Every December, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invites everyone to Light the World in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. As part of this initiative, everyone is invited to serve, love and act as the Savior would. This year’s theme is “Be Someone’s Angel.” 

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke at the season’s launch event in Salt Lake City, Utah: “Just as angels declared words of great joy at His birth, we too in our own small way, gift by gift, can be angels in the lives of others as we extend the love of Jesus Christ to people near and far, and as we proclaim a witness of the Savior of the world.”  (See Link)

On December 19, 2024, President Jeffrey R. Holland offered an angelic message on his Facebook page. He related, “It is Christmastime, and I would like to mention something from the Christmas setting that we do not always focus on. It is the attendance of angels. We always respond to the chorus of angels.  We always respond to Glory to God in the highest and that which the shepherds saw. But I am impressed with the continuing role and relationships of angels in the nativity scene, and 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.” (See Link)

President Holland referenced St. John 1:51, wherein the Savior spoke, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter we shall see Heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”  President Holland further stated, “Now my point to you this day is it’s not only on the Son of Man, but also 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 we lead so busily and Christmas can get the busiest of all. But yet on the other side of the veil, they are, 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, and nurturing. Whether it is 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, believe in angels and believe in them forever because they are working with us. 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, bless our lives, and care for our lives and especially at Christmas, and always.” 

Since I subscribed to Light the World texts, I received a series of text messages to help me feel and share the joy of our Savior’s birth, just like angels did 2,000 years ago. While I may not have thought of myself as an angel, I continue to reflect on when Jesus Christ was born, and the angel of the Lord appeared and gave nearby shepherds an amazing gift: news of the long-awaited arrival of the Savior of the world and instructions on where to find Him. Jesus’s birth was announced to the world through a new star that appeared in the sky, a symbol of His role as the Light of the World.  He is the gift, and I was reminded I could share my light with others by being someone’s earthly ministering angel through a gift of kind words, smile, friendship, love, service, and stories from the angels in my life.

As we continue to reflect on the angels in our life or being someone’s earthly angel, take time to remember angels in your family line.  Who is your angel? Which of your ancestors inspires you? Even when people are gone, their influence lives on in those they left behind. Consider your relatives and how their lives have influenced and changed your own.

• Share an inspiring story about an ancestor on social media. 
• Read the memories that other FamilySearch users have posted about your ancestors. 
• Make a goal that will help you follow the example of the ancestors who inspire you. 
• Plan a dinner with your family. Share inspiring memories of relatives who have passed on. 
• Look for stories of when your ancestors were kind.

Angels are all around us. Who have been your angels?

This next year take the opportunity and be someone’s angel by blessing their life by introducing them to FamilySearch. If they are new to FamilySearch, invite them to attend the “Adult Classes for the Absolute Beginner.” They will be held on Wednesday January 8, 2025, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Thursday January 9, 2025, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Be someone’s angel.

– Barbara Tubbs, Communications, Granite FamilySearch Center