Christmas Spirit

The Spirit of Christmas comes into the hearts of mankind each December. It “is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things” (1 Nephi 11:22).

The spirit of love is available to all mankind throughout the year, but most of us feel it more abundantly at Christmas time. It causes our hearts to soften toward other people and makes us want to give of ourselves and our substance to bless the lives of others.

“Christmas is more than trees and twinkling lights, more than toys and gifts and baubles of a hundred varieties. It is love. It is the love of the Son of God for all mankind. It reaches out beyond our power to comprehend. It is magnificent and beautiful” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Stand A Little Taller, 371).

Christmas also means the love of Heavenly Father to all His children: “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son….” (St. John 3:16). We have Christmas and the season of giving because Heavenly Father gave His Son, and Jesus Christ gave His life. Without Their gifts and sacrifices, there would be no Christmas. The Christmas spirit is the love of God to mankind. I encourage all of us to open our hearts wide in order to invite the Christmas spirit into our lives.