“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon: and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
   And it was revealed unto him by the holy ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
   And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
   Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
   Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
   For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.
   Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
   A light to lighten the gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.”¹
   As I read this account of one of the first testimonies of the Savior following his birth, I am reminded of two wonderful truths: that the Lord’s promises are always fulfilled, and that Jesus is the light of the world.
Hope
   This year, I have struggled with the uncertainty of my future. I have worried because of unfulfilled promises within my patriarchal blessing that I thought I would have realized before finishing school. I have wondered if I had done something, or had not done something, to inhibit my ability to obtain the Lord’s promises to me.
   I wonder how long Simeon waited for the “consolation of Israel” or whether he questioned his faith when the timing of the Lord was different than he had anticipated.
   I also wonder why we are often left without specific details of the Lord’s plan for us. Enduring² would be much easier if we always knew the deadline for our patience. Yet, the Lord asks us to be patient both when we know the end and when we do not.
In doing so, the Lord provides us with time to strengthen our faith. We learn to trust Him. By allowing us to wait patiently for promised blessings, He allows us to grow.
   I am grateful for the many accounts in scripture and within my own family heritage that testify and remind me that the Lord always keeps His word.
Knowing that the Lord’s promises will be fulfilled is one the greatest propellants of hope in my life. It encourages me, calms me, and allows me to feel joy as I prepare for good things to come.
Light
   As I prepare, I often consider how I can create a better relationship with the Savior. It has always been difficult for me to feel that I actually have a relationship with Him because I cannot physically see or hear Him.
   Recently, our prophet asked us to Light the World through simple acts of service. If, as Simeon suggests, the Savior is the “light to lighten,” then, to Light the World is to give of the Savior. Service is a particularly effective instrument for lighting the world because service is an expression and a catalyst³ of love. Those who love, know God.⁴ Thus the Savior is present in every act of service. Both beneficiary and benefactor create deeper and more meaningful relationships with Him as service occurs.
   As we serve, we love. As we love, we give of the Savior. As we give of the Savior, our relationship with Him grows and we find ourselves more capable of the hope and joy He wants us to have.
Service
   I believe that this kind of service is the Spirit of Christmas. That those who love and lift, as He loves and lifts, are inviting Christ into the season just as Simeon invited the Savior into his life even before meeting Him in the temple.
   This year, I again⁵ joined with a local church for their ‘sharing of the light’ ceremony where each member of the congregation is given a candle and invited to sing ‘Silent Night.’ As we sing, the pasture lights a candle, then, using his own light, passes the flame to each of us. His invitation is to bring our unlit candle to the light in order to avoid dripping wax. This simple act reminds us that the light never bows to the darkness. As one candle lights another, we also see that they both increase in brightness as flames join together in unity.
   As I consider this Spirit of Christmas, I realize that you have been wonderful light in my life. That knowing you has increased the joy I feel. Your support gives me confidence and your love gives me peace. And so, know that I find value in the Spirit of Christmas. Know that I value you and the influence you have on my life. Merry Christmas!

¹ Luke 2:25-32, KJV
² See Pretium Vol. 3(11): Endurance
³ Thanks for the word, Scott!
⁴ 1 John 4:7
⁵ See last year’s Christmas Edition for more detail