Elder John A. Widtsoe on giving gifts to the Lord and others

Elder John A. Widtsoe (1872-1952) was born in Norway. He was raised by his widowed mother who immigrated to Utah when John was 11. He was educated at Harvard and in Europe, and had formative roles in programs in several Utah universities including BYU. He served as an apostle from 1921 to his death in 1952.

"How can we give to the Lord? What shall we give to him? Every kind word to our own, every help given them, is as a gift to God, whose chief concern is the welfare of his children. Every gentle deed to our neighbor, every kindness to the poor and suffering, is a gift to the Lord, before whom all mankind are equal. Every conformity to the Lord’s plan of salvation—and this is of first importance—is a direct gift to God, for thereby we fit ourselves more nearly for our divinely planned destiny.

"The desire and the effort to give to the Lord, born of the surrender of man to the plan of salvation, stamp every Christmas gift with genuine value. They who identify themselves with the plan, who do not resist it, who earnestly seek to tread the path of the plan, are true givers to the Lord, and their gifts to men come with the flavor of heaven. The Lord and his plan must have place in our Christmas celebration....

"Would it not be well this Christmas to give first to the Lord, directly through obedience, sacrifice, and love, and then to give to him indirectly through gifts to friends and those in need as well as to our own? Should we do this, perhaps many of us would discover a new Christmas joy."

- John A. Widtsoe, "The Gifts of Christmas," The Improvement Era, vol. 38 [1935], p. 752; reprinted in Ensign, December 1972, p. 4
Click here to read the full talk

This is a fascinating short talk by Elder Widtsoe—I recommend following the link and reading the full article. He encourages us to ponder the act of gift-giving, and particularly to think about how our gifts to one another can demonstrate our love for the Lord. Since He cares so deeply for each of His children, any act of kindness or service we render to others is also an act of kindness towards Him. More importantly, every act of obedience to God is a "direct gift to God" as we thereby grow and prepare to serve more completely.

This final paragraph is a beautiful summary of Elder Widtsoe's philosophy. First, we give directly to God as we show love, sacrifice, and obedience; then we give indirectly to Him as we offer our loving contributions to one another. Through this process, we truly "discover a new Christmas joy."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Heber J. Grant on the date of Christmas celebration

President Heber J. Grant (1856-1945) was ordained an apostle in 1882 when he was 25 years old.  He served as president of the Church from 1918 until his death in 1945 at age 88.  His tenure as president lasted over 26 years; only Brigham Young had a longer term (over 29 years).

"The birth of Christ our Lord was more than an incident, it was an epoch in the history of the world to which prophets had looked forward, of which poets had sung, and in which angels joined their voices with mortals in praise to God. It was the day decreed and foreordained by our Father who is in heaven when He would manifest Himself to His children, who are here upon earth, in the person of His Only Begotten Son.

"Whether or not the 25th day of December is the proper date of the birth of Christ, our Lord, matters little. We join with other Christian people in celebrating it as such and if we observe it in the true spirit of the Master, renewing the covenant which we have made that we are willing to take upon us His name, and keep the commandments which He has given, our offering will be accepted.

"He came that man might see and know God as He is, for He bore witness that whoever had seen Him had seen the Father, for He was the express image of His person.

"He came to teach us the character of God, and by example and precept pointed out the path which, if we walk in it, will lead us back into His presence. He came to break the bands of death with which man was bound, and made possible the resurrection by which the grave is robbed of its victory and death of its sting."

- Heber J. Grant, First Presidency Christmas Greeting, Deseret Evening News, Dec. 25, 1925; quoted by President Grant during the April 1926 General Conference as being appropriate for Easter Sunday; see Conference Report, April 1926, p. 13

It's pretty well accepted that December 25 is likely not the actual date of the birth of the Savior. However, it's become the traditional date of commemoration, and President Grant points out that it is the events and spirit of the celebration that matter far more than the accuracy of the date being honored. His coming to earth has such profound significance to mankind, and we are blessed to recognize and remember that meaning:

President Grant suggests that an important part of the Christmas celebration would be to "[renew] the covenant which we have made that we are willing to take upon us His name, and keep the commandments." One of the purposes of His coming to earth was to "teach us the character of God" by precept and example, and as we follow that example, it "will lead us back into His presence."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Spencer W. Kimball on gratitude for the blessings of Christmas

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) was ordained an apostle in 1943 and served as President of the Church from 1973 to 1985.

"We celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ at this season of the year. How grateful we are that the baby Jesus was born. His birth and life and death were the greatest of all. He died a propitiation for our sins to open the way for our resurrection, to point the way to our perfection of life, to show the way to exaltation. He died purposefully, voluntarily. His birth was humble, his life was perfect, his example was compelling; his death opened doors, and man was offered every good gift and blessing.

"Yes, every soul has his agency. We can have all the blessings Christ lived and died to give us. But Christ’s death and plan are in vain if we do not take advantage of them: 'For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent.' (D&C 19:16.)

