(See Gordon B. Hinckley, “First Presidency Christmas Devotional: “My Redeemer Lives””, Ensign, Feb. 2001, 70–73.). Mormons believe that Christmas is meaningful because of Easter and the two holidays are intertwined in their minds and celebration. The Church of Jesus Christ, however, does not condone any activity that celebrates or encourages evil acts or worship. But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night, that they might know that their faith had not been vain. As Latter-day Saints, we love to celebrate the holidays because they mean spending special time with our families.Many of the holidays we celebrate are to remind us of important things such as the birth of Christ at Christmas, his Resurrection at Easter, New Year's to make goals, and Pioneer Day when the Saints traveled west into the Salt Lake Valley. This website is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The Nephites continued to keep the records, engraved upon by ensuing prophets, all of whom understood and taught that Jesus Christ would be the Savior of mankind. Don’t they worship Joseph Smith? Christians throughout the world celebrate Christmas on December 25th as an annual church festival and as the traditional day of our Savior's mortal birth. And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God? What might a typical Mormon Christmas season look like? I thought everyone knew Mormons celebrated Christmas, but I am mistaken. It also increases leadership skills, since everyone takes turns doing the various required tasks—conducting meetings, leading music, teaching lessons and preparing treats. Even the youngest child is encouraged to listen to the stories in the King James translation, perhaps supplemented by a children’s version afterwards. Even a very young child might get an opportunity to teach his older family members about Jesus Christ. Christ was Begotten by an immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers." For the official Church websites, please visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org. The main group, called the Nephites after their venerable prophet, Nephi, … Mormons recite the Christmas story from the Gospels in the Bible at church and during Christmas celebrations, which are rife during the season. 2. And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth. Mormons add the account from the Book of Mormon, also. ----- Our main goal is creating educational content. Reading of the Four Gospels: The four gospels are the four books in the New Testament that tell of Jesus’ life. And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. While many Mormons participate in the secular aspects of Christmas, they also make sure those portions don’t overtake the spiritual aspects of the holiday. The answer is yes. Do Mormons celebrate Christmas? And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! Yes. And if they do, what are the differences between the Mormon's Christmas … Why do Latter-day Saints celebrate Christmas on December 25 instead of on April 6, the apparent date of Christ’s birth? Justo wondering: Mormons don't believe in Jesus the same way Christians do, so do they celebrate Christmas at all? These are just for the family and are designed to build a bond with family members and to allow parents to share their values with their children. Mormon Temples Currently Under Construction Infographic, Interfaith Project Included as Part of Episcopalian Convention, On Common Ground – Methodists and Mormons Follow in the Master’s Footsteps, Latter-day Saint Children and the Issue of Malnutrition on the Isle of Kiribati. Mormons celebrate life. The focus is always on the birth of the Savior as well as on the atonement. Family nights also often include planning for a family service project to be done during the Christmas season. Isaiah spoke of Him centuries before His coming: “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” (Isa. We’ve dedicated our life to upholding Christ’s work on earth and leading good lives in His honor. As a child I remember on occasion staying up to watch “the Apple” drop in New York city at midnight on December 31st. Mormons add the account from the Book of Mormon, also. 9:6). And might it be different tomorrow than it is today? If so, Why? Do Mormons Celebrate Birthdays? First of all, make no mistake. They commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and believe that he is the Savior of the World. It clearly says it in the book of mormon, so mormons, please dont deny it. And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets. As Christians, we find the birth of Christ to be one of the most momentous events in our religious life. Unique Mormon Christmas Traditions. Christmas is the time of year when people decorate their houses with a Christmas tree, sparkly lights and Christmas lanterns. Sections of this page Although Mormons do not typically participate in the traditions of Lent, Ash Wednesday, or Good Friday, they do study and learn from them. His birth, life, and atonement brought hope to a dying and sinful world. When we bring our Christmas down to its simplest components, we find it is a more rewarding season that can strengthen our testimonies of Jesus Christ. And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins. Here are some reasons: Exceptions are many, but statistics show that Mormon families are happy, healthy, and do their best to be good parents. However, they want their children to become familiar with the language of the Bible, even if they are too young to understand it. Do Mormons Celebrate Christmas . Mormons honor Christmas according to the traditions of the cultures where they live without engaging in any activities that would rob the season of its sacred meaning. Mormons believe in strengthening cultural ties, as the relationship with community and society is important. Nephi, many generations descended from the original prophet named Nephi, and himself a prophet, lamented over this impending doom and prayed mightily to the Lord. The Book of Mormon contains 284 references to being saved, rather an extensive discussion on the topic. You certainly aren't required to celebrate Christmas. We celebrate the birth of our Savior and the coming to pass story of his life. (1 Nephi 11:14-21). And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying: Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled; therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing hath been vain. We (in the U.S.) have a Christmas tree, stockings, egg nog (not alcoholic), family gatherings, presents, a visit from Santa, caroling, parties, and other unique family traditions. Some of these are included in their official hymn book, such as Silent Night and Away in a Manger. Mormon beliefs sometimes get confused with the beliefs and practices of other religions. Myth: The reason why Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas is that they do not believe in Jesus. And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. They took with them the Hebrew scriptures up to that date, engraved on metal-alloy plates or pages. The Book of Mormon, which Mormons consider a companion book to the Bible, says, “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” (2 Nephi 25:26.). From what I have seen and experienced, Mormons celebrate Christmas in just about the same way that the rest of the Christmas-celebrating-world does. Mormons hold weekly family nights in which they have a short lesson, games, music, and treats. Christ Himself appeared to Him to give Him comfort: And it came to pass that he [Nephi] cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:   Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets. Jesus