If Jesus Came to Your Door

Merry Christmas, Brothers and Sisters! I absolutely LOVE this time of year, when the entire world has the opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and the reason for this season, which is our Savior, Jesus Christ. As many of you know, the Spanish word “màs” means “more”, so when we think of Christmas, what do we think of? More Christ—it means that--“More Christ”. And the choir has done a great job of “inviting in” with us.

Recently, I read an article in the Church News that exemplifies this concept beautifully. It was about a growing interest in what our Church refers to as “Giving Machines”, which is part of the “Light the World” campaign that the Church has been sponsoring for the past several years.

These vending machines provide essential goods and services, such as food, clean water, shelter, medical supplies, farm equipment, livestock, educational supplies, transportation, and job training to people all around the world.

What started out as one vending machine on Temple Square in 2017 that raised over a half million dollars, has blossomed seven years later into 106 giving machines in 33 states and 13 countries, with over 1.5 million people donating more than $32 million worth of love globally. That’s all of you, here, right?

Doesn’t that warm your hearts, brothers and sisters. Isn’t it miraculous how quickly the Lord is hastening His work? Don’t you just love how the Lord is Lighting the world and providing for all of His children everywhere? There are so many good people on this planet who are willing to share what they have with others.

Speaking of “light”, this past weekend our family went to see the lights at Thanksgiving Point. Those of you who have been to Luminaria know exactly what I’m talking about.

It is a spectacular display of themed lights, music, and shows that brings the spirit of Christmas alive for thousands of visitors. This has become a family tradition, much like going to see the lights on Temple Square or the Tree of Life in Draper.

One of my favorite displays is the “Light of the World Garden” with bronze sculptures depicting the life of Jesus Christ. And this year another exhibit was added that includes 130 bronze figures portraying Lehi’s Vision of the Tree of Life. The entire experience is awe-inspiring. It’s a great way to invite the spirit of Christmas into our hearts, to fill our lives with light and love, and to unite families and friends.

If you want a fun homework assignment between now and Christmas, I would encourage you to look up the word “light” in the Topical Guide of your Gospel Library App on your smartphone, and ponder the numerous references related to Jesus being the “light and life of the world”. You will be amazed at what you learn and how “enlightened” you become.

Another long-standing Butterfield Christmas tradition is to think of a gift we can give Jesus every Christmas that will last throughout the year. Some years we have written them on gift tags, and other years it has been more of a thought that we ponder in our hearts and reflect on throughout the year.

A few gifts that come to mind include more patience, humility, gratitude, forgiveness, and yes, better sportsmanship (for Brother Butterfield). I can’t say I have mastered any of those gifts yet, but at least there has been a concerted effort to improve.

Last year, my wife, Jerilyn, and I came up with the same gift that we could offer the Savior of the world. We both felt a strong desire to serve Him as ordinance workers in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.

Not only was it a way we could thank Him for all He has done for us throughout our lives, but it was a great way to draw closer to Him and get to know Him better.

We met with our dear Bishop and Stake President a week before Thanksgiving, and we were set apart by the Temple President the following week, and it has been a Celestial experience ever since. President Sohm promised us that we would draw closer to our Savior, that we would see Him everywhere in the temple, and we would witness many mighty miracles. As Jerilyn can attest, we have had a front row seat to everything President Sohm promised.

Allow me to share just a few examples.

Last Christmas our youngest daughter, Alisha, handed each member of our family a Service Journal and asked us to please write down acts of service that we rendered to each other throughout 2024. She specifically requested that we focus on family members so that we could feel more united and connected with each other.

Little did we know at that time just how much service was going to be needed. The new year began with fasting and prayers on behalf of a sweet couple in our family who were attempting IVF for the third time. When we learned that it had been unsuccessful, we mourned with them and tried to provide as much comfort as possible through their tears (and ours) and anguish.

The following month, Jerilyn and I started a remodeling project on our kitchen. We invited our family to help us, and they were absolutely amazing. Within two weeks, the former kitchen was completely gutted, and within four months, we had, literally, the kitchen of our dreams. The final product far exceeded our expectations. If you look at the smile on my Jerilyn’s face, you will know how happy she is with her new kitchen.

While all of this was going on, we welcomed a new grandbaby into the family in April. However, less than a month later, his not-quite-three-year-old sister had a spinal stroke, became paralyzed, needed a halo brace, had her neck fused, and spent four months in the PICU on a ventilator at Primary Children’s Hospital. It was tragic.

Suddenly, the Butterfield Bunch found ourselves in an “all-hands-on-deck” experience that required each of us to step up our service in ways that we had not considered before.

Jerilyn and I quickly shifted from empty nesters and grandparents to caretakers of a newborn baby that needed to be fed and changed frequently, including several times a night. We were also needed for meals, hospital rotations, sleepovers, baths, laundry, listening ears, transportation, entertainment, fasting, prayers, and priesthood blessings. All of our children pitched in in countless ways. There were many sleepless nights, but it was all worth it. Our family has grown so much closer together as a result of this life-changing experience.

Since then, we have witnessed many miracles. Raelynn has slowly regained movement in her arms and legs.

She is now able to move herself around in a motorized wheelchair. Her NG-tube was recently removed, and she is now eating a little better than she was before, and she is actually singing once again. In fact, the other day she and I were reclining on the couch and singing Christmas songs together. Her mom asked if she wanted to get in her wheelchair, if she wanted to play with some toys, but she respectfully declined because she was “enjoying singing time with grandpa”. It was such a tender moment that reminded me of how far she had come with her miraculous recovery.

But the Lord wasn’t finished with us yet. During the summer, one of my student employees, Anthony Escobedo, invited to me serve as his escort as we went through the Jordan River Temple to receive his own endowment. What an honor and a privilege it was to spend some time with him and our Canvas Support team in the House of the Lord, reflecting on the glorious gospel covenants and truths we hold so dear. Later that same month, my daughter, Alisha, also received her own endowment in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It’s been fun to watch these two stripling warriors grow in light and truth.

Then, in August, shortly after our granddaughter was finally released from the hospital, we learned that another family member was threatening a miscarriage. Fortunately, the scare was short-lived and grandbaby #5 is awaiting his debut in February, but that event provided additional opportunities for our family to serve.

Needless to say, the Service Journals that Alisha had asked us to write in were completely filled up by the end of the Summer.

Brothers and sisters, I invite you to think of a gift you could offer Jesus Christ for His birthday, something from your heart that will bring both you and Him joy and happiness in the year to come. And while you ponder that gift, let me conclude with a powerful Christmas poem entitled “If Jesus Came to Your House”:

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two –
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you’d do.
Oh, I know you’d give your nicest room to such an honored Guest,
And all the food you’d serve Him would be the very best,
And you would keep assuring Him you’re glad to have Him there –
That serving Him in your home is joy beyond compare.
But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they’d been?
Would you turn off the music and hope He hadn’t heard?
And wish you hadn’t uttered that last, loud, hasty word?
Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymnbooks out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder – if the Savior spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?
Would your family conversations keep up it’s usual pace?
And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read?
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you planned to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?
Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends?
Or would you hope they’d stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.[1]

May we all invite the Savior into our hearts and homes this Christmas season, and give Him the time and attention He deserves. May we fill our lives with light and hope and love as we celebrate his birth, life, and mission.
I testify He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Promised Messiah, the Holy One of Israel. He is the Light of the World, the Redeemer of all mankind, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

[1] If Jesus Came to Your House, in If Jesus Came to Your House, and Other Poems Lois Blanchard Eades. Beacon Hill Press, 1957.