25 Days of Christ - Day 4

Boy Jesus in the Temple

Luke 2: 40-52

40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.

 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and disking them questions.

 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

 49 And he said unto them, how is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my father’s business?

 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

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“Does any other work offer a greater feeling of warmth and personal satisfaction than knowing that we are truly about our Father’s business?...

The message and the gift of Christmas are one and the same thing—it is no less than the gift of eternal life and the message that we can have the opportunity of living with our families in the presence of God throughout all time and all eternity. To be worthy of this valuable gift, we must be willing to give the gift of self. We must be willing to consecrate all that we possess in life to the building up of the kingdom of God. We must dedicate ourselves to the Lord, our families, and our communities in which we live….

It is our prayer that each of you may understand and appreciate the meaning of Christmas. We want you to know that God lives and that he loves each of you for the willingness in which you serve him. We want you to know that you are about your Father’s business and that is the greatest gift that could be shared with him.”

President N. Eldon Tanner, Our Greatest Gift-To Be about Our Father’s Business,