Celebrating Christmas
2024 First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional
Sunday, December 8, 2024
My dear brothers and sisters, we have been richly blessed by the wonderful messages we have heard from Sister Runia, Elder Palmer, and Elder Cook. I feel privileged to be able to teach of some of the things they have already explained.
Christmas is a wonderful season of the year. As we commemorate the birth of our Savior, our hearts are attuned to what is most important in our lives. Christmas makes us more aware and more grateful for the sacrifices that have been made for us.
I.
Christmas reminds us to think of one another. We appreciate our families more. We renew contacts with old friends. We rise above the barriers that separate us at other times of the year. Strangers exchange greetings without embarrassment. Kindliness and consideration make a comeback. The spirit of Christmas brings out the best in us.
The warmth and light of Christmas is the Light of Christ. As we read in modern scriptures, the Savior is “the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” All who celebrate the birth of Christ—all who have what we call the “Spirit of Christmas”—have a portion of that light.
Over a billion people will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ during this Christmas season. The whole world should do so. Even in worldly terms, Jesus of Nazareth is the most important person who ever lived. He is the principal subject of prophets and poets for over 6,000 years. He is the subject of the world’s greatest music and art. He is the greatest teacher who ever lived. Most important, He is the Only Begotten Son of God the Eternal Father. He is the God to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is our Creator and Redeemer, the Savior and God of this world.
“Peace, goodwill toward men” is the message of Christmas. It is the dominant theme of the poets and musicians who have given us the glorious music of Christmas. We love the carols that echo this theme.
Far, far away on Judea’s plains,
Shepherds of old heard the joyous strains:
Glory to God, Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest;
Peace on earth, goodwill to men;
Such words, sung countless times in our holiday activities, remind us that there is nothing new in the celebration and songs of Christmas. The message is old and familiar. It was preached to Adam. It was preached to the children of Israel. It was preached to the descendants of Father Lehi. Again and again, the prophets declared the central truths of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Again and again, they declared His command that we should love and serve Him and love and serve one another. And He added, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Repeated throughout the ages, these declarations are the most important message in all eternity. They are for us, for our benefit.
The most important things in life are repetitious. We never tire of hearing the sacred name of our Savior. We never tire of the companionship of loved ones. We never tire of hearing “I love you.”
So it is that the repetitious message of Christmas is not a message to be revised, but a message to be renewed in our lives.
II.
From the time of our childhood, each of us has known that Christmas is a time of gift-giving among families and friends. It is a time of special kindness to those we love. But the spirit of Christmas giving should extend beyond our circle of family and friends. Today, many of our youth have memorable experiences as quorums and classes and other Church groups visit and take gifts to those who need to be remembered at Christmas, in hospitals and nursing homes, shut-ins, and a variety of others. On countless Christmas Eves, good men and women, learning of the plight of poor grieving parents, have come forward with toys and food and sweets so that wide-eyed, trusting children will feel the joy of being remembered on Christmas morning. Thousands of great men and women unite their efforts in Christmas charities to relieve the hungry, clothe the ragged, house the homeless, visit the sick and forgotten, and give joy to children. God bless these helping hands! We should all support them. Those who serve lovingly and unselfishly are true servants of the Prince of Peace.
III.
What is the meaning of “peace on earth, goodwill toward men”? “Love … thy neighbor as thyself,” the Savior first taught. He even taught that we should “love [our] enemies, bless them that curse [us], do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them who despitefully use [us] and persecute [us].”
As we work for the goal expressed in those teachings, Christmas should be a time for forgiving, a time to heal old wounds and restore relationships that have gone awry.
Quote: “Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
“I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.”
So, Christmas is a time to extend ourselves beyond our normal ties of love and friendship. “Peace, goodwill toward men” is not just a message for those for whom we already have feelings of love and affection, such as fellow citizens of our Church or nation, residents of our hometown or neighborhood, or people of common culture. The heavenly hosts proclaimed goodwill to all men—to casual friends, to strangers, even to enemies. Christmas is a time to remember that we are all children of a Father in Heaven, who gave His Only Begotten Son that all would be redeemed from death. Our Father in Heaven has also offered the blessings of salvation and exaltation to all mankind on the same conditions: faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ; repentance; baptism; and compliance with the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
IV.
The Spirit of Christmas encourages us to use this season to step across barriers and promote understanding and love with people of all races, creeds, and national origins. Whether Latter-day Saints are in the majority, as we are in Utah, or in the minority, as we are everywhere else, we should reach out to all the sons and daughters of God. We should extend the sincere hand of fellowship to all persons, those who are and those who are not of our faith. We should observe the command God has the prophet Moses give to the children of Israel:
“If a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself.”
We should teach our children to be kind and considerate of everyone. I am saddened whenever I hear of non-Latter-day Saint parents in this community sorrowing because they believe that their sons and daughters have been excluded or ostracized by our member children or youth. I hope such instances are rare and diminishing. We ought to be the friendliest and most considerate of all peoples anywhere.
We should, of course, shun the kind of associations that compromise our conduct or dilute our faith and worship. But that kind of exclusiveness does not excuse us from consideration of others. Nor should it seal us off from those numerous associations that involve cooperative efforts on the broad field of common interests that includes all people.
The spirit with which we should receive the message of “peace, goodwill toward men” is the spirit of giving ourselves in service to others. Just as Christmas celebrates the birth of Him who gave His life for all of us, so each of us should use Christmas as a time for improving the ways we give to our fellow men.
As we do so—as the giving spirit of Christmas permeates our thoughts and our actions—we will each be making our own contribution to the eternal goal of “peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” It is time for us all to do so, for every day we are one day closer to the coming of the Lord. As President Russell M. Nelson taught us last October conference, quote, “The best is yet to come because the Lord is hastening His work. The best is yet to come as we fully turn our hearts and our lives to Jesus Christ.” End of quote.
I now quote from “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles.” It states, quote:
“As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. No other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.”
Continuing the quote, “We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world. …
“We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—‘built upon the foundation of … apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ … being the chief corner stone.’”
Continuing the quote, “We testify that He will [sometime] return to earth. ‘And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.’” End of quote. “He will rule as King of kings and reign as Lord of lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him.
“We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father.” I quote again, “He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.”
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.