Elder S. Gifford Nielsen of the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomed special guests to a "Light the World" reception in the grounds of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple on Wednesday evening (14 December) in the Hamilton suburb of Temple View.
Those in attendance included government leaders, local and international business people, friends from other faiths, and other people of goodwill.
The reception was held on the temple grounds in the home of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple President and Matron, Michael and Christine Roberts.
Elder Nielsen expressed his gratitude to the invited guests for their attendance and promised they would feel something special at the reception and at the Temple Christmas Lights event.
“The gospel of Jesus Christ brings a special spirit. It is a feeling deep in your heart.”
Then referring to the temple and the temple grounds he said, “This is hallowed ground. Even though we come together to have an enjoyable gathering, now is a time and this is a place for us to put up Christmas lights that represent the beauty of the Christmas Season, and the birth of our Saviour.”
Elder Nielsen continued, “For those of you here tonight, please know how much we value our relationship with you. Being together, is what the Christmas Season is all about."
He then reminded those in attendance that Jesus Christ, the self-proclaimed Light of the World, said to His followers: "Ye are the light of the world."
“And what was His message?” Elder Nielsen asked. “He was inviting all of us be like Him and to share His light with all people and all cultures.”
One guest at the reception, Sr Catherine Jones smsm, was recognized and thanked by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for her friendship and years of interfaith service to the people of New Zealand.
Sr Catherine retired last week from the Wellington Archdiocese where she served as the Projects Assistant to Cardinal John Dew and also as Chair of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Committee for Interfaith Relations. She will assume a new pastoral assignment with the Catholic Church in London beginning January 2017.
Elder Nielsen recognized her as ”a shining light of Christ-like service,” when presenting her with a remembrance gift of a small replica of the larger-than-life Christus Statue in the Hamilton Temple Visitor’s Centre and other Church Visitor’s Centres around the world.
Following the reception Sr Catherine said, “This gift reminds me that Christ is the Light of the World and when we look to His light we find we are drawn to it. Somehow this light comes through us in what we try to do, but it’s not us, it is Jesus."
She continued, “There is a war that goes on within all of us to accept and be the light of Christ. If we can bring it into our lives, and our families, this light of Christ is going to reach out to those in need.
"The light of Christ is absent in so much of the world today…and where it is absent we are called through little steps to help spread His light.”
She then said the small statuette she received from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will “serve as a reminder that we are in this together.”
She concluded, “It’s been a real privilege to be here tonight in Hamilton and share this amazing event of Christmas lights, and the Christmas message here on the temple grounds.”
Towards the end of the reception as dignitaries received a private tour of the Temple Visitor’s Centre and mingled with hundreds who had come to view the lighting display, Elder Nielsen and his wife Wendy spoke about the Church’s world-wide 2016 "Light the World” Christmas campaign.
They highlighted a service advent calendar which is part of the initiative. It encourages others to "Light the World" through service in 25 ways, over the 25 days of December leading up to Christmas Day.
“It gives us a chance to forget about the outside world and do something kind and nice to whomever crosses our path each and every day,” said Elder Nielsen.
“There is no question that providing Christ-like service changes us. It softens our heart and makes us a little different inside when we care for others. What a great Christmas gift, to give or receive loving service in such a personal way!”
Sister Nielsen said, “The ’Light the World’ initiative embodies a beautiful symbolic significance. Think about the baby born in Bethlehem and how a star lit the way to him, and how He is the Light of the World guiding our efforts in life to be like Him.”
Other Church leaders who joined Elder and Sister Nielsen and President and Sister Roberts in hosting the gathering of over 50 invited dignitaries, were Elder David J. Thomson, his wife Sue Thomson, and Elder Paul R. Coward with his wife Julie Coward.
The lighting display in the grounds of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple includes a Nativity and over 200,000 Christmas lights.
The free display, open to the public, runs up until 31 December, with choirs singing Tuesday to Saturday evenings from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. through Christmas Eve.
Read more about the Light the World Christmas initiative.