On the 6th Day of Christmas Past,
Question: How can we readily recognize our Savior as these individuals did not long after Christ was born?
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“More than something we bear on fast Sunday, a testimony moves us to action and defines our way of living. A testimony of the promised Messiah carried Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, gave humble shepherds ears to hear the angels, and sent wise men from the East in search of a new star. Likewise, the testimonies of Simeon and Anna led them to frequent the temple. But Simeon and Anna never seem to be included in the Christmas story. According to tradition, just about 40 days after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph took their infant son to the temple to participate in ceremonial offerings. The wise men were still following the new star and had not yet seen the newborn King when Simeon and Anna beheld Him in the temple.
In one sense, Simeon and Anna were similar to what we call temple workers. Even in their old age, they went to the temple often. “When the parents [Mary and Joseph] brought in [to the temple] the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,” Simeon “took [the child] up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, …for mine eyes have seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:27-30). Simeon immediately recognized the baby as the promised Messiah and praised God for the blessing of seeing Him. A few moments later, Anna similarly approached the child and “gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption” (v. 38). Straightway, she, too, recognized the babe as her Redeemer.
This brief but telling encounter that Simeon and Anna had with Christ is a remarkable part of the nativity story. Mary and Joseph did not introduce the baby as the Savior of all mankind, yet without any introduction or explanation, both of these elderly temple workers readily recognized the infant as their newborn King. How marvelous were Simeon’s and Anna’s humility and spirituality to see in a baby their eternal salvation and consolation.
Ironically, Christ Himself would later proclaim His own divinity, telling multitudes and individuals alike that He was their Savior, and yet many, then and now, failed to see Him for who He was – and who He still is. A testimony of Jesus Christ is a priceless gift that can be reopened and enjoyed in the most meaningful ways every day of our life.
We can strengthen our testimonies so when we see our Savior, we will have no doubt of who He is. Just as Simeon and Anna, strengthening their testimonies by following the gospel and attending the temple, we can do the same.
As we study about Him, listen to and heed the words of His prophets, we will come to know Jesus Christ. Through personal inspiration we will know Him when we see him.
I have the painting of Simeon and Anna and the infant in the temple. I love this story and the reminder , faith and example of Simeon and Anna. They knew the Savior even before he was born.
I have a young women who said she does not believe in the Savior because she can not feel what others feel. We have been working through how to recognize these feeling for what they are. I am blessed in that from an early age I could feel the spirit and the recognize the touch of the Holy Ghost. Learning to communicate, learn the language of testimony is something we all must do as individuals.
If we have a testimony of Jesus Christ & continue to work on it, then we will know him when he comes.
If we strive to be more Christlike by loving and lifting others, we will have His image in our countenance. We will know Him because we are like Him.
I am touched by the fact. that Simeon and Anna prepared themselves to meet the Savior of the World by faithful temple attendance, “even in their old age.” After pronouncing a blessing on the Christ Child, Simeon praised God, from Whom all blessings flow, for being able to see and hold Him. Likewise, Anna was prepared to hold the Christchild and she too recognized her personal Redeemer. This account encourages me to be faithful to His Gospel and to lead a life of service. I can only hope, that one day, the Savior will put His arms around me and bless me.
If we will read of his life and apply the principles he taught, we will find that we are closer to him. If we would love our God and fellow beings, we will find that we are more like him. The more we work to be like the Savior, the easier it will be to recognize him, because to recognize him is to be like him.
The more/longer we are trying our best to follow the commandments and prophet, the more easily we will be in tune to recognize our Savior. There are other ways we can become in tune with the Holy Ghost and Savior, i.e. reading scriptures, saying prayers and helping others when we can, etc..
A testimony of the Savior comes to us through the witness of the Holy Ghost, and our lives change because we want to be like him, not because we have seen him. Thus, when we do see him we will recognize him because we have become more like him and because we recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost bearing witness of him.
It is curious that Simeon and Anna aren’t mentioned in the traditional Christmas nativity and the Wise Men are and they came later. They both bear strong testimonies about our Savior.
As we study the Savior’s life and words, listen to the teachings of prophets about him, and try to be one .ore like him, he will become more familiar and dear to us.
We must read the scriptures to learn of Our Savior and then we must keep the commandments and follow him. As we do so we will want to become like Him, which will enable us to know Him when we see Him. I cannot wait to feel His arms around me and express He loves me as I love Him.