Dear Luke,
It would be inappropriate to not write a Christmas message this week. Perhaps it would be inappropriate to not reference the nativity story from the book of your namesake in Luke 2. Verses 4 through 20 read:
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 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.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
There are many valuable lessons for missionaries in these verses. Verses 10 and 11 hold several lessons by themselves.
The word "angel" in verse 10, is translated from the Greek "aggelos." According to Strong's definition, the word means "a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor." It could just as easily have said, "by implication, a missionary." Messengers carry a message. The message you carry is primarily the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The word "message" is used 20 times in that context in the first chapter of Preach My Gospel, titled "What Is My Purpose as a Missionary?" You are a messenger akin to the Messenger Gabriel of Luke 2 and other angels such as the Angel Moroni whose first words to the young Joseph Smith were "Joseph, I am a messenger sent from the presence of God" (The Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith). You are like the messengers of the other side of the veil referenced in D&C 138:30, "But behold, from among the righteous, [Christ] organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached." You too have been have been chosen from among the righteous, and clothed with power and authority (your temple endowment, your priesthood, and your setting apart). You too have been sent with a commission to carry the light of the Gospel to all. You have received the Holy Ghost, and therefore can speak with the tongue of angels (2 Nephi 32:2). You are, in a very real way, an angel. You are a messenger sent from God. You pronounce Christ's Gospel and Atonement. You are like the angel we read of pronouncing Christ's birth.
The angel in Luke 2:10 brought "good tidings." The words "good tidings" in verse 10 come from the Greek "euaggelizo." Translations of the word appear 55 times in the KJV New Testament. It is translated as "preach" 23 times and "preach the Gospel" 22 times. (See Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible) Some examples include Luke 9:6, Acts 8:25, Acts 10:36, Romans 10:15, Hebrews 4:2, and 1 Peter 4:6. The good tidings of great joy are the Gospel - that Christ was born, He atoned for our sins, He conquered death, and that through that Atonement, coupled with gospel principles and ordinances, we can be can be cleansed of sin and be saved. In Christ's own words, you "are called to go unto the world to preach my gospel unto every creature." (D&C 18:28) You preach the same Gospel, the same good tidings of great joy, as the angel we know to be Gabriel, and at the same time, you help to fulfill his prophecy that the Gospel shall be good tidings of great joy "to all people."
In verse 11 the angel says "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." The choice of words "For unto you" is an interesting one. If the shepherds were well versed in the writings of Isaiah, these words may have been reminiscent of Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Both verses use the similar phrases "for unto us" and "for unto you" to proceed the proclamation of Christ's birth. Interestingly, both phrases appear only once more in the King James Version of the Bible. Hebrews 4:2 reads "For unto us was the gospel preached" (notice that the word "gospel" is derived from the same Greek word as "good tidings" in Luke 2:10 and is included in the short list I wrote in the above paragraph). Philippians 1:29 reads, "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." The careful, and I believe to deliberate use of these two phrases in verses of scripture is significant. They beautifully connect the birth of Christ the Lord, the Given Son, the Mighty God, to the preaching of His Gospel, belief in Him, and discipleship to Him. His birth is associated with missionary work by scripture.
Just from these two verses, we have determined that you, as a missionary, are a messenger, an angel sent by God and not unlike the angel Gabriel who announced Christ's birth, because you announce the same glad tidings, the same Gospel. The Christmas message is the missionary message you will carry every day throughout the year "to all people" just as Gabriel prophesied. Your belief in Christ, preaching of Him, and the sacrifices you make for Him as a disciple will bind you to Him, just as the scriptures bind these principles to His birth.
As I said before, there are many lessons to be found in these verses. Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught that "each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus" in his talk titled "Settle This in Your Hearts" (verse 7). You could ponder the humility of Christ's birth compared to the glory of God which shone upon the shepherds (verses 7, 9 and 12), and apply that example of humility to yourself as you serve. You could ponder the heavenly hosts which praised God and said "Glory to God in the highest" (verses 13-14) and look forward to the day when you will join them in paradise with the people you helped to bring there. You could ponder your role in spreading "peace on earth" and "goodwill toward men" (verse 14). You could apply the urgency that the shepherds showed when they "came with haste" (verse 16), and how they spread their knowledge of it afterward (verse 17). You could relate Mary to those you associate with who will also keep the things you teach them and ponder them in their hearts (verse 19). I am sure there are many more lessons to be learned and so I encourage you to study the nativity story and search for ways to apply it to your work as a missionary.
I know you will blessed as you continue to study Christ's life, ministry and Atonement in this great work.
I'll finish up with this scripture:
"And thus the Gospel began to be preached, from the beginning, being declared by holy angels sent forth from the presence of God, and by his own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Moses 5:58)
Keep up the good work bud! I love you.
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