Sunday, December 07, 2008

First Presidency Christmas Devotional 12-7-08

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf - 2nd Counselor in First Presidency
He talked about when he was a child that Christmas started four weeks before Christmas during Advent.

On Christmas Eve one of his parents would take the children through the neighborhood to look at the lighted houses. He said that they they were very small lights, but he remembered how even the dimmest lights penetrated the darkness.

May we remember that Jesus Christ is the light of the world. Through our acts of compassion and love, let us fill the world with His light.

President Henry B. Eyring - First Counselor in the First Presidency
He talked about the Christmas pageants they would put on as a family and how they grew. First it was just him, his wife, and a doll. As children came into their family the cast filled out.

They eventually add Samuel the Lamanite testifying of the coming Savior's birth. As the children grew older they had to remind them that Samuel could not be hit since he was delivering the message of the Lord. Yet it took courage to be Samuel in their home.

The Savior chose to leave the Father's side and be born in a stable. He chose to heal and teach the people. He chose to suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane. He chose to die on the cross.

Elder Eyring shared the story of a bishop that would often receive people passing through the area to his dinner table. During the economic hard times of the day there were many traveling from place to place trying to find employment to feed their families. This bishop's dinner table often had strangers at it. After the meal he would fit them with some surplus army coats he had purchased and another meal packaged for later.

He said that he hoped we have and give a joyous Christmas.

President Thomas S. Monson - Prophet
It is essential that we make a concious concerted effort to bring Christ into our lives and into our homes.

There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved.

1 comment:

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