This week on social media, Church leaders talked about how one can remember Jesus Christ and draw closer to Him during the Christmas season, as well as other topics.
President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, shared his desire to have all feel the peace of the Savior in this Christmas season.
President Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society general president, shared her gratitude for faithful women who had come before her. “How grateful I am for covenant-keeping women, whose pioneering spirit and faith in Jesus Christ allow me to see further. The divine mission of the Relief Society, articulated by Emmeline Wells in 1893, remains the same today 130 years later.”
“One of the most beautiful symbols of the birth of Jesus Christ into this world is light. The appearance of the long-promised Messiah brought light to a darkened world,” said President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, in a social media post on Friday.
On the Young Women Worldwide social media accounts, Sister Tamara W. Runia relayed the opportunity she had to participate in the Light the World “50 ways to let your light shine.”
After rededicating the St. George Utah Temple, President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, posted about the experience.
“I feel immense personal gratitude for the privilege of rededicating the historic St. George Utah Temple today at the invitation of President Russell M. Nelson. I consider this one of the sweetest and most rewarding assignments I have had in my years as a General Authority for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, testified of the power that Primary has in children’s and leaders’ lives.
“I testify that as children attend Primary and feel the love of their teachers and leaders, they will naturally connect those feelings to their Heavenly Father and to their Savior, Jesus Christ. When a child feels loved, miracles happen!”
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified of the reality that Jesus Christ stays with us as we develop Christlike attributes.
“As we seek to develop Christlike attributes and adopt the pure love of Christ to guide our ambition, we should recognize that progress and refinement come over time and with divine help — grace to grace, and grace for grace.”
Sister Tracy Y. Browning, second counselor in the Primary general presidency, asked on social media this week, “As you reflect on big and small ‘good gifts’ that have come into your life, how have you seen the hand of the Lord rescuing you, reinforcing you, and providing you with relief?”
One year after ministering with President M. Russell Ballard in Mexico City, Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared his appreciation for President Ballard.
“One could not spend time with President Ballard without quickly realizing the deep love he had for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and for everyone he came across. Whether it was hotel staff, local congregation leaders, cafeteria workers, Church members, missionaries or young children, President Ballard ministered to them one by one, just like the Savior Jesus Christ.”
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared insights from Christmas hymns. “Our current English hymnal and Children’s Song Book contain 30 Christmas carols. Of these, five have explicit invitations to come to Bethlehem to see the Christ-child and 18 have implied invitations to do so. Seven carols celebrate the season generally but do not include such invitations.”
Including a portion of his 2023 First Presidency Christmas Devotional message, Elder Gerrit W. Gong spoke of the need to allow others to leave behind past mistakes and move forward.
“Are there those around us, perhaps we ourselves, who could be a different person if only we would stop typecasting or stereotyping them as their old self?”
In his first social media post since his call as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Patrick Kearon spoke about his experience of being called as a special witness of Jesus Christ. The caption of his video post read, “May we all find peace together in the only place we can truly find it — the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
The Strive to Be social media accounts posted a video of the Young Women general presidency with President Steven J. Lund and Brother Bradley R. Wilcox from the Young Men general presidency talking about registration for the 2024 FSY conferences.
Testifying of the importance of prayer President Mark L. Pace, Sunday School general president, said, “Is there a more valuable, more powerful, or simpler daily habit to acquire than prayer? Everyone can pray — no matter your age, your education, or where you stand on the covenant path.”
Brother Milton Camargo posted about thoughts he had while pondering the first three chapters of Revelation. “In my pondering, I learned by the Spirit that the Lord is always at our door, very close to our living room, even when we think we are far from Him. He is knocking on our door, and He is calling us.”
