LDS urged to make room at the inn, emulate love

The Bethlehem innkeeper never got a second chance to house the holy family, but those who seek to follow the babe born in his stable will not only make room for Christ, they will emulate his light, his love and his care for others.

That was the message shared with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide on Sunday as the faith's First Presidency presented its annual Christmas devotional in the Conference Center, with music by the Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square.

Speaking amid brightly decorated Christmas trees and poinsettias decorating the dais, President Thomas S. Monson said the innkeeper missed his greatest opportunity the night Christ was born. "Long years afterward, it would not do any good for him to repeat over and over again the words, 'If only I had known who they were, I would have made room for them."'

Today, many enjoy homes with rooms for eating, sleeping, playing, sewing and TV, "but no room for Christ," he said. While many desire to make room in their hearts for the Savior, "no matter how successful we have been thus far. ... I am confident we would all wish to do better." This Christmas season is the time to do so, he said.

Life's busyness requires a "conscious, committed effort to bring Christ into our homes and lives." And while opportuni- ties to give of self are limitless, "they are also perishable. 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."

President Monson told of visiting a care center to see five elderly women he knew, and after enjoying their company, he noticed one woman looking out the window, waiting for her son to come. "I wondered if he would, for there had been other Christmas seasons when he had never even called."

Those who take the time to seek out those in need emulate Christ. "As we do serve him, we will not forfeit our opportunity, as did the innkeeper of old — to make time for him in our lives and room for him in our hearts."

President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke of Christmas traditions, including amateur family pageants that re-create the story of Christ's birth. After a few years, they began a pageant with Samuel the Lamanite, standing to testify on the American continent of Christ's birth in Bethlehem.

Over time they added a "disbelieving crowd, armed with foil balls to throw at him as he stood above them." As the members of the angry mob grew stronger and more accurate over the years, "we had to remind them forcefully that Samuel could not be hit because he was God's protected servant," he said, drawing laughter from thousands in the Conference Center.