Note: I truly love Christmas. This is not a post about hating Christmas. It is a perspective on how we can celebrate without the guilt…
Listen closely. If you attend services in an LDS church today, you will hear the following phrase:
“That they do always remember Him.”
It is a snippet of the sacramental prayer that is offered each week as part of the renewal of our covenants. This ordinance was first introduced by the Savior in what we call the “Last Supper” before his crucifixion.
After His death and resurrection, the Savior visited the people of the Americas. The introduction, and implementation of the sacrament was recorded by the prophet Nephi. The Savior’s words echo the sacramental prayers we hear weekly.
“And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it unto you.
And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body which I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.” (3 Nephi 18:6-7)
Not only is the concept of always remembering the Savior revisited weekly as we participate in the ordinance of the sacrament, it has been reemphasized often in talks by the Lord’s living apostles. (Dallin H. Oaks, Henry B. Eyring, Robert D. Hales, L. Tom Perry, David A. Bednar, etc.)
Always remembering Jesus is a key part of our faith, our hope, and our religion. The standard has been established: We are to remember Him always.
If always is the baseline, then how is it that we focus on remembering Him more during Christmas time? Is there such thing as more than always? It would seem to me that if we are able to increase our focus on the Savior more during the month of December, then we are not doing it right the other eleven months of the year.
And I know this is not the case for everyone . I imagine it is for some, but I know so many people who lead Christ-centered lives, that think of Him constantly, all year long. They strive to emulate Him. their actions and thoughts are a direct result of their desire to please and obey Him. They serve their fellow man, they give the gifts of time, talents and material possessions on a regular basis, They are Christlike in their daily sojourn here on the earth.
Do such people think of Jesus more during the holidays? I don’t think so. There is not a step above always. (Don’t even get me started on the phrase “Giving it 110%”.)
Then if the purpose of Christmas is not necessarily to remember Jesus, (Which we should already be doing) then what is the purpose? Do we need Christmas? Is it an opportunity for those of us who haven’t quite “got it” to improve?
Christmas is not (or should not be) necessarily an increased attention to the Savior, it is a different manifestation of that focus on the Savior. While our daily focus on Him is a deeply personal, often internal practice, Christmas is a more overt manifestation of our remembrance of Him.
We show our remembrance by giving gifts, by decorating, by changing the music we listen to, and a hundred different ways. Do all those seasonal trimmings make us think of the Savior less? I don’t think so. I hope not. Always is still the standard.
If the Christmas hubbub, the presents, the trees, the music, the food and the stories detract from my awareness of the Savior, then I probably shouldn’t be participating in them. But to me, they are merely a grander, more visible manifestation of what I am trying to feel in my heart on all the days of the year.
As I sit here and type this, I look up and see our Christmas tree, and a manger scene. Do those things help me remember the Savior more? Probably. Are they necessary? Probably not.
I can also see a snowman, a Nutcracker and a Santa? Do those things make me think less of Jesus? I guess the question would be “Do the non-religious Christmas traditions make me think less about the Savior than I do, in say, August, or June?
If my answer is “yes,” then Santa is probably not right for me and my family. If the answer is “no,” and Santa is just part of a fun tradition that does not move me from my baseline of always, then he can stay.
There are many who resist any part of the Christmas celebration that is not directly representative of the Savior by saying, ‘We are trying to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.”
Shouldn’t the “true meaning of Christmas” be the default setting all year long? If we are obediently remembering the Savior always, the extra stuff is just additional fun, family, service, kindness and traditions to help show that we do “always remember Him.”
Do we need Christmas? We shouldn’t.
Do we love Christmas? Yes. Very much.
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This could go on forever. As re differentiating Sabbath from Christmas because Sabbath observance is commanded by God but Christmas is not, consider how much voluntary good is done at Christmas which otherwise would not be done. Then see that in the light of D&C 58:26-28. For some, Christmas serves as supplemental motivation to be anxiously engaged where without it they might not be. It does for me. Perhaps it does so for others as well.
The Sabbath carries the weight of an ordinance which renews our covenants with God. This is an absolute need, and requisite to enter God’s’ presence. Celebrating Christmas is not a “need.” Is it good? Of course. Do people do good things at Christmas time? Of course. Will saints in countries that ban Christmas be damned for not publicly observing Christmas? Of course not.
