14)

Good Tidings of Great Joy, Walter Rane 

The shepherds were just going about their own business, doing their job.

The normal.

The usual.

The ordinary.

And then. Then the angels came in brilliant glory—setting the Judean night sky and hillside ablaze with light, announcing that there was more.

“You don’t have to live like this.”

Like Mary and Joseph, the shepherds heeded the grandest interruption of their lives. They set aside their fear and uncertainty and decided to act. They went into Bethlehem and found the Child. They found peace and new direction. They found that there is a Savior.

A Prince of Peace.

Wonderful.

Counsellor.

The Mighty God.

For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Ye who are lonely, laden, forlorn—oh friendless, fallen world . . . to you a Savior is born.**

Christ interrupts our lives. Sometimes, like Saul on the road to Damascus or Alma the Younger set on destroying the Church of God, those interruptions are dramatic. More often, however, He stands at the door and knocks, interrupting our supper or favorite television programs.

He interrupts us, telling us that we don’t have to live like we currently do. We don’t have to settle for the mundane. The dark. The lonely. The despair. The anger, violence, and evil of this world do not have to be a part of us.

He is the Inconvenient Messiah.

The One who asks us to leave the comfort of the hillside and seek Him.

The One who tells us to forsake our nets for His work.

The One who tells us to put mud on our eyes so we can see. 

The One who commands us to give up all we possess and follow Him.

The One who asks us to believe, even if we do not completely understand. 

The One who entreats us to love our neighbors as ourselves and do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

The One who has “hard sayings,” who insists that He has come not to bring peace, but a sword, and to cut off those things which keep us from Him.

The One who commands a higher law; a more excellent way.

Christ is the Grand Interrupter. He interrupts the ordinary—our ordinary. And the interruptions jolt us. His way is not easy. It never has been. He asks us to not only believe that there is a different way to live, but He asks us to change. To root out our desires for pride, revenge, and complacency. To break the cycle. He sees our potential. He believes in our goodness and asks us to believe in His.

This Christmas, remember the interruptions. 

Remember His entrance into the world—perhaps only noticed by only a handful, but oh, how that glorious interruption meant the world for those who received Him.

Remember His interruptions into the lives of ordinary fishermen at Galilee, publicans, sinners, and Pharisees.

Remember how He has interrupted your life—whether in grand or simple ways.

And remember that He will continue to interrupt.

“Come,” He says. “You don’t have to live like this. There is something more. You can be something more.”

Christ Healing at the Pool of Bethesda, Carl Bloch 

The choice of how to respond to Him is ours. It has been and always will be.

---

* Here is a link to The Interrupters. It is an incredibly powerful documentary and well worth your time if you haven't seen it before. Even if you have seen it before. 

**See the beautiful song “Carol of Joy.” 

My comfort by day, and my song in the night

I don't really like meeting for church at 1 pm. It's soooo late (especially on Fast Sundays. Ah.).

But one of the perks of meeting late (and of living in Utah) is that you can go to things like "Music and the Spoken Word" in the Tabernacle on Temple Square.

So that's what I did with some friends today.

[Look at that sky. A perfectly blue September sky.]

I hadn't listened to "Music and the Spoken Word" for awhile (and it had been ages since I had gone up to a broadcast), and it was a beautiful, refreshing experience. 

They sang "My Song in the Night," and I was just enraptured with its beauty. It just was--it was just perfect. 

So yes. There can be some good things about meeting for church at 1 pm. 

(I mean, I still stand by my argument that 9 am is better than 1 pm. But whatever.) 

A Place of Love and Beauty

"And ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves and ye shall be endowed with power, that ye may give even as I have spoken." -- Doctrine and Covenants 43:16 

"For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ." -- Doctrine and Covenants 84:45

Last Friday I had the incredible honor and opportunity to attend the temple with my dear friend Madison. Madi has decided to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has been called to serve in the Romania Bucharest Mission.

I am thrilled for her. Missions are life-changing, sacred experiences. I truly believe that they are a way that God shows His love for all of us--both for the ones serving and for those missionaries are called to serve and love.

I also believe that the temple endowment is a gift of God's love and knowledge to His children. It is something that He wants all of His children to receive. There is power which comes from making and keeping promises with God.

It was a sacred privilege to help prepare Madison for her first experience at the temple (although most of that preparation came on her own through her life and her thirst for light and truth). I am simply grateful that I was able to share this special day with her.

Truly, the temple is a place of love and beauty.

"And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things." -- Doctrine and Covenants 88:67 

"According to the desires of their hearts."

