Home by Another Way

You probably know who James Taylor is. And it's likely that you could identify some of his songs. But the song I'm using this year as the backbone of my Christmas post is a little more obscure. It's called "Home by Another Way."

(To listen to the song. click here:)

Those magic men the Magi
Some people call them wise
Or Oriental, even kings
Well, anyway, those guys.

They visited with Jesus
They sure enjoyed their stay
Then warned in a dream of King Herod's scheme
They went home by another way.

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Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.¹

⠐⠐⠐⠐⠐⠐⠐⠐

Yes, they went home by another way

Home by another way
Maybe me and you can be wise guys too
And go home by another way
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way

 (The term "weather eye" was originally a nautical one, meaning the ability  to quickly recognize signs of change in the weather.   But now its meaning has become to keep watch, to stay alert – even while doing something else.)

Steer clear of royal welcomes
Avoid a big to-do
A king who would slaughter the innocents
Will not cut a deal for you
He really, really wants those presents
He'll comb your camel's fur
Until his boys announce
They've found trace amounts
Of your frankincense, gold and myrrh.

And they go home by another way
Home by another way
You have to figure the Gods, saying play the odds
And go home by another way
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way.

Home is where they want you now
You can more or less assume
That you'll be welcome in the end.
Mustn't let King Herod haunt you so
Or fantasize his features
When you're looking at a friend.

President Russell M. Nelson taught: "More than anything, our Father wants His children to choose to return home to Him. Everything He does is motivated by His yearning desire. The entire reason we are on this earth is to qualify to live with Him forever. We do that by using our agency to find and stay on the covenant path that leads back to our heavenly home." ²

Well it pleasures me to be here

And to sing this song tonight

They tell me that life is a miracle

And I figure that they're right

But Herod's always out there

He's got our cards on file

It's a lead pipe cinch

If we give an inch

Old Herod likes to take a mile.

(Here, I am using King Herod as a symbol for our enemy – the Adversary, Satan.)  

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. (James 4:7-8)

"God knew that because of the adversary’s deceptive tactics and traps, the covenant path would not be easy to find or to stay on." ³

It's best to go home by another way
Home by another way
We got this far to a lucky star
But tomorrow is another day
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way.

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The magi kept that "weather eye to the chart on high" (which I am here interpreting as God's laws and His Plan of Salvation) and listened and obeyed the revelation that came in a dream. They took a different path back home.

There are some lessons in the story of the Magi that might apply to us. One of these lessons is learning to seek and follow revelation – in whatever way it comes: through a dream, the scriptures, the words of prophets or other church leaders, or the counsel of wise and inspired friends or family. All these can serve as a means to open our ears – and our hearts – to the still small voice.

We have all made mistakes, and stepped off the covenant path – maybe just a little, maybe quite a bit. We have the power – the God-given agency – to make the choice, in the overall direction of our lives, and in the moment-by-moment decisions that we make every day.

When King Lamoni asked Aaron where his brother Ammon was, Aaron, said, " Behold, the Spirit of the Lord has called him another way.⁴

Perhaps you are one of those who have been called another way. Maybe your call isn't very glamorous. Maybe your family doesn't look like many of your neighbors families. Maybe your body doesn't work like other people's bodies seem to work. But God's love and mercy are extended to all. The Savior's great act of Atonement applies to everyone who will accept it.

"We believe that Jesus’ teachings and His own matchless and perfect life provide a pattern for men and women to live by and that we must emulate that pattern as best we can to find true happiness and fulfillment in this life. We do not believe that we can either overcome the flesh or gain eternal reward through our own unaided efforts."⁵

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: 

for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

(Romans 3:22 - 23) 

For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins.  And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain?  Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy. 6

So, He sent His Only Begotten Son to atone for us and to show us the way. The godly power available to all who love and follow Jesus Christ is the power to heal us, strengthen us, cleanse us from sin, and magnify us to do things we could never do on our own. Our Savior is the Divine Exemplar who marked the path that we are to follow. ⁷

This is why Christ was born. This is His Mission: to show us another way, and to provide a means to cleanse us from our errors and transgressions, so that we can go to that Home where no unclean thing can dwell.⁸

I know this is true. I have seen and felt it my own life, as I have stepped off the path, and felt divine help getting back on it. I have felt the joy and cleansing power of consistent repenting and forgiving. I'm walking the path unsteadily, and I probably always will, but I  know that if I "keep a weather-eye to the chart on high", I will walk the right direction.  

 . . . Covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31)

But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way;

May God Bless Us All With This Message of Redemption this Christmas Season.

Wishing You All a Merry and Holy Christmas! 

Notes:

¹ Matthew 2:1 – 12

² President Russell M. Nelson "The Love and Laws of God," address given at Brigham Young University.

