Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught at the First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, about the meaning of Christmas and remembering the sacred nature of Jesus Christ’s role in Heavenly Father’s plan for each of His children.
“He is our Exemplar — our Advocate with the Father — and He accomplished everything necessary for us to return to the Father’s and the Son’s presence. We would be wise to follow Jesus Christ and receive the gifts that He has provided,” Elder Cook said of the Savior.
This time of year brought memories to Elder Cook of his first Christmas away from home, when he was serving a mission in England in December 1960. He said he and his companion had opened the area of Swindon only a few months earlier. On Christmas Eve, Elder Cook and his companion, Elder Noel Luke, greeted and blessed people in the area where they were serving.
Suddenly they realized that every home in the neighborhood had their TVs tuned to beloved singer Harry Secombe’s rendition of “Bless This House.” Elder Cook called the words in that moment sacred.
“Bless the people here within,
“Keep them pure and free from sin;
“Bless us all that we may be
“Fit, O Lord, to dwell with Thee.”
The words of this song helped Elder Cook recognize his role as a missionary.
“Elder Luke and I had this overwhelming feeling that we were truly emissaries of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, trying to serve and bless our Heavenly Father’s children,” he said. Elder Cook also understood that “we all live away from home — our heavenly home. The way to feel the comfort of that home is through service to our Savior.”
In his message, Elder Cook read from John 19:5, where Pilate presents Jesus to the people who cried for His crucifixion. In that moment, Pilate says, “Behold the man!” Elder Cook shared five ways to behold Christ and the gifts He gives.
Jesus’ birth
Elder Cook testified of the Savior’s role in the plan of salvation.
“He was chosen from the beginning for His sacred mission,” Elder Cook said.
That mission included living on earth, born of a mortal mother and Heavenly Father, to be, as Elder Cook read from Matthew 1:23, “God with us.”
A perfect and sinless life
During His mortal life, the Savior “suffered pains, afflictions, and temptations of every kind.”
“He devoted His life to the poor, the needy, the sick and the afflicted, and the successful completion of the eternal plan for which He alone was qualified,” Elder Cook said.
Christ’s death, Resurrection and Atonement
The scriptures and words of modern prophets teach about the Savior’s Atonement.
“The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the greatest event and gift that has ever occurred in the history of mankind,” he said. “All of us have sinned, and it is only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we can obtain mercy and live with God.”
The Savior’s Second Coming
In the most recent general conference, Elder Cook noted, President Russell M. Nelson testified that the Savior’s Second Coming is approaching and all need to be prepared. President Nelson said Christ will direct the affairs of His Church from both old Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem. The Savior’s coming will not be a passive event for those on the earth. It is a sacred time that requires the Lord’s followers to be prepared.
“Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord” (Doctrine and Covenants 43:20), quoted Elder Cook.
Love and serve the Lord
Elder Cook’s final counsel in preparing to greet the Savior is to love and serve the Lord. He said the way individuals demonstrate love for others and for God is part of the test of mortality.
“Our love of God and our fellow man is the ultimate test of the condition of our spirit,” he said. “If we love God, we will keep His commandments. And if we love our fellow men, we will serve them and essentially be the Savior’s hands.”
