“Now when Jesus was bon in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wisemen from the east, to Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:1) For these wisemen had been preparing and study, and watching for the signs that would herald the birth of the King of the Jews, the Savior Jesus Christ. “And they did watch steadfastly…that they might know that their faith had not been vain” (3 Nephi 1:8)
These men, lead by the Spirit, dedicated their lives to learning and understanding the prophecies surrounding the coming of the King of the Jews – “Behold the days com, saith the Lord; that I will raise unto David a righteous Brand, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth” (Jeremiah 23:10). We do not read of any heavenly messengers that manifested the truthfulness of these teachings to the wisemen. But we have to believe that the truthfulness was made manifest to them in the same manner in which we know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the King of the Jews, and the Savior of all mankind, through the still, small voice that is the Spirit.
Having been enlightened by the Spirit these magi did what was required, they dedicated their lives to following the Savior, both spiritually and physically. They followed the truths of the scriptures and prophets, they followed the promptings of the Spirit, and they sought the Savior.
“Saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.” (Matt. 2:2)
The three wisemen laid at the feet of the young Savior of the World, not only gifts of frankincense , gold, and myrrh, but gifts of faith and dedication.
The will of the Lord, became their will. Their gift of unconditional faith and a dedication to following through on the truths, which came to them as a result of their faith, were laid at the feet of a “young child” who was Jesus Christ. Our gifts of faith and dedication may also bring us to the feet of the Savior.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, “the submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we “give,” brothers and sisters, are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!” (Neal A. Maxwell, Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father, October 1995).
May our faith and dedication to the Savior lead us to aligning our will with His will. Then our gifts of faith and dedication will return blessings 100 fold. May we be like the wisemen, “press[ing] forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God…feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end” (2 Nephi 31:20) to hear our Father in Heaven say “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” (Matt. 25:21).
