As we prepare to honor that holy night over two millennia ago, let us come and adore Him. Pause. Reflect. Consider what Jesus Christ has done for each one of us—according to the will of His Father.
As Jeffrey R. Holland, an apostle of Jesus Christ, taught:
“He who was the Great Jehovah condescended to come to earth… to suffer, to bleed, and to die for all mankind.”
Let us never forget—Jesus was already a God when He descended from His throne on high. He came to accomplish a feat so infinite and eternal that none of us could do it for ourselves.
Joshua asked the people of his day a question that still reaches us now:
“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…
But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
That question remains.
What will you choose?
As individuals.
As families.
As a nation.
Will we choose Christ—or the false gods that led people astray then and still do today?
Note the music included was written by Sally DeFord along with the lyrics that are spoken.
It is a question we ask every year—sometimes quietly, sometimes urgently—especially when the world feels noisy, rushed, or distracted. Christmas is more than a date on a calendar. It is more than lights, gifts, or traditions.
Take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He “would fight [our] battles, [our] children’s battles, and [the battles of our] children’s children.” And what do we do to merit such a defense?
“True happiness comes only by making others happy. The spirit of Christmas makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service. It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Joseph stands in the Christmas story as one of the most remarkable yet least celebrated figures in all of scripture. He speaks no recorded words in the Bible, yet his actions speak with enduring power. He is the man God trusted to protect Mary, nurture Jesus, and quietly fulfill divine assignments that would change the world.
Join in remembering Joseph this Christmas season.
On a quiet night in Bethlehem, the world changed in a way few expected. No palace. No throne. No velvet cradle. Just a newborn child in a manger—hay for bedding and starlight for decoration.
“Mortal mathematics is forever mistaking who and what counts,” Elder Maxwell reminded us. The arithmetic of appreciation is not practiced nearly as much as the multiplication tables. Gratitude recalibrates our spiritual math. It helps us count what heaven counts: compassion, obedience, repentance, and love.
Paul taught that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace” (Gal. 5:22). Love turns ordinary minutes into ministry. Grace reminds us we are forgiven and growing. Gratitude refines our vision (Tracy Browning).
President Dallin H. Oaks in “Good, Better, Best” teaches that wise disciples choose the uses of time that lead to the greatest spiritual growth. “We have to forgo some good things in order to choose others that are better or best.” Choosing to be grateful for every 2% we have, brings happiness to our lives and perspective.
When were you given a new 24 hours of time by God? Even the breath we take is a gift from God. So is our free and priceless time. How is your grateful heart influencing your use of those 24 hours?
Cicero once taught that gratitude is 'not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.' Gratitude shapes people into happier, more peaceful individuals. Where gratitude abounds, joy flourishes. Where it is absent, sadness, resentment, and futility often take root.
Note: Thoughts include those of Joseph Wirthlin, Cicero, Gordon B. Hinckley, Joseph S. Smith and my own. Music by Sally DeFord
“To the Lord Jesus, who bought us with a great price, we owe an undying debt of gratitude.” — Marion G. Romney
Gratitude to Christ is expressed not simply through words but through devoted action. A grateful disciple becomes a servant, a peacemaker, a giver of kindness and i s a reflection of the Prince of Peace.
Our hope is bigger than any election. Governments change; God’s promises stand. We thank God that we can cast our vote and be active in changing results of elections. Always remembering - the real victory for each of us lies in Christ.
The path of discipleship always passes through Gethsemane. But joy will come. Angels will minister and light will dawn again. - Jeffrey R. Holland
In Japan, the ancient art of Kintsugi teaches us that when pottery break, it is repaired with gold, the crack are not hidden, they are honored. The repaired vessel becomes more valuable than the original.
In the same way, God fills the cracks in our lives with divine gold - His mercy, His forgiveness, His grace, His love, His power. He sees your infinite value no matter how many cracks or breaks there are in our lives.
This is a mini-series on the Desperation of Leadership over the next few days:
Loretta King said, 'Leadership is born out of the need to stand up for what’s right, even when the ground beneath you trembles.' We are called to run the final stretch—faithful, fearless, and full of light.
Will you run the race for which you were sent to earth to run?
We live in a world that constantly demands evidence. “Prove it,” they say. “Show me first, and then I’ll believe.”
But faith doesn’t work that way. Faith asks us to trust before we see, to obey before we understand, to walk when the way ahead is still dimly lit.
Even the words we speak should be seen as sacred, filled with kindness, compassion, presence.
“Heaven is cheering you on — today, tomorrow, and forever. Be not afraid to thank the Lord even in the dark, for dawn will break.” - Apostle, Jeffrey R. Holland