My beloved brothers and sisters, it's a joy for me to
be with you this evening as we celebrate through word and
song the birth of our Savior and Redeemer, even Jesus
Christ the Lord.
Christmas is a glorious season of the year.
It's also a busy time for most of us.
It's my hope and prayer that we may not become so caught up
in the pressures of the season that we place our emphasis on
the wrong things and miss the simple joys of commemorating
the birth of the Holy One of Bethlehem.
Finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the
hurrying and the scurrying to get more done.
We find the real joy of Christmas when we make the
Savior the focus of the season.
Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from
heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish
the kingdom of God.
His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world.
He lived for us, and He died for us.
What can we in return give to Him?
I love the words penned by the English poet Christina
Rossetti: "What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb.
If I were a Wise Man I would do my part.
Yet what can I give Him?
Give my heart." Our celebration of Christmas
should be a reflection of the love and selflessness taught
by the Savior.
Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom
the Christmas spirit.
We feel more kindly one to another.
We reach out in love to help those less fortunate.
Our hearts are softened.
Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed.
The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window
of the soul.
We look out upon the world's busy life, become more
interested in people than in things.
To catch the real spirit of Christmas, we need only drop
the last syllable, and it becomes the Spirit of Christ.
Said President David O. McKay: "True happiness comes only by
making others happy--the practical application of the
Savior's doctrine of losing one's life to gain it.
In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that
makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship
and prompts us to kind deeds of service.
It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to
which will bring 'peace on earth,' because it means--good
will toward all men" (close quote).
May we give as the Savior gave.
To give of oneself is a holy gift.
We give as a remembrance of all the Savior has given.
May we also give gifts that have eternal value, along with
our gifts that eventually break or are forgotten.
How much better the world would be if we all gave gifts
of understanding and compassion, of service and
friendship, of kindness and gentleness.
As the Christmas season envelops us with all its
glory, may we, as did the Wise Men, seek a bright, particular
star to guide us in our celebration of
the Savior's birth.
May we all make the journey to Bethlehem in spirit, taking
with us a tender, caring heart as our gift to the Savior.
My brothers and sisters, may one and all have
a joy-filled Christmas.
Such is my hope and my prayer, in the sacred name of our
Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.