Freedom-Fighters Forum

By William J. Dell – December 1994

As I sit here in my study thinking of this past year, I am reminded of my many blessings and how good my Lord and Saviour has been to me and my family. Truly, God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform and humbly I acknowledge His hand in all things. Most of you who will receive this paper are aware that Johanne’ and I along with Heidi, Aileen, Rebecca and Grammy have moved to Pueblo West, Colorado. For the rest of you, this is news indeed!

Although the reasons that brought us here make an interesting story, they are not necessary to our present undertaking. It is enough to say that since our move we have had that “peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philip. 4:7) in our lives and have not been happier or more at peace in years. This in spite of the fact that we have been unsuccessful, so far, in obtaining employment. With the Lord’s blessings and His protecting hand, however, we continue to survive on my Navy retirement.

At this time of year having just passed Thanksgiving and looking forward to Christmas, I am reminded of a lesson taught by my good friend, Rex Allen, during a funeral service in the Kaysville Tabernacle. He taught me, and you if you will, a different meaning to the scripture, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend.” (John 15:13) The truth that he taught had a profound impact on me. He said, “When we lay aside our troubles, our problems, and the things of our lives to help someone else, we have in a true sense laid down our life for our friend.” As I sit here in my study, I marvel at the love that surrounds me and my family. And I know that we would not be here if it were not for the providence of God and our children who “laid down their lives” to help us accomplish the many tasks which made it possible. At this Christmas time, I would like to thank each of them for their sacrifice on our behalf.

It is also fitting as we consider giving during this season that we remember why we give. It is in remembrance of:

1. The gift of God to us all, even Jesus the Christ.

2. The gifts that were given by the Wise Men to the Christ child which signified the following in His life:
Gold – that he was a king, indeed the King of kings.
Frankincense – this was used in the holy incense at the Temple for sacrificial purposes. Christ alone is the acceptable sacrifice for our sins.
Myrrh – this ointment was used in embalming. This gift alone was not needed other than to signify that Christ died for us all. It was probably part of the spices the women brought to the tomb on the first day of the week when they came to prepare His body and found God’s gift of the resurrection.

3. Lastly, it is in remembrance of the gift the Savior gives to each of us on condition of us believing Him and keeping His commandments. He gave himself (John 10:18), through the Atonement, that we might have Eternal Life, the greatest of all the gifts of God.

When we give gifts without thought of receiving, we begin to unlock the secret of Christmas; but, when we learn that the greatest of all Christmas Gifts is the Gift of Self and “lay down our lives for our friends”, it is then that we can keep Christmas all year long in our heart by believing Christ and being His disciple.