Like so many events in our lives, Christmas arrives on the appointed day, whether we are ready or not. As we approach this season, we have a choice: We can either prepare to receive an ordinary Christmas or prepare to receive Christ. The invitation is extended year after year, day after day, to come unto Jesus and become one with Him.
The essence of Christmas is to center our focus on the Savior and understand what His life truly means. As President Russell M. Nelson emphasized, “There is nothing more important we can do this Christmas than to rivet our focus on the Savior and on the gift of what His life really means to each of us” ('Divine Gifts,' First Presidency Christmas Devotional, December 2020) Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we too can invite Jesus to “Abide with us” (Luke 24:29).
Christmas began in the premortal existence
To fully appreciate Christmas, let us time-travel backwards through history to its origins. “Christmas has premortal beginnings. Despite the veil of forgetfulness that shrouds our minds, we all sat in premortal councils and heard the Father and the Son teach the plan of salvation.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, Our Day Star Rising [2022], Revelation 12) The birth of Jesus Christ on a particular night, at a particular time, and in a particular place was a pivotal moment in history.
A few years ago, I attended a musical drama, “Savior of the World: His Birth and Resurrection,” at the Conference Centre in Salt Lake City, Utah. The scene was breathtaking as several cast members dressed in white gathered on the colonnade above the stage. My heart was full, overwhelmed by the portrayal of witnesses to these sacred events. Did I witness the birth of Jesus firsthand? Did I observe the plan of salvation in motion? I believe we were all there. The scriptures describe how “they were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand” (D&C 138:15). Surely, there was rejoicing at the first Christmas.
The Savior’s birth is a sign of God’s love
The birth of Jesus Christ was a profound event. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland noted, “God in His ultimate effort to have us know Him, sent to earth His Only Begotten and perfect Son, created in His very likeness and image, to live and serve among mortals in the everyday rigors of life” (Ensign, Oct. 2003, 71). Christmas serves as a conscious commemoration of God’s immense love for us, demonstrated by sending His Son.
He who controls the winds and waves entered the world in a gentle whisper, born in a manger, the resting place for Jesus, the source of peace and rest. The humility of His birth is both astounding and beyond comprehension. The birth of the homeless One is celebrated with every Christmas acknowledgment.
I remember sitting alone in a large room surrounded by a variety of nativity representations made of cloth, wood, paper, stained glass, and ceramic.
There were stables shaped like teepees and igloos, with lions, elephants, buffalo, sheep, and a Santa Claus kneeling before the manger. A palpable spirit enveloped the room.
This diversity of nativities reflects the inclusivity of Christ’s birth. The shepherds came from the fields, heavenly angels rejoiced and sang, and the magi journeyed from afar bearing gifts. Each nativity is a testament to the gathering of all God’s children, symbolizing the unity within diversity that is Christ’s church. As Paul taught, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints embraces all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.
Yet, the peace of the nativity scene belies the opposition that soon followed. “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11). The holy family would soon need to escape to Egypt to avoid Herod's decree. This moment of peace was fleeting in an ongoing struggle that will end only when Jesus returns to rule in power and glory.
When we love others, we also love Him
However, Christ’s birth is not the end but the beginning of victory. It offers a glimpse of a coming millennial life devoid of sorrow, pain, and tears, except for tears of joy. Each December, as we focus on Jesus Christ through uplifting news stories, acts of charity, and Christmas miracles, we catch a vision of the future kingdom of heaven that awaits us.
Traditions during Christmas help connect us to memories of the past and to create new ones. Many holiday elements can lead our hearts to Jesus Christ, filling us with gratitude for the bounteous world around us. As Ryan Whitaker Smith writes, “Give Santa Claus a place at Christmas, so long as it is not the highest place. Sing songs about flying reindeer, but let them fly lower than the angels. Set cookies and milk out on Christmas Eve, but remember that flour and sugar and cream are of lesser value than gold and frankincense and myrrh.” (Smith, Ryan Whitaker. Winter Fire: Christmas with G.K. Chesterton, [2023], 109)
December is filled with numerous gatherings that shield us from the dark and cold of winter. These gatherings, both small and large, are opportunities to worship the eternal source of light and warmth. By extending the spirit of Christmas throughout the winter season, we can shorten the darkness.
Ultimately, Christmas is more than the sum of its parts: presents, nativities, family gatherings, fruitcakes, and festive dinners. It is the presence of Jesus and His light and love permeating the air and penetrating our hearts. This Christmas and always: “Jesus of Nazareth requests the honour of your presence.” (Adaptations from a story by Peter Marshall - Elder David B. Haight “By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them” BYU December 7, 1980)