This week in Church history
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75 years ago
The First Presidency Christmas Message of 1928, signed by President Heber J. Grant and his counselors, President Anthony W. Ivins and President Charles W. Nibley, was printed in the Dec. 22, 1928, Deseret News.
It stated: "Christmastide, embracing the day accepted by common consent in commemoration of the mortal birth of the Savior and Redeemer of the race, and the beginning of a New Year according to our current reckoning of time, is the principal holiday season in Christendom. Because of its sacred significance, it invites, calls for, and demands our joyous yet solemn and worshipful observance."
Before offering heart-felt greetings and blessings "to all members of the Church, to the House of Israel at large, to Jew and Gentile," the First Presidency spoke of the Savior and stated: "As a people we humbly yet joyously thank Him for raising up His prophet in these latter times, as the one through whom the Gospel of Jesus Christ was to be and verily has been restored to the earth in preparation for the Savior's glorious coming, now near at hand!"
Then they commented briefly on some of those preparations in the Church, including missionary work, increased activity and productivity among the members, observance of the law of tithing and the word of wisdom, and "ever-increasing concern in vicarious service for their dead, as the sacred ministry rendered in our temples fully demonstrates."
