Tuesday, December 6, 2011

They Came With Haste


Luke 2:15-16
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.

Referencing the scripture above, President Monson said, "Did these shepherds, personally invited to undertake a search for the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, concern themselves with the security of their possessions? Did they procrastinate their search for Christ? The record affirms that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem. … And they came with haste.”

I love that President Monson points particularly to the word "haste." The shepherds did not delay, they didn't say they'd go tomorrow or next week or when the weather was nicer or when their shift was over... they went to Bethlehem with haste. It was a sweet reminder to me that I should follow their example and act with haste to personal promptings, as well as to the things I know I should already be doing to spread the Gospel to others. In all the years that I've read about the Savior's birth, I had read right over that word, not ever pausing to reflect what it truly meant. I am so thankful to have realized and truly understood the great example the shepherds were, even to us today.

To read the full article, go to Thomas S. Monson, “In Search of the Christmas Spirit,” Ensign, Dec 1987, 3