Christmas Time 12-19-07

This week has been good! I got a little sick (yes that's the second time on my mission!) Ridiculous I know. My trainer Elder Frost thinks it's funny. It's official I'm staying in Rocky Mountain House for another six weeks at least. Our time lately has been consumed by Mr. Kreugers Christmas. The stake president of Red Deer bought 2,000 of these DVD's and sent 1,000 out to less active members. The other thousand he's asked members to refer names to the missionaries to have us deliver them with a treat or personal gift from the members doing the referring. It's a good Idea I think. We're instructed to do NO proselyting on the door step. People are far more friendly to us as delivery boys than to us as missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. It for the most part has put the rest of our work on hold. I don't know if it's worth it but I suppose that may be why I'm not stake president! ha ha I have confidence the Lord knows what he's doing.It's been much warmer up here lately! Instead of - 18 degrees Celsius we've been hovering at a pretty constant -4! It's amazing the difference that makes. The snow stays forever and is 100% powder! As Christmas approaches I just want to add my testimony to so many others concering the true meaning Christmas holds. In 1 Nephi 11:16 Nephi seeks the Lord. He has a revelation. The angel asks him "Knowest thou the condescension of God?" I've read this at least 5 or 6 times before. It never caused a second thought in my head. President Edwards gave a presentation on this verse and the subsequent verses. Christ (under direction from God) created Earth and the Heavens. Such a powerful display. We all gain physical bodies to step up and gain a perception of physical law. Christ very clearly has and had before His mortal life a mastery over physical laws. In Abraham 3 Abraham sees a vision of the Premortal life. In verse 24 it says "there stood one among them (the noble and great spirits) that was like unto God." Christ wasn't as powerful as God but his Glory was like unto that of our Heavenly father. Now picture a premortal Christ. Picture the majestic, great spirit Abraham saw. Our Savior in all his power and glory, submitted to his fathers will. As we think of a baby it is near the most helpless thing on earth. Our elder brother Jesus the Christ condescended from his position of power authority and majesty. Not only taking on the form of a babe but in such humble circumstances as a manger! This is the love our God in heaven and Redeemer have for us. I know Christ came to the earth for us. I've heard it said he would go through every thing he did again if only for the sake of one of us. If the Savior had to go through Gethsemane again for only you... He would. This is my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Love,Elder McCarty