³ President Russell M. Nelson, ibid

⁴ Alma 22:4 

⁵ Robert L. Millet, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/what-mormons-believe-about-jesus-christ

⁵ President Russell M. Nelson, ibid

 ⁶ Mosiah 4:19-20

⁷ President Russell M. Nelson, ibid

⁸ See 3 Nephi 27:18

To see another favorite James Taylor song that has nothing much to do with Christmas  (except that they both  include happy children) click here:

On Giving and Receiving

When I met my husband Wes, we were both poor college students. (We must have been pretty good at it, because we spent the next eight years being poor college students.) We became a poor married student couple, and eventually a poor college student family of five. We lived simply and frugally, and enjoyed simple activities that cost little or nothing.

The zoo was free on Monday, so that's when we went

The nearby library had a weekly story time

Feeding ducks at the park was a favorite activity

Sam hunting for Easter eggs

Sam and Hannah enjoying Homemade fruit pops

Using cloth diapers helped us save money

And so did home haircuts

Our children were young, and they didn't realize that we were living below the poverty line. Wes and I sometimes missed the little luxuries (eating out, buying new clothes) but we loved watching our children grow and were glad we could follow the counsel of prophets to live within our means and stay out of debt.

Every year as Christmas approached, we would find unexpected gifts and blessings – a Christmas tree mysteriously showed up on the front porch, or a basket of festive food appeared, or we found wrapped presents for our children.

One year, I attended a Christmas get-together with other people who had been called to serve in the Primary in our ward. For one of the activities, we sat in a circle and shared favorite Christmas memories. As people began sharing their thoughts, I noticed that most of the reminiscences involved an act of service – a memorable time they they and their family had been able to help another family. As we moved around the circle, I began to feel a little sad. We hadn't been able to help another family at Christmas. We were always the ones that needed help,

Then one woman said this: “We've helped, and we've received help. And the spirit is the same.”

This idea struck me. I thought about it a lot. For the the first time, I wondered, Is it as blessed to receive as it is to give?

                                   

Eventually, when Wes finished school and got a job, we were delighted to buy our first house. We still lived frugally – our family now included five children, and our house needed some work. But we were able to meet our needs and put some money aside for emergencies.

One winter, we had an unexpected series of difficulties – both of our cars broke down and needed expensive repairs, and our furnace was condemned by the gas company, which meant we we had to buy a new one. All these things happened over the course a of a week.

We were grateful that our emergency savings covered these expenses, but we were left with very little money to spare. As Christmas drew near, Wes and I decided we would have a very simple Christmas, with a few inexpensive gifts for the children, but that we would not buy a gift for each other.

Then our bishop knocked on the door one day and said that he had been given some money to share with a family in need for Christmas. I told him that we were fine, that we were experiencing a temporary setback, and we didn't need the money. He urged me to accept the gift, but again I refused. He asked me think about it, and consider changing my mind.

The next day, I came across this scripture:

Have ye forgotten the commandments of the Lord your God? Yea, have ye forgotten the captivity of our fathers? Have ye forgotten the many times we have been delivered out of the hands of our enemies? 

Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us? (Alma 60:20 – 21)

I wrote a note to the bishop, telling him that we had decided to get off our throne. Christmas was  brighter that year because we did.

I have heard good people say that they are always glad to serve and give, but they find it difficult to receive service that is offered them. This is not an uncommon feeling, I suppose. But I see two problems with this attitude.

First, this is rooted in pride. It's saying that I don't need anyone else – that we can handle anything that comes our way alone. While I am a fan of self-reliance, there are times in every life when we can't do it alone. As King Benjamin reminds us, we are all beggars. We all depend on God to provide us food and clothing and shelter. And God usually works through other people. 

Second, and perhaps more obviously, if no one accepts our service, we will be unable to serve.       

     

I           I           I           I           I           I           I

Some thoughts from others who are wiser and more eloquent that I am: 

“Giving feels fantastic and for there to be a Giver, there must be a Receiver, so allowing yourself to receive is an act of love.” ― Rebecca O’Dwyer

“And there’s also ‘To him that hath shall be given.’ After all, you must have a capacity to receive, or even omnipotence can’t give. Perhaps your own passion temporarily destroys the capacity.”

― C.S. Lewis

“Gracious acceptance is an art - an art which most never bother to cultivate. We think that we have to learn how to give, but we forget about accepting things, which can be much harder than giving.... Accepting another person's gift is allowing him to express his feelings for you.”

― Alexander McCall Smith

“Until we can receive with an open heart, we're never really giving with an open heart. When we attach judgment to receiving help, we knowingly or unknowingly attach judgment to giving help.”

― Brené Brown

   

 ♥       ♥       ♥      ♥       ♥       ♥        ♥        ♥     

Christ, who sets the example in all things, showed us how to receive gifts:

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. (Matthew 26:6 – 13) 

If we cannot receive gifts at Christmas, how can we receive the greatest gift of all? The Savior's birth and perfect life?

For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?  Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:33)

If we cannot ask for help when we need it, how can we plead to our Father for His mercy and comfort?

