First Presidency Christmas Devotional: President Eyring — 'The greatest gift'
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The greatest gift Church members can offer this Christmas season is to point those they love and serve toward the Savior Jesus Christ, the only source of eternal life, said President Henry B. Eyring on Dec. 5.
"Many of you will in the Christmas season find ways to give food to people who are hungry," said President Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency. "As you do, you bring joy to the Lord. Yet He taught us that there is a way to give an even more priceless and lasting gift. He said, 'I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst' " (John 6:35).
Speaking during the annual First Presidency Christmas Devotional, President Eyring told the worldwide congregation that the little child, born in a stable and cradled in a manger, was a gift to the world from a loving Heavenly Father.
"He was the promised Redeemer of the World, the Savior of Mankind, the Son of the Living God. He was with His Father, before He came to earth in mortality, the Creator of the earth upon which we stand."
President Eyring said the Savior came to earth in humble circumstances. He worked as a boy and youth in Joseph's carpenter's shop in Nazareth. "In His mortal ministry He walked the dusty roads of Palestine, healed the sick, raised the dead, taught His gospel to people who rejected Him, gave His life on Calvary's hill, and rose on the third day in what began the Resurrection to break the bands of death for us all."
Above all, said President Eyring, the Savior, whose birth Church members remember at Christmas, "paid the price of all of our sins."
Those who have felt the Savior's peace and healing have their hearts filled with gratitude. And so do those who love them, said President Eyring.
"As Latter-day Saints, our hearts are drawn out in gratitude to a loving Father and His Beloved Son. We are thankful to feel that blessing because of the faith of a 14-year-old boy, Joseph Smith. His prayer on a spring morning in 1820 made possible our receiving the sure witness that the Father, the Great Elohim and His Son, Jehovah, live and love us. ...
"The gift of that glorious assurance that we are known and loved can sustain us in the trials life will surely bring. We need never feel that we are alone. We need never give up hope."
President Eyring spoke of visiting his elderly aunt in a rest home few years ago. She was a widow. The effects of age had left her unable to care for herself. She did not recognize President Eyring or others in the room. Yet her face shown with love and radiant joy. Every few minutes she repeated six words: "I know that my Redeemer lives."
"While the years passing had stripped away from her life so much of what had brought her joy, she retained the supernal gifts we can feel at Christmas time," said President Eyring. "She remembered her Redeemer. She knew that He lived. She felt His love. And she felt His love for all of Heavenly Father's children, wherever they were and whatever their circumstances."
President Eyring realized when he left his aunt's presence that she had given him the gift she had received. "She knew the source of the peace she felt. And out of her gratitude and love for the Savior, she wanted us to share in the blessing with her."
President Eyring said the Christmas spirit puts in the hearts of people a desire to give joy to others. "We feel a spirit of giving and gratitude for what we have been given," he said. "The celebration of Christmas helps us keep our promise to always remember Him and His gifts to us. And that remembrance creates a desire in us to give gifts to Him."
President Eyring said the Savior has told Church members what they can give Him that will bring Him joy.
First Latter-day Saints can, out of faith in Him, give a broken heart and a contrite spirit. "We can repent and make sacred covenants with Him," President Eyring said.
Second, they can give Him the gift of doing for others what He would do for them. "Many of you have already done that and felt His appreciation."
President Eyring said each act of kindness to anyone becomes a kindness to the Savior because He loves all of Heavenly Father's children. "And because that brings joy to Him it also brings joy to His Father to whom we owe thanks beyond measure."
