Stories of Christ: Story 38

The Triumphal Entry

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Date

Story

Ornament

Principle taught

Scripture Reader

Scripture Reference

Video

Picture

Why that Ornament

Song

38

12-Dec

Triumphal Entry/ Christ's Words on Second Coming

Rocking Horse

Second Coming

NT 44 & 46

Matt 21:1-13

The Lord’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Triumphal Entry

The Lord road in on a donkey.

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear HB 207

Video

Quote/Principle

I like the reminder that Jesus will come again and it will be glorious!

The triumphal entry, remembered today on Palm Sunday, provides a joyful prelude to the many sad events that would intervene between this point and the miracle of the empty tomb. It represents one of the few times during His mortal ministry when Jesus was recognized as the king He is. However, the triumphal entry also serves as a symbol of Jesus’s Second Coming, allowing us to look forward to the day when He will return in glory and all will accept Him as king.

Eric D. Huntsman, “Reflections on the Savior’s Last Week” Ensign April 2009

Ornament

Christ road into Jerusalem on a donkey

Stories of Christ: Story 37

Mary and Martha

The video, quote and ornament all focus on one teaching that can be learned from this story.  Start by reading it from the scriptures.

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Date

Story

Ornament

Principle taught

Scripture Reader

Scripture Reference

Video

Picture

Why that Ornament

Song

37

11-Dec

Mary & Martha

⃝ Clock

Priorities

Luke 10:38-42

Moments That Matter Most

Christ in the Home of Mary and Martha

We must use the time we have wisely and put the Lord's work first.

Choose the Right Way CS 160

The video, quote and ornament all focus on one teaching that can be learned from this story.  Start by reading it from the scriptures.

Video

Quote/Principle

President Uchtdorf teaches us to prioritize and do that which matters most.

“My dear brothers and sisters, we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most. Let us be mindful of the foundational precepts our Heavenly Father has given to His children that will establish the basis of a rich and fruitful mortal life with promises of eternal happiness. They will teach us to do “all these things … in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that [we] should run faster than [we have] strength. [But] it is expedient that [we] should be diligent, [and] thereby … win the prize.” “Brothers and sisters, diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the world. That is why “we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ,… that [we] may know to what source [we] may look for a remission of [our] sins.” In the complexity, confusion, and rush of modern living, this is the “more excellent way.”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Of Things That Matter Most, Ensign Magazine November 2010

Ornament

We must use our time in pursuit of that which matters most.

Stories of Christ: Story 24

Jesus Forgives a Woman

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Story

Ornament

Principle taught

Scripture Reader

Scripture Reference

Video

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Why that Ornament

Song

24

28-Nov

Jesus Forgives a Woman

"Joy"

Repentance

NT 26

Luke 7:36-50

Come unto Me Starting at 4:17

Repentance brings PEACE

Sweet is the Peace HB 14

Video

This video is a Seminary video that teaches why we should come unto Christ.  Starting at 4 minutes 17 seconds is the story of the woman who washes Christ's feet with her tears and dries them with her hair.  He then teaches those with him of love and forgiveness.

Quote/Principle

Jesus Christ wants to forgive us.  He wants us to come unto Him.

“There are many degrees of personal worthiness and righteousness. Yet repentance is a blessing to all of us. We each need to feel the Savior’s arms of mercy through the forgiveness of our sins. “I am amazed at the Savior’s encircling arms of mercy and love for the repentant, no matter how selfish the forsaken sin. I testify that the Savior is able and eager to forgive our sins. Except for the sins of those few who choose perdition after having known a fullness, there is no sin that cannot be forgiven. What a marvelous privilege for each of us to turn away from our sins and to come unto Christ. Divine forgiveness is one of the sweetest fruits of the gospel, removing guilt and pain from our hearts and replacing them with joy and peace of conscience”

Elder Neil L. Anderson “Repent … That I May Heal You,” Oct 2009, General Conference

Ornament

Forgiveness brings JOY!

Stories of Christ: Story 1

Prophets Testify of Christ

Story 1 is a great introduction to the idea of the many stories of Jesus.  

The Principle taught is that all prophets, including Isaiah and Samuel the Lamanite, prophesied that Jesus Christ would come and that he would be our Savior.   