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Rest for the weary, water for those who thirst, healing for those who ache, comfort for those who grieve – and eternal live for those who consistently come to Him with a broken heart. He paid a very heavy price so that He could offer us these precious things – gifts of immeasurable, even infinite value.

And His hands are stretched out still!

How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming;

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him, still

The dear Christ enters in.

Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To Save us all from Satan''s Grasp
When we have gone astray.
Oh! Tidings of Comfort and Joy! 

Press forward, feasting on the word of Christ.

Receive his name, rejoicing in his might.

Come unto God; find everlasting light

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

For unto us a child is given . . . Let earth receive her King!

Hallelujah!

Merry Christmas to all!

He Shall Feed His Flock

December, 1994
It was the week before Christmas, and the library was having a special puppet show for preschoolers. After settling my two young children on the floor, I took a seat on a row of chairs along the back wall. Although I wasn’t really in the mood for a puppet show, I was grateful to be sitting down for a few minutes. I was expecting my third child any day, and keeping up with the demands of my four-year-old son and nineteen-month-old daughter was beginning to wear me out. My husband, in school full-time and serving in our ward bishopric, was not often available to help. I wondered how I would manage when the baby came.

I had grabbed a book from a display as we came through the library. It was a book of Christmas stories and songs, and I leafed through it, hoping it would put me in the Christmas spirit. I saw that the book contained some of the songs from Handel’s Messiah, which I have always loved. I turned to that section and read these words:

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11)

I had read this scripture before, but this time I was struck by the last phrase. I suppose I had always taken this to mean that the Savior will gently lead the young sheep. But that isn’t what it says – it says those that are with young: the mother sheep.

The Spirit testified to me that the Lord does indeed have a special role in leading those who are concerned with the care and nurture of his precious young ones. 

The peace and comfort of this message carried me through the next few days ─ my third child, Danny, was born on Christmas Eve ─ and I have called upon that divine promise many times during my years of parenting.

 ♥    ♥    ♥    ♥    ♥    ♥    ♥    ♥  

I happen to be very fond of sheep. But I will note that they are not particularly smart animals. Besides their intellectual weakness, they have virtually no defenses against predators. They can't run fast, they don't have teeth or sharp claws to fight with ─ they can't even make a scary face!

 They need a shepherd.

Most of us are smarter than sheep, but we are not smart enough, or strong enough, to win the battle against sin, grief and doubt alone.

We, too, need a shepherd.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want . . . He restoreth my soul . . . I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; (Psalms 23)

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (John 10:14) 

And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34)

For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. (Ezekiel 34:11 – 12)

Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd. (Alma 5:38)

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At the time of Christ's birth, shepherds were not held in high esteem. Herding sheep was considered menial labor. Shepherds were thought to be dirty ─ and they often were, because they spent so much of their time with the sheep.

And yet, they were the first called to see the Savior's birth:

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.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 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.

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. 

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. (Luke 2:7 - 15) 

Christian essayist Randy Alcorn wrote: Into this social context of religious snobbery and class prejudice, God’s Son stepped forth. How surprising and significant that Father God handpicked lowly, unpretentious shepherds to first hear the joyous news: “It’s a boy, and He’s the Messiah!”

It was not by chance that shepherds were chosen as witnesses. While Christ frequently affirmed His role as shepherd, He has also been manifestly recognized as "The Lamb." In these dual roles, Christ not only protects and guides us, but as the sacrificial lamb of God He gives his life to redeem us.

. . . Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. (Revelation 5:12-13)

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7).

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

The Lord Jesus Christ He was born in obscurity, lived in difficulty and suffered all things — for us. For you, and for me.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4)

And we cannot repay him. He does not ask us to. He cannot expect us to.

So what does he ask of us?

After the Savior completed His atoning sacrifice, blood sacrifices were no longer a gospel ordinance. We are now required to offer the Lord “a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 9:20). We are also asked to comply with the principles of sacrifice by obeying the commandments, offering precious gifts of love, time, and service, and remembering the sacrifice of our Savior. Our sacrifices deepen our worship, acknowledge our debt to God, and express gratitude for our blessings. (See Behold the Lamb of God, David Rolph Seely and Jo Ann H. Seely, April 2013)

Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. ( 2 Nephi 2:6 - 7)

From Elder Neal A. Maxwell:

The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we “give,” brothers and sisters, are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!

And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay.Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth;Yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you.  (Mosiah 2:20 - 25)

This message resonates beautifully in the final stanza of Christina Rossetti's poem, In the Bleak Midwinter:

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

 e  e  e  e  e  e  e  e

So, what will you give your Lord and Savior this year, on the day we celebrate His birth? Will you, like King Lamoni, give away all your sins to know Him? Can you find the faith and the courage to say, as Christ did, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done"? 

To be honest, I'm really not sure I can. But I'm pretty sure I can try to be kinder, to be more diligent in studying the scriptures, to pray more fervently, and to better magnify my callings at church and at home.

Like a good sheep would.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Merry Christmas to all my fellow sheep.