Skip to main content

2011 First Presidency Christmas Devotional

Did you watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional last Sunday? Wasn't it wonderful? It's one of the few things that light the Christmas spirit in me (I'm somewhat of a Scrooge, for those of you who don't know me). I am watching it again now because I missed some of it and wanted to remember the parts that touched me so I can share them with you:

Opening & Closing
  • Love the wintry blue dresses instead of red.
  • The French horns in "The First Noel" sounded heavenly. The entire song was angelic.
  • MoTab sang "Silent Night" with much reverence and sincerity. The harp was beautiful.
President Uchtdorf
  • "Don't ever play with fire--an important message with literal and figurative implications for everyone, not only children."
  • "The Lord does not expect that we commit to move mountains, but He does require that we bring as gifts our best efforts to move ourselves, one foot in front of the other, walking in the ways He has prepared and taught."
  • "Of course, we do not need a Christmas holiday or Christmas traditions to remember Jesus Christ, our Savior. But the celebrations of Christmas can help remind us of Him. The hallowed Christmas season can be an opportunity--and should be one--to recommit to keep the fire of the spirit and the glory of the Son of God burning in our hearts every day throughout the year."
President Eyring
  • Has there always been a fireplace and window background or is that new? It makes it more homey, like a grandfather talking to his family at home rather than in the Conference Center.
  • The video clip was a nice difference and was superbly done. I definitely felt the Spirit testify to me of Mary's divine calling, the Savior's divine birth and mission, and the wise men's true worship of Him.
  • "Well, you can give a great and wonderful Christmas if you will remember the gifts He has given you, and as best you can, offer them to others as He would. That is the true spirit of Christmas and happiness everyday."
President Monson
  • It was also different and very touching to hear President Monson testify of the divine calling of his counselors.
  • He shared his sadness over the commercialism of Christmas but reminded us that "Christmas is what we make of it" and that "despite all the distractions,we can see to it that Christ is the center of our celebration."
  • "[The spirit of Christmas] illuminates the picture window of the soul. We look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than in things."
  • Quoting another: "Let us not spend Christmas, but let us keep Christmas, in our hearts and in our lives."
  • "When we keep the spirit of Christmas, we keep the spirit of Christ."
Sharing Time: What part(s) of the First Presidency Christmas Devotional touched you?
Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
we watched it and it was great as usual. love your notes-DAD
December 14, 2011 at 1:16 AM
Anonymous said…
I share President Monson's sadness over the commercialism of Christmas. Dickens was talking about this in his day. It is one of the themes of the movie "Miracle on 34th Street".
Yes, "Christmas is what we make of it." As you know, I've been encouraging the family to decrease the focus on gifts, and concentrate more on family time together. This has not gone over well with many family members, but I am still working on it.
A sister in our ward was telling me how she was making a big effort to teach her young children the true meaning of Christmas and shared some of the ideas she would use this year. I hope she was successful. I know when Christ is the center of our Christmas, there are no distractions, and all the wholesome and "fun" things about Christmas are "more fun" than ever.
Mom
December 29, 2011 at 3:11 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New URL Coming Soon To Avoid Using "Mormon"

photo by ilker In light of President Nelson's talk in October 2018 general conference , I will be changing the title and address of this blog very soon to eliminate the use of the word "Mormon." Because I won't be buying a domain name, I don't know what the new URL and blog name will be yet. I'm not very literate in the website world, so please bear with me as I roll out these changes. I'm trying to learn as much as I can quickly to reduce broken links and errors. Thank you, and I hope you keep reading my blog!
Post a Comment
Read more

"Be Thou an Example of the Believers" at Home

Today, my husband and I spoke in sacrament meeting. Here is the first part of my talk ( read Part 2  and Part 3 ): “The effect of our words and acts is tremendous in this world. Every moment of life you are changing to a degree the lives of the whole world.” Those are the words of President David O. McKay.* If we have such an astounding influence over the world, we need to be examples of righteousness. As Paul counseled, “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. . . . Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in so doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:12, 16). The Lord said, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also” (John 14:12). So to be an example of the believers is to do what the Lord has done so that we can “save [ourselves], and them that hear [us].” We usually apply this principle to missionary work, but it also e...
3 comments
Read more

Mormons and Gay Marriage

photo by Matt Cook It is known news that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) contributed much to stop gay marriage from becoming legal in California. However, most people do not understand fully why we are against it. I will address common questions concerning Mormons and their opposition to gay marriage. Are Mormons against gay people? No. As the expression goes, we "hate the sin, not the sinner." That creed applies to any person struggling with sin, not just gay people. What we disapprove of is the homosexual lifestyle. There are members of our Church who are homosexual yet as worthy as heterosexual members because they do not participate in that lifestyle. Elder Holland said , "Let me make it clear that attractions alone, troublesome as they may be, do not make one unworthy. The First Presidency has stated, 'There is a distinction between immoral thoughts and feelings and participating in either immoral heterosexual or any homosexual...
2 comments
Read more