Over the years, we have earnestly tried to find a way to help our children recognize the true significance and meaning behind the Christmas season. It is tough to do...every year it seems that a million things in a million different ways try to subtly turn our attention from the spiritual to the secular. But with a little effort, lots of prayer, and some creativity, this season can be filled with the types of memories and experiences that will increase our testimonies of the Lord Jesus Christ, bring us closer together as families, and give our children a foundation of tradition that will bless and serve them all their lives. I wanted to share what our family has done...with the hope that you will do the same on your blog so we can continue to gather ideas. Here we go...
1. We have an advent calendar hanging on our wall with tiny pockets that count their way up the tree to Christmas Day. Each pocket has 2 small slips of paper wrapped in string...the paper wrapped in red string has the scripture of the day. We open this one during breakfast, read the scripture together, and then hang up the coordinating picture from the Gospel Art Kit. Each scriptures tells of an event in Christ's life, starting with his birth and ending with His return to this earth some day. It is a fabulous way to capture the essence of not only the Savior's birth, but the majesty of his life.
(I have a picture on my blog somewhere but for the life of me I can't find it. So here is a random picture that has our little display in the background...
The idea came from the December 2008 Friend magazine. Follow the link to find the scriptures and corresponding picture to be used every day!
Tell Me The Stories of Jesus
2. The second small slip of paper in our advent calendar is wrapped with green string and this paper contains a special Christmas activity or experience to look forward to that day. It can be anything from listening to a favorite Christmas song to baking cookies or writing cards or visiting your favorite Christmas place. These activities are an opportunity for us to have a different experience and create special memories every day as a family. Here is some of our list for 2012 if you are looking for ideas. If you would like the full copy of activities with all the fun places we visit around Utah, leave a comment and I will email it to you. If you are in the area, feel free to come join us! We love a party!
December 1, 2012
(Saturday)
Happy Holidays! We have the opportunity over the next 25 days to
enjoy one of the most special times of the year...Christmas! We hope as we
participate in some special activities that you will always remember the real
reason for the season...celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ!
Tonight we get to celebrate the season by opening the first gift of
the season! Gather round for a little fun...
December 2, 2012
(Sunday)
Tonight we have the opportunity to watch the first presidency
Christmas devotional! Listen carefully to the messages and music that are
shared. Can you feel the special spirit Christmas brings?
We will also set up our Christmas tree! We have a special gift that
will hopefully help you always remember the special Christmas’ we shared as a
family while you were growing up and to help you start NEW traditions with your
own family someday! Find a special place to hang your new gift!
December 4, 2012
(Tuesday)
Christmas is not about what we get but what we can give! Today you
need to look for an opportunity to serve someone. Remember that when you are in
the service of your fellowmen, you are really in the service of your god. Share
your experience at dinner tonight!
December 5, 2012
(Wednesday)
Tonight at dinner we will take the opportunity to read some beautiful
testimonies that have been borne of Jesus Christ. Each member of our family
will find a special paper under their plate to share with the family! Think
about ways you can help your testimony grow!
December 6, 2012
(Thursday)
Look for a very unique dinner tonight!
After dinner, join us in the living room to hear the greatest Christmas
song ever written! It will be loud and it will be glorious...think choir of
angels!
December 12, 2012
(Wednesday)
Grab a friend and head to gardner village to see if you can find all
those tricky Christmas elves. If you can find them all, there may be a sweet
treat waiting for you at the end.
December 13, 2012
(Thursday)
Happy St. Lucia Day! We have the opportunity to share this special
Swedish tradition with your friends and school...and maybe surprise mo &
Papa with a special show!
December 14. 2012
(Friday)
Today we are going to visit the scholastic book fair to choose a
book for your amazing teachers and instructors. When we get home, write a
special card to tell them how much you appreciate all they do.
December 15, 2012
(Saturday)
Today we are going to oliver’s 1st birthday party! Make
him a special birthday card to let him know how much you love him.
We will also be attending hannah’s dance recital. Be sure to give
her a big hug and kiss and tell her how proud you are of her hard work!
Tonight is our ward Christmas party! Get ready to show off all your
amazing talents!
December 16, 2012
(Sunday)
Grab your toasty jammies and some yummy popcorn...we are going to
watch a very special Christmas movie!
December 17, 2012
(Monday)
Tonight we are going to decorate sugar cookies and make cards for
our amazing neighbors! Think about your primary teachers, scout leaders,
activity day leaders...so many people who love us and bless our lives in
extraordinary ways!
December 18, 2012
(Tuesday)
Tonight we will take the time to read some more beautiful
testimonies of Christ! We hope your testimony of Christ and his gospel has
grown during this holiday season.
