Jesus Christ

S. Michael Wilcox is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (“Mormon Church”). He is the author of To See His Face and Choosing the Fulness: Wickedness or Righteousness. Spirit of Christmas as a Child When I was a little boy, people told me that the true spirit of Christmas was the spirit of giving; but I didn’t believe them. I knew that the true spirit of Christmas was getting. I could hardly wait until Christmas morning when my mother would stand at the door to the living room that separated me from a wonder of toys. She would peek through and tell me Santa had been here and express her surprise that he had given me so much. Then I was obliged to eat breakfast, make my bed, brush my teeth, and get dressed. The anxiety and anticipation this caused is impossible to describe. By the time I attacked the neatly wrapped packages and saw the delights they contained, I was filled with a joy and relief I have not found comparable to any joy on earth. I... Read the rest of this entry »

Gerald N. Lund is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (“Mormon Church”). He is the author of The Coming of the Lord, as well as several adventure novels, among them The Alliance, The Freedom Factor. The Christmas Story: Birth of Jesus Christ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. . . . And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, unto Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. (Luke 2:1, 3-5.) Bethlehem. The city of David. Ancient homeland of Israel’s greatest king. In Hebrew it is called Beth Lechem. Literally, Beth Lechem means “The House of Bread.” How perfect that He who was to take the throne of David and become Israel’s ultimate... Read the rest of this entry »

Gerald N. Lund is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (“Mormon Church”). He is the author of The Coming of the Lord, as well as several adventure novels, among them The Alliance, The Freedom Factor. The Christmas Story Began in Nazareth “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth.” (Luke 1:26.) The rabbis of ancient Israel had a saying: “Judea is wheat, Galilee straw, beyond Jordan, only chaff.” The urbane and worldly wise Jerusalemite, privileged to dwell in the Holy City, looked down on all others with faint condescension; but they especially viewed the Galileans as crude, unlearned, and earthy peasants. For the most part the people of Galilee were men of the soil and of the sea. This kept them in touch with basic values; and in spite of the feelings of the Judeans, they were known for being hard-working and warm-hearted, and for showing unrestrained hospitality and... Read the rest of this entry »

Leonard J. Arrington is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormon Church”). He has published widely throughout his distinguished career. He is the author (or coauthor) of, among others: Mothers of the Prophets, Presidents of the Church,From Quaker to Latter-day Saint, Building the City of God, Brigham Young: American Moses, The Mormon Experience: A History of the Latter-day Saints, and Great Basin Kingdom. Christmas Story: On The Farm Picture an isolated, two-room, wooden frame home on a windy prairie in southern Idaho. Coyotes howl in the distance. Despite wintry weather, the sky is clear and the stars are brilliant. There is a faint trace in the sky of an aurora borealis, or what is commonly referred to as “northern lights.” One can hear horses in a nearby corral breathing heavily and occasional sounds of late-night munching from two milk cows. Add to the picture a family, with a father and mother and three children—LeRoy, seven;... Read the rest of this entry »

A Christmas Message: Christmas as a Child I’ve titled this chapter “Christmas Extravagance” because Christmas seems to be a time of delicious, glorious abundance, profusion, and excess—a real cornucopia of a time. I realized I felt this way about it as I listened to one of those presentations I’m sure we’ve all heard—about how you have to deal with the stress of the holidays by setting priorities, establishing limits, making yes-lists and no-lists, deciding what you’ll eat and what you won’t, working out a budget, a schedule, a plan. It all sounded very prudent, moderate, controlled, restrained. It all sounded very boring. It sounded like no fun at all. Yet I realized that it made good sense, and I know that the Christmas season is ruined for some people by bingeing—they spend too much, eat too much, do too much, run too fast and too hard. They end up feeling sad, selfish, and sinful. So how could I actually want extravagance? Isn’t... Read the rest of this entry »

