My Favorite Things of Christmas, Part 2

Another of my favorite things about Christmas is reflected in this statement given by President Hinckley at the LDS Christmas Devotional in 2000, 

“There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter."

This one simple line emphasizes with perfection the true reason for our celebrations this month.

He also said, "The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection.”

“Marvelous is the chronicle that began with the singing of angels at Bethlehem and ended on Golgotha’s cruel cross.” 

In President Monson’s talk at this year’s Christmas devotional, he spoke of the “annual commercialization of Christmas” pointing out that Christmas was “becoming less and less about Christ.” It is true, the adversary is working hard to have religion removed from Christmas. 

I love how simply President Monson said

“And yet, Christmas is what we make of it.” 

Elder Uchtdorf reminded us that

“A meaningful Christmas celebration is something 

only we can get for ourselves.”

I have thought about President Monson’s suggestion that we “establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will help us capture and keep the spirit of Christmas." Wondering what more my family can do, I feel impressed that 

instead of more, we can do less 

and perhaps we will find at least “an hour, spent in silent meditation and quiet reflection on the wonder and the majesty of this, the Son of God” as President Hinckley suggested so many years ago.