To know of Christ...

The following chart was given by my teacher and I filled in the blanks. I love looking at it because it demonstrates a variety of people who knew of Christ's birth, how they learned of Him, and what they did with their knowledge. As you read through it, think about what you know of Christ, how you learned it, and what you're going to do with that knowledge.

Who	How they learned about the Savior	What they knew about the Savior	What they did with their knowledge
Elisabeth (Luke 1:39-45)	The Holy Ghost told her when Mary greeted her. Her baby leaped in her womb with joy.	That he was blessed. She said, "Blessed is the fruit of they womb." She also knew that he is her Lord.	She rejoiced, sang praises and acknowledged the faith of Mary for she had also experienced becoming pregnant in her old age.
Shepherds (Luke 2:8-18)	The Angel of the Lord told them.	That he would be wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.	They left with haste and visited the baby Jesus.
Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)	It was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit that he wouldn't see death before seeing the Christ.	Christ would be at the temple. He also knew that Jesus was the only means of redemption for His people.	He went to the temple, thanked God, and blessed Mary and Jesus.
Anna (Luke 2:36-38)	Heard Simon blessing Mary and Jesus.	That Jesus would be the one who provided redemption to mankind.	Spoke of him to all those looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-12)	They saw his star in the east.	They knew that he was the Messiah of the Jews and that he was born.	They told Harod, followed the star, worshipped the baby Jesus, and gave gifts.
Herod  (Matthew 2:1-18)	The wise men and chief priests told him.	He was troubled because he knew that he was a king.	Killed all babies in Bethlehem that were 2 years of age and younger.
Chief Priests (Matthew 2:1-18)	By reading the written words of past prophets.	They knew he was born in Bethlehem and that he would rule the people of Israel.	They told the wise men where he was, but did not go with them to worship.
Nephites (3rd Nephi 1:12-22)	The Lord spoke to Nephi and the sign that had been given was fulfilled.	"They knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born because of the sign which had been given."	Lyings were sent by Satan, but most believed the signs and were converted unto the Lord.

We may not be as extreme as Harod, who went about killing innocent children due to pride of allowing someone else to be above him, but maybe we're like the Chief Priests who did nothing. The Chief Priests read about Christ and were given a sign that confirmed his existence, and yet they stayed back when the Wise Men went to worship. It is my goal to be more like Elisabeth, who sang praises and rejoiced, or like Anna, who spoke of Christ to all those looking for redemption.

I know that my Savior lives. In times when I was struggling or felt like nobody cared, He was always there to listen; to comfort me. Christ knows how I feel. He atoned for me and with that atonement came pain; a kind of pain that caused Him to experience every little grief and sorrow we may go through. You are NEVER alone. I know this to be true because every time I try to do something on my own, I stumble. I have learned that each time I stumble, there is always someone's hand outstretched toward me and that is the hand of my Savior; the hand that was nailed to the cross so that I could return to my Heavenly Father again. I NEED my Savior's love; I need his mercy. It is my goal to never think that I am too good for His atonement or too good to repent. I must ALWAYS utilize what He did for me; I must ALWAYS repent. The atonement is a gift and I plan on using it the rest of my life.