Christ and celebrate His birth as a pivotal moment in eternal life. Yes, Mormons celebrate Christmas. Mormons also have a special Christmas worship service the Sunday before or of Christmas. It is called the Christmas Devotional . Mormons know that without the events honored at Easter, Christmas … Of course, Christmas is also a time for families. Book Of Mormon Videos • Do Mormons celebrate Christmas? (Of course I, myself, and all the other Mormons I know, give gifts, decorate house and tree, have Christmas parties and give gifts. Christmas parties, presents, Christmas presentations (plays, musicals, ballets, choir performances), special holiday lights at many Mormon temples, Mormon Tabernacle Choir performances, and a special Christmas Devotional from the First Presidency of the LDS Church are all traditional for the season. But Church leaders, every year, encourage the saints to focus on Christ. It's also a good way to being families together. But, yes, Mormons celebrate Christmas. Jesus Christ and celebrate His birth as a pivotal moment in eternal life. Mormon families often incorporate these examples as well as their own personal favorites into their own Christmas celebrations as a distraction from the usual Santa fair. Mormons tend to be very passionate Christmas celebrators, with many Mormon congregations hosting nativity festivals or free sing-alongs of Handel’s Messiah each year. Some families even keep one or more nativity sets on display all year long as a way to keep the meaning of Christmas in their hearts all year. With the holidays upon us I wanted to dive in a little bit about Christmas and Mormon. Mormons are encouraged to simplify their holidays to allow more time for family and for spiritual things. If you check lds.org and mormon.org around December you'll see this fairly obviously. Most Mormon homes will display a nativity scene throughout the holiday season and many Mormons collect nativities. Mormons are devout Christians and celebrate Christmas and Easter with the rest of the Christian world. For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23.). The righteous looked forward to this event with great anticipation, but as the time approached, the wicked were more numerous: And it came to pass that in the commencement of the ninety and second year, behold, the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to be greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people. Yep, we do. after being warned of its coming destruction. For me, it soon lost its luster and I have personally found other ways to celebrate and ring in the new year besides an extra effort at incurring sleep deprivation. Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet (3 Nephi 1:4-9). The main group, called the Nephites after their venerable prophet, Nephi, left Jerusalem around 600 B.C. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. October is a wonderful time of the year where we get to enjoy the fleeting fall colors and celebrate such an easy and fun holiday. The views expressed by individual users are the responsibility of those users and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. Has it changed through the years? Mormons, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church,” are Bible-believing Christians and commemorate the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ, along with their Christian neighbors. Christmas lights at. We don’t have to go to every party, every parade, or every show. We needn’t spend too much time or money shopping for gifts. One of the common Mormon Christmas Tradition is to help the needy people by giving them presents on Christmas eve. Furthermore, Mormons dedicate their Easter Sacrament Meeting to celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christmas at Temple Square . And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given (3 Nephi 1:12-14). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. Notebooks on Redbubble are so very versatile and lucky for you they're available in a ruled or graph 90gsm paper. When the sign did occur, it could not be denied, not even by the wicked: And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came. We have a unique perspective on the purpose of life and how it started before we were born into this mortal world, and how it will continue after we die. Jump to. Fact: We are Christians.We believe that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.— Acts 4:12.. We celebrate the birth of our Savior and the coming to pass story of his life. Mormons recite the Christmas story from the Gospels in the Bible at church and during Christmas celebrations, which are rife during the season. Mormons value community involvement and family time, both things that Halloween fun can provide. And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand. Reading quality Christmas literature: Church leaders often quote from great literature that helps to remind us of the deeper meanings of Christmas. As such, we as Mormons seek to keep the Savior, Jesus Christ, at the center of our Christmas. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Aren’t Mormons a cult? Do Mormons Celebrate New Years? Christmas, of course, is a very important celebration for Mormons, because it honors the birth of the Savior. People celebrate this season to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. We believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ and honor Him and celebrate His birth. High quality Do Mormons Celebrate Christmas inspired Spiral Notebooks by independent artists and designers from around the world. For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved (1 Nephi 6:4). Singing sacred Christmas hymns: Although the more commercial Christmas songs are fun, Mormons also sing and listen to a wide range of sacred Christmas hymns, many traditional throughout the Christian world. Here in America we celebrate Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and all of the usual national and cultural holidays that most everyone else celebrates.I've known a few individual Mormons who won't celebrate Halloween. But wait, you saw your Mormon neighbor put out Christmas decorations too. One very common LDS Christmas tradition is for members of the Church to visit Temple Square at Christmas.Every year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints decorates Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City with beautiful Christmas lights. Mormons celebrate Jesus' birth at Christmas. Do Mormons celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December? The Nephite prophets foretold that when the Savior would be born in the environs of Jerusalem, a sign would be given — a night without darkness and a new star in the sky. If this isn’t a cause to celebrate, then perhaps nothing is! The Book of Mormon is a spiritual and political history of several groups of people who migrated from the Middle East to the Americas. Why do mormons celebrate Christmas when they believe that Jesus was not born of a virgin? Modern scripture (Doctrine and Covenants 20:1) suggests, and many Mormons believe, that the Savior was born in the spring. Gifts are usually collected at church to assist congregation members who have little, but Mormons also often donate to community groups. It is also a time that invites families to … Wherever they live, Mormons celebrate Christmas according to their local customs, such as Mormon apostle Dieter F. Uchtdorf leading the recent German Christmas tradition of the Christkindlmarkt parade. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given. This website is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church).