Christmas Is Christ

Last night I visited a home of friends surprised to find them in the middle of reenacting the Nativity—as if they were celebrating Christmas Eve. As it turns out they were celebrating Christmas Eve on Christmas Day (and Christmas Day today); two of the children had been sick the day before and so they decided to postpone the festivities.

Christ's commandment to remember Him knows no holiday

One of my friends taught me a powerful lesson as he explained to his family that it doesn't matter when we celebrate the Savior's birth (the Savior wasn't born on December 25, after all). What does matter is that we celebrate His life by following His example. Perfect worship is emulation, and Christ didn't ask for a band of casual cronies to pay homage to Him once a year. He said, "Follow thou me" in word and in deed (see John 21:22; 2 Nephi 31:10; James 1:22). That commandment doesn't take a holiday.

When we set tinsel and toys, shopping and snow, music and mania aside we remember Christmas really is Christ. We celebrate His birth because He is the greatest gift God ever gave to mankind. We commemorate His sacrifice by giving and sharing, singing and smiling. We would do well to keep the Christmas spirit—the Spirit of Christ—with us all year long.

Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. He lived and died for us, and He lives again. My greatest hopes and dreams are reachable because of His Atonement. I trust Him. I love Him. And I can't wait to see Him again someday. This hymn describes what I feel in my heart.

These are your thoughts about the Savior—

• Ryan: He is God. Ord of all. Pre-eternal and the only sacrifice that can satisfy God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1)
• Karen: He is my one true Lord and Savior, the blessed hope of the world, the Holy Messiah!
• Paul: One word. He talked about it more than anything—Love