President Henry B. Eyring at the First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional: ‘Gifts of Peace”
Angels, shepherds and Wise Men found peace from their faith in Jesus Christ, said President Henry B. Eyring during the First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional on Dec. 4.
“So will you,” said President Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency. “The Savior’s birth is the gift that makes it possible for the Father to give us ‘peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come’ (Doctrine and Covenants 59:23).”
President Thomas S. Monson presided at the annual devotional, held in the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City. President Eyring, who offered the concluding address, said the wish of President Monson — and of the entire First Presidency — is that “you will have in this season and always the feelings of joy, love and peace that the Savior promised to his faithful and submissive disciples.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, conducted the meeting and, on behalf of the First Presidency, wished those in attendance at the Conference Center as well as those listening from their homes around the world, “a Merry Christmas and a joyful Christmas season.”
In his remarks, President Eyring explained that the true spirit of Christmas is characterized by peace — “not political peace, for the Savior was born at a time of fear and unrest,” nor economic peace, for he was born in a humble stable. Not even the peace that comes when all the wrapped packages are placed under the decorated tree, “for that peace is momentary.”
“[The] peace we seek is only through and because of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Some live in beautiful, peaceful surroundings and experience inner turmoil while others feel peace in the midst of great personal loss or trials, President Eyring noted. He shared three ways individuals can increase the peace they experience this season, throughout the year and throughout their lives.
First, like the angels who sang on the night of his birth, individuals can feel peace as they celebrate the Savior, Jesus Christ, and “come and adore him” (Hymns, No. 202).
Second, like the shepherds who saw the Christ Child and “made known abroad” the glad tidings of his birth (Luke 2:17), individuals can teach peace to their families and others they love.
Third, like the Wise Men, individuals can give gifts of love and peace as disciples of Jesus Christ.
“You and your family will have built your own Christmas traditions to fit your circumstances, but they will have some things in common,” President Eyring said. “They will draw hearts to the Savior. And they will include acts of kindness that will merit the approbation of the Savior.”
The program also included Christmas messages from general authorities and general officers of the LDS Church, as well as music from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.
Prophets of old testified of the birth, life and ministry of Jesus Christ, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught during the devotional.
Drawing from the experiences of people in the scriptures — Mary, the Old Testament prophet Isaiah and Book of Mormon prophets Lehi, Abinadi and Nephi — Elder Oaks presented passages of scripture that share the knowledge of a Savior and foresight of prophets long ago.
Recognizing the mortal birth, life and death of the son of God as an “essential” part of a bigger plan, Elder Oaks taught that before the earth was created, Jesus Christ was chosen to experience mortal life and be the Savior necessary to carry out that plan.
“As we prepare for his Second Coming, and as we stand in holy places, we persist in observing Christmas not just as a season of ‘greetings’ or ‘happy holidays,’ but as a celebration of the birth of the son of God and a time to remember his teachings and the eternal significance of his Atonement.”
Elder Craig C. Christensen of the Presidency of the Seventy addressed the topic, “The Fullness of the Story of Christmas,” and said the “babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection.”
Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem is not the beginning of the story, and Calvary is not the end, he said. Ultimately, the fullness of the story of Christmas culminates with the last three days of the Savior’s life, said Elder Christensen.
“The light we love at Christmas emanates from the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. The story we cherish at Christmas tells of our Father’s great plan of happiness, which Christ made possible. The gift that makes the Christmas season sacred is the gift of his very life, which he gave that we might have everlasting life. May we receive this gift and share his love and his gospel with all the world, particularly during this wonderful season of the year.”
Brother Douglas D. Holmes, first counselor in the Young Men’s general presidency, focused his message on the giving and receiving of gifts — a central part of the Christmas season — but specifically on the priceless gifts God offers freely to all at Christmas and throughout the year, he said.
“I pray we will not leave them unopened but receive them. … I testify that as we do, we will be filled, step by step and degree by degree, with love, joy, peace, purity and power,” he said.
Individuals’ gifts to each other will never compare to the gift of God’s son, Brother Holmes said. “But I believe that the joy of giving and receiving gifts can turn our hearts toward the ‘gifts of God.’”
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