Speaking at the First Presidency Christmas Devotional Dec. 8, President Thomas S. Monson answered the question "What is Christmas?"
"This is a glorious time of year, simple in origin, deep in meaning, beautiful in tradition and custom, rich in memories and charitable in spirit," said President Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency. "It has an attraction to which our hearts are readily drawn. This joyful season brings to each of us a measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree in which we have turned our mind, feelings, and actions to the Spirit of Christmas."He then told of four things that Christmas is:
Christmas is children. He spoke of a time, when, as a young elder, he was called to a children's hospital to give blessings during the Christmas season.
"A young lad called out to us, Will you give me a blessing?' " President Monson remembered. "Of course the blessing was given. I shall ever remember placing my hands on the tousled head of that faithful boy who was desperately ill. As we left his side, he looked up into my eyes and said,Thank you, Brother Monson.' We walked away, only to hear him call out, `Oh, Brother Monson - Merry Christmas to you.' I could scarcely see him for the tears in my eyes. He had that glow about him that comes only at Christmas time."
Christmas is remembering. President Monson said this year Church members' thoughts will turn to the sesquicentennial of the arrival of the pioneers in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake in 1847.
"What was Christmas like that year?" President Monson questioned. "From an entry in the diary of Mrs. Rebecca Riter, dated Dec. 25, 1847, we read: "The winter was cold. Christmas came and the children were hungry. I had brought a peck of wheat across the plains and hid it under a pile of wood. I thought I would cook a handful of wheat for the baby. Then I thought how we would need wheat for seed in the spring, so I left it alone.'"
Christmas is giving. Quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson, President Monson said, "rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only true gift is a portion of thyself."
President Monson read an anonymous letter he received from a kind-hearted dentist: "Last December I listened to your talk given during the Christmas devotional. You spoke of an older woman who could not afford to pay for the registration for an automobile she had recently purchased. Others came to her aid. All involved where touched. . . ."
The dentist explained that not long after the devotional, a woman who carried many burdens came to his office to have two teeth repaired.
"When the work was completed, thinking of your talk, I told her that is she would not be offended, I should like to make a Christmas present of the dental work, for which there would be no bill. She was astonished. I could sense the depth of the stress and strain she had carried, as uncontrollable tears of gratitude gushed forth due to a small, simple act of kindness."
Christmas is prophecy fulfilled. "What did the prophets of old declare?" President Monson questioned. He then read accounts from 1 Nephi, Isaiah, Mosiah, Luke and Matthew, all of which illustrate prophecy fulfilled with the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
President Monson said that since the time of the birth of the Savior, the spirit of giving gifts has been present in the mind of each Christian as they commemorate the Christmas season. "Our Heavenly Father gave to us His Son, Jesus Christ. That precious Son gave to us His life, the atonement, and victory over the grave.
"What will you and I give for Christmas this year?" President Monson asked.
"Let us in our lives give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps," concluded President Monson. "It was said of Him that he 'went about doing good.' "It was said of Him that he 'went about doing good.' As we do likewise, the Christmas spirit will be ours."
