On the 3rd Day of Christmas Past Re-cast…
Question: Today’s “Light the World” is to help others feel peace. What special Christmas greeting of PEACE did George Albert Smith put on his Christmas cards in 1945 and how can we apply this to our current circumstances?
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A Special Christmas Card
By Christmas 1945, World War II had come to an end. For seven long years most nations of the world had been involved in or affected by the global conflict. An estimated 55 million people had lost their lives. Millions of people in Europe and in the Pacific, victims, of the war, were then living without clothing, food, and shelter. They faced a cold, difficult winter because fuel for heating, cooking, and transportation was almost impossible to obtain.
During the war, many cities enforced nightly blackouts, when no exterior lights could be turned on and inside lights could be used only if windows were tightly covered. This was a safety precaution for cities close to the fighting but was also meant to conserve fuel. Salt Lake City was no exception. Even the floodlights that normally lit up the exterior of the LDS temples were turned off to honor the blackouts. The Salt Lake Temple sat dark in a dark city every night during the war. As almost one of the last acts of his presidency, Pres. Heber J. Grant, nearing his death in May 1945, ordered the floodlights of the temple turned back on after hearing the cease fire in Europe. Imagine how wonderful it must have been to have that beautiful building lit up again at night, shining in the valley.
George Albert Smith, now Pres. of the Church, planned an inspiring and meaningful Christmas card for 1945. The card was the essence of beauty and simplicity. On the front was a night photograph of the three eastern spires of the Salt Lake Temple beautifully lit against a dark background with the angel Moroni soaring above. Below the picture were printed the words “Christmas – 1945” and a message: “The lights are on again…” Nothing could have better reflected the joy Pres. Smith, along with everyone else, was feeling after long years of death and destruction, the world was finally at peace.
But this Christmas card seemed to have another meaning, an even deeper, more important one. This Christmas card was Pres. Smith bearing his testimony that after not just seven years of constant war but centuries of darkness and despair, the bright lights of the fullness of the gospel were indeed “on again” for all the people of the world. That is the message of the Restoration, but it is also the essence of the Christmas message – not only in 1945 but also today for each and every person on the earth.
Laura Willes, “Christmas with the Prophets”, p. 81-83
So grateful for the light of the gospel that is shining brightly during difficult times
Pres. Smith’s message in 1945 was “The lights are on again….” I think the message for us today,is that no matter how difficult our circumstances are right now, we can find hope in the light of the restored Gospel. Our temples are closed, but their lights are still on. We are loved.
Peace can be felt in a simple thing, such as a picture of a lit temple. I have missed being able to go to the temple and I have enjoyed the few times this year that I have been close to one, even if it is just driving by.
His message was, “The lights are on again..” we don’t have to wait for our challenges to be over for the light of the Savior and his gospel to shine in our hearts.
His message simply read, “The lights are on again.” In the darkness of 2020, my relationship with the Savior and His church has been my shining light. There is peace in Christ no matter what is thrown at us.
Beautiful symbolism expressed by Pres Smith at the end of the war. We are in the middle of wars today. Wars of living Gods commandments to love others. We need to let His light shine through our life example.
President Smith had the words, “The lights are on again…” along with a picture of some of the Salt Lake temple spires lit up in the night sky once again. In our current circumstances, many people are searching for normalcy, hope, and that same message of peace. We can find that same light when we turn to the Savior during these difficult times through prayer, scripture study, serving those around us, and sharing our love.
Not only were the lights back on on the Temple,but the light of Christ is shining forth guiding all who seek the light to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. May we all shine our light for the world to see.
Light is the essence of everything in the gospel. ” The light of Christ”, the light of the gospel. Beautiful lights that darken a dark world at Christmas time.
The Lord created a beautiful world for us. For many years there were dark times and many people suffered. After the war it was a time to reflect on peace and on the light that the gospel brings. When they were able to light up the temple it was a reminder that there is always light in the gospel and even though it has been dark we always have the light of Christ if we choose. We will always have darkness in our lives but we always have the light of Christ and the gospel.
“The lights are on again…”
And they will be for us, too. We’ll get through these trials of 2020 and be able to go back to normal just as they did after WW II.
(I input this in facebook first but realized my last name is wrong. I’ll use the blog only from now on.)
Pres. Smith’s message “The lights are on again…” with the temple spires symbolizes peace after many years of war and destruction. During this pandemic, I’m sure it has been hard for many but we have the light of Christ that can help us through things.
The words on President Smith’s card were, “The lights are on again”. In this dispensation, the light of the Gospel is “on again” We can share that light with others, and live the principles of the Gospel more fully.
President Smith directed the creation of a Christmas card with the words “The lights are on again”. The card had a picture of the Salt Lake City temple, which had once again been lit up at night after World War II had ended. The light can be interpreted as the physical lights returning during the night, a return to some normalcy after the long war. It can also represent the light of the Gospel shining through the darkness, both before and now after the war.
It was a picture of the 3 eastern spires of the Salt Lake Temple lit up in all its glory by the flood lights that had been dark for 7 years due to WW2. With the words “Christmas 1945″ & “The lights are on again…” accompanying the puicture. The message we can find again is to know that dark days are coming to end. To be a light even in dark times and to shine brighter when those dark days are gone.
President Smith put on his card the words,”the lights are on again”. As I was thinking about this, I thought oh I can’t wait for all of the lights of all of the temples be on again today!!! I pray for this everyday! We need our temples so badly! Can’t you just feel the joy of seeing the temple lights on again! What a beautiful way to bring peace to so many!
I remember as a child the blackout sirens . We lived in Southern California at that time, and the announcement , like Pres, Smith said, “ the lights are on again.” Was such a relief. Many memories of the war days.
I love this message. Symbolic of the lights coming back on and flooding the temple with light, Jesus Christ is the light to the world. Let’s share the light!
The lights are on again. We need to remember that even though the times seem bad, dark or scary the lights are on! We have the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ we can look to Him and feel peace.
With the understanding that the lights are on we know that we can be that light and that we can illuminate the darkness.
Pres. Smith’s message “The lights are on again,” was a wonderful reminder that we can go through dark times and still see the light. The true light is our Savior Jesus Christ. He will never leave us hopeless or alone. We will get through these dark times.
I would love to see one of those cards. The lights are always on with the gospel.
the lights are on again! How I long for the day when I can return to my home temple in Portland OR, it has been too long.
“The Lights are on again. . .
The “light of the gospel” will be ever present as we await the Savior’s return. Even when temples are closed, and pandemic spreads, the Light of the Gospel is on earth and will remain so until the work is finished and our Lord and Savior returns to earth. There is not better home for me than to know this. If we choose to have the “light” in our lives, we can weather the storms.