"The Savior came 'to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.' (Moses 1:39.) His birth, death, and resurrection brought about the first. But we must join our efforts with his to bring about the second, to attain eternal life....

"It is well that at this time of the year we pour out our hearts in prayers of love and thanksgiving to our Father in Heaven: We are grateful, Father, that we know so positively that thou dost live; that we know the babe born in Bethlehem was in reality thy Son; grateful that thy plan of salvation is real, workable, and exalting. We know thee, Lord. We love thee, and will follow thee. We pledge again our lives, our all, to thy cause.

"At this beautiful season, we invite all people everywhere to join us in our prayers of joy and love and gratitude for the life and teachings of our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

- Spencer W. Kimball, "Jesus of Nazareth," Ensign, December 1984 p. 4
Click here to read the full article

As we enjoy the spirit of the season of the year in which we celebrate the Savior's birth, President Kimball reflects on the blessing it is to have that knowledge: "His birth was humble, his life was perfect, his example was compelling; his death opened doors, and man was offered every good gift and blessing." We were offered every good gift and blessing; we need only use our God-given agency to claim them. The greatest of all the blessings offered to us include immortality and eternal life; the first, the gift of living forever beyond this life, is wholly and freely given to all mankind. The second, the quality of life we live in the eternities, is what we must act to claim along with His gift to us.

From time to time we hear our prophetic leaders offer prayers to God as part of their discourses, and this is a beautiful example. President Kimball shows us how to "pour out our hearts in prayers of love and thanksgiving" for the knowledge of God's existence and of the divine plan of salvation He offers to us through His Son. The spirit of gratitude is followed by a spirit of re-commitment to act in obedience and share His love.

Truly, as we ponder the Christmas season, we should feel profoundly grateful and moved to join in that prayer "of joy and love and gratitude for the life and teachings of our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, the Son of God." How blessed we truly are!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Thomas S. Monson on lessons from 'A Christmas Carol'

President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1963. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency with Presidents Benson, Hunter, and Hinckley and then became Church president in 2008. He led the Church for almost a decade until his passing in January 2018.

"As we remember that 'when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God' (Mosiah 2:17), we will not find ourselves in the unenviable position of Jacob Marley’s ghost, who spoke to Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens’ immortal A Christmas Carol. Marley spoke sadly of opportunities lost. Said he: 'Not to know that any Christian spirit working kindly in its little sphere, whatever it may be, will find its mortal life too short for its vast means of usefulness. Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunities misused! Yet such was I. Oh! such was I!'

"Marley added: 'Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me!'

"Fortunately, as we know, Ebenezer Scrooge changed his life for the better. I love his line, 'I am not the man I was.'

"Why is the story A Christmas Carol so popular? Why is it ever new? I personally feel it is inspired of God. It brings out the best within human nature. It gives hope. It motivates change. We can turn from the paths which would lead us down and, with a song in our hearts, follow a star and walk toward the light. We can quicken our step, bolster our courage, and bask in the sunlight of truth. We can hear more clearly the laughter of little children. We can dry the tear of the weeping. We can comfort the dying by sharing the promise of eternal life. If we lift one weary hand which hangs down, if we bring peace to one struggling soul, if we give as did the Master, we can—by showing the way—become a guiding star for some lost mariner.

"Because life is fragile and death inevitable, we must make the most of each day."

- Thomas S. Monson, "Now Is the Time," General Conference October 2001
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Persident Monson often used familiar, down-to-earth stories and analogies in his messages. In this general conference address about the importance of service to others, he used a familiar Christmas example—the story of A Christmas Carol that he considered to be an inspired message. Jacob Marley's heartfelt regret was to have lived a selfish and unserving life, caring only for his own needs and pleasures and not for the good of those around him. President Monson encouraged us to learn from the message of the story, and to raise our eyes "to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode":

The blessings that come from an unselfish life are rich and deep. President Monson lists ways that a life of service is magnified, filled with joy and laughter and opportunities to ease suffering and pain. We not only follow the star, but we "become a guiding star" for others as we live that kind of life..

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf on efforts to have a perfect Christmas

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf (born November 6, 1940) served as a Seventy from 1994-2004, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve.  He served as second counselor in the First Presidency from 2008 to 2018.

"Sometimes it seems that our efforts to have a perfect Christmas season are like a game of Jenga—you know, the one played with small wooden blocks that are precariously stacked up to a tower. As we try to increase the height of the tower, we pull out one wooden block before we can place it on top of the delicate structure.

"Each of those little wooden blocks is a symbol of the perfect Christmas events we so desperately want to have. We have in our minds a picture of how everything should be—the perfect tree, the perfect lights, the perfect gifts, and the perfect family events. We might even want to re-create some magical moment we remember from Christmases past, and nothing short of perfection will do.

