Times Square billboards “Light the World” with the Nativity story

It was business-as-usual in New York’s Times Square on the evening of November 27, 2023. Bustling crowds hurried home from work or out to their favorite restaurant, or perhaps began their Christmas shopping. Taxis honked, pedestrians pushed across busy intersections to catch a bus.

But then the street dimmed as one by one, all 27 of the digital billboards on the corner known as the “Crossroad of the World” went dark. With a gasp, people stared up from the sidewalk, trying to understand what was happening. Then loudspeakers began to broadcast the familiar tones of America’s favorite Christmas carol, “Silent Night.”

Finally, the billboards came back to life, catapulting thousands of shooting stars against a background of cobalt blue sky. The stars danced from billboard to billboard across Times Square, finally forming the lyrics to the classic Christmas song. Then, as pedestrians watched in wonder and delight, the 27 digital billboards projected a series of larger-than-life images—the shepherds, the Holy Family, Mary embracing her newborn Son, the Child Jesus lying peacefully in a manger.

As the brilliant display neared its end, the billboards quoted John 8:16,

“I am the Light of the World”—Jesus Christ

And then came some sage advice for the crowd below. The message on the digital billboards read:

“This Christmas, share His light by letting your light shine.”

Pedestrians who happened upon the historic screen show reacted with deep emotion, as evidenced by the videos of the event popping up on YouTube. Throughout the crowded Times Square, people can be seen smiling broadly, pointing upward, and wiping tears from their eyes.

But whom should we thank for the gift of this Christmas extravaganza? You may be surprised to learn that the beautiful “Light the World” light show was a project of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, known as the Mormons. The star-studded video message was intended to introduce the people of New York and the world to the Mormons’ “Light of the World” Giving Machines–red vending machines designed to offer needed resources for the poor during the Christmas season, and especially on November 28, known as “Giving Tuesday.” With the help of more than 200 organizations worldwide, the Mormon denomination sponsors the Giving Machines in 61 locations in seven countries, including three vending machines strategically located in Times Square.

The website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints explains how the Giving Machines can help those in need:

Across machines in all locations are a combined 1,200 different items requested by carefully screened and reputable local, national and international nonprofit organizations. These include meals, groceries, shelter, clothing, healthcare, education, bedding, hygiene kits, job and career training, crops and livestock (such as chickens, goats, pigs, ducks, sheep and beehives). Patrons can type in 777 to purchase one of everything in a machine.

The New York portion of the LDS’ campaign is co-funded by the Archdiocese of New York’s Catholic Charities office. Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities of New York and administrator of the Church of Our Saviour, was proud that his organization is partnering with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the other sponsoring organizations. Msgr. Sullivan said in an interview that “Times Square is perhaps the brightest place on the face of the earth. Lighting the world is needed now more than ever.”

After their first day in Times Square, the three Giving Machines designated for New York were relocated to the Church of Our Saviour, on Park Avenue at 38^th Street in Manhattan, where they will remain until January 1, 2024.

Additional support for the Times Square Giving Machines has been pledged by nine other nonprofit organizations: African Girls Hope Foundation, American Red Cross, Care, Church World Service, iDE (International Development Enterprise), Lifting Hands International, Mentors International, UNICEF, and Water Aid.

The LDS Church is to be congratulated and thanked for spearheading this creative and beautiful project, which brought the Christmas story to believers and unbelievers alike in the center of our nation’s largest city. While Catholics and other non-Catholic Christians do hold a different view of the nature of God (the Mormons do not believe in “the three persons in which subsists the one Godhead, but three gods who form one divinity.”), the Times Square video was uncontroversial, focusing on the Christmas story in a way on which we all can agree.

The official video of the breathtaking Times Square billboard show, “A Silent Night Surprise in Times Square,” can be viewed in its entirety here.