Unique Nativities to set the scene this Christmas

I recently sat with a number of members of the Community of Christ, previously known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as part of an interfaith dialogue. I have great love and respect for these people, those I consider brothers and sisters in the faith. We talked openly and in a friendly manner about similarities and differences between our two churches and landed squarely on the topic of women and the priesthood. One of the women in the room who had been ordained to the priesthood described her responsibilities and shared her feelings regarding the blessing it was for her to be able to perform priesthood ordinances.

On this week’s All In podcast, author Jason Wright shared the story behind his first novel, a novel that went on to become a New York Times bestseller. The fictional story, Wright explained, began because he missed his father, who passed away when Wright was 16 years old. In an effort to cheer up, Wright and his family began putting their spare change in a jar. The week before Christmas, they decided on someone who might benefit from receiving their “Christmas Jar.” Their little jar brought joy to Wright’s family and began a tradition—a tradition that led to Wright’s first novel, Christmas Jars, which has been turned into a film premiering this year.

When Queen Elizabeth visited the island nation of Tonga, there was an honest desire to keep the Sabbath day holy and free from commercialism, and no boats or planes were allowed to arrive or depart on Sunday.

Jesus Christ never received a text on a cell phone. He never watched a video online. And he certainly never bought a chicken from a vending machine. Yet doing each of these things can help us be a little more like Him this Christmas season.

The Church recently released the next in the Book of Mormon video series, "The Lord Commands Nephi to Build a Ship."

"I became so fixated with my faith and poking holes in that, my studies got pushed aside. My grades took a hit. I started to want to disbelieve," Adam says in a recent Church video "His Grace: Choosing to Believe." "And I think that's when the darkness for me personally really set in."

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The Church got an unexpected mention in a recent Jimmy Kimmel Live video. Jimmy Kimmel announced that he had an important public service announcement to share with his fans before showing a video meant to clarify something important to the TV host.

Acclaimed Broadway singer and actress Kelli O’Hara and renowned actor Richard Thomas will be the featured guest artist and narrator at this year’s Christmas concert by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, The Orchestra at Temple Square, and The Bells on Temple Square. The concerts will be held December 12, 13, and 14 at 8 p.m. at the Conference Center at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.