LDS Church alters Christmas devotional tradition

[Mormon]

By Tad Walch, Deseret News

Published: Wednesday, Dec. 4 2013 7:25 p.m. MST


For the first time in 20 years, the LDS Church has changed its program of speakers for its annual Christmas devotional. Instead of exclusively featuring the church's First Presidency, other church leaders also will participate as speakers.

“While we anticipate that a member of the First Presidency will participate in the program, it has been decided to give other church leaders the opportunity to speak at the annual Christmas devotional.”

Church spokesman Cody Craynor

SALT LAKE CITY — The LDS Church has altered the name and program for its annual Christmas devotional.

Known at least since the early 1970s as the "First Presidency Christmas Devotional," the event traditionally has featured a talk from each of the three members of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as Christmas songs performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The church's press release, website and tickets to the event this year call the event the Christmas Devotional. The name change signaled a change to the program.

“While we anticipate that a member of the First Presidency will participate in the program, it has been decided to give other church leaders the opportunity to speak at the annual Christmas devotional," church spokesman Cody Craynor said.

The devotionals began decades ago as a way to honor church employees. The church eventually began to broadcast the devotionals and later moved them to the 21,000-seat Conference Center.

Since 1994, all three members of the church's First Presidency have spoken at each devotional.

In 1993, the church's president, Ezra Taft Benson, who was 94, was unable to attend for health reasons. Neither was his second counselor, President Thomas S. Monson, who was ill.

"Somehow, I made it," joked President Gordon B. Hinckley, then the first counselor in the First Presidency.

President Hinckley and then-Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke.

President Benson died in spring 1994. Since then, the entire First Presidency has spoken at each devotional, including a talk every year by President Monson, who became the church's president in 2008.

The talks by President Monson and his counselors, President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, from last year's devotional and the songs performed by the choir can be seen now at lds.org.

The first public hint of a change appeared about a month ago when tickets to the event were distributed with the new title "Christmas Devotional."

As usual, free tickets to Sunday's hour-long event at the Conference Center are "sold out," but the devotional will be broadcast live nationally at 6 p.m. MT on BYUtv. The event also is available live online at mormonchannel.org and in 16 languages at broadcast.lds.org.

Other broadcasters around the world will carry the devotional. Check local program listings for availability in your area, or visit mormonchannel.org or byutv.org.

The devotional will also be broadcast or rebroadcast over the church satellite system in more than 50 languages. Check with local leaders for more details.

Last month, the church announced a change to its semiannual meetings for women and girls. A general women's meeting will be held on the Saturdays before the April and October general conferences of the church for all women and girls ages 8 and above.

Since 1993, a general Relief Society meeting had been held the Saturday before October general conference and a general Young Women meeting on the Saturday before April conference.
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[BroJones]

It will be interesting to see whether Pres. Monson will speak.
Various reports have noted that he has been ailing, especially since the passing of his beloved Frances.
I hope he will; mind you.

[Silas]

It seems like every time he is expected to speak there are rumors that he has some kind of illness, eventually that will be correct given his age but so far all they have been is rumors. I wouldn't read any more into it than they felt like giving other the opportunity to speak. Although it could be because President Monson is beginning to slow down we will just have to wait and see.

[idahommie]

President Monson gave a wonderful talk. The devotional was very nice, however I did miss hearing from his counselors. President Uchtdorf( personal favorite ) and Eyring should have spoke, but I don't run the Church, which is a blessing to all.

[Valiance]

I can't remember who it was, but someone mentioned that it is unfortunate how commercialism has enveloped the world and especially during a time when we should be focused on Christ and not money or materialism, yet, the church has never been more heavily involved in commercialism, money and for-profit businesses than it is right now.