At Christmastime people all over the world remember the birth of Jesus Christ, the beginning of that unique Life which culminated in the sacrifice of that same Life on Calvary thirty-three years later. Believers and unbelievers alike know what Christmas is all about.

But for Christians, this holiday stirs feelings deep in our souls. It goes way beyond the enveloping warmth of family, It's a Wonderful Life, and goodwill toward men. We know Jesus came into the world, setting aside His glory, to reconcile His people to Holy God; to give His life for ours. This is the reason we joyfully sing:

"Hallelujah!"
"Glory to God in the highest!"

As Christians reflect with gratitude on the incarnation of our Savior and King, once again Mormonism provides a stark contrast to the biblical account of the Lord we love. What follows are some statements made by LDS "prophets, seers and revelators" concerning issues related to Christmas, Jesus and salvation. You will find no editorial comment; these latter-day professions speak for themselves.

"First Presidency Extols Meaning of Christmas '...This peace can come only through living the principles of the gospel. These principles constitute the program of the Prince of Peace, who is also the Prince of Glory and the Prince of Eternal Progress.'"
--Howard W. Hunter, The Ensign, February 1995, 77

"In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God."
--Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, John 1:1

"The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood--was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers."
--Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, volume 8, 115 (8 July 1860)

"In relation to the way in which I look upon the works of God and his creatures, I will say that I was naturally begotten; so was my father, and also my Saviour Jesus Christ. According to the Scriptures, he is the first begotten of his father in the flesh, and there was nothing unnatural about it."
--Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, volume 8, 211 (2 September 1860)

"Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven. Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation. I have given you a few leading items upon this subject, but a great deal more remains to be told. Now remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. I will repeat a little anecdote. I was in conversation with a certain learned professor upon this subject, when I replied, to this idea--'if the Son was begotten by the Holy Ghost, it would be very dangerous to baptize and confirm females, and give the Holy Ghost to them, lest he should beget children, to be palmed upon the Elders by the people, bringing the Elders into great difficulties.' Treasure up these things in your hearts. In the Bible, you have read the things I have told you to-night; but you have not known what you did read. I have told you no more than you are conversant with; but what do the people in Christendom, with the Bible in their hands, know about this subject? Comparatively nothing."
--Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, volume 1, 51 (9 April 1852)

"I thank God for 'Mormonism,' so-called; it is the power of God unto salvation."
--Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 97 (2 February 1909)

"I know this is the Kingdom of God. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and he sealed his testimony with his blood. That testimony is in force upon all the world, and it will cost this generation just as much to shed the blood of the Lord's anointed to-day as it has cost the Jews for shedding the blood of Jesus Christ eighteen hundred years ago."
--Wilford Woodruff, Conference Report, April 1880, 85

"As suggested earlier, the life of Joseph Smith was in some degree patterned after that of the Master, Jesus Christ. That pattern holds true even when extended to its tragic conclusion. Like his Master, Joseph Smith also shed his blood in order that the final testament, the reestablishment of the new covenant, might be in full effect (see Heb. 9:16)."
-- Robert L. Millet, The Ensign, June 1994, 22 (Please note: Elder Millet does not hold the authority of "prophet, seer and revelator" in the LDS Church; when he wrote this statement for The Ensign he was merely a dean at Church-owned Brigham Young University)

"Joseph Smith holds the keys of this last dispensation, and is now engaged behind the vail in the great work of the last days...no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. From the day that the Priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding-up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are--I with you and you with me. I cannot go there without his consent. He holds the keys of that kingdom for the last dispensation--the keys to rule in the spirit-world; and he rules there triumphantly, for he gained full power and a glorious victory over the power of Satan while he was yet in the flesh, and was a martyr to his religion and to the name of Christ, which gives him a most perfect victory in the spirit-world. He reigns there as supreme a being in his sphere, capacity, and calling, as God does in heaven. Many will exclaim--'Oh, that is very disagreeable! It is preposterous! We cannot bear the thought!' But it is true."
--Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, volume 7, 289 (9 October 1859)

"And thus, for this dispensation of grace, we come to Joseph Smith. He was called of God to reveal anew the doctrines of salvation. He was called of God to stand as the Lord's legal administrator, dispensing salvation to all men -- repeat: all men -- in the last days. Christ is the True Vine; Joseph Smith is the chief branch for our day."
--Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, 333 - 334

"How are you going to get your resurrection? You will get it by the President of the resurrection pertaining to this generation, and that is Joseph Smith Jun. Hear it all ye ends of the earth; if ever you enter into the kingdom of God it is because Joseph Smith let you go there. This will apply to Jews and Gentiles, to the bond, and the free; to friends and foes; no man or woman in this generation will get a resurrection and be crowned, without Joseph Smith saying so. The man who was martyred in Carthage Jail, State of Illinois, holds the keys of life and death to this generation. He is the President of the resurrection in this dispensation,..."
--Brigham Young, unpublished discourse, October 1854, found in Eugene E. Campbell, The Essential Brigham Young, 99

"FAITH, GRACE, AND WORKS. The fallacy that Jesus has done all for us, and live as we may, if on our deathbed, we only believe, we shall be saved in his glorious presence, is most pernicious. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, has given us the means whereby man may obtain eternal happiness and peace in the kingdom of our Father, but man must work out his own salvation through obedience to the eternal principles and ordinances of the gospel."
--David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, 8

"Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and its cleansing power. Much that is believed and taught on this subject, however, is such utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one's salvation. For instance, many believe or pretend to believe that if we confess Christ with our lips and avow that we accept him as our personal Savior, we are thereby saved. They say that his blood, without any other act than mere belief, makes us clean."
--What the Mormons Think of Christ, 19-20, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1982

"This Church is the ensign on the mountain spoken of by the Old Testament prophets. It is the way, the truth, and the life."
--Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, April 1961, 119

"Ordinances are basic to the gospel. Now, what is the gospel of which we speak? It is the power of God unto salvation; it is the code of laws and commandments which help us to become perfect, and the ordinances which constitute the entrance requirements."
--The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 502

"HOW TO OBTAIN FULL SALVATION. If I ever obtain a full salvation it will be by my keeping the laws of God."
--The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, 23

"Full salvation is attained by virtue of knowledge, truth, righteousness, and all true principles. Many conditions must exist in order to make such salvation available to men. Without the atonement, the gospel, the priesthood, and the sealing power, there would be no salvation. Without continuous revelation, the ministering of angels, the working of miracles, the prevalence of gifts of the spirit, there would be no salvation. If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
--Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 670

"'What shall we do to be saved' was the cry of the people who heard the preaching of Peter on the day of Pentecost, and the same may be said to be applicable to all men in every generation. The answer would be, obey the law of the gospel. This is the safe means given for the salvation of the human family."
--The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, 22

"...all men in the latter days must turn to Joseph Smith to gain salvation. Why? The answer is clear and plain; let it be spoken with seven thunders. He alone can bring them the gospel; he alone can perform for them the ordinances of salvation and exaltation; he stands, as have all the prophets of all the ages in their times and seasons, in the place and stead of the Heavenly One in administering salvation to men on earth."
--Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, 334

"This is a season for giving and a time for gratitude. We remember with appreciation the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith, which is celebrated this same month of December, two days before Christmas. How great indeed is our debt to him...Great is his glory...We stand in reverence before him. He is the great prophet of this dispensation. He stands at the head of this great and mighty work which is spreading across the earth. He is our prophet, our revelator, our seer, our friend. Let us not forget him. Let not his memory be forgotten in the celebration of Christmas. God be thanked for the Prophet Joseph."
--Gordon B. Hinckley, The Ensign, December 1997, 2