*First off, this blog post is written from the perspective of an active young LDS woman. That doesn't mean I have everything put together or figured out (who does), but it does mean that I'm striving to do good and be good and live to be worthy of having the Holy Ghost influence my life. That being said, I know there are people who are not LDS who read my blog, and what I will say below might sound strange to you as I talk about one of the important ways I receive direction and guidance in my life. I think that search for direction and purpose is something we all seek--whether Mormon, Baptist, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, agnostic, or atheist. We all have different ways of seeking and we call it different names. Some people call it "following an inner light," or "trusting their instincts." For me, I really do believe that God cares about our lives, and He will give us guidance through feelings and impressions; that He will speak to our minds and our hearts by the power of the Holy Ghost. Although my experiences may be different from yours, I still hope my words and experiences give you something to think about.
** I talk a lot about feelings in this blog post. I know there are some people who avoid talking about emotions because they can be frustrating and illogical. Emotions are part of being human. And, like it or not, they influence our personal lives and the world we live in. Until we are able to accept that emotions are an important part of our minds and hearts (even if we can't understand them all of the time), then we are at risk of being driven by our emotions instead of being more in control of them. I believe that being self-aware and reflecting on our hearts is crucial to emotional, mental, and social health. Knowing ourselves is key to having a happy, healthy life. And part of knowing ourselves includes knowing our heart.

I've been thinking a lot about hearts these past six months. Specifically about the desires of our hearts. There are a lot of reasons for this. One reason is because I've been making some major life decisions these past months (grad school, anyone?). But another reason is because I think there is a lot to be said about those innermost desires . . . and I think they matter more than we realize. They drive us more than we realize.

We are told in the scriptures that we will be judged according to our works and the desires of our hearts (see D&C 137:9). This is both comforting and terrifying. Comforting, because (at least for me) it reassures me that the Lord does know the desires of my heart and knows that I am striving. Terrifying, because, well, the desires of my heart aren't always as pure as they should be, and my desires shape my works . . . which also aren't always as pure or dedicated as I know they can be.

But ultimately, it makes me thoughtful. It makes me think about my desires. It makes me think about agency, choice, and the consequences of those desires. Because in the end, I really do believe that we get what we want. For better or for worse. And for that reason, as President Joseph F. Smith said, the "education of our desires is one of far-reaching importance to our happiness in this life."

"Desires of our hearts." It sounds almost trite or wishful. Like wanting a pony for Christmas. But there is so much more than that. Desires are not just wishful thoughts or flippant wants. Desires are those innermost feelings that represent our strongest motivations. Desires drive us. They guide our actions. They shape our character. We are a compilation of our desires and the consequences of those desires. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, "Our desires clearly control the tilt of our souls."

We see from the scriptures how much God really does care about the desires of our heart--how important they really are. Here are some examples:

-- In the beginning of the Book of Mormon, we see Nephi desiring to see the vision his father saw. As he ponders, the Spirit comes to him and asks Nephi one question:
"What desirest thou?"
Nephi answers, "I desire to behold the things which my father saw."
He wants to know for himself. He wants that knowledge. He wants that experience.
And he is granted the desire of his heart. And then some. (see 1 Nephi 11)

-- In the Book of Enos, we see Enos "wrestling" before God with the desires of his heart, which he describes as his "soul hunger[ing]" after truth, comfort, forgiveness and peace . . . not only for himself and his people, but for his enemies as well. And he receives his witness in a powerful way. (see Enos 1)

-- The Brother of Jared in prayer reminds the Lord that although we "are unworthy before [God] [. . .] nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires." The Brother of Jared asks the Lord for light. And learns that whatever the Lord touches, shines. (see Ether 3)

-- Most of the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants come from someone asking a question--they desired more understanding, more direction, more knowledge, more assurance--and God gave it to them.

-- Rebekah wanted to know why she was having complications with her pregnancy. So she asked the Lord, and He gave her understanding and peace, which she was then able to use to influence future generations (Genesis 25:22-23).

-- In a dream, the Lord asked Solomon what he desired from him. Solomon could have asked for anything, but he wanted an "understanding heart." And Solomon used that wisdom to help build the kingdom--not only his kingdom, but the kingdom of God (see 1 Kings 3).

-- Abraham desired to become a "greater follower of righteousness" and to receive knowledge about God and God's promises and covenants (see Abraham 1:2). So he left his home and all he knew, trusting that the Lord would fulfill His promises. The Lord would test Abraham time and time again, but ultimately--the Lord showed Abraham that He does keep His promises, even though the road is never easy.

-- The Savior, in His intercessory prayer, desired that we might be unified and come to know God. Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice in order for us to become "at one" with God. But still, it is our choice if we decide to apply His Atonement in our lives.

I could go on. The scriptures are full of examples of the power of the desires of our hearts. How they compel us to pray. How they lead us to action.

Alma 29:4--"For I know that God granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction."

Alma 41:3-5--"And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their words; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good. And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. [. . .] The one raised to happiness, according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires for evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh."

2 Nephi 2:27-28--"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments, and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit."

Helaman 14:31--"God hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you."

Whether or not we like it, there is power in those deep, innermost desires of our hearts. And God will honor those desires. He will not force us. He will never force us to come home to Him. If we do not want it--if we are not "willing to receive" all that He has, then He will not force us (see D&C 88:32). God must value agency very, very highly if He will "force no man to heaven." It is sobering. But also . . . there is no other way that we can learn to be like Him if we didn't choose it ourselves. We have to want it. With all of the bruises, frustrations, and heartache that mortality entails. We have to choose His way, and choose to become His disciples, even though the road is never easy. We have to want it. We have to want to choose His way. "We cannot become like Jesus unless we first desire to like Him."  As William Law wrote, "If you will here stop, and ask yourselves, why you are not as pious as the primitive Christians were, your own heart will tell you, that it is neither through ignorance nor inability, but purely because you never thoroughly intended it."

