Finding Joy program

Finding Joy

Cedar Creek Relief Society


November 10, 2009


J As we strive to find joy, not only at this season, but through our lives, we must first and foremost turn to Christ – know Him and feel His love for us.


Scripture: Through the history of time before the birth of Christ, prophets looked forward to His birth with anticipation and joy, knowing that through Him, they would find salvation. One example is that of Nephi. He wrote, “For according to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh in six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem; and according to the words of the prophets, and also the word of the angel of God, his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God… And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophesies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” (1 Nephi 25: 19, 26)

Scripture: As the believers in the Book of Mormon awaited the sign of the birth of Christ, His coming saved their temporal lives. Just as they received physical salvation through Him, we find spiritual salvation because He lived. So we, with the believers of ancient time, can rejoice when we read, “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.” (3 Nephi 1:13)

Song “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

Quote: “As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

“He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

“He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

“We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only “Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

“He rose from the grave to ‘become the firstfruits of them that slept’” (The Living Christ)

Song “Silent Night”

Quote: “In the early 12th century, the cleric Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, "a man of intense . . . faith,"1 penned the following words:

Jesus, the very thought of thee

With sweetness fills my breast;

But sweeter far thy face to see

And in thy presence rest.2

“These lines speak of hope and joy and peace, though written in a time when much of the world lay blanketed in ignorance, impoverishment, and despair. These words capture the calm assurance that always accompanies the testimony of Jesus. This same assurance gives buoyancy and optimism…to all the faithful followers of Christ… We have with us today the Lord's duly ordained Apostles. True to their sacred commission as ‘special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world,’ they declare:

‘Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.’

“Jesus, the very thought of Thee fills my heart with inexpressible joy. It controls every part of my being. My life, my loves, my ambitions are molded, enlivened, and given purpose because I know that Thou art the Christ, the Holy One.” – Keith B. McMullin, April 2004 Conference

Song “Jesus the Very Thought of Thee”

O As we develop a love for Christ, we will develop the love of Christ, charity, through which we will find joy as we love and serve others.

Quote: “In the story of the birth of Jesus we are told that there were with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.’ In that announcement are implied…three guiding principles to the realization of the establishing of the Kingdom of God. First, is an acknowledgement of the existence of Diety to whom we shall give glory and honor. Second, is the establishment of peace through individual righteousness. Such a peace will result in the third principle, the brotherhood of man… Brotherhood involves service and not conquest. It involves confidence in man, in your brother; not suspicion and hatred. It involves truthful dealings; not chicanery and fraud. It is the spirit of brotherhood in the cheer of Christmas that makes it so glorious. Thank heaven for the spirit of Christmas that brings us closer to each other in expression of such brotherhood!” – David O. McKay

Song “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”

Quote: “This [relief] society is composed of women whose feelings of charity spring from hearts changed by qualifying for and by keeping covenants offered only in the Lord’s true Church. Their feelings of charity come from Him through His Atonement. Their acts of charity are guided by His example—and come out of gratitude for His infinite gift of mercy—and by the Holy Spirit, which He sends to accompany His servants on their missions of mercy. Because of that, they have done and are able to do uncommon things for others and to find joy even when their own unmet needs are great.” – Henry B. Eyring, General RS Meeting, Sept. ‘09

Song “Love One Another”

Y Through Christ and serving others, you will truly find yourself, your joyful self.

Scripture: “He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:39)

Quote: “In the midst of the miracle of serving, there is the promise of Jesus, that by losing ourselves, we find ourselves. Not only do we ‘find’ ourselves in terms of acknowledging guidance in our lives, but the more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls. We become more significant individuals as we serve others. We become more substantive as we serve others – indeed, it is easier to ‘find’ ourselves because there is so much more of us to find!” – Spencer W. Kimball

Song “Have I Done Any Good?”

Quote: Through Christ, we learn that we are loved, for who we are, always. We are important, as individuals to Him and our Heavenly Father.

Barbara Thompson said, “Most of us who have been in the Church for more than just a few months have sung the song “I Am a Child of God.”2 I have sung this song since I was a young child and have always believed it. Even though most of us believe this, it seems that at times of hardship or difficulty we have a tendency to doubt or forget this… The Savior not only suffered for every sin, but He also felt every pain, sorrow, discomfort, loneliness, and sadness that any of us could ever experience. Is this not great love? President Henry B. Eyring has said, ‘It is the Holy Ghost that testifies of the reality of God and allows us to feel the joy of His love.’

“We need to accept His love, love ourselves, and love others. Remember that every soul on this earth is also a child of God…

“Most of you work very hard to perform your duty, to keep the commandments, and to obey the Lord. You need to be able to recognize the Lord’s approval. You need to know that the Lord is well pleased and has accepted your offering.” –General RS Meeting, Sept. ‘09

Song “I Am a Child of God"

Conclusion and quote: As we begin this holiday season, let us make sure to first, make Jesus Christ a focus in our lives and homes. As you do that along with serving others, you will find yourself renewed and full of joy.

Ezra Taft Benson said, “Perhaps one of the greatest things about this wonderful Christmas season we celebrate is that it increases our sensitivity to things spiritual, to things of God. It causes us to contemplate our relationship with our Father and the degree of devotion we have for God. It prompts us to be more tolerant and giving, more conscious of others, more generous and genuine, more filled with hope and charity and love – all Christlike attributes. No wonder the spirit of Christmas is such that it touches the hearts of people the world over. Because for at least a time, increased attention and devotion is turned toward our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ… Let us commit to give a most meaningful gift to the Lord. Let us give Him our lives, our sacrifices. Those who do so will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life. Without Christ there would be no Christmas, and without Christ there can be no fullness of joy. It is my testimony that the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus the Christ, is the one perfect guide, the one perfect example. Only by emulating Him and adhering to His eternal truth can we realize peace on earth and good will toward all. There is no other way. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Light.”

Closing song “O Little Town of Bethlehem”