True Freedom

I wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS today. I hope that you are wearing blue in support of our troops even as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Many of our troops are in danger and difficulty to insure that we have the safety and security of being with our families and friends as we celebrate. As you celebrate today, please consider the appropriateness of celebrating Freedom Friday on Christmas Day. It was Jesus Christ who gave every mortal being who ever lived freedom from death. Because of Jesus Christ and the power of His Resurrection, we will all one day have our bodies and spirits united in such a way that they will never be separated again. Jesus Christ also gave us freedom from sin through the power of His Atonement. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and goes through the process of repenting for his/her sins will have the sins forgiven. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the principle of repentance, we can all enjoy freedom from sin. Freedom from death and freedom from sin are not the only freedoms that we all have received or can receive from God. The very first freedom we received is agency, the freedom to choose how we will live our lives and the freedom of choice in what we do. Other freedoms come from living in obedience to the commandments and teachings of Jesus Christ. By living as God wants us to live, we can be free from causing abuse or divorce or contention or war. Jesus Christ is the great Peace Maker. Those who follow His teachings receive peace in their lives no matter what happens around them. Please enjoy your celebration today even more because you know that Jesus Christ has given us the greatest freedoms of all the many freedoms we enjoy.