That is a sobering thought.

We have to be completely honest with ourselves. Because even though I think that most of us are striving, we also have conflicting desires. We want to devote more time to working out, but we also want to sleep in. We want to eat healthier, but we also really want to buy that new flavor of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. We want to devote more time to worship (whether through scripture study, prayer, meditation, or temple worship), but we also want to spend more time with friends, or relax by watching a show, or do a million other things that demand our time. How do we lay hold upon every good thing? And how do we figure out which desires are driving us?

I'll admit, I don't have all of the answers. It is still something that I am trying to figure out. But I think that we first have to realize that desires are driving us, and we have to be honest with ourselves. And part of that honesty starts with honest prayer. Elder F. Enzio Busche talks about how prayer and analyzing the desires of our hearts go hand-in-hand:

"The Spirit of Christ teaches that we must pray, that we must ask for the things that we seek . . . But before we can do this with focus, we have to become aware of a multitude of defined or undefined, conscious or subconscious desires. We have to learn to bring them to our awareness, to analyze them, to categorize them, and to bring them in to order according to priorities. When we do not do this, we will be condemned to remain, in our prayers, on a superficial level, or even on the level of formality, where there are no answers or there are only imagined answers. But there are always hundreds of different desires fighting for supremacy within us. The act of categorizing them is a very painful, but needful act to become, in the eyes of God, a mature person and to be taken seriously."

Prayer is a way that our will and desires come into correspondence with God's desires. But before that correspondence can happen, we have to be willing to analyze ourselves and analyze our hearts. Not only can this help us know what to pray for, but it will help us be more confident in ourselves and in God. Being honest with ourselves helps us to focus our efforts to become "more fit for the kingdom."

Certainly, it is important to be aware of the times that our intentions aren't pure. We shouldn't seek to gratify our pride or vain ambitions or surround ourselves with yes-men (or yes-women, for that matter) who say that anything goes, just because we want it. We should be constantly checking ourselves and trying to seek God's will. But at the same time, we need to be agents of choice. We have to act for ourselves and do "many things" of our own free will. There is a difference between seeking the will of the Lord and waiting for Him to tell us what kind of toothpaste to buy. God doesn't want us to be "compelled in all things." (see D&C 58:26-27). For how would we grow?

If we are to become like our Heavenly Parents, then we have to grow up. We must decide to be an agent of choice instead of passively being acted upon. And we must educate and reform those desires if we don't like what we are becoming. As we start to define and refine the desires of our hearts (and as we ourselves are refined through divine tutoring), God will trust us to make our own decisions. Even big decisions, like who to marry or what to major in or where to go to graduate school. I believe that God can use our desires to guide us. What we want really does matter. And it matters to Him.

One of the most important decisions I have made was where to attend graduate school. I put a lot of time, thought, work, and prayer into this decision. And I'm not even just talking about the ultimate decision to go to Oxford. The process itself started over a year-and-a-half ago as I looked at programs, prepared letters of intent, writing samples, and visited schools. And during that process, before I had even submitted my applications, I had impressions that I was going to be in either Washington, D.C. or England the next year. Just feelings. But those feelings reflected desires of my heart and compelled me to action. And as I thought, pondered and prayed throughout the process, both still felt right to me.

And so, of course, when I got the acceptance letters back, I had offers from schools in D.C. and from Oxford. I narrowed my choice to my top two options: Georgetown and Oxford. I know, I know--everyone says that Oxford was the obvious choice. But believe me when I say that this was a tough decision for me and I was looking at the choice from all sides. And as I "studied it out in my mind," sought advice from friends and mentors, and asked God in prayer for direction, I ultimately felt that the decision was up to me. That both of these options were good . . . I just had to choose.

When talking with one of my mentors, I had a conversation which was extremely enlightening. While talking to this mentor, I laid all my cards on the table. I had already gone through the process of thinking things out, and I wanted him to know what all the factors were. This wasn't just a case of, "Oh, help me I don't know what to do, tell me what to do," but, "Look. I know that this is a big decision. I've thought about it a lot. And honestly, the scales are preetttty even. I'm not looking for you to tell me where to go or what to do. But I do want advice. I do want your opinion. And I will take it into consideration. So. Here are all the things I have considered. Is there anything else that I should consider?"

I honestly thought he was going to say that the scales were tipped in Georgetown's favor. But instead he said,

"Look, Megan. You have two great options here. And I don't think you can mess this choice up. It might seem trite, but ultimately it comes down to the heart wants what the heart wants. So. What do you want?"

The heart wants what the heart wants. 
So.
What do you want? 

"Oxford," I immediately said. "I want Oxford."

Then what more do you want from Me? 

What more do you want God to do when He allows you to make the choice of your heart?

