“Contents,” Liahona, Dec. 1996 Liahona December 1996 Volume 20, Number 12 Contents Features First Presidency Message: Gratitude As a Saving PrinciplePresident James E. Faust Words of the Living ProphetPresident Gordon B. Hinckley Giving with JoyElder Henry B. Eyring That “Unmanageable” Class!Naida Stephens Tims Thoughts on the Good ShepherdHomer S. Ellsworth “Joy to the World” from BulgariaBeth Dayley The Christmas Coat Tithing Came FirstOsborne N. Smith Especially for Youth Papa’s SongNettie Hunsaker Your Own TestimonyLisa M. Grover He Lives! Land of Fire and IceJanet Thomas Departments Comment Visiting Teaching Message: The Rock of Our Redeemer The Friend Jesus Christ Appears to the Nephites A Christmas Message from the First Presidency to the Children of the World: Joy to the World Fiction: Christmas BoxJan M. Smith Friends in the News: We Love to Sing Song: When Joseph Went to BethlehemBessie Saunders Spencer and I. Reed Payne Sharing Time: The Gift of ObedienceKaren Ashton Fun Page On the cover: In “Words of the Living Prophet” (see page 8), President Gordon B. Hinckley declares, “No church in the world speaks up with a stronger witness of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ … than does this church.” Testimony of the Savior’s divinity is shared by many authors in this issue, including youth from around the world who declare “He Lives!” (see page 34). The Lord in Prayer, by Lowell Bruce Bennett. Back cover: The Nativity scene and Christmas ornaments are symbols that help remind us of the Savior, of whom Isaiah prophesied: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). (Photography: Nativity scene by Altus Photo Design; star ornament by Jed Clark.) Inside back cover: “I am grateful to the Lord for many blessings—for arms, for eyes that see, for a voice that can sing, for a home, for the opportunity to love, to serve, to live. It’s wonderful to believe in God. I have so little to ask for and so much to be grateful for”—Patricia Elizabeth Báez Coral, El Ejido, Ecuador. (See “He Lives!” on page 34.) (Mary’s Visit to Elisabeth, by Carl Heinrich Bloch. Original at the Chapel of Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark. Used by permission of the Frederiksborgmuseum.)