Latter-day Saints can give a gift like no other.
Are you ready for Christmas? As we prepare to celebrate the Savior’s birth, let’s consider that our ancestors will be celebrating, too. For they, like we, are utterly dependent on Him for the ultimate gift – salvation.
Our time on earth is punctuated with preparations both temporal and spiritual: holidays, birthdays, and schooling; baptisms, missions and marriage. But our ancestors’ preparations cannot be measured in earth time. How long have they been seeking, learning, studying? How much longer must they wait for their names to be stamped on pink or blue cards – their personalized “gift” cards? When will we present them with the opportunity to accept, or reject, the ultimate gift?
Taking the time to discover an ancestor or attend the temple during this busiest time of the year can be a sacrifice. But think of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us. Now ponder our desire to become more like Him and contemplate the words of President Gordon B. Hinckley:
“I think that vicarious work for the dead more nearly approaches the vicarious sacrifice of the Savior Himself than any other work of which I know. It is given with love, without hope of compensation, or repayment or anything of the kind.”[1]
Gifts given with love, without compensation or expectation of reciprocation. A godly virtue. Pure charity.
Family is the nexus of Christmas celebrations. As we gather with ours, let’s include our ancestors. This is a natural time to share family stories, enjoy family traditions, view family photographs.
If we can go to a temple, let’s work specifically for our ancestral family. A friend shared the following profound experience of our responsibility to our progenitors:
“My wife and I had prepared names of ancestors we were taking to the temple. One day I forgot to bring one of our ordinance cards so I was given a temple file name. I was thinking about my disappointment at leaving our family card behind when these words came into my mind: ‘It’s all right. That person’s work needs to be done.’ I relaxed and was just feeling good about myself when the following words entered my mind: ‘But is it right that strangers should come before family?’
“I learned something from this experience. Those ancestors are alive and know what we are doing down here on earth. Also, someone who is related to my wife through marriage considers me family.”[2]
So many things to learn. So many tasks to do. So many blessings to receive.
Remember. Prioritize. Obey.
The ultimate gift is the Savior’s offering to all mankind whether on earth or in heaven, at Christmas and always. Our gift is the offering of time, sacrifice and love.
Carol Kostakos Petranek is one of the Directors of the Washington DC Family History Center and a Volunteer at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
