Merry Christmas!

My husband wrote this beautiful tribute to the Savior that I want to share with you.  I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

One cannot overstate the glory and power of the Savior's life and sacrifice for each one of us. The hymn "Redeemer of Israel," written by William W. Phelps, tries to capture the greatness of Jesus Christ.

Redeemer of Israel,
Our only delight,
On whom for a blessing we call,
Our shadow by day
And our pillar by night,
Our King, our Deliv’rer, our all!

The phrase, "our all"  is powerful.  It is as if W.W. Phelps in trying to describe the greatness of Jesus Christ came to the conclusion no title or list of titles describing greatness could adequately capture who the Savior is and what He has done.  The Atonement of Jesus Christ is both grand and glorious while being very personal and powerful.  It reaches out to all of God's children in the world and to world's without number while helping each of us in our daily personal struggles.  His sacrifice is for everyone and can mean everything to each one of us.  

Merrill J. Bateman stated, "The Atonement involved more than an infinite mass of sin; it entailed an infinite stream of individuals with their specific needs. Alma records that Jesus took upon himself the pains, afflictions, temptations, and sicknesses of his people. In addition, he experienced their weaknesses so that he would know how to help them (see Alma 7:11–12). Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would bear “our griefs, and [carry] our sorrows”; that he would be “wounded for our transgressions” and “bruised for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:4–5). Paul explained to the Hebrews that Jesus tasted “death for every man” and woman (Hebrews 2:9). No wonder “his sweat was as it were great drops of blood” coming from “every pore” (Luke 22:44).  (BYU Devotional Sept. 1997)

During this Christmas Season we pray that you and your family will feel the power of the Savior's love and atoning sacrifice.