Christ. The Center of All We Do.

With the Christmas Season right around the corner, I'm going to talk a little about what Christmas means to me.

Christmas is an especially great time of year. The hustles and bustles of the world seem to slow down, and our families all get together, sharing stories and watching those classic Clay-mation movies, opening presents, trimming trees, stuffing stockings, and the list goes on and on.

But with all the wonderful festivities and traditions that come with the Christmas season, we must never forget the true reason for the season.

Christmas is a time of giving, of thinking of others rather than ourselves. But sometimes we get so caught up in giving the perfect gift that we forget that we have been given the Perfect gift, that is Christ, the son of God.
In the Bible, Jesus teaches "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (St. John 14:6)

Alma, a prophet in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ also teaches: "And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness." (Alma 38:9) (Want to learn more about The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, go to:  http://mormon.org/beliefs/book-of-mormon)

Christ is the reason for the season. He is the Savior and Redeemer of the World. He was foreordained by God, our Loving Heavenly Father, to save the World from sin and sorrow. He taught us the perfect way to live, and set an example for us to follow. He pleads "Come unto Me" so he can heal us. He gave so freely and willingly, even so much that he suffered for all of our sins, and died so that we can be free of sin and death. These things I know.

President Thomas S. Monson said:

"Our celebration of Christmas should be a reflection of the love and selflessness taught by the Savior. Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. We feel more kindly one to another. We reach out in love to help those less fortunate. Our hearts are softened. Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed. The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things. To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the Spirit of Christ." (http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2013/12/the-real-joy-of-christmas?lang=eng)

Enjoy the Holiday season!