I was asked to speak on the talk “A Season For Angels” by Elder Bateman. As I was reading this talk I couldn’t help but think of what a wonderful kickoff this is to this Christmas season. No black Friday or finding the best deals on un-needed things to start off. This was a great opportunity for me to study the true meaning of Christmas. Our Savior. Just preparing this talk helped me remember, because I think we tend to forget, the true meaning of Christmas. So, I am grateful for this opportunity to study and speak about this talk, even though I am scared out of my mind to be up here.
He starts by saying, At the beginning of each Christmas season, our thoughts turn to the birth of the Savior. For believers, Christ’s birth and death are the two greatest events in the history of the earth or, for that matter, eternity. It is almost an anomaly that in the untold years the universe ahs existed, its two greatest events occurred within a 33-year span in a vassal nation on a small planet the Lord calls His “footstool.”
Christmas carols are a special feature of the season. They bring feelings of joy to our hearts as they describe the events and significance of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is interesting to note that many Christmas hymns speak of angels. This is because the biblical record contains numerous accounts of heavenly beings speaking to mortals before and at the time of His birth. Not only is the story of the Savior’s birth replete with heavenly messengers, but heavenly beings were also present at significant events throughout his life.
(Holland) When the time for the Savior’s advent was at hand, an angel was sent to announce to Mary that she was to be the mother of the Son of God. Then a host of angels was commissioned to sing on the night the baby Jesus was born. Shortly thereafter an angel would announce to Joseph that the newborn baby was in danger and that this little family must flee to Egypt for safety. When it was safe to return, an angel conveyed that information to the family and the three returned to the land of their heritage. From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children. Time in this setting does not allow even a cursory examination for the scriptures or our own latter-day history, which are so filled with accounts of angels ministering to those on earth, but it is rich doctrine and rich history.
The birth of Jesus Christ was extraordinary in that it involved the condescension of both the Father and the Son. The Father condescended in sending His Son’ the Savior condescended in taking upon Himself a mortal body and offering Himself as a sacrifice for sin. Is it any wonder that angels were assigned to declare the Savior’s birth?
Moroni taught that angels play a special role in the early stages of a new dispensation. In Moroni 7:31-32 (Open Scriptures)
As I was reading this talk, I kept thinking about the talk by Elder Holland given in the October 2008 General Conference. I’m sure many of you remember this talk. This talk is called “The Ministry of Angels.” As we have seen throughout the scriptures for thousands of years, God has sent angels, in special times of need. He sent his divine messengers, to bless His children, to reassure them that heaven was always very close and that His help was always very near. They taught them the meaning of their sacrifice and the atoning role of the promised Redeemer who was to come. Elder Holland says, “I testify that angels are still sent to help us, even as they were sent to help Adam and Eve, to help the prophets, and indeed to help the Savior of the world Himself. Matthew records in his gospel that after Satan had tempted Christ in the wilderness “Angels came and ministered unto him.” Even the Son of God, a God Himself, had need for heavenly comfort during His sojourn in mortality.” I love that. That Even the son of God, a God Himself, had need for heavenly comfort during His sojourn in mortality.
Elder Holland goes on saying, “But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with-- here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, (his case), one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind.” I have had many angels in my life. Angels that have done exactly what Moroni taught about the angels role. Declaring the word of Christ, Helping me have faith in Christ. Helping me understand and know my role as a daughter of God, and let me know that I can also be an angel to someone else. These angels in my life really do have the love of God, in kindness and devotion. They know their purpose.
Elder Bateman ends his talk by asking, “What is the lesson for us today as we enter a new Christmas season? Who will minister to those in need? Who are the angels that will prepare the way for His return? I have noticed that during the early stages of a dispensation, angelic ministers come from the other side of the veil, but as time elapses and the number of faithful members increases, more is expected of those in mortality. For example, when a new country is opened to the gospel, missionaries learn that many have been prepared in miraculous ways to receive the gospel, and miracles occur with some frequency to advance the work. Once a core of members is established, however, the Lord’s assistance changes as He provides opportunities for the members to become the miracle workers.” He provides opportunities for the members to become the miracle workers. I love that. There are opportunities all around us to make miracles happen. Some simple deed that you do may not seem like a miracle, but to someone else it is.
Barbara Thompson, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency says “We need to rescue all that is the finest down deep inside of us so that as daughters,(And sons), of God we can do our part to build the kingdom of God. We will have help to do this. As Joseph declared, if you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates”
So if we live righteously and do our part, we will have the help of angels to build the kingdom of God. And then by doing this, we, ourselves, will be angels to someone else. Let us bear one another’s burdens, mourn with those who mourn, comfort those who stand in need of comfort, and thus keep the covenants which we have made.
What are you going to do this Christmas season? How are you going to bless someone’s life by being an angel to them? Miracles during this Christmas season require our faith and works. May we be reminded once again of our promise to bear one another’s burdens, to mourn with those who mourn, comfort those who stand in need of comfort, and stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places. I love the last sentence of this talk, which is Elder Bateman’s testimony. He says, “I bear witness that Christmas is a season for angels. As they ministered to the Savior and others in the meridian of time, may we, as angels of mercy, minister to other families and to those in need in the fullness of times so that the Lord’s work may move forward.
I just want to add my testimony to his of how grateful I am for this church. And for the knowledge I have. I know the Lord works through other people to help us return to Him. I am so grateful for the angels in my life who have helped me simply just get through. I know that Heavenly Father will never leave us alone. He knows our needs and He knows how to help us we just need to ask in faith. I know that I can pray to Him wherever and whenever and He will listen. I know that families can be together forever and I am so grateful for that knowledge because my family has truly been there when I need them. They have been some of my most cherished angels. I know that the Atonement is a reality and that Christ suffered for our sins so that we could live with Him again.
