How to have a joyous Christmas season even during a Pandemic

Yes, it really is possible to have a wonderful Christmas even in this time of global plague, civil unrest, and the disruption of our normal social activities. We must begin by remembering why we celebrate Christmas. It is not a time when we enshrine overeating, overspending, busyness, or even our traditions. 

There is a special spirit of Christmas. It is the spirit of love. Christmas is that time when we especially remember that our Heavenly Father sent His son to earth to save us.

How can we feel God's love? How can we let His love warm our hearts?

Christmas Resources

Here are some resources to bring the Christmas Spirit into your home.

Christmas Resources on lds.org

Christmas Downloads

First Presidency Christmas Devotionals

The Christmas Story Videos

Christmas Inspirational Videos

Christmas Song Videos

Christmas Picture Quotes

Christmas Coloring Pages

Nativity Bible Images

Nativity Artwork

Christmas stories for Children

Christmas Stories for Adults

I gathered together some of my favorite Christmas resources that are on LDS.org to  share with our grandchildren.  I wanted to share them with you. Children This is my favorite story. It makes the Book of Mormon account more real to me. https://www.lds.org/friend/1983/11/a-night-without-darkness-part-1?lang=eng https://www.lds.org/friend/1983/12/a-night-without-darkness-part-2?lang=eng https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/magazines/friend/2012/12/fr12dec35-dot-to-dot-2012-11-08.pdf https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/magazines/friend/2013/12/coloring-page-jesus-christ-born_1178993_prt.pdf https://www.lds.org/children/music/music-videos?lang=eng#the-way-to-bethlehem

A time to remember that He Was Born for You

Our Savior can help us through anything. He brings us joy in the special times and peace in the rough times. He has helped me to know what I should do, and He has given me the strength to do it. He gives substance to my life and hope.

He Was Born for You

Christmas Decorations Meanings

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages?category=christmas-inspirational&lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-12-19-our-christmas-story-tree?category=christmas-songs&lang=eng

TEACH THE CHILDREN
(author unknown)

Just a day before Christmas I had a strange visitor. This is how it happened . . .

I had just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door of the front room, and to my surprise, Santa Claus himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree.

My Favorite Christmas Story

May we all have the love that Wally shows.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-11-018-the-reason-behind-christmas?category=christmas-inspirational&lang=eng

Trouble at the Inn   

By Dina Donohue

For years now, whenever Christmas pageants are talked about in a certain little town in the Midwest, someone is sure to mention the name of Wallace Purling.  Wally’s performance in one annual production of the Nativity play has slipped into the realm of legend.  But the old-timers who were in the audience that night never tire of recalling exactly what happened.

Wally was nine that year and in the second grade, though he should have been in the fourth.  Most people in town knew that he had difficulty in keeping up.  He was big and clumsy, slow in movement and mind.  Still, Wally was well liked by the other children in his class, all of whom were smaller than he, though the boys had trouble hiding their irritation when the uncoordinated Wally would ask to play ball with them.

Most often they’d find a way to keep him off the field, but Wally would hang around anyway-- not sulking, just hoping.  He was always a helpful boy, a willing and smiling one, and the natural protector, paradoxically, of the underdog.  Sometimes if the older boys chased the younger ones away, it would always be Wally who’d say, “Can’t they stay?  They’re no bother.”

Wexford Carol by Mormon Tabernacle Choir

This music video makes me think about why Christmas is so important to me. Christ gives us hope - hope that we can change, be with our families always, and return and live with our Heavenly Father. 

This video refers to many of our Savior's parables. See this page for explanation and see if you can find them.

https://mormontabernaclechoir.org/articles/wexford-carol-video-reflects-jesus-christs-parables-from-luke-15.html

Here are some of my favorite Christmas Resources.

http://learningabouttheldswebsites.blogspot.com/2016/12/my-favorite-christmas-resources.html

Here are other wonderful Christmas stories, videos, pictures, and music.

http://learningabouttheldswebsites.blogspot.com/2016/12/christmas-resources.html

Here are some of my Christmas poems.

http://sherryannestories.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas

On this blog you can click on the "Christmas" label on the right side of the page or go here:

http://meditationsofamormonmom.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas

Hope you enjoy them. Merry Christmas!

The Tabernacle Choir -- Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-12-0050-infant-holy-infant-lowly-music-video-mormon-tabernacle-choir?category=christmas-songs&lang=eng

I was very touched by this 2015  Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square video.  It shows the hope the Savior gives to us. Though I've never been in a physical prison, I feel that wrong choices can confine us in mental prisons even more limiting. I am so grateful to be able to learn form my mistakes, to apologize, to start over. I don't think I could continue if I felt I could not improve. After a day of saying and doing the wrong things, my life is a tangled mess. The discouraging thing is that I really am trying. This is the best I can do. I am trying to learn from my experience, but I don't know how to straighten out all my learning mistakes. I don't have the power to give myself a new start. Our Savior's love, strength, and sacrifice makes it so that I can look forward each day with hope -- the hope that I can become a better person.

Peace at Christmas

He couldn’t be serious, but my husband seemed quite serious when he declared, “If that’s how you are at Christmas, we won’t celebrate it.” What was I doing wrong? This wasn’t the joyful time I had anticipated.

