Sunday, 04 December 2011
Conference Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Christmas Devotional
President Uchtdorf:
The perfect Christmas is like playing Jenga; you have the perfect memories that you pull out and try to place on top, but eventually it will tumble. Memories are wonderful, but recreating them can be difficult, especially if you try to recreate all of them. You will become upset when things do not turn out as you hoped. Christmas in its essence is more sturdy than any memory. Seek after Christ, give Him a broken heart and a contrite spirit, promise Him that you will do better. Bring your best effort and remember that you do not have to try to move mountains.
The Savior's gifts to us are breathtaking:
-Immortality
-Forgiveness
-Eternal Life
He gives us gifts daily; He carries us when we are weak, and lifts us when we stumble.
We should not need Christmas to remember Christ, however, use it do to so. Use Christmas to life your hearts and voice to the Lord.
President Eyring:
"For God gave His only Begotten. . ."
"For everyone who doeth evil hateth the light."
The greatest symbol of Christ's birth is light. Samuel the Lamanite prophesied of Christ's birth telling that there would be light both day and night.
Examples given in the scriptures:
-Light both day and night
-Star of David
No Christmas story is complete without the mention of Angels preparing the way for Christ. Righteous people were helped to such as John the Baptist, the Virgin Mary, and Mary's cousin Elizabeth.
For with God, nothing is impossible.
Lights and Angels led to the events that transcended. An angel warned the Wise men not to return to King Herod, for the king wished to know the whereabouts of Christ and kill him. Joseph was warned to flee with his family so that Christ again would not be killed by King Herod.
The lesson is that Heavenly Father knows our needs, He will provide a way for us no matter what. We just need to be patient and remember that it is in His time, not ours.
Remember the gifts that the Lord has given to us; use them to help others. Remember not to hide your talents, use them so that they might develop and multiply.
President Monson:
Christmas is what we make of it. We can start and practice traditions that will bring the Spirit closer. Every year President Monson reads The Christmas Story found in Luke, A Christmas Carol, and The Mansion.
In the Christmas Carol we are shown what Scrooge had, what he has at this moment, and if he continues upon the path he is on, what he will have. We like Scrooge must remember the past, the present, and the future when going about life and making decisions.
In the Mansion, we learn that our Mansions above are made according to our works here on Earth. If we give willingly and lovingly, the materials for our mansions will be grand. However, if we give grudgingly or not at all, then we will not have materials for a mansion, but rather for a shack. Remember not to do service for public gain, but rather because you want to and know you should. Forget yourself in service to your fellow man, for when you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God.
The spirit of Christmas is love, gratitude, and charity. Keep Christmas in our hearts in our lives.
Block out the distractions, focus on Christ. If you follow Him, you will find peace every day. We can live every day because He came.
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We must remember that the reason for Christmas is not for the commercialization but rather for the Son of God. Christ was born in the most humblest of circumstances. He is the Son of God, and deserved so much more. Let Christ be the center of your Holidays this year, enjoy your families and please remember the reason for this season
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