Christmas Traditions

I am going to be lazy. Each month a member of our Stake Presidency writes a message for the Stake Newsletter. I was assigned to write the message for December. Later this month I will update you on the "family happenings," but for now I thought I would share the message I wrote for the newsletter.

Stake Presidency Message
December 2008

Brothers and Sisters:

We are entering a wonderful time of the year. I love the Holiday Season. I enjoy recalling family traditions from when I was young. We often decorated two trees…one real tree and one silver aluminum tree. We would place a “color” light wheel next to the silver tree and watch it turn from blue, to yellow, to green, and to red. Often our natural tree would be “flocked” or decorated with tinsel. Only my father had the patience to place the tinsel on correctly, strand by strand. Another tradition the kids enjoyed was selecting one present from under the tree and opening it on Christmas Eve, following our reading of the Nativity story from the New Testament. One of the prized gifts we received each year was a “Book” of Lifesavers. We also enjoyed watching my mother look for a hidden gift placed in the tree by my father.

Other traditions involved visiting neighbors and friends. I grew up with three sisters and one brother. We would visit families on Christmas Eve and each of us would be allowed to carry in and delivery a carrier with six bottles of soda for our friends and neighbors.

In our family now, we are working to develop family traditions. When I served as a Bishop, our family invited the members of the Ward to join us for a Family Home Evenings in December. These Family Home Evenings have provided us rich memories to reflect on. We make an effort to go caroling each year. We have started a practice of donating food to the Mid’ Ohio Food Bank and shopping for Secret Santa gifts. We often gather with extended family for an enjoyable dinner on Christmas Eve, followed by a reading of the Christmas Story from the New Testament. Another family of close friends often joins us late on Christmas Eve to assist with important tasks, after which we may watch a movie. Finally, much to the consternation of our kids, no one is allowed to open a present on Christmas morning until everyone is awake and gathered around the Christmas Tree.

President James E. Faust taught that family traditions can enrich family life. He stated:

Some of the great strengths of families can be found in their own traditions, which may consist of many things: making special occasions of the blessing of children, baptisms, ordinations to the priesthood, birthdays, fishing trips, skits on Christmas Eve, family home evening, and so forth.

Underlying these traditions, is a desire to gather with family and friends to feel the Spirit of the Season. It is the opportunity to contemplate and recall the life and teachings of our elder brother, our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. It is my hope that each of us may remember the true meaning behind this wonderful season as we carryon or establish traditions:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

I know and testify that as we remember the true meaning, we will receive His gift of peace.

Merry Christmas!