December 19, 2012
(Wednesday)
Today we are headed for a scavenger
hunt and treat at one of the “grandest places in salt lake city. Get ready for
fancy! It is also mo and papas wedding anniversary!
December 20, 2012
(Thursday)
Another special day to focus on serving other people! In your
morning prayers ask heavenly father if he will guide you to someone who needs
your help today. Then get ready to share your experience at dinner!
December 22, 2012
(Saturday)
Get your creative juices flowing...we are going to decorate
gingerbread houses! But remember...no eating them until new years day!
December 23, 2012
(Sunday)
Today is the prophet Joseph smiths birthday. Think about the
blessings that you have in your life because of this remarkable latter day
prophet! Tonight we will watch the joseph smith movie together!
December 24, 2012
(Monday)
Happy Christmas eve!
Tonight we will be preparing to get together with family to
celebrate the night our dear savior was born. We will open one special gift
before bed. Be thinking about what gift you would like to give jesus this
upcoming year and be prepared to write it down and place it in the manger.
December 25, 2012
(Tuesday)
Merry Christmas!
3. This year we are adding one more new tradition. On 2 of the days in December, our activity for the day is reading special testimonies that have been borne by some of the Savior's witnesses. These will be placed under the dinner plates and read aloud while we eat. Here are the cards we are using:
(Oh, very sad...no images are showing up. The cards each have a picture of the prophet and then next to the picture is an image of their personal signature. This was taken from the following website
Testimonies of the Prophets.)
President
Joseph Smith
“And this is the gospel, the glad
tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us—
“That he came into the world, even
Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to
sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;
“That through him all might be saved
whom the Father had put into his power and made by him.”
President
Brigham Young
“I testify that Jesus is the Christ,
the Savior and Redeemer of the world; I have obeyed his sayings, and realized
his promise, and the knowledge I have of him, the wisdom of this world cannot
give, neither can it take away. …
“Our Lord Jesus Christ—the Savior,
who has redeemed the world and all things pertaining to it, is the Only
Begotten of the Father pertaining to the flesh. … He has tasted death for every
man, and has paid the debt contracted by our first parents.”
President
John Taylor
“Anointed, indeed, with the oil of
gladness above His fellows, He struggled with and overcame the powers of men
and devils, of earth and hell combined; and aided by this superior power of the
Godhead, He vanquished death, hell and the grave, and arose triumphant as the
Son of God, the very eternal Father, the Messiah, the Prince of peace, the
Redeemer, the Savior of the world; having finished and completed the work
pertaining to the atonement, which His Father had given Him to do as the Son of
God and the Son of man.”
President
Wilford Woodruff
“The object of Christ’s mission to
the earth was to offer himself as a sacrifice to redeem mankind from eternal
death. … He acted strictly in obedience to his Father’s will in all things from
the beginning, and drank of the bitter cup given him. Herein is brought to
light, glory, honour, immortality, and eternal life, with that charity which is
greater than faith or hope, for the Lamb of God has hereby performed that for
man which [man] could not accomplish for himself. …
“There is no being that has power to
save the souls of men and give them eternal life, except the Lord Jesus Christ,
under the command of His Father.”
President
Lorenzo Snow
“That Being who dwelt in Heaven, who
reigned there before the world was, who created the earth, and who, in the meridian
of time, came down to perfect and save that which He had created, has appeared
to men in this age.
“We testify to the whole world that
we know, by divine revelation, even through the manifestations of the Holy
Ghost, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and that he
revealed himself to Joseph Smith as personally as he did to his apostles
anciently, after he arose from the tomb, and that he made known unto him [the]
heavenly truths by which alone mankind can be saved.”
President
Joseph F. Smith
“The Holy Spirit of God has spoken
to me—not through the ear, not through the eye, but to my spirit, to my living
and eternal part,—and has revealed unto me that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
the living God. I testify to you that I know that my Redeemer lives.
Furthermore, I know that I shall see Him on this earth, and that I shall see
Him as He is. … The Lord has revealed this to me. He has filled my whole spirit
with this testimony, until there is no room for doubt.”
President
Heber J. Grant
“To members of the Church throughout
the world, and to peace-lovers everywhere, we say, behold in this Man of
Galilee not merely a great Teacher, not merely a peerless Leader, but the
Prince of Peace, the Author of Salvation, here and now, literally and truly the
Savior of the World!
“… Jesus is the Redeemer of the
world, the Savior of mankind, who came to the earth with a divinely appointed
mission to die for the redemption of mankind. Jesus Christ is literally the Son
of God, the Only Begotten in the flesh. He is our Redeemer, and we worship
him.”
