1. “Missionaries,
like the wisemen of old, travel afar bearing gifts. And they find that when
they’re miles away from friends and family at Christmas, they grow closer to
Heavenly Father and catch a glimpse of their celestial home.” New Era – Dec.
1992
2. “When we
face seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the fulfillment of righteous
responsibilities, we should remember that when we are involved in the work of
the Lord, the obstacles before us are never as great as the power behind us.”
Elder Oaks
3. “My first
Christmas away from home was as a missionary. For such an uneventful
Christmas—clearly the least festive of any I ever had before or since—it says
something that those special days remain in my heart (after more than 50
years!) as one of the sweetest Christmases I have ever had. I think that is
because for the first time in my life, I found myself understanding Christmas
rather than just enjoying it. I think for the first time in any truly
significant way, I was getting the message of Christ’s birth and life—His
message and His mission and His sacrifice for others.” Elder Holland
4. President
Uchtdorf assured the missionaries that as they incline their hearts and minds
to the Savior, “He will surely lift you up and strengthen you. He will visit
you with knowledge, peace, and courage. He will prepare the way for you and
send His angels to surround and uphold you. He will help you overcome fear. He
will help you rise up and become men and women of God.”
5. Elder
Holland gave the missionaries this formula by which they can know they are
measuring up to the Lord’s expectations: “Seek to be personally converted, obey
the rules of the mission, strive to have the Spirit of the Lord in your life,
and work hard. These are things every missionary can do. If you do those
things, I promise you in the name of the Lord and with the authority of my
office, you are a success in His eyes regardless of how many other convert
baptisms you are able to have in your particular corner of the vineyard.”
6. “On this
Christmas I send my love to every missionary who won’t “be home for Christmas,”
as the carol says. Keep your faith. Look for the good in your situation. Do
something kind for someone. Seek Christ devoid of wrapping and tinsel. You will
find that despite external circumstances, Christmas—like the kingdom of God—is
“within you” (Luke 17:21). Elder Holland
7. “Christmas
is a time for remembering the Son of God and renewing our determination to take
upon us His name. It is a time to reassess our lives and examine our thoughts,
feelings, and actions. Let this be a time of remembrance, of gratitude, and a
time of forgiveness. Let it be a time to ponder the Atonement of Jesus Christ
and its meaning for each of us personally. Let it especially be a time of
renewal and recommitment to live by the word of God and to obey His
commandments. By doing this, we honor Him far more than we ever could with
lights, gifts, or parties.” Pres. Uchtdorf
8. “My first
Christmas away from home was as a missionary. For such an uneventful Christmas—clearly
the least festive of any I ever had before or since—it says something that
those special days remain in my heart (after more than 50 years!) as one of the
sweetest Christmases I have ever had. I think that is because for the first
time in my life, I found myself understanding Christmas rather than just
enjoying it. I think for the first time in any truly significant way, I was
getting the message of Christ’s birth and life—His message and His mission and
His sacrifice for others.” Elder Holland
9. “The
formula for finding Jesus has always been and ever will be the same—the earnest
and sincere prayer of a humble and pure heart. The prophet Jeremiah counseled,
“Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your
heart.” (Jer. 29:13.) Pres. Monson
10. "The
real Christmas comes to him who has taken Christ into his life as a moving,
dynamic, vitalizing force. The real spirit of Christmas lies in the life and
mission of the Master....” President Howard W. Hunter
11. “Before we
can successfully undertake a personal search for Jesus, we must first prepare
time for him in our lives and room for him in our hearts. In these busy days
there are many who have time for golf, time for shopping, time for work, time
for play—but no time for Christ. Lovely
homes dot the land and provide rooms for eating, rooms for sleeping, playrooms,
sewing rooms, television rooms, but no room for Christ. We remember, “And she
brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid
him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” No room. Ever has it been.” Pres. Monson
12. "If
you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of the sweetness of
it, let me make this suggestion to you. During the hurry of the festive
occasion of this Christmas season, find time to turn your heart to God. Perhaps
in the quiet hours, and in a quiet place, and on your knees -- alone or with
loved ones --give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask
that his Spirit might dwell in you as you earnestly strive to serve him and
keep his commandments. He will take you by the hand and his promises will be
kept." Pres. Howard W. Hunter
13. “While the
Christmas season is typically a time for looking back and celebrating the birth
of our Lord, it seems to me that it should also be a time of looking to the
future. Let us look forward. Let us prepare for that blessed day when He will
come again. Let us be as wise as those ancients who watched for His coming. As
His disciples, let us have in our hearts and minds the words of John: “Even so,
come, Lord Jesus.”