Christmas is great, it creates good will, good works, and spiritual growth. Is it necessary for salvation? Of course not.
However, your original argument was not that we don’t need Christmas for salvation but that we simply don’t need it. Which on one level is absolutely true. There are some of us simply saying that we do need Christmas as a reminder. No we don’t need it, no it is not an ordinance, no it will not bring us salvation, no it is not required by God. I am suggesting that mankind does need a holiday like Christmas as a reminder that mankind can be good and that people will share and shine the light of Christ when invited to do so. Merry Christmas! 🙂
Which circles us back to the last two lines of the original post…
Do we need Christmas? We shouldn’t.
Do we love Christmas? Yes. Very much.
And a very merry Christmas to you and yours as well.
While I see your point and agree at one level. You could make the same point against Sabbath days. The Sabbath is a special, sacred day, set apart for worship. Shouldn’t we be worshiping every day? Shouldn’t we have sacred feelings toward the divine, pray, read scripture, etc? Well, if we aren’t, should we abandon the Sabbath? The Sabbath helps us, one day a week, to stop what we do daily, to praise, worship, and renew covenants. The Christmas season does the same thing, if we allow it. It reminds us, it softens us, it helps us to focus on the gift we’ve been given. And for a brief time that eventually fades unfortunately, we get it right. The way it should be.
The Sabbath was set aside by God Himself. Christmas holidays were not. The Sabbath is the day we renew covenants, at the sacrament table – we usually don’t do that anywhere else, or any other time of the week. – So the analogy kind of falls flat for me.
yeah, I figured you’d say that.
Glad I didn’t disappoint!
Beautiful post and said in a way that doesn’t sound condescending. I don’t want to feel guilt at Christmas, but I do because I want and need to think of Christ more. I don’t want to feel guilt each Sunday when partaking of the sacrament, but I do for the very same reasons. Maybe some day I will read a post like this or hear a talk in church or general conference about the sacrament or about Christmas and be at peace because I know I am doing my best. But until then, I appreciate the gentle reminders that give me hope that I will be and can do better. Thanks for being that “still, small voice” for me today.
Christmas is what each one of us individually makes of it . It is a uniquely personal experience, no matter how many of its aspects we sincerely believe we experience in common. Once we come to understand that, then the answer to the basic question of the post is to be found by applying the test set forth in Moroni 7:13-19. If what we make of Christmas “…inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ…”, then we have made of it something that we “… may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.” That being the case, it would be at least risky to say we do not need it, as I submit that we need everything that is of God. Thus it behooves us to look very carefully at what we make of Christmas, how that “creation” of ours ( our “recipe”, if you will) effects us, and especially what, by our example (manifest in our traditional attitudes/behaviors/activities), we teach our children to make of Christmas. Additional courses follow. Dessert at the end.
I did take exception to the division you made between the Brethren and everyone else. Yes- I did miss your point, I apologize, I was making my own. There is no difference and it is an even playing field, They need scripture study, prayer, and all those things you mentioned just as much as anyone else. Their work is no more important than mine in the Kingdom of God- and we all equally need to be studious and diligent about our duties. With that said- personally, do I need Christmas?? I say yes. Does MMM? I believe him when he says he doesn’t. However, I think the benefit for mankind far outweighs our first world problems with the commercialism and blinding flash bulbs of a worldly take the holiday has taken. I appreciate your comments. You have some great thoughts.
President Monson and other general authorities are the only ones I can think of who probably think of Christ sufficiently the rest of the year. For the rest of us, we need constant reminders, such as weekly sacrament, daily scripture study, biannual general conference, and the Christmas and Easter seasons. Should we need Christmas? No. Do we need it? Yes.
With all do respect, I have to say that being the Prophet or a General Authority is not a measure of righteousness over an average member. There are everyday members of the church that I know for a fact certain important members of leadership look up too as examples of Christ like modeling. I think they would be the first to remind us of that too.
I agree, Shantel, and you missed my point. The point is that you, I, MMM, and just about everyone else who reads this blog needs to remember Christ more often, so we need a little Christmas.
