The story of Christmas is a story of love

Originally published in The Arrow Is Flown - a Tristan Baier weblog.

In the following five-minute video, quotations from last year’s First Presidency Christmas Devotional are interwoven with scenes from several segments of the Life of Jesus Christ series of Bible videos produced by the Church.

President Henry B. Eyring
2011 First Presidency Christmas Devotional

One of the most beautiful symbols of the birth of Jesus Christ into this world is light. The appearance of the long-promised Messiah brought light to a darkened world.

At the heart of the account of the birth of Jesus Christ is the testimony of angels…

God sent the angel Gabriel to Zacharias. The angel told him of the birth to the righteous and barren Elisabeth of John the Baptist, who would prepare the way for Jesus. Mary received the same heavenly messenger to prepare her to become the mother of the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah. These righteous individuals knew and believed the sacred scriptures. Mary knew and loved this scripture, a prophecy by Isaiah:

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

“Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.”

And Elisabeth knew well that the Messiah would have a forerunner to prepare the way for Him. Isaiah, the poet-prophet, had written, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Both Elisabeth and Mary looked forward with confidence that the Savior of the world would come and that a great prophet would be His forerunner. But in their deep humility they were prepared by the Spirit for their sacred part in the greatest events in the history of all creation.

It was light and angels that gave guidance to those blessed to be a part of those transcendent events. The Wise Men were directed by a star to Jesus to worship Him. They opened their treasures and gave Him precious gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. They spoke of Him as the King of the Jews.

Now, as we have remembered the birth and early life of the Savior tonight, there are many lessons to learn…

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
2011 First Presidency Christmas Devotional

In these precious moments we realize what we feel and know in our heart—that Christmas is really about the Christ.

Christmas and some of the cherished traditions of the season remind us that we, like the Wise Men of old, should seek the Christ and lay before Him the most precious of gifts: a broken heart and a contrite spirit. We should offer Him our love. We should give Him our willingness to take upon ourselves His name and walk in the path of discipleship. We should promise to remember Him always, to emulate His example, and to go about doing good.

We cannot offer Him the gift of perfection in all things because this is a gift beyond our capacity to give — at least for now. 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.

President Thomas S. Monson
2009 First Presidency Christmas Devotional

My brothers and sisters… at this joyous season, may personal discords be forgotten and animosities healed. May enjoyment of the season include remembrance of the needy and afflicted. May our forgiveness reach out to those who have wronged us, even as we hope to be forgiven. May goodness abound in our hearts and love prevail in our homes.

As we contemplate how we’re going to spend our money to buy gifts this holiday season, let us plan also for how we will spend our time in order to help bring the true spirit of Christmas into the lives of others.

The Savior gave freely to all, and His gifts were of value beyond measure. Throughout His ministry, He blessed the sick, restored sight to the blind, made the deaf to hear, and the halt and lame to walk. He gave cleanliness to the unclean. He restored breath to the lifeless. He gave hope to the despairing and bestowed light in the darkness.

He gave us His love, His service, and His life.

What is the spirit we feel at Christmastime? It is His spirit — the Spirit of Christ.

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming; but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.

With the pure love of Christ, let us walk in His footsteps as we approach the season celebrating His birth. As we do so, let us remember that He still lives and continues to be the Light of the World, who promised, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”