This week on social media, leaders from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared special meanings behind Christmas sayings, the importance of purifying one’s heart during the holidays, and ways to share the joy of Christ to others through the Light the World initiative.
Additionally, President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, openly studied in Psalms 12 and 119 in a recent video and Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared his personal experience while dedicating the Tallahassee Florida Temple, and
President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, taught the meaning behind the well-known phrase “peace on earth, good will toward men,” in Luke 2:14 in a post Monday, Dec. 9. He also spoke about it during the the First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional on Sunday, Dec. 8.
He taught that the phrase highlighted in the Christmas season invites all to share good will towards friends and strangers.
“As we work toward the goal expressed in those teachings, Christmas should be a time for forgiving, a time to heal old wounds and restore relationships that have gone awry. Christmas is a time to extend ourselves beyond our normal ties of love and friendship,” he wrote.
President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, testified in a social media post on Sunday, Dec. 8, that it is possible to feel peace in times of turmoil thanks to the Savior, Jesus Christ.
President Eyring posted a picture from his late wife’s funeral. Sister Kathleen J. Eyring, wife of President Henry B. Eyring, died at the age of 82 on Oct. 15, 2023.
“I felt that peace when I reached out to touch, softly, the beautiful wooden cover on the casket of my wife. A photo of my face at that moment shows me smiling. It was a smile of joy,” President Eyring wrote. “I felt at that moment that I could see her smile as she was meeting the Savior — and that He was smiling at her.”
Primary General President Susan H. Porter shared a video on Thursday, Dec. 12, of Leslie Walker, who conducted the children’s choir in the October 2024 general conference.
“I was really excited to be able to help the kids have that experience of really feeling the Spirit while they were singing,” Walker said in the video.
She went on to explain how the children she taught rose to the challenge of singing in general conference.
President Holland studied in Psalms with his social media audience in a video posted Tuesday, Dec. 10.
He read in Psalm 12 the words: “Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.” He then taught the antidote to the problem, stated later in the same chapter: The words of the Lord.
Continuing on, President Holland echoed the same principle in Psalm 119:105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
“I love these psalms,” said President Holland.
Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, posted a photo on Monday, Dec. 9, from when she gathered with children and youth at one the the Light the World Giving Machines and shared ways to spread the joy of Christ:
- Choose from service ideas at LightTheWorld.org.
- Donate to local and global charities at a Giving Machine in one of the more than 100 locations in 13 countries on five continents. For the first time, machines are in Africa and Asia. Find other ways to donate at GivingMachine.org.
- Text “light” to 71234 for ideas to serve others as Jesus did. Receive service ideas through WhatsApp.
- Celebrate Christ’s birth with free music from The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
- Join Church members for a Christmas worship service on Sunday, Dec. 22.
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a small Christmas story illustrating the importance of the condition of one’s heart, in a social media post on Monday, Dec. 9.
“As we look at the condition of our spirits, we would do well to look at the perfect example of Jesus Christ. He declared, ‘Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you’ (3 Nephi 18:16),” wrote Elder Cook. “Christ is the example in all things. The Savior showed us the way to find happiness, meaning and joy in this life and in eternity. Happiness and joy define the Christmas spirit.”
Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, and Young Women Worldwide shared a music video on Tuesday, Dec. 10, of the song “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly.”
“‘Christ the Babe was born for you.’ That’s my favorite line from the Christmas song ‘Infant Holy, Infant Lowly.’ It’s the message the angels declared 2,000 years ago, and it’s a message He wants you to hear right now,” she wrote. She invited others to follow the #LightTheWorld prompt to share what holiday song they love.
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently visited missionaries in Lisbon, Portugal, and shared special moments in a reel on his social media profiles Saturday, Dec. 7.
He reminded the missionaries of the importance of forgetting themselves in the work and being swallowed up in the will of the Lord.
“When we do this, we are invoking the power of the Savior over our lives, because isn’t that what He did? The Savior forgot Himself throughout His life for the sake of other people.
Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, posted in Spanish and English on Wednesday, Dec. 11, about a traditional Christmas dish her grandmother Aida would make — Panettone or “sweet bread.” Sister Spannaus shared the recipe and baking instructions, too.
“I continue with the same tradition, and I love it!” she wrote, and invited others to share their family’s traditional Christmas dish.
Elder Kearon dedicated the Tallahassee Florida Temple — Florida’s third house of the Lord — Sunday, Dec. 8. One day later, Dec. 9, Elder Kearon posted about the experience.
“During the dedication of the Tallahassee Florida Temple yesterday, I was again struck by the sacred nature of the house of the Lord,” he wrote. “In this sacred space, where earth and heaven meet, we come to receive solace, peace and refuge at any time, but especially when we feel lost.”
