I am the oldest of five children. When I was in Primary, and later when I was a teenager, I had a least favorite present each year. Before Christmas came, I was already sad about it and disappointed in it. If it sounds selfish or ungrateful to say this is how I felt, it was.
Every year, my two sisters, my two brothers and I would receive a “family” gift. Our parents would give it to us to encourage us to do something together. Sometimes it was as simple as an oversized coloring book, with a box of crayons, to color in together. Other times it was a board game. No matter what, I was determined to be unhappy with it.
Recently, I was going through some old family photos, and I found pictures of other gifts that I had received over the course of many Christmases — action figures, colorful building blocks, a CD player. At the time, I was very happy to get whatever gift was just for me.
But the reality was that I didn’t remember getting those presents until I saw the photos. On the other hand, without prompting, I could have recalled many of the “family” gifts I tried so hard not to like. I remember endless family nights when we played the board games we had received as family gifts. We played some until the boards wore out and after we had to replace lost pieces. I remember being a teenage boy and coloring with my 3-year-old little brother in one of the big coloring books.
For as much as I didn’t want to care about the gift that was meant to be shared, those are the ones I remember most. They are the ones I treasure.
In October 2023 general conference, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles talked about how it is possible to get caught up in looking for treasure everywhere except for the one place we will never fail to find it. He invited us to remember that Jesus Christ is “our greatest treasure.”
“Remember and always focus on Jesus Christ,” he said.
In the First Presidency’s Christmas message this year, they wrote that Christmas is a season often associated with gifts. “The most desirable gifts are those offered to us by our loving Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Elder Renlund mentioned what some of those gifts or treasures from the Savior are in his conference message.
“Treasure the opportunity to repent, the privilege of partaking of the sacrament, the blessing of making and keeping temple covenants, the delight of worshipping in the temple and the joy of having a living prophet,” he said.
One day when this life has passed us by, those gifts may be the ones remembered far more than anything else received or given during the Christmas season. We will look back in gratitude for forgiveness, covenant blessings, houses of the Lord both near and far, and the chance to learn from latter-day prophets.
The Jesus whose birth we celebrate was not just a nice guy who did some nice things during His short life. He lived and died and lives again. He is the Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the Counsellor. He is the Prince of Peace. And He is Wonderful.
May we all give thanks to our Heavenly Father for His gift — our treasure — Jesus Christ throughout this month and throughout all our lives.
— Jon Ryan Jensen is editor of the Church News.