Making decisions between two good options can be agonizing. But instead of agonizing about making a wrong decision, maybe we should take a moment to just "glory in the mystery" of life. That there are so many swinging doors. That God opens windows as doors close. That there are so many more good possibilities in life than bad ones. That we can make any decision the "best" decision. That we can seek and strive and accomplish and breathe and laugh and love and live. "Glory in the mystery." And then take a deep breath, come to the edge of opportunity, leap . . . and find that we have wings.

Having that freedom is exhilarating and humbling. True freedom. A choice between two good options.

And then choosing what you want.

Liberating.

Too often I think that we believe that if we desire something, it must not be what God wants. Or if we want something, God will take it away because we want it. I don't think that God is like that. Certainly there is sacrifice. And certainly there are times when we want something so much it hurts--and we pray and pray for this desire and we don't get it. Maybe we don't get it at that moment, or maybe we don't get it at all. And it's not a bad desire at all--it's something good, like starting a family, or getting an education, or serving a mission, or desiring health for a sick or injured loved one. And it's hard--it's really hard when those righteous desires of our hearts are delayed or denied . . . or distorted. Because we don't live in a vacuum. We associate with other imperfect humans with desires and motives who are also using their agency--we experiment on each other, and there are often disastrous results.

So what does it mean when we don't get the desires of our hearts? I don't have a good answer for that question. It's a hard one. And one that I am still thinking about as it has confronted me in my own life and will continue to confront me throughout my life. But I do believe that God is aware of those desires. And He will grant them. In His own way. And in His own time. There is more to the economy of heaven than I can even begin to understand. And I believe God can give us all the peace we desire as we go through the trials and joys of life.

Still, it is a gift to know the desires of your heart. It can be torture at times when we know exactly what we want and it seems like there is no possible way to achieve it. But it is a gift to know what we want. Because as we are aware of those desires, we can choose to act instead of being acted upon. We can take the Holy Ghost as our guide as we educate our desires and as we desire to trust in God. "Choosing to trust in God takes faith. The best guide of all as we seek to choose faith in every footstep is the whisperings of the Holy Spirit."  But if our desire is to have the Holy Ghost with us, our choices and actions will allow us to find God's will--not only for us, but we will desire to have His will be our will, and we will seek ways to do good and be good and to bless His children.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be unto you; and if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation." (D&C 6:8)

I know that this is a huge topic. There are so many things I can't touch on right now, and so many questions I still have about desires. But I believe that desires matter more than we realize. And I believe we have a responsibility to be accountable for our desires and for their consequences. I also believe that one of the most important principles of the message of the Restoration is that we are not slaves of circumstance, but we are agents for ourselves. We are free to choose--with all of the terrifyingly glorious responsibility that comes with that knowledge and power.

And I think--and believe--that God is the "giver of good gifts." And sometimes the thing holding us back from our happiness is not God, but rather our own fear.

He wants to give us everything He has.

But we have to choose it.

We have to want it.

So.

What do you want?

For Further Reading (if Megan's "Discourse on Desires" wasn't enough and you want more):

"Live Right Now" by Gerrit W. Gong
"Unleashing the Dormant Spirit"  by F. Enzio Busche (If you are going to read any of these talks, READ THIS ONE.)
"Free to Choose"  by Neal A. Maxwell (Another one of my favorites.)
"The Education of Our Desires" by Neal A. Maxwell
"According to the Desires of [Our] Hearts" by Neal A. Maxwell (Can you tell I love Elder Maxwell?)
"The Desires of Our Hearts" by Dallin H. Oaks
"Resolutions and Desires" by Rachael Givens Johnson (This one is by one of my good friends. She makes some excellent points about how important it is to honestly analyze those conflicting desires of our hearts.)

There were never such devoted sisters

In just a few hours, my sister Katy will step off the plane and end her service as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

About two weeks ago, my sister Sarah did the same thing.

Except Sarah flew in from Billings, Montana.

Katy will be coming in from Mexico.

It will be the first time our family has been together in over a year-and-a-half.

To say I'm excited to have us all together again is an understatement.

I am thrilled.

In case you didn't know, I actually have the best sisters in the world. (Don't argue with me. I will win.)

I mean, just look at us:

I mean, we're pretty much the cutest. 

All four of us darling girls.

All four of us again. No one actually knows what we're doing with the apples. Obviously they're for juggling, not eating. And this picture is also proof that nothing really changes, even after 15 years.

But besides taking awesome apple-picking pictures, we all rocked the 90s. 

I mean, look. Just look. Rocking that 90s look. Aka, I don't really know what we're wearing. All I know is that I loved that shirt and wore it with pride. Confidence. That's what matters, right? 

All of this. Just. All of this. 

I call this piece "Vegas girls find patch of snow in Provo." 

Typical. 

 Also typical (and yes, I still do that when I draw/write).

And a typical Saturday afternoon. Playing pretend (complete with political intrigue and entire histories of the characters and the made-up lands). My sisters were kind enough to let me direct the stories we acted out (aka be the boss). And then I became the boring, older sister. Sorry, guys. 

