President Gordon B. Hinckley shared Christmas greetings with 35 ambassadors along with other dignitaries while participating in the Christmas lighting ceremony at the Washington Temple Visitors Center Monday evening, Dec. 2.

The 19th annual Festival of Lights capped President Hinckley's three-day trip to the nation's capital that included a meeting with the ordinance workers of the Washington Temple, a youth fireside, a media luncheon and a tour of the United States Holocaust Museum. He was accompanied by Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder Vaughn J Featherstone of the Seventy and president of the North America Northeast Area.During his remarks in the Washington Temple Visitors Center, President Hinckley shared the Christmas story by reading Luke 2:1-14.

"I thank the Lord for Christmas, the season of the year when for a brief time we put aside all our baser instincts," he said. "We change and become different."

He later told the audience packed into the main hall of the visitors center: "It is a miraculous thing that Christmas does for us. We change, we become different at this glad and beautiful season of the year."

He recalled the visit to the Holy Land he made in June to see the places where events occurred in the life of Christ. He then said: "He is our Savior and Redeemer, the Prince of Peace. . . . We love Him, we honor Him, we respect Him."

President Hinckley encouraged the representatives of nations in attendance to set aside differences and move toward the peace that would reflect the Savior's love for mankind.

After he spoke, President Hinckley was joined at the podium by Brazil's ambassador to the United States, Paulo-Tarso Flecha de Lima, to press the button illuminating 300,000 Christmas lights on the temple grounds.

President Hinckley and Ambassador Flecha de Lima were cordial companions as featured guests. President Hinckley, during his remarks, spoke of the wonderful experience he had a few weeks earlier visiting Brazil and meeting with many of the 548,000 members in that country.

Ambassador Flecha de Lima complimented the Church for its good works in his country. "We are proud to have a strong Mormon community," he said. He also spoke of Christ and His example of peace and love that are the true spirit of Christmas.

Among the invited guests in attendance in addition to the ambassadors to the United States (see a list on this page of countries represented by their ambassadors) were other diplomats from foreign countries; Richard Riley, the Secretary of Education in President Bill Clinton's Cabinet; LDS leaders; leaders from other religions; and local and international media representatives. Many of the guests were accompanied by their spouses and children.

Prior to the ceremonies, a formal reception was held where President Hinckley, Elder Maxwell and Elder Featherstone greeted ambassadors and their families, as well as other guests. Also in the receiving line were Elder J. Willard Marriott Jr., an Area Authority in the Northeast area; LDS members of Congress; and Pres. Ralph Hardy of the Washington D.C. Stake.

The decorations in the visitors center main hall included four Christmas trees decorated with dolls dressed in native costumes from many countries. Eighty-three embassies provided dolls from their countries while others were furnished by Young Women from the Washington, D.C., area.

Music for the ceremony was provided by a choir made up of members of the Church in the Washington, D.C., area and guest soloist Nancy Peery Marriott. They performed surrounding the Christus statue. The congregation joined in singing "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Hallelujah Chorus."

At the end of the ceremony, children in the audience were given small jingle bells to ring and were invited to move to the front and sing Christmas carols.

As guests left, they viewed an exhibit of creches provided by diplomats from many nations. Many lingered outside the visitors center viewing the festive lights with the brightly lit, white temple as a backdrop. There was also a live Nativity scene set up on the grounds.

The Festival of Lights will continue until Jan. 5. In addition to viewing the lights and Nativity scene, visitors will be treated to musical programs by various groups through Dec. 31.