"Sooner or later, something unpleasant occurs—the wooden blocks tumble, the drapes catch fire, the turkey burns, the sweater is the wrong size, the toys are missing batteries, the children quarrel, the pressure rises—and the picture-perfect Christmas we had imagined, the magic we had intended to create, shatters around us. As a result, the Christmas season is often a time of stress, anxiety, frustration, and perhaps even disappointment.

"But then, if we are only willing to open our hearts and minds to the spirit of Christmas, we will recognize wonderful things happening around us that will direct or redirect our attention to the sublime. It is usually something small—we read a verse of scripture; we hear a sacred carol and really listen, perhaps for the first time, to its words; or we witness a sincere expression of love. In one way or another, the Spirit touches our hearts, and we see that Christmas, in its essence, is much more sturdy and enduring than the many minor things of life we too often use to adorn it.

"In these precious moments we realize what we feel and know in our heart—that Christmas is really about the Christ."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Curtains, Contentment, and Christmas," First Presidency Christmas Devotional, December 4, 2011
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Speaking at the First Presidency Christmas Devotional in 2011, President Uchtdorf shared this interesting analogy. We sometimes try so hard to get every detail of the Christmas season in perfect balance and alignment, and it can cause no small amount of tension and frustration—especially when something unexpected happens and the carefully-balanced "tower" topples:

Instead of being consumed by the superficial external details of the season, President Uchtdorf counseled us "to open our hearts and minds to the spirit of Christmas" and allow the little things to touch our hearts. Then we will be reminded that the real meaning and message of the Christmas season is not so easily toppled; it lies in our faith and belief about the Savior.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Boyd K. Packer on moving forward in faith and strength

President Boyd K. Packer (1924-2015) served as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve (a position that no longer exists) from 1961 to 1970, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He served as president of that Quorum from 1994 until his death in 2015 at age 90.

"Now another generation of youth comes forward. We see a strength in them beyond what we have seen before. Drinking and drugs and moral mischief are not a part of their lives. They band together in study of the gospel, in socials, and in service.

"They are not perfect. Not yet. They are doing the best they can, and they are stronger than the generations that came before.

"As the Lord told Oliver Granger, 'When [they fall they] shall rise again, for [their] sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than [their] increase' (D&C 117:13).

"Some worry endlessly over missions that were missed, or marriages that did not turn out, or babies that did not arrive, or children that seem lost, or dreams unfulfilled, or because age limits what they can do. I do not think it pleases the Lord when we worry because we think we never do enough or that what we do is never good enough.

"Some needlessly carry a heavy burden of guilt which could be removed through confession and repentance.

"The Lord did not say of Oliver, '[If] he falls,' but 'When he falls he shall rise again' (D&C 117:13; emphasis added)."

- Boyd K. Packer, "The Least of These," General Conference October 2004
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

President Packer recognizes a strength in the rising generation of youth that is exceptional, and many of us have witnessed that—youth who are resisting temptation and striving to be faithful and obedient in greater measure than ever. But yet there are great challenges, and mistakes will be made; President Packer reassures us there is a power to help us overcome any misstep:

That's a powerful message; it does not please God when we dwell on the mistakes, missed opportunities, or apparent failures of our past; or if we consider ourselves inadequate or insufficient to serve Him adequately. "I do not think it pleases the Lord." We must put the things of the past behind us and move forward with faith, hope, and confidence in Him.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Neil L. Andersen on the need for quiet time in our lives

Elder Neil L. Andersen (born August 9, 1951) served as a Seventy beginning in 1993, and was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2009.

"I have thought at times how different my children’s lives are from my own growing up on a small family farm in southern Idaho in the 1950s and 1960s. Long days building a fence with my father, silent hours of moving irrigation pipe in potato fields, a home with one television that received only three channels, no computer, no MP3s, no mobile phones, few trips beyond nearby towns, few distractions, and much time with family—these were the building blocks of many of my generation.

"In today’s world we must provide quiet, reflective times for our children and teach them how to listen to the still, small voice. With all the blessings our modern age has given to us, let us not give up the things that promote the workings of the Holy Ghost: time alone to pray, ponder, meditate, and read the scriptures; and time with family undisturbed by noise, distractions, and too many activities."

- Neil L. Andersen, "A Gift Worthy of Added Care," Ensign, December 2010 pp. 32-33
Click here to read the full article

Life truly has become far more complex in the recent generation. Like Elder Andersen, I remember the quieter, simpler times of the past when there were far fewer distractions and much more time to think and to listen. It's a subtle but dangerous trend that makes us think we have to fill every moment with noise, stimulation, activity, or entertainment. I love to hike to find my quiet time, but I'm often distressed to see young people with music blaring loudly from speakers attached to their packs even in that setting!

And as Elder Andersen notes, back then we tended to have "much more time with family" than now, which is perhaps the most damaging trend of all.

So how do we combat these negative influences?

It takes effort, commitment, scheduling, and cooperation to make this happen—to "provide quiet, reflective time" in our homes and families. We must not stop trying. This "time alone" with the Spirit truly can bless us far more than any technology or modern distraction.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)