14. “And when
we find him, will we be prepared as were the wise men of old to provide gifts
from our many treasures? They presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These
are not the gifts Jesus asks of us. From the treasure of our hearts Jesus asks
that we give of ourselves: “Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing
mind.” (D&C 64:34.) President Monson
15. “It is
quite in line to find at the season of the Messiah’s birth, which was
springtime that flocks were in the field both night and day under the watchful
care of their keepers. Unto certain of
these humble shepherds came the first proclamation that the Savior had been
born. The trustful and unsophisticated keepers of sheep had not asked for sign
or confirmation; their faith was in unison with the heavenly
communication. They waited not, but went
in haste, for in their hearts they believed, yea, more than believed, they
knew.” James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ.
16. “Be near
me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay, Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And fit us
for heaven to live with thee there.”
17. “He gave
us the gift of a Savior, His perfect Son, the Lamb without blemish. Those are
gifts to us that we can offer to others for Him. There was a song in a film
years ago with the line “Have yourself a merry little Christmas.” Well, you can give a great and wonderful
Christmas if you remember the gifts God has given you and, as best you can,
offer them to others as He would. That is the spirit of Christmas and of true
happiness every day.” President Eyring
18. “The wise
men did come later bearing gifts; it is highly unlikely that they arrived on
the night of the babe’s birth. Indeed, Matthew records that when they came
Jesus was “a young child,” and the family was living in “a house.” (Matt.
2:11.) Perhaps this provides an important distinction we should remember in our
own holiday season. Maybe the purchasing and the making and the wrapping and
the decorating—those delightfully generous and important expressions of our
love at Christmas—should be separated, if only slightly, from the more quiet,
personal moments when we consider the meaning of the Baby (and his birth) who
prompts the giving of such gifts.” Elder
Holland
19. “When we
keep the spirit of Christmas, we keep the Spirit of Christ, for the Christmas
spirit is the Christ Spirit. It will block out all the distractions around us
which can diminish Christmas and swallow up its true meaning. There is no
better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate
ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ.” President Monson
20. “The
Christmas season is wonderful in many ways. It is a season of charitable acts
of kindness and brotherly love. It is a season of being more reflective about
our own lives and about the many blessings that are ours. It is a season of forgiving
and being forgiven. It is a season to enjoy the music and lights, parties and
presents. But the glitter of the season should never dim our sight and prevent
us from truly seeing the Prince of Peace in His majesty. We who have heard the
glorious message of the coming of the Son of God, we who have taken upon us His
name and have covenanted to walk in His path as His disciples—we must not fail
to open our hearts and minds and truly see Him.” President Uchtdorf
21. “Difficult
days are ahead. Sin is on the increase. Considering all that the Savior has
done—and still does—for us, what can we do for Him? The greatest gift we could
give to the Lord at Christmas, or at any other time, is to keep ourselves
unspotted from the world, worthy to attend His holy temple. And His gift to us
will be the peace of knowing that we are prepared to meet Him, whenever that
time comes.” Elder Nelson
22. “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 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 Uchtdorf
23. “And now,
my beloved brothers and sisters, what must we do this Christmas season—and
always? Why, we must do the same as the Wise Men of old. They sought out the
Christ and found Him. And so must we. Those who are wise still seek Him today.” --Ezra Taft Benson
24. "Christmas
is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because
we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is
discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values. It is peace because
we have found peace in the Savior’s teachings. It is the time we realize most
deeply that the more love is expended, the more there is of it for
others." President Monson
25. From “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles”:
“As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia
ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the
infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. We bear testimony, as His duly
ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He
is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father.
He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that
leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be
thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.”
Other Resources: https://www.lds.org/topics/christmas/resources/articles?lang=eng
