Preparing for a Christ-Centered Christmas: How to Keep the Savior at the Heart of the Season
Share
As the holiday season approaches, many of us are looking for ways to make Christmas more meaningful. Between the gift shopping, holiday parties, and general bustle, it’s easy to let the season fly by without much focus on what matters most—the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
As LDS moms, we have a unique opportunity to bring Christ into our homes and make Him the center of our family's celebrations. And the best part? You don’t have to overhaul your traditions to make this happen! Here are five meaningful ways to prepare for a Christ-centered Christmas and create lasting spiritual memories with your family.
1. Create Christ-Centered Traditions 🎄
Family traditions are a powerful way to teach and reinforce gospel principles, and Christmas is the perfect time to start something new. Consider introducing a tradition that helps your family focus on the Savior:
- Have a "12 Days of Christmas" countdown where each day focuses on a different aspect of the Savior’s life and teachings. This could include reading scriptures, singing hymns, or doing a small act of service.
- Set up a “Giving Manger” where each member of the family places a piece of straw in the manger every time they do a kind deed throughout the season. By Christmas Day, the manger is filled and ready for the baby Jesus.
- Plan a family “Nativity Night” where you act out the nativity story. Let everyone pick their favorite role, and don't be afraid to be creative! It's about remembering and celebrating the Savior's birth in a fun and memorable way.
2. Serve Together as a Family 🤲
One of the best ways to feel closer to Christ is to serve as He served. Use the holiday season as a time to involve your children in simple acts of kindness. Here are a few ideas:
- Make cookies or small treats to deliver to neighbors, ward members, or local missionaries.
- Participate in Light the World, the annual service initiative by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Use their calendar of daily acts of service as a guide.
- Write thank-you cards or create care packages for those in need—think of single parents, elderly neighbors, or families in your ward who could use an uplift.
The more you serve as a family, the more your children will see the joy that comes from following Christ’s example.
3. Set Aside Time for Family Gospel Study 📖
Christmas is an excellent time to develop or strengthen a habit of family gospel study, particularly focusing on the Savior. Even 5-10 minutes a day can make a big difference! Consider reading from the scriptures about Christ’s birth (Luke 2, Matthew 1–2) and discussing what you learn together.
If you’re looking for a way to make this easier, the Essential Conversations | Scripture Study for Families from the Doctrine and Covenants flipbook is a wonderful tool to bring gospel study into your home. This flipbook aligns with the Come, Follow Me curriculum and provides a simple structure for daily or weekly study, complete with discussion prompts, scripture passages, and challenges to help your family apply gospel teachings.
With its weekly themes and beautifully designed pages, the flipbook makes it easy to have those meaningful conversations about Christ and deepen your family's understanding of the gospel, even amidst a busy holiday season.
4. Incorporate Christ-Centered Music 🎶
Music has a unique way of bringing the spirit into your home and turning hearts toward the Savior. During the holiday season, make a conscious effort to include Christ-centered Christmas music into your daily routine.
Here are a few ideas:
- Create a playlist of Christmas hymns and uplifting songs to play in the car, during breakfast, or while decorating the tree.
- Have a family sing-along night where you gather around the piano (or a music app) and sing your favorite Christmas hymns. Let each family member choose their favorite song to sing together.
- Use music as part of your bedtime routine—play soft instrumental hymns or sing lullabies about the Savior to your little ones as they fall asleep.
5. Create Opportunities for Reflection and Testimony ✨
Christmas is also a time to reflect on the Savior’s life and mission and share personal testimonies. Here are some ideas to help your family reflect:
- On Christmas Eve, take turns sharing your thoughts about the Savior. What are your favorite things about Him? What lessons from His life mean the most to you? Even young children can participate by sharing their favorite story about Jesus.
- Write down and share ways that each person has seen the Savior’s hand in their life throughout the year. This is a great way to focus on gratitude and build faith as a family.
- Spend a quiet moment on Christmas Day to read together the story of the Savior’s birth, then discuss how your family can strive to follow Him more closely in the coming year.
By setting aside intentional time to reflect and testify of Christ, you’re helping your children strengthen their relationship with Him and build lasting faith.
A Tool to Help You Stay Consistent All Year Long 📚
We know how challenging it can be to consistently focus on gospel study throughout the year. That’s why Essential Conversations was created—to make it easier for families to engage in meaningful gospel discussions on a regular basis.
With our lineup of flipbooks, your family can have an inspiring and enriching year of gospel study, starting this Christmas season:
- Scripture Study for Families: Aligns with Come, Follow Me for the Doctrine and Covenants.
- Scripture Study for Teens: Designed specifically for teenagers to explore gospel teachings more deeply.
- Bedtime Moments: Perfect for younger children, using the Articles of Faith to spark discussions and affirmations during bedtime routines.
