The Everlasting Light
2025 First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional
Sunday, December 7, 2025
I am deeply grateful to be gathered with you at this sacred Christmas season to remember and rejoice in the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of all mankind!
Christmas Eve is my favorite night of the year. As the sun goes down, my thoughts turn to quiet reflection on the birth of the Savior of the world. For every Christmas Eve I can remember, I have gathered with family, opened the New Testament, and read in Luke 2 the familiar words:
“And Joseph … went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, … unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; … to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”
Think with me about the young wife, Mary, alongside her caring husband, Joseph, traveling along the dusty road to Bethlehem, not knowing where they will stay or when her Son will be born.
Now, add to this thought events taking place halfway around the world. There, in the land of Zarahemla on the American continent, a group of believers is sorrowing while they “watch steadfastly” for the sign of the Savior’s birth, which was prophesied by Samuel the Lamanite to be a day and a night and a day without darkness, for if the sign was not given, all the believers would be put to death.
Nephi, their prophet, “bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people. … And it came to pass that … the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world.”
Every time I read these verses I stop and marvel.
I marvel that Jesus Christ, who created the earth under the direction of the Father, who had spoken with and inspired prophets and righteous sons and daughters of God throughout history, would soon condescend to come to earth as an infant.
I also marvel that He, the Savior of all mankind, was born in Bethlehem in time for the sign to be given that saved the Nephite believers in Zarahemla. The scripture records: “For behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness.”
Can you imagine what that meant to the believers, to those who had longed for, lived for, and prayed for the fulfillment of this prophecy? Surely, they rejoiced! What a powerful witness that Jesus Christ came to earth to save all who will believe on His name. The sun had set, but the sky was filled with light.
The prophet Abinadi testified, “He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened.” Jesus Christ declared, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
During our lives there will be times when the sun may go down on our hopes and dreams. The sun may go down when we experience loss or physical and emotional challenges. But because Jesus Christ came to earth and rose on the third day, triumphant over sin and death, there will be no permanent darkness at the going down of the sun. We can seek and find His life-giving light.
The night sky above the humble shepherds was filled with light as the “angel of the Lord came upon them” declaring the glad tidings, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord.” Sometimes we can follow the light of the Savior and find Him quickly as we, like the shepherds, follow heavenly direction “with haste,” learning for ourselves of His divinity. We, too, can then go on our way, “glorifying and praising God for all [we have] heard and seen.”
At other times, we may feel more like the Wise Men, and our journey to find Him may take weeks, months, or even years. But as we keep following the light of His guiding star, no matter how faintly it flickers, we will draw closer to Him with each step. And then, like the Wise Men, we can rejoice with great joy, falling down to worship as we offer our gifts of gratitude and love.
Fast forward with me to Christmas Eve in 2010 as I share with you how the light and love of God dispelled darkness for me and my family on two of those sacred nights.
I was in a hospital over 2,000 miles from home watching over my husband, Bruce, who was fighting for his life following a successful surgery. His health was collapsing, and the team of doctors caring for him could not figure out why. After uniting in prayer and fasting with family across the country, I went to an apartment to get some sleep. In the middle of the night, a nurse who walked by Bruce’s door heard him cough—once. She had the idea to order a test for an unusual respiratory illness. The test confirmed her thought, and within hours of starting treatment his health began to improve. We knew that the Light of Christ had rested on that nurse, showing her the way that would restore Bruce’s health. The darkness we experienced was replaced by light and hope.
Six years later on another Christmas Eve in 2016, Bruce was again in the hospital, where his recovery from two serious illnesses was interrupted by another sharp decline. Within 48 hours the doctors were able to diagnose the cause. They shared with us a plan that might help him overcome his third illness. When they were finished, Bruce politely asked them to leave the room so that we could talk. He told me that the Spirit had whispered plainly to him that there was nothing the doctors could do that would save his life. He spoke calmly, filled with the Spirit. Two days later he passed away peacefully at home surrounded by our family.
Although each Christmas Eve had a different outcome, each one is sacred to us. Were tears shed, deep sorrow felt, along with loss and loneliness? Yes. And did we feel the light of God’s love? Yes. At what felt like the going down of our sun in our lives, He gave us light and understanding.
As we keep our focus on the Savior of the world, He will light our way to hope and healing. Like the experience of the believers in Zarahemla, because of the triumph of the Savior over sin and death, there will be no permanent darkness when our nights come.
I love the profound meaning of these words in the hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem”: “In thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”
Brothers and sisters, the Lord is our everlasting light! I bear my witness that Jesus Christ came to earth to bring joy and hope as He lights our way home. I love Him. I worship Him. “God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.” In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.