This week, people in the USA will be celebrating Thanksgiving. Starting next Sunday, most of the Christian world begins preparations for Christmas. (And some have already started preparation.) It’s a time of joy and gratitude.

Back when I had more time for hobbies, I always joined a community choir at Christmas to sing the oratorio Messiah by G.F. Handel. Now that I’m to busy to make the rehearsal commitment, I make it a point to find a sing-along to go to so that I still get to make the music. One of the songs that usually gets cut is But Thanks Be to God. I really like it, though. It’s a reminder that of all the things we have to be grateful for, the most important is Jesus Christ, who gives us victory over sin and death through His marvelous grace.

I join with the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who said in The Living Christ, “God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.”