The Living Christ

While studying The Living Christ document this week, there was a particular phrase that stood out to me: "His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth." As I thought about His vicarious gift to us, it was impressed upon me that we are also given the opportunity to give vicarious gifts to others as we perform temple ordinances for those who have died.

I love the idea that just like the Savior did a work for us that we couldn't do for ourselves, we too have the opportunity to be saviors for others as we do temple work for them that they can’t do for themselves.

I've been reading a book this week about Christmas symbols written by Brad Wilcox titled "Because of the Messiah in a Manger". He writes about how the wise men recognized the star of Bethlehem for what it was and they let it guide them to the Savior. In our day, the temple can serve the same purpose as the star. We can see temples as "holy beacons" that guide us to the Savior. Brother Wilcox goes on to write: "When Christ was on the earth, some followed Him, while others did not. Have you ever wondered whether you would have accepted Christ in His day?...If we love the temple today, we would have loved Christ in His day. If we seek to go to the temple, we would have sought to be with Christ. If we desire to learn more about the temple, we would have desired to learn more about Christ...'Our feelings about the temple are the truest indicators of our deepest feelings about Christ.'" (quote by Elder Robert E. Wells)

This new year I hope to be able to increase my temple attendance, not only to be able to give the gift of vicarious temple work to others, but also as a way to become closer to my Savior.