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Quick Quotes on Christmas
 "The
message of this season that is applicable throughout the year lies not in
the receiving of earthly presents and treasures but in the forsaking of
selfishness and greed and in going forward, seeking and enjoying the gifts
of the Spirit, which Paul said are 'love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is
no law' (Gal. 5:22-23)." -James E. Faust, "A Christmas with No Presents,"
Ensign, Dec. 2001, page 6.
"Great gift-giving involves three things:
you feel what the other feels, you give freely, and you count sacrifice
a bargain. . . .It will take some practice, more than one holiday, to
learn how to be touched by what's inside others. And giving freely and
counting sacrifice as joy will take a while. But we could at least start
this Christmas being a good receiver. We have the power to make others
great gift-givers by what we notice. We can make any gift better by what
we choose to see--and we can, by failing to notice, make any gift a
failure. Gift giving takes a giver and a receiver. I hope we use this
theory not to criticize the gifts and giving that come our way this
year, but to see how often our hearts are understood and how often gifts
are given joyfully, even with sacrifice." -Henry B. Eyring,
"Giving with Joy," Liahona, Dec. 1996, 12) .
"At the focal point of all human history,
a point illuminated by a new star in the heavens revealed for just such
a purpose, probably no other mortal watched--none but a poor young
carpenter, a beautiful virgin mother, and silent stabled animals who had
not the power to utter the sacredness they had seen. Shepherds
would soon arrive and later, wise men from the East. Later yet the
memory of that night would bring Santa Claus and Frosty and Rudolph--and
all would be welcome. But first and forever there was just a little
family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby--that's how
Christmas began. It is for this baby that we shout in chorus:
'Hark! the herald angels sing 'Glory to the newborn King! . . . Mild he
lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons
of earth, Born to give them second birth' (Hymns, no. 209)."
-Jeffrey R. Holland, "Without Ribbons and Bows," New Era, Dec. 1994, 6.
"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." -John A. Widtsoe, "The
Gifts of Christmas," Ensign, Dec. 1972, 4
"How is
Christmas regarded today? The legend of Santa Claus, the Christmas
tree, the decorations of tinsel and mistletoe, and the giving of gifts
all express to us the spirit of the day we celebrate; but the true
spirit of Christmas lies much deeper than these. It is found in the
life of the Savior, in the principles He taught, in His atoning
sacrifice--which become our great heritage." -Howard W. Hunter, "The
Real Christmas," Ensign, Dec. 2005, 24
"For a few moments, may we set aside the catalogs of Christmas, with their gifts
of exotic description. Let's even turn from the flowers for Mother, the special
tie for Father, the cute doll, the train that whistles, the long-awaited
bicycle—even the books and videos—and direct our thoughts to God-given gifts
that endure." -President Thomas S.
Monson, Liahona and Ensign, Dec. 2006, 2–7
"It
seems as though there is a tug-of-war between opposing character traits that
leaves no voids in our souls. As gratitude is absent or disappears, rebellion
often enters and fills the vacuum. I do not speak of rebellion against civil
oppression. I refer to rebellion against moral cleanliness, beauty, decency,
honesty, reverence, and respect for parental authority. A grateful heart is a
beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for
the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment,
happiness, love, and well-being. . . . As with all commandments, gratitude is a
description of a successful mode of living. The thankful heart opens our eyes to
a multitude of blessings that continually surround us. President J. Reuben
Clark, formerly a First Counselor in the First Presidency, said: 'Hold fast to
the blessings which God has provided for you. Yours is not the task to gain
them, they are here; yours is the part of cherishing them' (Church News, 14 June
1969, 2). At this Christmas season, I hope that we may cultivate grateful
hearts so that we may cherish the multitude of blessings that God has so
graciously bestowed. May we openly express such gratitude to our Father in
Heaven and our fellowmen." -James E. Faust, "Gratitude As a Saving Principle,"
Ensign, Dec. 1996, 5-6.
"Not too long ago we walked where He
walked, in Shepherd's Field, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Cana, Galilee,
Jerusalem, Gethsemane, Golgotha, the empty tomb. We sensed the majesty
and the wonder of this man called Jesus. "He taught us the
wondrous things of God. He opened the eyes of understanding to all who
would listen. He was the fulfillment of the law, the sacrifice that
would thereafter do away with every other sacrifice. 'For unto us
a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be
upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,
The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace' (Isaiah
9:6)." -Gordon B. Hinckley, "A Season for Gratitude," Liahona,
Dec. 1997, 4-5
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