We had only been married a few months, and as our first Christmas together approached, I became increasingly tired, pressured, and grouchy. I was also lonely. My husband was going to school and working full time with a two hour commute, so he was rarely home, leaving me alone in a small trailer with no transportation. Since he was a mailman, he was working overtime seven days a week to keep up with the holiday rush. Yes, I was lonely, but I felt I was learning to cope. I kept my environment bright and cheerful, put up decorations, played Christmas music, turned on the lights, and kept my entertainment positive and up-beat, avoiding sad tear-jerkers. I planned things to do and kept busy. What helped the most was finding another neighbor who’s husband also worked late. We spent many evenings together happily working on projects.

Christ Centered Christmas

Favorite dinosaurs came to see baby Jesus

When we were first married, my husband and I discussed how much we wanted Christ to be the center of our Christmas. Over the years we read the story of the nativity on Christmas Eve from the scriptures, and performed our own nativity pageant on Christmas day. We also played beautiful carols, displayed pictures of the Savior’s birth, and sang “Happy Birthday” to Jesus, complete with a birthday cake.

One of the most important things we did, though, was to change the emphases from gift getting to gift giving. We knew that we remember Christ most when we act like him – when we give and love. Most adults enjoy Christmas because they spend themselves giving to others. We didn’t want our children to miss out on this experience, so instead of encouraging greed in our children by asking “What do you want to Christmas?”, we asked, “What are you going to give for Christmas?”

We explained that Santa was anyone who wanted to give a gift to others, but didn’t want them to know who gave the gift. We had fun as a family as our little Santa, complete with a red hat and cotton ball beard, would drop off goodies at a friend’s home then run, sometimes in circles!

The weeks before Christmas went quickly. It was a busy time filled with secret plans and present making. My husband and I kept our decorations, food, and present buying simple (just one present each), so we could enjoy helping our children make their presents. Even the baby gave her hand print on a piece of paper.

No presents were put under our tree until just before bed on Christmas Eve, then Santa and his elf (our younger children) would bring in the unlabeled presents and place them under the tree.

On Christmas morning we take turns giving presents. The youngest child begins, then on to the oldest person in the family. Presents were opened one at a time, admired by all, and thanks given.

Keeping our Christmas preparations simple and giving small presents helps us remember our Savior at Christmastime and brings His Spirit into our home.

part of this was published in https://www.lds.org/ensign/2006/12/questions-and-answers?lang=eng

Our Christmas with Cambodian Refugees

Many years ago (1981) we shared a most unusual Christmas with a family of Buddhist Cambodian refugees. It began when a woman from our church, who had just returned from serving in a refugee camp in Laos, explained that the camps were too crowded and the government was going to begin shooting the Cambodian refugees. She plead with members of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (most of our small town) to sponsor some of the families so their lives could be saved. Though we had no idea how we were going to manage it, we volunteered. We, and two other families, simply felt prompted that it was what we should do and had faith that the Lord would help us to be able to do it.

Fall passed as we nervously expected the Cambodian family to arrive. Finally, shortly before Christmas, word came that they would be flying into Salt Lake in three days. That is when we began to realize that we were not alone. Our Stake president loaned us his large van so we would have room to transport the family of seven. He also gave us permission to use the showers at the stake center so lice wouldn’t be brought into our home.

 Clean clothes were provided from the small “store” of donated clothes that was set up in a members basement. Beds, blankets, and dishes were given to this family. On Christmas Eve each person was given a gift of a new coat. A doctor, dentist, and eye doctor all donated their services to give the family needed health care. Suggestions were given on possible jobs for the parents, and when they were unable to find an apartment they could afford, a generous man in our stake financed the purchase of a trailer for them to live in.

The First Christmas Spirit

The Saviors's early life from the eyes of Joseph. An interesting perspective. I enjoyed it.

Christmas Gifts from The Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square!

http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/what-shall-we-give.html?cid=HP_TU_12-15-2015_dMOTAB_fMOTAB_xLIDyH-3_


Hope you enjoy this beautiful music. Merry Christmas!

Why We Need a Savior

This video really makes give a lot to think about. We have so much to thank our Savior for. Without Him life would have no purpose and there could be no change and growth. I am so grateful for His love and help.

https://www.mormon.org/christmas/infographic

this Infographic summarizes this video.

A Savior Is Born

And with His birth came hope into the world. Enjoy! Merry Christmas!

Coming to Know Him

by Cheryl Merrick
The depth of His love and sacrifice
I can not comprehend,
but I feel it strengthening my soul.

Christmas Truce

This is a special true Christmas story. I feel glad about their stopping the war, but sad when they start again. It makes me feel how senseless war is. I am praying that there might be Peace on Earth if only in our hearts.

1914 Sainsbury's Ad Christmas 2014

Note

In 2015 my eyesight was failing and I was having difficulty reading. I was having terrible headaches, but was still trying to be positive and hopeful as I waited for my health to improve enough for me to have eye surgery. 

The Wise Men Seek Jesus

Wise men and women still seek Him.

The Christ Child is Presented at the Temple

I've always wondered how Joseph and Mary felt when they hear these prophetic words about Jesus

Luke II

Another version of the birth of Christ. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and bring His love into you life for the next year.

The Nativity

Wishing Everyone a wonderful Christmas filled with the love of our Savior whose birth we celebrate.