A Christ-Centered Christmas, Day 24-learn a carol

"Like the wise men from the east, we too must travel a great distancein order to come unto Christ, the Light of the World. No matter--He waits for us "with open arms" (Mormon 6:17). May Christmas cause us deeper contemplation and deeper determination to complete that journey, the journey of journeys--in order to experience that resplendent rendezvous."
~Elder Neal A Maxwell, "The Christmas Scene," 12

Activity: Learn a Christmas hymn (or primary song) to sing as a family. My favorite Christmas primary Christmas song is "Stars Were Gleaming."

Scripture: On the eve of Christ’s birth, the prophet Nephi prayed in behalf of his people who were about to be slain by the wicked. Read the Lord’s response and the fulfillment of the prophet Samuel’s prophecy in 3 Nephi 1:9-22.

Luke 2:7, Matt 2:1-2

A Christ-Centered Christmas, Day 23-sandaled feet

"If we are to have the very best Christmas ever, we must listen for the sound of sandaled feet. We must reach out for the Carpenter’s hand. With every step we take in His footsteps, we abandon a doubt and gain a truth.

It was said of Jesus of Nazareth that He “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”7 Do we have the determination to do likewise? One line of holy writ contains a tribute to our Lord and Savior, of whom it was said, He “went about doing good … ; for God was with him.”8

My prayer is that at this Christmas season and all the Christmastimes to come, we may follow in His footsteps. Then each Christmas will be the best Christmas ever."

LDS First Presidency Christmas Message, December 2008, found here.

Activity:

Scripture: Read Matthew’s account of the Savior’s birth in Matthew 1:18-25; Matthew 2.

Burning the Midnight Toffee

The ugliest looking (and grossest tasting) toffee ever created.

Note to Future Self: do not begin at 1:05am to make Christmas treats.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A Christ-Centered Christmas, Day 21-forgive someone

Activity: Forgive and make amends with someone. Talk with your children about someone who might have recently hurt them--in ways small or large--and help them think how to make amends. Better yet, help them think of someone they have hurt, and how they can make amends.

"[The Savior] came into the world to be the Lamb of God, to pay the price of all of the sins of His Father’s children in mortality so that all might be forgiven. In the Christmas season we feel a greater desire to remember and ponder the Savior’s words. He warned us that we cannot be forgiven unless we forgive others (see Matthew 6:14–15). That is often hard to do, so you will need to pray for help. This help to forgive will come most often when you are allowed to see that you have given as much or more hurt than you have received.

When you act on that answer to your prayer for strength to forgive, you will feel a burden lifted from your shoulders. Carrying a grudge is a heavy burden. As you forgive, you will feel the joy of being forgiven. At this Christmastime you can give and receive the gift of forgiveness. The feeling of happiness that will come will be a glimpse of what we can feel at home together in the eternal home for which we yearn."

~From "Home for Christmas," by President Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, Dec. 2009, 2–7

Scripture: Read Luke’s account of the Savior’s birth and childhood in Luke 2

A Christ-Centered Christmas, Day 20-testimonies

Activity: Watch the above video clip and take turns bearing your testimonies to one another.

Scripture: Read about Mary’s and Elisabeth’s experiences before Christ’s birth in Luke 1.

A Christ-Centered Christmas, Day 19-act of kindness

Activity: Sit down together with The Friend and do the "I Spy" activity, "In the Giving Spirit," page 20-21. (online version found HERE.) People in the picture are spreading Christmas cheer in many different ways. Can you find and circle each one? What other acts of kindness can you find?

Think of one act of kindness you can perform tomorrow.

Scripture: Read Mark’s account of the Savior’s baptism and ministry in Mark 1:1—2:13.

Matthew 7:12, 3 Nephi 14:12

A Christ-Centered Christmas, Day 18

"Manger Scene," Carl Bloch
My very favorite Christmas painting.

Activity: The Christmas Story picture strip, found here.

Make the craft, then as a parent or older sister or brother reads the verses of scripture, a younger child can show each picture. (See Luke 1:26–31; Luke 2:1–20; Matt. 2:1–12.) Or you can tell the story of Jesus Christ’s birth by looking at the pictures and telling the story in your own words.

Scripture: Read the Prophet Joseph Smith’s testimony of the Savior in Doctrine & Covenants 76:19-24, 40-42.