Anyway, if it's not obvious already, I really, really, really love my sisters. They've been some of my biggest supporters and dearest friends. And I'm so glad that Katy gets back today and that we can add to these collections of pictures and memories. 

Welcome home, Sarah and Katy. I'm glad you are mine. 

Христос воскрес! (He is risen)

"But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre. [. . .] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master." see John 20:11-15 

Jesus just said her name. Just her name. That's all He said. And she knew it was Him. 

He Is Risen, J. Kirk Richards

Today is Easter Sunday.

It is also General Conference Sunday. [Which, by the way, was incredible. There were so many messages which spoke directly to me.]

I don't have a lot to say. I have a lot of thoughts. And a lot of gratitude in my heart. For the words of living prophets and apostles. For answers to prayers. For courage to make hard decisions. For faith to believe in miracles. And mostly, for a Savior, Jesus Christ, who overcame all--death, sin, heartache, and doubt--so that we can live again. Not only at the resurrection day, but every day. Because we need His renewing grace every day.

"So today we celebrate the gift of victory over every fall we have ever experienced, every sorrow we have ever known, every discouragement we have ever had, every fear we have ever faced--to say nothing of our resurrection from death and forgiveness for our sins. That victory is available to us because of events that transpired on a weekend like this more than two millennia ago in Jerusalem." -- Elder Jeffery R. Holland

And so, just know that I have this humble declaration that so many others before me (and many others after me) have stated:

"Oh sweet, the joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!"

Happy Easter.

The Joy of Our Redemption

I've been thinking a lot about Eve the past couple weeks. Actually, I've been thinking about her and studying her story deeply over the past year as I've contemplated her story and how a correct understanding of the Fall and of Eve's role in the Fall helps us understand ourselves. Understanding Adam and Eve is crucial to understanding who we are as sons and daughters of God.

There is power in knowing who we are.

There is power in knowing our past.

The Mother of All Living, by Al Young 

And Eve is at the beginning of all of our stories. She is the one who made the courageous, faithful decision to enter mortality. (And I know that this is a different perspective of Eve and the Fall than most people have--and it can be difficult to understand. But I am grateful for restored views of the doctrine of the Fall. The doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that the Fall was necessary and that Adam and Eve are to be honored for deciding to partake of the fruit. If you have any questions, send me a message and I'd be happy to talk about it.)

Last week, I had the opportunity to present about Eve and how perceptions of Eve affect Mormon women. While there, I had the chance to meet Camille Fronk Olson (whom I deeply admire) and who has written extensively about Eve and other biblical women. It was wonderful to just talk with her (if only for a little bit) about the importance of Eve in the plan of God, and how she is a remarkable role model and example for women and men today.

I also had the opportunity to give a Relief Society lesson at church today about Eve. And it was a wonderful opportunity for me to share what I've learned about Eve this past year. Like I mentioned above, a correct understanding of ourselves and our past empowers and enlightens us. And so I feel like sharing a few quotes, scriptures, and epiphanies about Eve and the Fall which have helped me on my journey to understanding this incredible woman.

Necessity of the Fall: 
2 Nephi 2:14-25 (all of it, but particularly verses 16, 22-25):
v. 16 "Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.
v.22-25 "And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.
Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."

Moses 5:10-12
"And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.
And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters.

Elder Russell M. Nelson:
"Their bodies of flesh and bone were made in the express image of God's. In that state of innocence, they were not yet mortal. They could have no children, were not subject to death, and could have lived in Eden's garden forever. Thus we might speak of the Creation in terms of paradisaical creation. If that state had persisted, you and I would still be stranded among the heavenly host as unborn sons and daughters of God. The great plan [. . .] would have been frustrated. [. . . ] Should they eat from the 'tree of knowledge of good and evil,' their bodies would change; mortality and eventual death would come upon them. But partaking of that fruit was prerequisite to their parenthood. [. . .] While I do not fully understand all the biochemistry involved, I do know that their physical bodies did change; blood began to circulate in their bodies. Adam and Eve thereby became mortal. [. . .] Accordingly, we could speak of the fall of Adam in terms of a mortal creation because 'Adam fell that men might be.'"

Joseph Fielding Smith:
"Adam and Eve did the very thing the Lord intended them to do. If we had the original record we would see the purpose of the Fall clearly stated and its necessity explained."

Elder Russell M. Nelson:
"We and all mankind are forever blessed because of Eve's great courage and wisdom. By partaking of the fruit first, she did what needed to be done. Adam was wise enough to do likewise."

Adam and Eve as Equal Companions 
Genesis 2:18--"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
There is a lot of misunderstanding of what "help meet" means. There is a negative connotation--like Eve was made as an afterthought. However, looking at the definition of "help meet" illuminates the text. The Oxford English Dictionary describes "help meet" as "even with or equal to." The Hebrew definition is even more enlightening. The Hebrew word for "help meet" comes from two words--ezer, meaning "to save, to rescue," and has the meaning of something majestic, strong, and powerful; and k'enegdo, which means "equal." Unfortunately, words are lost in translation, but imagine if we read the Genesis text like this: "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a majestic, saving power, equal with him, to be his companion." I think it is glorious. (For more information about the Hebrew definitions, see Beverley Campbell, "Mother Eve, Mentor for Today's Woman: A Heritage of Honor.")