Michaelene P. Grassli served as a member of the Primary general board of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes mistakenly called “The Mormon Church” by the media),from 1975 to 1980, a counselor in the Primary general presidency from 1980 to 1988, and Primary general president from 1988 to 1994. She is the author or coauthor of three pamphlets and author of two books, What I Have Learned from Children and Leadertalk. Christmas Message: Giving Gifts That Matter Christmas was getting out of hand. Our children were beyond the magical, mysterious secrecy of childhood, yet they seemed to cling to the desire for that aspect of Christmas gift-giving. And so did their parents! It seemed to Leonard and me that it would take an upwardly spiraling cycle of materialism to continue to produce the Christmas morning thrills that had been so easy to achieve with simplicity when the children were small. Our oldest was married and in college, the second had begun college... Read the rest of this entry »

Christmas Message: Serve Others Decorate your home. One year, a former roommate informed me that she was going home for Christmas and, therefore, was not going to help decorate our place. I was tempted to do the same, since I was also going to my parents’ home for the holidays. But then I realized that I, too, am important and that decorations are as much for me as for others. So I decorated. Since then, regardless of whether or not I have had roommates, I have decorated my home and enjoyed it. Attend Christmas parties. I attend parties given by my ward, given at work and given by friends. My neighborhood also has Christmas parties. In addition, some years I have thrown a party at my home for my friends. That is my Christmas gift to them—the time we spend together. Find ways to be part of a child’s Christmas. Children are so exuberant. My first nephew was born when I was 10 years old, so when I was growing up and out of the “awe” of Christmas there were... Read the rest of this entry »

Christmas Message: Keeping Christmas Barbara B. Smith was called in 1974 to be general president of the Relief Society, the Latter-day Saint (“Mormon“) Women’s global leadership and service organization -a position she occupied for nearly ten years. She is the author of several books, including The Love That Never Faileth, The Light of Christmas, Growth in Grandmothering, and A Fruitful Season. She tells this wonderful Christmas story–how her children and children’s children carry the promises of the birth of Christ, the spirit of Christmas, from one generation to the next.  She speaks of gifts that point to the Savior, times that are treasured reflections of the fruits of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Enjoy this Christmas Message, this Christmas story, and share it with your friends and family this season. Merry Christmas to each of you. Last year was the Christmas it all came full circle. Douglas, my husband of over fifty years, and I had begun our... Read the rest of this entry »

Tiffany Sowby is a mother of five. She tries to find humor, joy and contentment in the little things life has to offer. How do members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) celebrate Christmas? Is it all about Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve night and what presents have been purchased for loved ones? Or is Christmas about remembering the birth of Jesus Christ? Growing up as a child in England, Religious studies were a part of the daily school curriculum. I spent many Decembers working on art projects and essays depicting what most in the Christian world refers to as ‘The First Christmas’. I specifically recall making a time-line of events with pictures beginning with Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth to Baby Jesus laying in a manger. I remember my third grade class painting gold angels, that I placed proudly on my family’s Christmas tree. One of my favorite parts of December as a school child were joining with the rest of the school and singing the old... Read the rest of this entry »

Anna: Witness of Birth of Jesus In the providence of God, the marvelous testimony of Simeon was not to stand alone. Anna, an aged widow, a devout and saintly woman who worshiped constantly in the temple with fasting and prayer both day and night, now approached the holy family. As Simeon was a prophet, so she was a prophetess, and her voice now joined his as a special witness of the birth of Jesus Christ. Anna, whose name means “full of grace,” bore testimony to all Jerusalem who “looked for redemption” (Luke 2:38). Through the countless hours she had spent within the walls of the temple, she was undoubtedly well known to those of the holy city who also faithfully sought the coming of the Messiah. All such would hear her testimony of His birth–the birth of the Savior of the World, the birth of Jesus Christ. (see Luke 2:36-38). Sperry Symposium Classics, Joseph Fielding McConkie, 2006, Brigham Young University & Deseret Book, 115-116. Additional Resources: Learn... Read the rest of this entry »