32 - It's Beginning to Look a lot like a Christmas Devotional

In our last episode before Christmas, we thought it appropriate to sit down and review the First Presidency Devotional for 2017. We discuss the excellent talks from Sister Franco, Elder Duncan, and President Uchtdorf, and share how the Christmas season ties into our goals for 2018! This episode is packed full of quotes and references to other awesome resources, so be sure to follow the links in the show notes and learn even more about how the spirit of Christmas ties in to the rest of the year.

Show Notes:

Sister Franco’s talk: https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2017/12/christmas-a-season-to-love-serve-and-forgive-one-another?lang=eng

The Infinite Atonement by Tad R. Callister: https://www.amazon.com/The-Infinite-Atonement/dp/1573456233/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1513688283&sr=1-1&keywords=the+infinite+atonement

Elder Duncan’s talk: https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2017/12/heavenly-gifts?lang=eng

Benjamin Franklin on Christmas and commandments: "How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep holidays than commandments."

President Uchtdorf’s talk: https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2017/12/scatter-your-crumbs?lang=eng

Elder Bednar on balance and plates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipwv8GDJRi0

Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief: https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/a-poor-wayfaring-man-of-grief?lang=eng&_r=1

Bruce C. Hafen on the process of perfection: “It is natural to assume that when we don’t appear to be doing excellently’ the perfection process is not working. But the exact opposite may be true. Our moments of greatest stress and difficulty are often the times when the refiner’s fire is doing its most purifying work.” (Broken Heart, 97)

Story about not firing someone who just cost the company tons of money: https://www.peoplehr.com/blog/index.php/2015/06/26/what-would-you-do-if-an-employee-made-a-600000-mistake/

Why angels came to the shepherds: http://www.templestudy.com/2009/12/18/shepherds-christmas-story/

Music: “Homeward Bound” by Jonny Easton