Moses 6:9--"In the image of his [God's] own body, male and female, created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created and became living souls in the land upon the footstool of God." (emphasis added--but the connotation that Adam is not only a first name, but can also be used to describe Adam and Eve as a couple.)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie:
"Christ and Mary, Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, and a host of mighty men and equally glorious women comprised that group of 'the noble and great ones,' to whom the Lord Jesus said: 'We will go down, for there is space there ,and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell."

President Ezra Taft Benson:
"In the beginning, God placed a woman in a companion role with the priesthood. . . . She was to act in partnership with him."

Nature of the Transgression 
Elder Dallin H. Oaks: "For reasons that have not been revealed, this transition, or 'fall,' could not happen without a transgression--an exercise of moral agency amounting to a willful breaking of a law. [. . .] It was Eve who first transgressed the limits of Eden in order to initiate the conditions of mortality. Her act, whatever its nature, was formally a transgression but eternally a glorious necessity to open the doorway toward eternal life. Adam showed his wisdom by doing the same. And thus Eve and 'Adam fell that men might be.'"

Elder Joseph Fielding Smith:
"I never speak of the part Eve took in this fall as a sin, nor do I accuse Adam of a sin. [. . .] There was a transgression of the law, but not a sin . . . for it was something that Adam and Eve had to do!"

Elder Boyd K. Packer:
"The Fall came by transgression of a law, but there was no sin connected with it. There is a difference between transgression and sin. Both always bring consequences. While it may not be sin to step off a roof, in doing so, you become subject to the law of gravity and consequences will follow. [. . .] The fall of man was made from the presence of God to this mortal life."

Elder John A. Widstoe:
"The eternal power of choice was respected by the Lord himself. [. . .] It really converts the command into a warning, as much as to say, if you do this thing, you will bring upon yourself a certain punishment, but do it if you choose. [. . .] The Lord had warned Adam and Eve of the hard battle with earth conditions if they chose to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He would not subject his son and daughter to hardship and death of their bodies unless it be of their own choice. They must choose for themselves. They chose wisely, in accord with the heavenly law of love for others."

"Glorious Mother Eve" 
Doctrine and Covenants 138: 38-39--"Among the great and mighty ones who were assembled in this vast congregation were Father Adam, the Ancient of Days and father of all,
And our glorious Mother Eve, with many of her faithful daughters who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God."

Beverley Campbell: "Eve, first woman of earthly creation, companion of Adam, and mother and matriarch of the human race, is honored by Latter-day Saints as one of the most important, righteous, and heroic of all the human family. Eve's supreme gift to mankind, the opportunity of life on this earth, resulted from her choice to become mortal."

Sheri Dew:
Eve "made the most courageous decision any woman has ever made and with Adam opened the way for us to progress. She set an example of womanhood for men to respect and women to follow, modeling the characteristics with which we as women have been endowed: heroic faith, a keen sensitivity to the Spirit, an abhorrence of evil, and complete selflessness. Like the Savior, 'who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,' Eve, for the joy of helping initiate the human family, endured the Fall. She loved us enough to help lead us."

Sarah Kimball:
Eve is to be giving "reverent honor for taking the initiative to partake of the fruit."

Emmeline B. Wells:
"We are taught that Eve was the first to sin. Well, she was simply more progressive than Adam. She did not want to live in the beautiful garden for ever, and be nobody--not able even to make her own aprons."

Eve as Example: 
President Henry B. Eyring:
"By revelation, Eve recognized the way home to God. She knew that the Atonement of Jesus Christ made eternal life possible in families. She was sure, as you can be, that as she kept her covenants with her Heavenly Father, the Redeemer and the Holy Ghost would see her and her family through whatever sorrows and disappointments would come. She knew she could trust in Them."

Elder John A. Widstoe:
"In life all must choose at times. Sometimes, two possibilities are good; neither is evil. Usually, however, one is of greater import than the other. When in doubt, each must choose that which concerns the good of others--the greater law--rather than that which chiefly benefits ourselves--the lesser law. The greater must be chosen whether it be law or thing. That was the choice made in Eden."

Anyway, there is good sampling of some of the quotes I've found about Eve and the Fall. Of course there is so much more, and if any of you would like to talk more about this, I would love to. It's something I'm passionate about, if you couldn't tell. :)

I think one reason I love Eve's story so much is because her story is our story. Of course, none of us will have to make the decision of leaving Eden to become mortal. That was Adam and Eve's choice. That was the hardest choice Eve ever had to make. (And it must have been terrifying to her not knowing if Adam would make the same choice to leave Eden and choose to be with her--I can only imagine her fear.)

But, each of us will have those crossroads in our lives where we have to choose between staying in our figurative Edens . . . or stepping out into that dark, scary, unknown world without knowing exactly what is ahead of us. And in those moments, we can look to Eve as an example of faith and agency. She sacrificed Eden for something better--she sacrificed Eden for a chance to work out her own salvation. And that is beautiful to me.

