Reading: "they shall write the words which I speak unto them" 2 Nephi 29:11

"For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written." - 2 Nephi 29:11 (2 Nephi Chapter 12, 1830 edition)

The Prophet Matthew Gill Speaks about the 12/21 Mayan Calendar Hysteria

"With all of the fuss, misunderstanding and hype surrounded by today's date, I was called to reflect on what the Lord had to say about it all. Well, in the Bible the Lord says, 'But of that day and hour no one knoweth; no, not the angels of God in heaven, but my Father only' (Matthew 24:43 IVB) 

And again, the Lord speaks to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the D&C, where he says, 'I, the Lord God, have spoken it; but the hour and the day no man knoweth, neither the angels in heaven, nor shall they know until he comes' (D&C 49:7). 

Only the Lord knows when he will come and this world as we know it ends."

- Matthew P. Gill, LDCJC

Christ is the True Gift of Christmas

A Sermon by Matthew P. Gill

17 December, 2012

A special, virtually tangible spirit envelops the Christian world at Christmas with intensity unknown the rest of the year.

To Latter Day Mormons, the Christmas story, from Bethlehem to Calvary, takes precedence over the tinsel and the toys, for the Saviour is the centre of Christmas not just a Latter Day Christmas but the centre of all Christmases.

With this in mind Christmas should liberate us from prejudice, peevishness, and pressures. It puts us back into perspective with our religious beliefs, our family relationships, our cultural heritage, and our precious past. A simple trinket becomes priceless after repeated appearances on a Christmas mantle. Even a broken bauble cannot be left off the tree if it’s always been there, it goes up again! Such treasures are symbols of shared times in an aura of a magic and hallowed season. Christmas is for everyone, the child, the childlike, and the mature.

Whether you are giving the gifts or getting them, planning a surprise or delighting in one, Christmas opens the door to deep joy. Latter Day Mormons, like everyone else, enjoy giving and receiving presents at Christmas, but there is a difference between presents and gifts.

The true gifts may be part of us, giving of the riches of the heart and mind and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store. Part of the purpose for telling the story of Christmas is to remind us that Christmas doesn't come from a store. We must remember the very plain scene, even the poverty, of a night devoid of tinsel or wrapping or goods of this world.

As the scripture records: “And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white. And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou? And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.” (1 Nephi Chapter 3/11:13-15)

Only when we see that sacred, unadorned child of our devotion the Babe of Bethlehem will we know why the giving of gifts is so appropriate. And no matter how many times we read the biblical account of that evening in Bethlehem, we always come away with a thought or two we haven’t had before, of course, among the greatest of gifts is the gift of love.

Some, illustrated by the character Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens's A Christmas Carol, have a hard time loving anyone, even themselves, because of their selfishness. Love seeks to give rather than to get. Charity towards and compassion for others is a way to overcome too much self-love and at this season of giving we Latter Day Mormons feel that more than many.

However, after all this, the most important thing to us as Latter Day Mormons is the real meaning of Christmas. The real meaning of Christmas comes to those who have taken Christ into their life as a moving, dynamic, vitalizing force. The real spirit of Christmas lies in the life and mission of the Master.

The birth of Jesus Christ was extraordinary in that it involved the condescension of both the Father and the Son, two eternal beings. 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 on that holy day?

As the scripture records the angel of the Lord, saying:  “Lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:9-14)

And we learn from Latter Day scripture that the arrival of the Saviour was also announced to the ancient People of Light, as the Prophet Jeraneck records, “Now the Lord took me to a place that I had never seen before, and I saw a Virgin, and she was pure and unspotted and she was moved upon by the Holy Spirit and she gave birth to a baby boy. And this baby was the Lord of Heaven. And she gave birth to him in a stable built into the rocks, and she named him Jesus. And many people came unto his bedside and they laid gifts at his feet. I saw Sharaneck, that he laid Gold at his feet, and many people came unto him and worshipped him, for it was this Jesus that is the very Almighty that speaks to us, and the very same Lord that we worship.”

Knowing the importance of our Lord’s birth, there is a beauty at Christmastime that comes upon us in a very special way, and our Hearts are opened to a new measure of kindness. Love speaks with increased power. Tensions are eased, love abounds and a great spiritual feeling overcomes us. Of all things which we bear testimony, none is as important as our witness that Jesus, the Christmas child, came to earth from the realms of His Eternal Father, here to work among men as healer and teacher, our Great Exemplar. Most important, He suffered on Calvary's cross as an atoning sacrifice for all mankind.

Who needs Christmas? We all do! Every one of us! Because Christmas can bring us closer to the Saviour, the only source of lasting joy. We need Christmas because it helps us to be better people, not only in December but in January, June, and November. Because we need Christmas, we had better understand what it is and what it isn't. Gifts, holly, mistletoe, and red-nosed reindeer are fun as traditions, but they are not what Christmas is really about. Christmas is that glorious moment when the Son of our Father joined his divinity to our imperfect humanity.

And so, let us not forget with our family that at this time of Christmas, this season when gifts are given, let us not forget that God gave His Son, and His Son gave His life, that each of us might have the gift of eternal life.

Christ is born! Let all Creation rejoice in it!

Official Statement of the LDCJC on the Connecticut School Shooting

A statement by Matthew P. Gill, Seer, Revelator and Prophet of The Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ regarding the school shooting in Connecticut, USA:

“On behalf of the Latter Day Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Mormons throughout the world, I wish to express my profound grief, shock and sadness upon hearing of the tragic school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut in the United States. 

The love of our Lord Jesus Christ transcends all fear, and perfect love casteth out fear. Love heals the wounded heart, and I pray that all parents and those who care for and love children will use this immense tragedy to reassure them that they are loved and remain in the loving arms of Heavenly Father and in those of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and eternal hope.

May all who have this love of Christ in their hearts pray for His healing and loving arms to embrace those who are directly and indirectly affected by this tragedy.”

Reading: "Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests" (Mosiah 9/18:18-22)

“And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests; even one priests to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them, and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.  And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouths of the holy prophets.  Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who hath redeemed his people.  And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism; having their hearts knit together in unity and in love, one towards another. And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God.” 

- Mosiah Chapter 9 (18:18-22 Utah)