James E. Faust on the Christmas message of service to God and man

President James E. Faust (1920 - 2007) was called as a Seventy in 1976, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve in 1978. He served as a counselor to President Hinckley from 1995 until his death in 2007 at age 87.

"At this Christmas season, let us take time to ponder the significance of the birth, the life, and the death of the Savior of the world. Of all the pronouncements in sacred or profane literature, the announcement of the angel to the shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night was highly significant.

"'And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

"'For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord' (Luke 2:10–11)....

"You have heard it said that the Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.

"At the heart of the message of the Savior of the world is a single, glorious, wonderful, still largely untried concept. In its simplest terms the message is that we should seek to overcome the selfishness we all seem to be born with, that we should overcome human nature and think of others before self. We should think of God and serve Him, and think of others and serve them."

- James E. Faust, "A Pattern of Love," Ensign, Dec. 1999, pp. 2-4
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President Faust offered a wonderful summary of the spirit of the Christmas season, as embodied in the central message of the Savior's entire mortal ministry.

This message should be the core of our Christmas celebration, this year and always. How may I better love and serve God? How may I better love and serve my fellowmen? This "Christian ideal" must not be neglected just because it may be difficult. But it ceases to become difficult as we follow more faithfully and become more like Him who showed us the way.