Become like Christ this Christmas

Recently I found myself thinking about how I could make Christmas special for my family despite our humble circumstances while we live here on campus. Like many of you, money is tight and our finances won't allow us to indulge in extravagant celebrations and gift giving. I am fairly certain that many of you are also feeling the burden of the holidays and will be looking to improve your skills and employment in the coming year.

Many of us have recently graduated and have been flung into a job market that seems to be struggling. I challenge you as the New Year approaches to seek out employment and job training that will provide you and your family with a secure future. The Lord has said "I will render unto the man according to his work" (Proverbs 24:29). When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, the Lord told them "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" (Genesis 3:19).

For a long time I thought this scripture simply meant that their food was no longer going to be easy to find as it was in the garden, but lately, as I have continued my own job search, I have come to a different conclusion. For us in the Gateway Ward, it is important that we understand that if we want to eat, then we need to sweat a little. Dig your elbows in and search for the jobs and skills that will provide for your family. In this time, it is unlikely that jobs will fall into our laps like they have in the past. We may have to sweat for our bread but I promise you it is there. There is plenty of bread (and jobs) to be had. If we are hard working and diligent in our job search, it will be for us like it was for the Lord's chosen people when he "rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them the corn of heaven" (Psalms 78:24).

As you contemplate the Savior this Christmas, challenge yourself to exemplify the qualities that made him great. He was the adopted son of a hard-working carpenter and his work in life exemplified the qualities of both his earthly father and that of his Father in Heaven. He walked the earth and performed the work that Heavenly Father had given him despite the challenges he faced. While his apostles slept, Christ took on the greatest work, and atoned for our sins in Gethsemane. In it in his steps we should follow. Work hard. We have been promised that we will be blessed for it.

"Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded." (2 Chronicles 15:7)