The Joy of Our Redemption, by Al Young

[For more reading on this subject, I recommend Beverley Campbell's Eve and the Choice Made in Eden, Camille Fronk Olson's Women of the Old Testament, Beverley Campbell's "Mother Eve, Mentor for Today's Woman: A Heritage of Honor, and Valerie Hudson Cassler's "The Two Trees.")

Seeking vs. Assuming

Last summer I had the wonderful opportunity of interning at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City. In addition to working in the archives and getting to learn and write about the lives of incredible Mormon women, I also enjoyed time to ponder to-and-from work on the Front Runner and during lunch on Temple Square. Another perk of the Church History Library is that they have good Mormon artwork on all of their walls--the kind of artwork that you wish your chapel had. [Now, I know a lot of people would disagree with me. I know that what makes "good" art is an entirely different debate and not one I want to enter right now. I also know that Church art serves its purpose . . . but for this blog post, just know that my favorite Mormon artists are Walter Rane and Minerva Teichert. And that the Church History Library has a lot of paintings by Walter Rane and Minerva Teichert, so it made me happy.]

Anyway, one of my favorite things was when I first got to work. I would climb up the back stairs of the Church History Library, reach the third floor, open the door, and turn left.

And there, on the far left wall, was one of my favorite paintings of the First Vision.

by Walter Rane 

I love this picture for many reasons. I think what I love the most is the look in Joseph's face. That look of surprise, relief, and awe that is evident in his eyes. He had no idea what his question would bring. But I love how he looks straight up and is bathed in light--an answer after months and years of seeking. He looks up in wonder, never expecting that the greatest theophany since the New Testament would happen to him. He had faith that God would answer him, but Joseph did not know that Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, would appear to him to answer his heartfelt question and soothe his fears. 

In Ukraine, there was a dear investigator who also loved this painting of the First Vision. "That's how I feel," he said. "I feel like that boy. Looking up, asking, but confused. Not sure what's going to happen next. But asking." 

I think that's beautiful. Because when it comes down to it, the story and experience of the First Vision is our own. I'm not saying that each of us will--or that we even need to--see the Father and the Son in this lifetime. But I do believe that we have to find out for ourselves that God lives and that He loves us. We have to seek His face, because if we do not comprehend God, we cannot comprehend ourselves. 

And in order to gain that light and knowledge, we have to seek. We have to seek, ask, and knock, and be willing to receive. 

As a student of history, and especially as a student of Church history, I think a lot about the connections between faith and history. Some people think that it's not possible to combine faith, reason, and history--that no true historian can bring faith into her studies, and that history is godless and undermining to faith and testimony. 

I disagree. 

My study of history has strengthened my faith. Not because I blindly believe what I am taught or that I refuse to accept historical facts. Because it is important to be thoughtful when learning by study and by faith. But in all areas of study, it is important that we do not come from a place of assumption. To assume from a place of belief or disbelief is dangerous because the assumption of  "Oh, I already know that," or, "There's no way that could have happened--it just doesn't work that way," leads to intellectual and spiritual pitfalls. 

The body and spirit, heart and mind need to go together. To place one over the other leads to neglect and makes it so we miss out on beautiful insights. Assuming closes us off to finding truth, and it closes our hearts to empathy and understanding. 

In matters of faith, reason, and history, it is important to seek rather to assume. Seeking requires action. It requires humility and going outside of your intellectual and spiritual comfort zone to ask questions . . . and to realize that there are some things that you might not ever understand. Not because the answers aren't there, but because our understanding or tools we have at the moment are inadequate. But we keep looking and keep seeking. Someday the answers will come. 

A willing, seeking mind is the first step to receiving revelation from God. It is also the first step in learning--whether academically or spiritually.  Just as Joseph Smith would not have received increased light and knowledge if he had not prepared himself  to seek answers to his questions, we close ourselves off to more light, knowledge, and truth if we choose not to seek. 

Seeking and faith go hand-in-hand. And something I have learned as I have tried to be a seeker of truth is the power of mercy and redemption. History is messy. It just is. It's not pretty. Church history is not pristine, either. Because history--any kind of history--deals with people. Imperfect, vain, clueless, scared, trying people. But, just because history is messy does not take away from those things that I have learned for myself to be true. Most importantly, I have learned about the absolute need for a Savior. We all need saving. We are a people in need of a Savior. His Atonement is real, and His work will go forth. 

But we have to find that out for ourselves. It is an individual journey into the Sacred Grove. But the answers are there. 

The question is whether or not we will choose to seek them. 

You Know Better Than I

I have always felt a sort of kinship with Joseph of Egypt.

I don't exactly know why. Maybe it's because I also consider myself a dreamer. Or maybe it's just because I love the Andrew Lloyd Webber version of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Both viable options. Especially the second one.

But I think one reason I love Joseph's story is because I can see myself in his story. Not because I have ever been sold into slavery or because my siblings have tried to kill me or because I have been thrown into prison unjustly.

