Tidings of Joy: Bring the spirit of Christmas to others, says Pres. Monson

As people contemplate how they are going to spend money to buy gifts this holiday season, let them also plan for how they will spend their time in order to help bring the true spirit of Christmas into the lives of others, said President Thomas S. Monson.

"The Savior gave freely to all, and His gifts were of value beyond measure," said the leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "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 his love, his service, and his life.

"What is the spirit we feel at Christmastime? It is his spirit – the spirit of Christ."

Speaking during the annual First Presidency Christmas Devotional, President Monson offered a message of peace and hope to thousands gathered in the Conference Center, which was adorned with Christmas lights, trees and poinsettias. His counselors in the First Presidency, President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor, also offered holiday messages centered on the Savior.

Hundreds of thousands of LDS Church members around the world heard the devotional, broadcast on the church's satellite system, BYUTV and on KBYU in Utah.

Music for the evening was provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square.

During his address, President Monson said no other time of the year yields as many poignant memories as does Christmas. "The Christmases we remember best generally have little to do with worldly goods, but a lot to do with families, with love and with compassion and caring."

This thought, he continued, provides hope "for those of us who fear that the simple meaning of the holiday is diluted by commercialism, or by opposition from those with differing religious views, or just by getting so caught up in the pressures of the season that we lose that special spirit we could otherwise experience."

He said that usually, however, the special spirit of the season somehow finds its way into people's hearts and lives despite the difficulties and distractions that occupy their time and energy.

For example, he spoke of having read of an incident that occurred in December 1970, when an ice storm caused thousands of travelers to become stranded in the airport in Atlanta, Ga. The midnight hour had tolled and passengers clustered around the ticket counters, conferring with ticket agents.