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  of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Well, it's Christmastime. What a happy, happy time. Or at least it should be. We hope it is. I'd like to mention something from the Christmas setting that we don't always focus on. That'll be our scripture for today. It is the attendance of angels. And we always respond to the chorus of angels. We always respond to the glory to God in the highest and that which the shepherds saw. But I'm impressed with the continuing role and relationship of angels in the Nativity scene, but on through the Savior's life. If I count right, there are at least eight or nine references to the angels attending the Savior's birth and childhood, His Nativity scene and immediately thereafter. And, there are, by my count, ten examples on through the rest of the Savior's life where angels are visibly ministering. I have no way, nor do you have any way to count the invisible attendance of angels. But the Hebrew definition of angel is ministering spirit. Now, in the Church we know that they can also be embodied. Angels can be embodied spirits, but in any case, they are ministers and ministering is a good current word for us in our activity in the Church. Male and female. So consider not only the immediate attendance of angels surrounding the baby, surrounding Joseph and Mary, that eight or nine times that I mentioned. But consider the other appearances of angels, not the least of which was the angel — and this seems to be in a solo performance — the same angel every time, directing and guiding Joseph to Mary — Mary in the first place. And you know that story, on through the awakening of Joseph in the night to leave and go to Egypt and to get out of the danger of the slaughter, of what's traditionally called "the slaughter of the innocents." Those reassurances to me are very, very heartening. And then, the reference from the Savior, saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." [John 1:51] Now, my point to you today is it's not only the Son of Man, it's on us. We ought to believe in angels. We ought to believe in miracles. We ought to believe in the work of those on the other side of the veil. We have so many distractions in a telestial world here in the lives that we lead so busily. And Christmas can get the busiest of all. But yet on the other side of the veil, they're, I think, not distracted. There are scores of angels. Your families, your predecessors, progenitors who are watching out for you, ministering to you and providing angelic protection, care, nurturing. Whether it's the sweet, soft scene of the Nativity or the safety and direction of fleeing to Egypt, and how you come back and go to Nazareth instead of staying in Bethlehem or Jerusalem. Please, this Christmas, this Christmas, believe in angels and believe in them forever. Because they are working with us. And perhaps if we had more faith, more devotion, a little more commitment, we would see the hand of angels more and more in our lives. They are there, and we need to trust and believe and invite them to be there. We can't be negligent. We can't be unresponsive. We shouldn't be oblivious to the fact that God sends angels to direct our lives and bless our lives and care for our lives, especially at Christmas, but always.

  President Jeffrey R. Holland

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  • Ancestors

  21 Oct 2026