But I do know what it's like to be persecuted for doing the right thing. I know what it looks like to have your hopes and dreams come crashing down. And I know what it feels like to be so humbled--broken, even--that all you can do is turn to God and ask Him to heal you.

Because that is the core of Joseph's story. It is a story of redemption. It is a story of how God does direct our lives, even in the most unlikely ways. And how God will mold us and shape us into who He needs us to be. Not for ourselves. But to bless others.

I've been kind of obsessed with this song lately. It's from the Joseph: King of Dreams movie. I've never seen it--I've only listened to this song. But it resonates with me. Especially the part about how even when we think we're choosing the "surest road," it can still lead us to a situation we didn't want to be in. But when we come to those situations, we can "know in whom [we] have trusted" and find the peace and comfort that God knows what He's doing and will never forsake us.

What I did last summer, part 1

So. I realize that I have neglected documenting some pretty important parts of my summer, namely, a pretty cool internship and wonderful trips across the country to see sights, do research, and visit family and friends.

That needs to be fixed.

So, first things first.

INTERNSHIP.

I had the wonderful opportunity this summer to intern at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City. I traveled up to Salt Lake every week and lived every history student's dream--I worked in the archives. I got to handle 19th-century and 20th-century papers and artifacts AND IT WAS AWESOME.

My supervisor is currently working on a project about Mormon women discourses, which basically means that we collected talks given by Mormon women from the 1830s to now, and we put together a "best-of" book of some of the most inspiring talks from each decade. This book will be available to the general public and is meant to be used as a resource for people preparing talks for church meetings. My job was to research bio information for each of the women that we decided to include in the book.

So, I spent the summer researching the lives of lesser-known 20th-century Mormon women.

I know some people would think that is boring and useless.

I disagree.

If there is anything my internship taught me, it is that truly, we all have a story to tell. And the story of Mormon women is not a story to be swept under the rug. Mormon women truly are incredible and dynamic. These women's stories reminded me that Mormon women are not shrinking violets. It takes courage to rebuild a mission destroyed by WWII. It takes a different kind of bravery to close a mission because of war. It takes dedication and awareness to be involved in civic duties--from humanitarian aid to literacy committees. And it takes commitment to choose to live your faith.

Because when it comes down to it, faith is a choice.

And it is a conscious choice.

Faith is power.

And I believe that Mormon women are powerful because they are faithful.

"That I do not accept the faith that possessed them [the Mormon pioneers] does not mean I doubt their frequent devotion and heroism in its service. Especially their women. Their women were incredible." --Wallace Stegner, The Gathering of Zion. 

Minerva Teichart, Not Alone 

Anyway. I'm off my soapbox now. 

Basically, my internship was great. Mormon women are great. Church history is great. 

I think I'm going to eat some ice cream now. 

The Christmas Story

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

Mary, Henry Ossawa Tanner 

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

The Annunciation, J. Kirk Richards

 The Annunciation, Henry Ossawa Tanner 

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

                                                Blessed Art Thou Among Women, Walter Rane 

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. [. . .]

Annunciation to Mary, Joseph Brickey 

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. [. . .]

The Annunciation, Carl Bloch

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

According to Thy Word, Elspeth Young 

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Joseph's Dream, Anton Raphael Mengs

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Joseph's Dream, Rembrandt 

And she shall bring forth a son, and though shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

Joseph's Dream, Gaetano Gandolfi

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [. . .]
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

The Road to Bethlehem, Joseph Brickey

Journey, Liz Lemon Swindle 

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Joseph Seeks a Lodging in Bethlehem, James Tissot

 There Was No Room For Them in the Inn, Eugene Higgins

The Journey to Bethlehem, Joseph Aubert 

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

 The Nativity, Goya

 Mother and Child, J. Kirk Richards

 Silent Night, Liz Lemon Swindle 

Nativity, Brian Kershisnik 

And she brought for 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.

And This Was the Manner of Christ's Birth, Eugene Higgins

 And She Wrapped Him in Swaddling Clothes, William Ladd Taylor 

 Nativity, Heidi Malott

 She Shall Bring Forth a Son, Liz Lemon Swindle 

Behold, the Lamb of God, Walter Rane

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Shepherds, J. Kirk Richards

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

 Angels Appearing to Shepherds, Henry Ossawa Tanner

And the angel said unto them, 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 this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 Good Tidings of Great Joy, Walter Rane

Shepherds, Carl Bloch 

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.

 Angels, Brian Kershisnik

 Three French Horns, J. Kirk Richards

Three Angels With Trumpets, J. Kirk Richards

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 Nativity, Correggio

 Birth of the King, Michael Dudash 

 

The Nativity, Ghiraldaio                                                            

 The Nativity, J. Kirk Richards

 Nativity, Dore

 Adoration of the Shepherds, Rembrandt

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 

 Nativity, Carl Bloch 

 Bearing a Child in Her Arms, Elspeth Young 

Be It Unto Me, Liz Lemon Swindle 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

 Kissing the Face of God, Morgan Weistling

For Unto Us a Child is Born, Simon Dewey 

Merry Christmas.