“When true values and basic virtues undergird the families of society, hope will conquer despair, and faith will triumph over doubt.”

Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Nov 2000, 64–66

“I have cherished from childhood the truth that God is a personal being, and is, indeed, our Father whom we can approach in prayer and receive answers thereto. I cherish as one of the dearest experiences of life the knowledge that God hears the prayer of faith. It is true that the answers to our prayers may not always come as direct and at the time, nor in the manner, we anticipate; but they do come, and at a time and in a manner best for the interests of him who offers the supplication.”

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay, 71

“To be in control of your life, to be a success regardless of your situation...I recommend you come to know your Father in Heaven. Come to love Him. Always remember that He loves you and will give you guidance and support if you will but give Him the chance. Include Him in your decision making. Include Him in your heartaches and heartbreaks. Include Him when you take inventory of your personal worth. ‘For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men [and women] to perform their labors.’ (Alma 34:32.)”

Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, Feb 1993, 64

“’What would Jesus do?’ or ‘What would He have me do?’ are the paramount personal questions of this life. Walking in His way is the greatest achievement of life. That man or woman is most truly successful whose life most closely parallels that of the Master.”

Ezra Taft Benson, New Era, Apr 1994, 4

“Let us remember...that greatness is not always a matter of the scale of one’s life, but of the quality of one’s life. True greatness is not always tied to the scope of our tasks, but to the quality of how we carry out our tasks whatever they are. In that attitude, let us give our time, ourselves, and our talents to the things that really matter now, things which will still matter a thousand years from now.”

Spencer W. Kimball, Tambuli, Dec 1977, 1

“When all is said and done, when all the legions of the ages have passed in review, when man’s terrible inhumanity to man has been chronicled, when God’s great love for His children has been measured, then above all stands the lone figure of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, the living Son of the living God, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, New Era, Dec 2007, 2–5

“President David O. McKay said: ‘True happiness comes only by making others happy—the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendshipdeeds of service.’”

Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Dec 1998, 2 and prompts us to kind

“One of the things we can give at Christmas time, that no one else can give, is our thanks.”

Spencer W. Kimball, Tambuli, Dec 1977, 1

“It is proper during this season when we commemorate His birth that we remember the Lord Jesus Christ in reverence and with love. He has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. He has brought meaning to our mortal existence. He has given us the gift of eternal life.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, New Era, Dec 2007, 2–5

“Members of the Church, while joining with others in the celebration of this Christmas season, do not stop with accepting the reality of Jesus’ birth, but accept also the reality of his resurrection. We know that what Christ achieved did not end with the cross on Calvary, but continued through to the resurrection. One cannot be a true Christian and believe less.”

Spencer W. Kimball, Tambuli, Dec 1977, 1

“Several years ago just before Christmas, my niece, Shelly, grabbed her mom’s hand and, without explanation, led her into the privacy of the laundry room. ‘Mom,’ she asked in a serious whisper, ‘is it okay if I believe just one more year?’ Since that memorable happening, our family has established a family tradition. Each Christmas Eve, we gather together around the tree. With the lights low and the fire burning in the fireplace, we ask the question once again, the most important question of the year, ‘Is it okay if we believe one more year?’—not only believe in the traditions of childhood with Santa Claus and reindeer, but more importantly in the message of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whose birthday we are celebrating. Do we believe in his mission, his atonement, his resurrection? Do we believe in his invitation to come and follow him? Of course we are not really committing ourselves for only a year. We are pledged to follow the Savior forever. But we live life a day, a week, a month, a year at a time, and Christmas is a season to focus on the year ahead and reconfirm our discipleship.”

Ardeth G. Kapp, New Era, Dec. 1988, 25

“In each of us there is at Christmastime something of our childhood. We all revel in the fun of Christmas—of giving and receiving tinseled presents, of singing favorite carols, of feasting on goodies we never miss at other seasons, of gathering together as family and friends, all having a wonderful time. But there is something else, something better, and that is to sit together as families and read again the fascinating story of the birth of Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem of Judea.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, New Era, Dec 2007, 2–5

“This is a glorious time of the year, simple in origin, deep in meaning, beautiful in tradition and custom, rich in memories, and charitable in spirit. It has an attraction to which our hearts are readily drawn. This joyful season brings to each of us a measure of happiness that corresponds to the degree in which we have turned our mind, feelings, and actions to the spirit of Christmas.”

Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Dec 1998, 2

“My brothers and sisters, there is so much to be grateful for. I give my thanks to our Heavenly Father and to all of you. This is a time when we ponder our blessings and when we also prepare for the new year, for which we should make new resolves and set new personal goals... Please do the same within your families. Count your blessings, and express your gratitude to your eternal partners, to your children, and to your parents for all that they do.”

Spencer W. Kimball, Tambuli, Dec 1977, 1

There’s Christmas in the home and church,
There’s Christmas in the mart;
But you’ll not know what Christmas is
Unless it’s in your heart.

The bells may call across the snow,
And carols search the air;
But, oh, the heart will miss the thrill
Unless it’s Christmas there.

Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Dec 1998, 2

“Some experiences that we first thought to be burdens or trouble have long since been reclassified as blessings.”

Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 2003, 82

“’Follow me,’ the Savior said. And we realize that to follow him is not impossible. The miles which he traveled, each of us can travel, for he took them one step at a time, one journey at a time.”

Spencer W. Kimball, Tambuli, Dec 1977, 1

“What will you and I give for Christmas this year? Let us in our lives give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps. It was said of Him that He ‘went about doing good.’ As we do likewise, the Christmas spirit will be ours.”

Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Dec 1998, 2

“Count what you do have—not what you don’t have.”

Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, Feb 1993, 64

“As we contemplate...giving gifts now and in all seasons, let us remember that our Heavenly Father has given us the greatest of all gifts. ‘And, if ye keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.’ (D&C 14:7.) May God bless us with an increasing appreciation for that great gift, and may we witness our appreciation by giving ourselves wholly to his purposes.”

Spencer W. Kimball, Tambuli, Dec 1977, 1

“You may at last, when old and feeble, learn that the greatest mission of all is to strengthen your own family and the families of others, to seal the generations.”

Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 2003, 82

“At this Christmas season, we sing His praises and speak our words of faith and gratitude and love. It is His influence in our lives that stirs within us more kindness, more respect, more love, more concern. It is because of Him and His teachings that we reach out to those in trouble, distress, and need wherever they may be.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, New Era, Dec 2007, 2–5

“Truly, the only real gift is the gift of oneself.”

James M. Paramore, New Era, Dec. 1988, 24

“Not many years hence, Christ will come again. He will come in power and might as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And ultimately every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ.”

Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Dec 1993, 2

“Even though events and circumstances in the world at times become discouraging, our task, not alone in the Christmas season but always, is to be of good cheer. The Lord so often counsels us to have cheerfulness in our lives. ‘And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you.’ (D&C 61:36.)... The Lord will be in our midst, he will be with us and stand by us and lead us.”

Spencer W. Kimball, Tambuli, Dec 1977, 1

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

Gordon B. Hinckley, New Era, Dec 2007, 2–5

“When the seas of life are stormy, a wise mariner seeks a port of peace. The family, as we have traditionally known it, is such a refuge of safety. ‘The home is the basis of a righteous life and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfil its essential functions.’ (Conference Report, Oct. 1962, 72)”

Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Nov 2000, 64–66

“I remind you again that compromising and lowering standards and ideals never have been and never will be tools of happiness.”

Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, Feb 1993, 64

“Said Jesus: ‘Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.’ (Matthew 7:12.) May I remind us at this Christmas season that if only each of us would reflect occasionally on that Christ-given mandate and make an effort to observe it, this would be a different world.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, New Era, Dec 2007, 2–5

"If we live in a way that permits us to be more accepted of God, we should not be surprised if we are rejected by the world, or surprised if its ways seem more and more alien to us."

Spencer W. Kimball, Tambuli, Dec 1977, 1