Four leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with the faith’s world-famous choir, spent over an hour Sunday night focused on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
“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, and who has offered the blessings of salvation and exaltation to all mankind on the same conditions,” said President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency during the Church’s annual First Presidency Christmas devotional in the Conference Center on Temple Square.
“Christmas is a time to eliminate arrogance and provocation, to subdue criticism, to practice patience, and to de-emphasize differences among people,” President Oaks continued. “We have the incentive to extend sincere fellowship to all persons, those who are and those who are not of our faith.”
The First Counselor in the First Presidency told his Latter-day Saint listeners that, following the kind and inclusive spirit of Christ, “we ought to be the friendliest and most considerate of all people anywhere. We should teach our children to be kind and considerate of everyone. We should, of course, avoid the kinds of associations and activities that compromise our conduct or dilute our faith and worship. But that should not keep us from cooperative efforts with people of every persuasion — believers and non-believers.”
Sunday night’s other speakers were Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon, and Elder José A. Teixeira of the Presidency of the Seventy.
Elder Andersen shared examples from scripture — Elisabeth and Zacharias (Luke 1), Mary, Joseph and Jesus (Matthew 1 and Luke 2) and Samuel and his fellow believers (3 Nephi 1) — that teach all will be well for those who have faith in God.
“With all the difficulties and uncertainty, for the righteous, for those who trust in God, in the end, whether in this life or when we kneel at His feet, all will be well,” Elder Andersen said. “In our own times of uncertainty, in our days of trouble and difficulty, in our struggles, let us be faithful. Jesus came that holy night. He is the Savior of the world, the Prince of Peace, the King of kings.”
President Cordon taught how we can receive the gift that is the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.
The humble shepherds of Luke 2 who “came with haste” to the Christ child show the value of promptly responding to God’s invitation to follow His Son, she said.
“Many times, our still, small impressions from the Lord may not be received because they do not fit cleanly into our calendars, our plans or our timing,” President Cordon said. “The Christmas story reminds us to be like these devoted shepherds who did not delay doing what was needed to come to Him and receive their King.”
The wise men of Matthew 2, she added, watched for the signs of the coming of Christ for many years. They sacrificed and endured much to find the King of Kings.
“We can trust in Him even amid sometimes overwhelming circumstances,” she said. “The guidance, even miracles, that come into our lives will probably not be in the hustle and bustle, nor on stages or in stadiums, but in the quiet places where we live and work ― where we go for help. Wherever our humble needs arise, we can and will receive answers to our whispered prayers.”
Elder Teixeira, a native of Portugal, said the Nativity scenes he saw as a child — especially ones his family assembled — provided valuable opportunities to consider the blessings and opportunities made possible by life and sacrifice of Christ.
“I think of the blessing of finding peace and hope, even amid challenge and trial,” Elder Teixeira said. “[I think also of] the blessing of divine guidance in times of both triumph and despair, the blessing of a greater perspective and purpose, knowing and believing that there is more after this mortal experience, the blessing of gratitude even when we have less to sustain our needs, the blessing of being comforted when we feel alone and the blessing to be able to give even when we don’t possess much. These and many other blessings we have because of Jesus Christ!”
“Because He came, there is meaning to our existence,” Elder Teixeira concluded. “Because He came, there is hope. He is the Savior of the world, and He is our greatest gift.”
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performed “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful,” “O Come, Little Children,” “Christmas Bells Are Ringing,” “The First Noel” and “Silent Night.”
Watch the entire Christmas devotional on YouTube.
This is an official press release re-published by LDSDaily.com from Newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