President
George Albert Smith
“The Savior died that we might live.
He overcame death and the grave and holds out to all who obey His teachings the
hope of a glorious resurrection.”
“I have found many in the world who
have not known that we believe in the divine mission of our Lord, and I have
been led to say upon more than one occasion that there are no people in the
world who so well understand the divine mission of Jesus Christ, who so
thoroughly believe him to have been the Son of God, who are so sanguine
[confident] that at the present time he is enthroned in glory at the right hand
of his Father, as the Latter-day Saints.”
President
David O. McKay
“‘How can we know the way?’ asked
Thomas, as he sat with his fellow apostles and their Lord at the table after
the supper on the memorable night of betrayal; and Christ’s divine answer was:
‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. …’ (John 14:5–6.) And so he is! He is
the source of our comfort, the inspiration of our life, the author of our
salvation. If we want to know our relationship to God, we go to Jesus Christ.
If we would know the truth of the immortality of the soul, we have it
exemplified in the Savior’s resurrection. …
“… He is the one Perfect Being who
ever walked the earth; the sublimest example of nobility; Godlike in nature;
perfect in his love; our Redeemer; our Savior; the immaculate Son of our
Eternal Father; the Light, the Life, the Way.”
President
Joseph Fielding Smith
“Salvation is in Christ. It comes
because of the infinite and eternal atonement which he wrought by the shedding
of his blood. He is the Son of God, and he came into the world to ransom men
from the temporal and spiritual death that came because of what we call the
fall.
“Through his goodness and grace all
men will come forth from the grave, to be judged according to the deeds done in
the flesh. …
“I know that he lives, that he rules
in the heavens above and in the earth beneath, and that his purposes shall
prevail. He is our Lord and our God. As he himself said to Joseph Smith: ‘The
Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior’ (D&C 76:1).”
President
Harold B. Lee
“After a long night of searching and
days of spiritual preparation that followed, I came to know as a witness more
powerful than sight, until I could testify with a surety that defied all doubt,
that I knew with every fiber of my soul that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
the living God, that He lived, He died, He was resurrected, and today He
presides in the heavens, directing the affairs of this church, which bears His
name because it preaches His doctrine. I bear that testimony humbly and leave
you my witness.”
President
Spencer W. Kimball
“We place [Jesus Christ] on a
pedestal as no other group I know of. To us he is not only the Son of God, he
is also a God and we are subject to him. …
“No matter how much we say of him,
it is still too little.
“He is not only the Carpenter, the
Nazarene, the Galilean, but Jesus Christ, the God of this earth, the Son of
God, but most importantly, our Savior, our Redeemer. …
“I add my own testimony. I know that
Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he was crucified for the
sins of the world.
“He is my friend, my Savior, my
Lord, my God.”
President
Ezra Taft Benson
“The question is sometimes asked,
‘Are Mormons Christians?’ We declare the divinity of Jesus Christ. We look to
Him as the only source of our salvation. We strive to live His teachings, and
we look forward to the time that He shall come again on this earth to rule and
reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In the words of a Book of Mormon
prophet, we say to men today, ‘There [is] no other name given nor any other way
nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and
through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent’ (Mosiah 3:17).”
President
Howard W. Hunter
“I am grateful … for my affiliation
with a people who have a firm conviction that God lives, that Jesus is the
Christ; and I bear witness to you that the story of the babe born in the manger
at Bethlehem is not a myth of the past, but that Jesus, the Son of God was born
of Mary into mortality; that he lived among men; that he died upon the cross
and was resurrected; that he actually and truly lives today; and that he is a
personal being and is the Savior of the world.”
President
Gordon B. Hinckley
“I know that I am not the head of
this Church. The Lord Jesus Christ is its head. My mission, my chief
responsibility, my greatest honor comes in bearing solemn testimony of His
living reality. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who condescended to come into
this world of misery, struggle, and pain, to touch men’s hearts for good, to
teach the way of eternal life, and to give Himself as a sacrifice for the sins
of all mankind. He is ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and He shall reign
forever and ever’ (Handel’s Messiah). … I bear solemn witness that He
lives and stands on the right hand of His Father.”
President
Thomas S. Monson
“With all my heart and the fervency
of my soul, I lift up my voice in testimony as a special witness and declare
that God does live. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh.
He is our Redeemer; He is our Mediator with the Father. He it was who died on
the cross to atone for our sins. He became the firstfruits of the Resurrection.
Because He died, all shall live again. ‘Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!” ’ May the whole world know it and live by that
knowledge, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior,
amen.”
Here is hoping that your Christmas season is very merry and bright!
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