I think the word “need” is what is in question. If I moved to a country where Christmas was outlawed, I would still be able to maintain my relationship with my Savior. Having no Christmas would not damage my life, or my chance at exaltation. What I draw from that is that Christmas is not a “need” – merely a traditional “want.”
MMM, if you don’t think you need every reminder possible to “always remember Him,” then you need Christmas more than I thought. 🙂 Does one need Christmas to have a testimony of Christ? No, but every bit helps.
“Does one need Christmas to have a testimony of Christ? No, but every bit helps.” I’ll take that as you agreeing with my premise.
Yes, I agree with the premise that some people don’t need Christmas to strengthen their testimonies, but I don’t think the Church would go to the trouble and expense of devotionals, concerts, videos, music, special sacrament meetings, lights on temple grounds, decorations, nativities, programs, and parties if it didn’t serve the much needed purpose of bringing people closer to Christ. Should we need Christmas? Perhaps not. Do we need it? Yes.
AMEN!
It is interesting to me – that Christmas as an observed religious holiday came about shortly after the restoration of the Gospel. The idea of Christmas trees and holly came to America with Queen Victoria and the traditions of her German husband Albert. Before then- we had a Christmas day- but no Christmas Eve, and it was treated much like any other day, depending on what religion you belonged to. There were chores to be done, and the task of survival was the most important thing- it isn’t until after the restoration that we start to see a concerted community effort to set aside the day as sacred. So I think we do need Christmas…for the first time in modern recorded history the entire world, stops- and in their own way acknowledges family, tradition, and the Love of Christ- whether they know it as that or not. It a good thing.
Beautifully written and everything I have always felt. In fact, in seminary, we celebrate Christmas many mornings! I will often bring a representation of Christmas to class to have them remember the reason we celebrate what we are reading regularly in the scriptures. We have lived overseas for many years. Among our European neighbors, there have been many who are surprised that “Mormons” weren’t attending church on Christmas day, the holiest day of the year. Our response could only be that we attend every Sunday and explain that Sunday is the holy day to us.
Your thoughts are very touching and I agree with you completely on the ideas of remembering always. But I believe we do need Christmas. I believe we need Easter and Valentine’s Day and Independence Day and Thanksgiving. I believe we need to celebrate wedding anniversaries and birthdays. The act of open celebrations with music and fanfare is Godly. We shouldn’t need Christmas in order to remember Jesus, we need it because it is an act of gratitude and an outward sign of an inward reverence and love for our Father in Heaven for the gift of his Son to the world. When Jesus was born a host of angels came from heaven as a choir to sing for joy. It would not be right if we let the memory of that day slip away as any other day. I do not believe we could truly remember always if we let the anniversaries of significant events slip by without notice. As Later-Day Saints we have all kinds of special music and fanfare for the anniversary of many significant evens. Why do we do it? Because it helps us to think and feel more like God. It helps us to better understand his joy in all that is right with this world.
I also don’t agree that Santa is not part of the religious aspect of the Christmas holiday. Santa’s history is completely founded in Christianity. Saint Nick is who he is because he loved Jesus enough that he saw the world with the eyes of love and wanted to help bring joy and comfort to all he could. And those of us who still believe in Santa act now as his proxy. Santa Clause is a good reminder that even us imperfect mortals can learn to love all people of this world simply because they are God’s children.
My problem with Santa is that he is compared to Christ. We just had a book read last week in Relief Society that did just that. I felt it was SO inappropriate. Religious people seem to be torn to celebrate both ways so now they have come up with comparing Santa to Christ to make themselves feel better. Doesn’t work for me. I decided to leave Santa out of it all together!
Oh and how about Jesus Christ being the reminder that “even us imperfect mortals can learn to love all people of this world simply because they are God’s children.”
As someone who works in schools as a librarian, I have a great appreciation for the seasonality of life, the ups and downs that come with different parts of the year.
In September teachers (&librarians) are energized and optimistic and full of determination. October, however, can be a real slog. A principal once told me that Oct was typically the month with the highest numbers of office referrals. October is when teachers get serious and focused.