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Date

Topic

Ornament

Principle taught

Scripture Reader

Scripture Reference

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Why that Ornament

Song

1	5-Nov	Prophets always testify of Christ	Lights	Gospel brings light and joy	B of M 40	Jacob 7:11; Hel 14:2-6; 20-25	Isaiah Prophesied of Christ	Samuel the Lamanite on the Wall	Gospel Brings light and allows us to share light. Christ is the source of that light.	Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus CS 36
					NT Intro	Isaiah 53:2-10		Isaiah Writes of Christ's Birth

Video

The video demonstrates many of the stories of Jesus in relation to the prophecies of Isaiah. 

Quote 

The quote ties in the prophecy of Samuel the Lamanite (a Book of Mormon prophet).  It also lends itself well to the ornament of the day/ lights.

“Through his prophets on this continent, the Lord told the Nephites before he came into the world that at the time of his birth there would be great lights in heaven, insomuch that the night before his birth there would be no darkness and it would appear to man as if it were day. The record tells us that this is just what happened on this continent at the time of his birth. Christ, the light of the world, was born; the influence of that light permeated the whole earth. And then at the time of his death and crucifixion, as had been prophesied by Samuel the Lamanite, there was darkness upon this continent for three days while Christ’s body lay in the tomb. There was thick darkness over the face of the entire land. The light of Christ had gone out of the world, and darkness, thick darkness, covered the earth. 
And so it is with our own lives when we have the Spirit of the Lord, which we can only have if we keep his commandments. There is light in our souls; there is joy and happiness. But when we fail to keep the Lord’s commandments and wickedness prevails, darkness comes into our lives, and great is the darkness when the Spirit of the Lord withdraws from us.” 
Joseph Anderson, The Living Christ, October 1971 General Conference

Ornament

The lights are put on the tree as a reminder that Jesus Christ, whom all the prophets testifies, is the light of the world.

Be of Good Cheer

Be of Good Cheer: GC

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Command:

D&C 25:13; 2Ne 2:25; Phillip 4:4

Reasons:

Savior overcame to world                                 John 16:33

Opportunity to have children                            Ps 127:4-5

We have agency                                               2 Ne 10:23

We are not forsaken                                         D&C 61:36

We will be lead                                                 D&C 78:18

How to find:

Wickedness ≠ Happiness                                 Alma 41:10

Do what we know is right                                 John 13:17

Find wisdom & understanding                          Prov. 3:13

Trust in the Lord                                               Prov 16:20

Through our Labor                                           Ecl 5:18

Testimony given through grace                        2 Cor 1:12

Merry Heart                                                      Prov 15:13

Bear record of Christ                                        D&C 68:6

Keep commandments                                       Alma 8:15

Lord Lead along                                                D&C 78:18-19

What does it mean to be of good cheer? It means having hope, not getting discouraged, not losing faith, and living life joyfully…It means facing life with confidence.  The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us the strength and the eternal perspective to face what is coming with good cheer.               Elder Adhemar Damiani, April 2005 General Conf.

Good cheer is a state of mind or mood that promotes happiness or joy… With God’s help, good cheer permits us to rise above the depressing present or difficult circumstances.  It is a process of positive reassurance and reinforcement.  It is sunshine when clouds block the light... Being of good cheer makes it possible for us to turn all of our sunsets into sunrises.

The major responsibility for good cheer lies with the individual.”                            Elder Marvin J. Ashton, April 1986 General Conf.

I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure.  Through the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and or our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments.  There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us.  My beloved brother and sisters, fear not.  Be of good cheer.  The future is as bright as your faith.

                Thomas S. Monson, April 2009 General Conf.

In these days, being of good cheer is part of being valiant in the testimony of Jesus…

Because Christ had overcome the world, the Atonement was about to be accomplished! Death would be irrevocably defeated!  Satan would have failed to stop the unfolding plan of salvation!  All mankind would be given—through the grace of God—immortality!  Additionally, for those who would earn it, there would be the richness of eternal life!  These were among the resplendent realities and the fundamental facts which justified the Twelve’s being of good cheer—not their grim, temporary circumstances!  The precious perspectives of the gospel give us this gospel gladness!       

 Neal A. Maxwell, October 1982 General Conf.