Gordon B. Hinckley on Christmas symbols and Christmas love

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1961, served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1981-1995, then as Church President until his death in 2008 at age 97.

"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.

"It is peace. It is the peace which comforts, which sustains, which blesses all who accept it.

"It is faith. It is faith in God and His Eternal Son. It is faith in His wondrous ways and message. It is faith in Him as our Redeemer and our Lord.

"We testify of His living reality. We testify of the divinity of His nature. In our times of grateful meditation, we acknowledge His priceless gift to us and pledge our love and faith . This is what Christmas is really about."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "A Season for Gratitude," Ensign, Dec. 1997, pp. 2-5
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In its final, deepest expression, "Christmas is love." It's the manifestation of the Savior's love for each of us. It's the peace that love creates when we accept it; it's the faith engendered as we follow Him.

We need more "times of grateful meditation" when we can "acknowledge His priceless gift to us and pledge our love and faith" to Him. May we each resolve to find those times in this busy season!