As Christmas arrives and the year gently comes to a close, we have the choice to allow the chaos to get to us or to choices to have moments to slow down. We are invited to focus on the light, gifts and blessings that we have in our lives. To not a rush, not feel the pressure of perfectionism, but to let go and focus on light instead. Even when life feels full, noisy, or uncertain, the message of this season remains beautifully simple: Christ is here. He is present and His presence can be felt is we choose to focus on His light.
The world often tells us that joy must be loud, visible, and wrapped in accomplishment. But the joy Christ offers is different. It is steady. It is peaceful. It is available even on quiet mornings, messy afternoons, and tired nights.
“The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
— John 1:5
No matter what this year has held—growth or grief, clarity or confusion—the light of Christ has never left you. And as we turn our hearts toward Him, we begin to notice that light again, gently illuminating our path forward.
Christmas reminds us that God works through the small and the humble. A baby in a manger. A quiet star in the sky. A still, small voice within our hearts. This is not a season that asks us to do more, but a time that invites us to receive more. To feel more of His light and love and live in gratitude for all that we’re blessed to have. Having that light in our lives changes us and allows us to share that light with others as well.
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come: let earth receive her King.”
To receive Christ is to receive hope. To receive peace. To receive the reassurance that we are known, loved, and never alone.
He tells us; “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you… Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
— John 14:27
As the year ends, we don’t need to look back with judgment. We can look forward with trust. Christ goes before us into the new year, already aware of what we’ll need—and already prepared to walk with us.
Some of the ways we can invite that feeling of Christ’s light into our lives are:
1. Begin the Day with Light
Each morning, before reaching for your phone, take one slow breath and say:
“Today, I walk with Christ.”
Let that intention guide your day.
2. Find Christ in the Ordinary
Choose one ordinary moment each day—washing dishes, driving, folding laundry—and silently thank the Savior for being present with you in it.
“In every thing give thanks.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
3. End the Day with Hope
Each night, name one way you saw light that day: kindness, strength, peace, or rest. Offer it back to God in gratitude.
As we move through Christmas and into the new year, here is a simple and uplifting goal to carry with you:
✨ For the next two weeks, choose one small daily act that helps you turn your heart toward Christ.
It might be:
• Reading one verse of scripture
• Offering a sincere prayer of gratitude
• Serving someone quietly
• Pausing to breathe and remember Him
Small acts, done consistently, open our hearts to great light.
— Doctrine & Covenants 6:36
“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”
May this Christmas fill you not with pressure, but with peace. And that you may remember and feel that Christ is near—walking beside you, lifting you, and leading you forward with love.
And may you enter the new year carrying not the weight of what was, but the hope of what can be, anchored firmly in Christ and in the daily light that He provides.
I hope that we can all see each other tonight at 7pm to have our last class of 2025! Come ready to release stress, get stronger and leave feeling peaceful and uplifted. đź’›
Love,
Lili đź’—
