God, our eternal Father, loves us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came to earth in order to provide a means to return to our Father and to show us how to be happy. I am happy when I seek to emulate Christ, less so when I don’t.
For all I do and in all that I become that is the only standard: am I becoming more or less like Christ? As I look back over the previous year, I think that I am overall becoming more like Him, but the gap between us remains great. I think of the Lord and I am almost compelled like the ancient Lamanites to fall before Him in a combination of grief and admiration. Dear Lord, I am not like you; please help me become!
My family, my friends, my internet buddies, my internet foes, my mountains, my sky, my earth, my snow, my green, my red, my self all testify to me of God’s love, of God’s desire to have me back.
Christ came to earth because He loves me (and everyone else). Christ came to earth because He and God want me back. We love Him because He loved us first; because He loved us before we were anything to love and because He loves us when we are left unloved or deserve no love. God loves us for who we are no matter who we are. God changes us, always for the better. God draws us to Him and wants us to know Him.
Joseph Smith restored the means to know God and returned to Him. I must conclude, along with John Taylor, that no-one has done as much for the salvation of humankind since Jesus Christ than Joseph Smith. The restoration of systematic revelation, of the authorized priesthood, of missing vital scripture, of actual living, breathing, heart-pumping communion between God and Man are Joseph’s legacy. He did what had to be done.
I love the Lord; I love my God; I love Mrs. John C. and our two beautiful children; I love Mom of John C., Dad of John C., siblings of John C. and their families; I love the Gospel and the love of which it testifies to me.
On Christmas day, a new star was born to shine in darkness. Dear God, I love Thee. Shine On. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
By Common Consent, a Mormon Blog 
amen.
I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
Thanks, John. May we always remember what makes Christmas merry.
Thanks for sharing that, John.
Amen.
These words echo my own feelings and testimony. Thank you for sharing this. It was uplifting.
Amen, brother.
Thanks, John. And amen!
Merry Christmas, John! Thanks.