Christmas is a big deal in Shanghai. In fact, Christmas is pretty much inescapable here. "Merry Christmas," not just "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Xmas" is written everywhere, usually in English, and can be seen on walls, doors, buildings, parking garage gates, T-shirts, and so forth.

In the elevators for the building where I work, real Christmas music is playing — sometimes even music mentioning the Savior. Not bad for a strenuously atheistic country. But in all the excitement over Christmas, something is missing, just as it often is in the States.

"Merry Christmas" over the entrance to Shanghai's high-end Super Brands Mall.

Starbucks in Ningbo, China, adds to the Christmas cheer by helping someone find a mate. May Chirsmas have a lovely wedding.

The problem is not just the occasional misspelling.

Among the many Christmas-related displays and celebrations I have experienced in China, one that caught my attention especially occurred in Ningbo, China, a couple of hours south of Shanghai, where a display at a public square looked like a modern take on a nativity scene, but with toy bears all gathered around a soft place perfect for the resting baby Jesus — but there was no baby there.

In a Christmas display in Ningbo, animals gather around what looks like it should be a nativity scene, minus the nativity.

The display, like our Christmas holiday in general, is a case of a missing child.

Orson Scott Card wisely reminds us that Christmas and the story of the birth of Christ is more meaningful that many Christians have recognized. I love his recent article at Mormon Interpreter, "Christmas Is About a Baby."

The gritty reality of a God who came down not just to be seen and heard, but to fully participate in mortal life with us. He experienced temptation and the need for self-restraint. He grew gradually, learned step by step, and struggled to be Who He was meant to be, even as we must grow, learn, and struggle.

His perfection was not without effort and price. Thanks to Him and His infinite Atonement, however, our imperfection can be overcome, our weakness can be turned to strength, our sin to cleanliness.

He showed us that we can follow God, that we can overcome sin, and He then went the infinite extra mile to pay the price for us that our failure be washed away, allowing us to share in fellowship with Him and the Father.

All that glory, all that potential joy, is what we should see when we look upon the manger and remember that tiny mortal being who once filled it, and filled all of us with hope.

The child is missing today in public celebrations, but may He always be present in our Christmases.