Author and Finisher

Christmas time as a full-time missionary is unlike any other Christmas I've ever experienced. One could see a lot of things that make it hard, and there are a lot. I'm away from my family. That's number one. I'm also not indulging in all the fun festivities of Christmas like I normally do. As far as missionary work goes, I'm still doing pretty much the same thing, except now it's cold outside. So Christmas has been different.

But I also have an incredible opportunity, an opportunity to focus like never before on the real reason for the season. As I've immersed myself in living and teaching Christ's gospel, the celebration of His birth has struck a chord in me deeper than it ever has in years past. I've been really grateful for that. It's been an eye opener. Recently I took a minute to ponder on and write down how I was going to dedicate this Christmas to the Savior. What I wrote was that I wanted to more fully keep the promise I made at baptism, that I would "always remember Him" (Moroni 4:3). As I've had that at the forefront of my mind, these are the thoughts that I want to share:

There's a phrase often used to describe the Savior; it's one of His many names and titles. That phrase is "the author and finisher of our faith." That phrase is found in a couple different places in scripture:

In the Bible:
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."-Hebrews 12:2

In the Book of Mormon:
"And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith."-Moroni 6:4

There may be more, but those are the two spots I know of. But lately as I've studied, that phrase has really stuck out to me, and I've been thinking a lot about it. The author and finisher. How has Christ been the author and finisher of my faith?

I think if I had to define "my faith" I would say that it's knowing that if I live the gospel that Jesus Christ taught, I'll be cleansed by His atoning sacrifice, making it so that I can live with my family forever and be eternally happy.

Simply, living the Gospel means following Christ's example. As the author, He penned my faith with the life He lived. He's the source of everything I believe and strive to do. It all stems from Him. The life I'm living is just my best effort to pattern my life after the Savior's life. He is the author of the perfect "book," and I'm doing my best to follow its words.

Looking back at my definition of my faith, the next thing I talked about was how living the gospel makes it so I can be cleansed through His atoning sacrifice. That's where His mercy and grace come in, and that's how He is the finisher. Without Christ, I could never achieve a state of never-ending happiness. I wouldn't be able to be with those I love forever. His sacrifice allows me to have those blessings. Just as He is the author of all my joy, He will be the finisher. When all is said and done for me here on this earth, I'll joyously look back at my finished "book." It wouldn't be a joyous finish without my Savior.

There ya have it. That's what Christ means to me this Christmas. I'll continue to go about my missionary service this holiday season, but hopefully I'll remember Christ a little more. I know He is the author and the finisher of our faith, and the Savior of the world.