“Christmas has arrived again, and the Christian world will take a deep breath, pause, and give its attention to Christ, even if it is only in a passing thought,” Elder Ian S. Ardern, Pacific Area President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said at a Christmas devotional in Auckland on Friday 11 December.
“We wish it were more, for He deserves much more, but it seems that is all most can muster at the moment,” he added.
Elder Ian S. Ardern. 11 December 2020.
Elder Ian S. Ardern. 11 December 2020.© 2020 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Elder Ardern and his wife, Sister Paula Ardern, were the speakers at the devotional.
Also in attendance were Elder K. Brett Nattress and Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita, who are members of the Church’s Pacific Area Presidency. They were accompanied by Sister Shawna Nattress and Sister Tazuko Yamashita.
Guests in attendance included The Venerable Jonathan Gale, representing the Auckland Anglican Diocese; and Deborah Ward and Celia Caughey from the Auckland City Mission.
Left to right: Sister Tazuko Yamashita; Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita; The Most Reverend Jonathan Gale, Auckland Anglican Diocese; Elder Ian S. Ardern; Sister Paula Ardern; Celia Caughey, Auckland City Mission; Deborah Ward, Auckland City Mission; Elder K. Brett Nattress; and Sister Shawna Nattress.
Left to right: Sister Tazuko Yamashita; Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita; The Most Reverend Jonathan Gale, Auckland Anglican Diocese; Elder Ian S. Ardern; Sister Paula Ardern; Celia Caughey, Auckland City Mission; Deborah Ward, Auckland City Mission; Elder K. Brett Nattress; and Sister Shawna Nattress. Auckland, New Zealand. 11 December 2020.© 2020 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The meeting was also attended by staff and senior missionaries who work at the Church’s Pacific Area Administration Office in the Auckland suburb of Takapuna.
Referencing the hymn, “O Holy Night,” Elder Ardern said, “It was indeed a holy night when our Saviour was born.”
“Much of the world knows nothing of His birth or choose to ignore it, but practicing Christians know it was indeed a holy night. Angels announced His birth and wise men sought Him and worshipped Him. I feel grateful to belong to a Church which seeks Him, worships Him, follows Him and hears Him.”
He added, “Before His birth, ‘the earth was in sin and error pining,’ as a price had yet to be paid to allow all mankind to live again. As President Russell M. Nelson has taught, ‘Christ came to pay a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay.’”
Quoting Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Ardern said, “’As the world speaks less often of Christ we must speak more often of Him.’ Let that be our gift to Christ in this festive season.”
In her remarks, Sister Ardern shared memories of Christmas-time as a child, with her family. She invited all in attendance to consider what gift each one of us would give to Jesus Christ this Christmas.
Sister Paula Ardern. 11 December 2020.
Sister Paula Ardern. 11 December 2020.2020 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Elder and Sister Ardern invited their friend, Rachel Payne, to sing two Christmas carols during the devotional, “O Holy Night” and “In the Bleak Midwinter.” She was accompanied by Lina Shin on the piano.
A “missionaries and friends choir” sang “All on a Silent Night,” accompanied by Vernice Leung Wo on piano and Rachel Payne on cello.
Missionaries and Friends Choir - Area Christmas Devotional 11 December 2020.
Members of a "missionaries and friends" choir sing during a Christmas devotional in Auckland, New Zealand on 11 December 2020.2020 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.On behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Ardern presented a donation to Auckland City Mission, which was received by Deborah Ward and Celia Caughey.
In her remarks, Ms Ward spoke about some of the history and work of Auckland City Mission over the last 100 years. She mentioned that the work they do to relieve suffering and bring hope and joy to individuals and families is made possible by volunteers and donors.
Celia Caughey said that she was grateful for “Christianity in action,” which she saw when staff and friends of Auckland City Mission worked together to reach out to help those in need.
Steven Peterson, Pacific Area Director for Temporal Affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, conducted the devotional.