You know, Christmas means a lot of different things to different people. I recently had an experience that still leaves me wondering – a little awe struck.

My morning began in front of a group of teenagers who told me of their various struggles to know if the Gospel of Jesus Christ was really true. The darkness and doubt they were wrestling with was evident in their faces. I’m their teacher. What can I do? I know it’s true. I can tell ‘em it’s true, but how can I give to them what I feel?

Later that morning a young woman came into my office, and broke down and cried as she told of her unconverted father, and what his lack of faith was doing to her and to their family. My heart went out to her as she told me how much she wants her father to change, to repent, and make their family a forever family. But she also told me how much she doubted that that would ever happen.

Another young woman sitting right beside her friend, whose family has recently been torn apart by a terrible divorce, told me what a struggle it was to go on after her perfect world had been shattered.

And then just before she left she asked me this question, “How can I forgive my dad for what he’s done?”

What would you say?

I know a little of how deep pain like that can be, and how hard it is to change a heart full of bitterness and anger. It isn’t something you can just smile away. These aren’t problems you can solve by putting a goal in your day planner. There’s no pithy advice that makes all of this better. This is real! These are real problems and real people.

Well, my day wasn’t over yet. That afternoon I met with the parents of a young man who is rebelling against all that he’s been taught. I know these parents and I know this young man. I felt so sorry for them. I know that they’ve prayed, and cried and agonized over this son that they love so much, and yet he does not seem to care. It occurred to me that no matter how much they may love that son, they can’t change him; they can’t force him. I don’t know how to change him either.

I got home that afternoon. There was a letter waiting for me – from the state prison. It came from an inmate, a former student, who in high school had ‘gotten in’ with bad friends who had lead him into trouble. He abandoned the religion of his upbringing, and soon his life was spiraling out of control and not even he could stop it. Addiction and criminal behavior finally landed him before a court where he was convicted, sentenced, and sent to prison.

He wrote to me the following in a letter: “… What I want to ask you, Brother Rawson, is if you would pray for me. Would you pray for me to be able to get probation, and be able to live with my son and wife, and not be tempted with drugs? Please! I pray every night for the Lord to change me, and take the hate and any other evil out of me.” “Why,” he said, “did I start so soon?”

I do hope and pray that he changes. But I also know that the power to change him does not lie within me, nor even within him. There are those who would say that such problems as I’ve encountered today are hopeless, that people can’t change in truly fundamental ways. Some would say that there – there’s no power strong enough to heel the kinds of problems that I encountered today. I don’t believe that! It’s not true!

Now here’s why I tell you that story. The irony is what I was teaching in my classes to my students on that very same day. I was teaching Luke 2, ‘The Christmas Story.’

You remember that after the Christ-child was born, the scripture records that, “… there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field[s], keeping watch over their flock[s] 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 Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11)

You know, there are over a hundred names and titles for Jesus in the scriptures. I find it interesting that of all of them the angel said – and notice how He said this, it’s so personal – “… unto you …,” – not the world – “… unto you is born … a Savior, ...”

My friends, that’s what Christmas means. It’s the gift of one who is mighty to save, to save our families, our children, our parents, our friends, our nation, our world, and yes, even us from ourselves.

Merry Christmas to you – all of you, and to those of you who need Him, remember what He said.

“I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; ...” (D & C 82:10)

God bless you.