This week on social media, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, together with his wife, Sister Kathy Christofferson, highlighted their family’s annual tradition of gingerbread house making and decorating. In recent years, Elder Christofferson explained that the tradition has become a way to raise money for the medical expenses of children in need at Primary Children’s Hospital.
Elder Christofferson shared how his family’s treasured tradition of gingerbread house making turned into a way to serve those in their community on social media Sunday, Dec. 15.
“A lot of families have Christmas traditions, and one of ours has been, over the years, making gingerbread homes and creations, starting with our children when they were smaller and now grandchildren,” said Elder Christofferson.
Sister Christofferson plans, bakes and decorates large gingerbread houses that the family then donates. This raises funds for the medical expenses of children at Primary Children’s Hospital.
“Christmas and Christmas traditions really are about giving. As you think about it, really, the great gift, of course, is the Savior Himself,” testified Elder Christofferson.
Other leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared posts celebrating the Christmas season, including sharing special Light the World messages, studying about the birth and life of Jesus Christ, and participating in the Light the World Giving Machines.
President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught about the “attendance of angels” while reading in John 1:51 in a video posted to his social media profiles Thursday, Dec. 19.
President Holland taught that the Hebrew definition of angel is “ministering spirit,” and how in the Church it is believed that these angels can be manifested through friends in neighbors and in other ways.
“We ought to believe in angels. We ought to believe in miracles. We ought to believe in the work of those on the other side of the veil,” he taught.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles posted a photo on Tuesday, Dec. 17, symbolizing the manger where Jesus Christ was born, and taught about God’s gift to mankind, the Savior.
“Christmas reminds us that we, like the Wise Men of old, should seek Christ and lay before Him the most precious of gifts. We should offer Him our love. We should promise to remember Him always, emulate His example, and go about doing good,” wrote Elder Uchtdorf.
He encouraged all remember to bring “gifts” to Christ and to be grateful for Him.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles posted the #LightTheWorld Christmas digital display, which thousands of people around the world have seen on the sides of buildings and arenas, to his social media profiles on Sunday, Dec. 15. The video tells the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus Christ through images.
“How grateful I am for this sacred time of year to focus on the love and light of Jesus Christ. It is a blessing to be able to share it with all of God’s children — our brothers and sisters. I testify that Jesus Christ was born in a manger, that angels declared His birth, that He is our Savior and Redeemer, and that He lives today,” wrote Elder Rasband.
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles posted a photo on Saturday, Dec. 14, from the #LightTheWorld video with a message inviting all to serve their neighbor
He shared an excerpt from a sermon by Martin Luther, Christmas Eve, 1521, where Luther compelled his listeners to demonstrate compassion and empathy to those around them, just at they would the Savior.
“Thank you to all who go out of their way this Christmas season to be kinder, more helpful, and more charitable to your neighbors. I am confident that the Lord is pleased with your efforts,” wrote Elder Renlund.
Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman shared about the 2025 youth theme “Look Unto Christ” on the Young Women Worldwide social media page on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
The theme is based on Doctrine and Covenants 6:36: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”
President Freeman then invited all to attend the worldwide discussion on Jan. 5 on the upcoming theme.
“President Lund and I will share some of our thoughts and our great excitement for the theme this year,” wrote President Freeman. “We are hoping you will join us. This will be a time when you can gather with friends, listen to the words of an apostle who prepared a message just for you, and then pause to share some of your own thoughts.”
Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, together with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints account, posted a video on Thursday, Dec. 19, from Elder Gong’s message in the October 2023 general conference, “Love is Spoken Here”,
Elder Gong invited all to spread words and deeds of love to those in their wards and Church communities and local communities as well.
“The Lord’s restored Church can be an incubator for a Zion community,” stated Elder Gong in the video. “When we serve in the gospel together, we find fewer faults, and greater peace.”
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles posted a video to his social media profiles Wednesday, Dec. 19, explaining the symbol of light as it refers to Jesus Christ.
“In the scriptures, the word light is always connected to Jesus Christ,” said Elder Soares. “Beginning with His birth, a star lit the way for the wise men to find the infant in the manger. Likewise, ‘great lights in heaven’ — along with the sky never darkening for ‘two days and a night’ in the New World — signified the birth of Jesus Christ.”
On Wednesday, Dec. 18, Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, shared two quotes from Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, from the 2024 First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional that made her ponder.
One is: “Maybe each one of us has been in a place where we have felt like a wandering lamb or even a lost sheep. Tonight, I submit that we are all injured lambs in need of the good Shepherd, who will cradle us in the arms of His love. ... Yes, Christ the babe was born for you!”
The second is: “It is possible that each of us has at some point felt like a wandering lamb, or even a lost sheep. Tonight, I tell you that we are all wounded lambs who need the Good Shepherd, who will cradle us in the arms of His love. ... Yes, the Christ Child is born for you!”
Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reminded those on social media to remember the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ amid the busy schedules and tasks that sometimes come along with the holiday season
“Let us not become so busy and weary that we miss the true focus of Christmas—worshipping the newborn King and offering Him our own personal gift,” he wrote in the post on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Brother Bradley R. Wilcox, first counselor in the Young Men general presidency, posted a photo of him and his wife at the unveiling of the first Light the World Giving Machines in Manila, Philippines.
“The Giving Machines are going to help people celebrate in a way that will make a big difference. I hope we can all stay focused on the real meaning of Christmas and help Light the World,” Elder Wilcox wrote in the post on Thursday, Dec. 19.
