His Path Our Journey Join us Our lesson

His Path, Our Journey

Join us Our lesson today is one of quiet reflection. Ponder your thoughts about Christ and the sincerity of your own beliefs in Him.

Find a seat away from everyone Be still. Be quiet. Be courteous. Allow the Spirit an opportunity to testify of our Savior- His birth, His work here on earth, His death, and most important, His resurrection. He lives!!

Do not open your journal until prompted • Our prayer is that this experience will instill in you a greater testimony of our Savior and His complete love for you. • We pray that you will have a greater desire to serve Him and our fellowmen. His hands were "tools of creation, stronger than nations", and giving endlessly. May we make

Do Not Speak We invite you to quietly take a seat apart from beloved companions. Listen to the beautiful music and let the Spirit testify of Christ's presence here today.

Let His Light Shine in your hearts and consider… Invoke the Holy Spirit so that you may feel your full testimony. It is here to guide you. Listen carefully. He speaks to your soul today.

Please open your journals to page 1… • How do we know that the Spirit is in this very room? • Is it even important to know how? • Take a moment to write about how we can invite the Spirit to share our quiet moments in our lives.

Nativity “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” St. Luke 2: 11

And they came with Haste to find Mary and Joseph and the babe. . . • He was born in the humblest of circumstances. • His Earthly parents and the animals were the only ones there to witness His birth.

He was placed in a manger for there was no place for Him elsewhere

The Prophecy Fulfilled • A star set in the sky signified the magnitude of this simple event. • Shepherds in the field and wise men from the east came to worship Him. The shepherds told everyone what they had witnessed. • “And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid” Luke 2: 9

“…And ye shall find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” Luke 2: 12 Mary, on the other hand, quietly took it all in, and pondered everything in her heart.

Please open your journals to page 2… • Can you even imagine the love and responsibility she must have felt as she held her precious baby in her arms? • How would you feel if God had chosen you to be the protector and nurturer of the greatest man to ever live?

Jesus, The Early Years

In Favor With God • Even as a small child, Jesus was the perfect model of love for His Heavenly Father. • His mother taught Him well.

This Special Boy Grows As We Do As a young boy, Jesus was loved and taught the ways of His earthly father. He grew to be a skilled apprentice.

And a child shall lead them And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him. Luke 2: 40

The Perfect Older Brother… • He lived His life for us; • He learned from the example of His earthly family and grew to be a Heavenly example for us all.

Please open your journals to page 3… • Childhood is so difficult. How does it feel to know your Savior suffered the same things we do as teens? • He was loved, He was hated, He was trying to please His parents and trying to learn what free agency meant. • Do you think your confidence would wax strong if you endured His trials? • How would He feel if He endured Your trials? • What would He do different?

He Became Our Greatest Teacher

There is no greater teacher than one who has experience in what He teaches.

Jesus Christ was one of us. He was human. He had human experiences. He shared all the gifts from our Father in Heaven, including happiness. . .

And sorrow…

And Anger. . . He was like us…

Only Better!

There is no aspect of human nature He does not share with us, and His willingness to teach this to us, is a great blessing.

He was Baptized in the name of the Father. . . Baptism is a sign to God that we are willing to do what He commands. Jesus was perfect, but He knew that He must follow all of God’s commandments, thus He set the perfect example of fulfilling all righteousness.

Please open your journals to page 4… • Do you seek a God of miracles? Where can you find Him? • Do you seek a teacher of perfect knowledge? • How does it feel to know that you are so blessed for your desire to listen and learn and show your faith in the Lord? • How does it feel to know He loves you enough to send His only Begotten son to guide you?

Those He Beholds As the Most Sacred of Creatures

I Am the Way Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.

Woman was created in the image of His most sacred creature. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

“… but she in her punery, hath cast in all she had” St. Luke 21: 4 She openeth her mouth wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

Please open your journals to page 5… • "It is Elizabeth and Mary, who are first to receive the message of Christ's coming, who are praised and blessed by God's angels, and who are first to sing and prophesy about the Christ child. Luke presents these women not only as witnesses to the events surrounding the births of John and Jesus, but also as active participants in God's Messianic purposes" • What is YOUR divine purpose in our Lord’s plan?

In Remembrance of Thy Son… Persecution & The Last Supper

When Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with costly ointment Judas Iscarot was upset because he thought it a waste…

Art thou King of the Jews?

Pray always lest ye faint

Do This in Remembrance Thus is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

“And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground…”

Please open your journals to page 6. . . • Do you find yourself in places of darkness from time to time? • Do mortal trials weaken your faith and bring turmoil to your spirit? • When your heart is troubled, how do you find peace? • Can you think of experiences in your life when the Comforter was there and brought you peace?

The Ultimate Sacrifice “And he said unto Jesus; Lord, Remember me when thou comest into Thy Kingdom…”

“Father, Forgive them, for they know not what they do…”

Please open your journals to page 7… • Our Savior prayed in agony that if it could be possible. . . to remove the "bitter cup. " He trembled. . . great drops of blood flowed from every pore. . . yet He submitted to the will of the Father saying, "Thy will be done. ” • Can you even imagine how much He must love YOU to suffer so much pain for YOU?

He Rises and Promises… “And Jesus said unto him, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. . . ”

Prophecy fulfilled… "I know that My Redeemer Lives! What joy I will feel when one day He addresses me by name, just as He did Mary at the empty tomb. How fortunate I feel to be baptized as a member of His church that has taught me all that I must do to live with Him someday!"

The Way… “Jesus Saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. “ John 14: 6

The Promise In the words of the hymn, Let Me Not Forget, “O Savior, Thou didst bleed and die for me. ” I wonder how many drops were shed for me. - James E. Faust

& Proof is shown “…Blessed are they that have not seen me and yet have believed. ” St John 20: 29

Please open your journals to page 8… • “But what shall we use? Our lives must become a meaningful expression, the symbol of our declaration of our testimony of the Living Christ, the Eternal Son of the Living God. ” Gordon B. Hinckley Take a moment to ponder what we do to symbolize our faith and love for our Lord everyday.

The Ascension

The Gift “But, Ye shall receive POWER, after that, The Holy Ghost is come upon You: And Ye shall be witnesses unto ME…and unto the uttermost part of the Earth. ” The Acts 1: 8

The Second Coming “Why stand ye gazing up into Heaven…? ” The Acts 1: 11

“And then shall they see the son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. . ” St. Luke 21: 27

Please open your journals to page 9… “ I am the Alpha & The Omega, The Beginning and The Ending, Saith The LORD, Which IS, And which WAS, and Which is to COME, The Almighty. ” Revelation 1: 8 Are you ready? How are you preparing for this moment?

This presentation was brought to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.