The seasons continued….by November, everyone is fighting colds or the flu as much from exhaustion as germs and no one is happier to rest and give thanks than teachers. December…at school, every day of successful instruction is a triumph. In January teachers are revitalized almost to September again. The best thing that can be said about February is that it is short. March has Spring Break and April, Easter. Plus in my state the end of April has lots of testing. Finally it is May and time to close the year, the last hurrah–hopefully a joyful one. Usually the first week of June, I just sleep.
No one can sustain a concentrated intensity all year long. September attitudes are fun and inspiring, but they’re also exhausting and sometimes unrealistic. October somehow feels more important, when everyone is working together and concentrating on the everyday tasks that comprise learning. And yet, October is often about going forward to complete what was begun in September.
There are seasons in our faith too. I think we need that. I think we are inspired by them. The month after conference always has that September feeling for me, and Christmas does too. I get stirred up, and I focus more. I am more optimistic, more willing to experiment and to try harder. The next month, I won’t be as cheerful, as hopeful, but I’ll know if I just keep doing what that first month persuaded me to try, then I’ll be on the right track.
I am very grateful for Christmas. I am grateful to see how it affects my co-workers and students who are not LDS. I enjoy working with them on Christmas inspired projects. I love all of the stories of service and the emphasis on helping each other. The service stuff is sometimes hard for me, really far out of my comfort zone, so wrapping it up in Christmas and having all my friends involved helps me to be better. Most of all though, I enjoy asking myself every year if I am really doing all I can to follow the savior. Because all too soon, it will be January, or worse, February!
Very nice. Thanks Lisa.
Lisa- this is so beautifully said. Thanks so much for putting words to tender feelings of my heart.
I appreciate this post today. I have been feeling this way the past several years but it has always been vague and something I couldn’t really explain. I thank you for putting my thoughts into words. I have similar feelings about taking gifts to my neighbors. If I have to bombard them with goodies in December to assuage my guilt then I haven’t been a true friend the rest of the year
Well look at you typing up another stellar post!
Nicely done.
I’m not so eloquent as some, and simply put, Christmas is a great excuse to be doing stuff we should (and probably could) be doing all year, but without it being too weird. You know what I mean?
I don’t know, maybe all my neighbors wouldn’t mind a plate of cookies in the middle of July, but I feel like it would be weird. I don’t mean to compartmentalize, but the sad truth is that in today’s world, except for at Christmastime, or without a legitimate reason, knocking on the doors of people you may or may not know seems intrusive. Christmas seems to break down those barriers. Not to mention that Christmas gives us a great theme to work with. 🙂
I also love that regardless of religion, it’s a nationally recognized time get together with family and friends –to strengthen bonds through rituals and shared traditions. It is also a great time for charitable work. Like I said, sometimes we just need a good excuse to do even more without seeming weird.
I take your point about needing Christmas, although is see it from a different perspective. If we strip away the rampant commercialism that has affected Christmases for several centuries, and locate the kernel of truth in the midst of our gifting, wrapping, cooking, eating, etc, we come to an historic even that few of us were privy to.
Not having been there to see the coming of the babe of Bethlehem puts us at a disadvantage because we want, desire, need to be part of the sacred event. The best we can do, therefore, since time travel is limited top a select few, is to practice that which lies at the very heart of repeated rituals and re-create sacred moments and events.
By so doing, although rituals are not always performed well or in ways that allow participants to have simulated direct contact with original events, we are thus able to participate in their recreation, and if we approach them with ‘clean hands and pure hearts’ we will come as close to understanding what happened when it happened as possible, and that is the reason for the various rituals that the Children of God have always been involved with.
These formal re-creations are given as blessings that will allow some to lift the corner of the veil of time, some to see through the veil, and some to stand and witness the happening on the other side of the veil. At whatever level we enjoy this participation mystique we are always changed by it. Our faith is strengthened, our testimonies are liberated, and our souls expand because were have become first-hand witnesses of the glorious events in our Saviour’s life.
I agree that we will not find Jesus in a roasted turkey, but we might, possibly, find it in our own hearts to be grateful for what we witness when we are still and contemplate all that God has provided for us. If we eat our Christmas fare sacramentally, then our minds will be led towards our Father in Heaven and the gift of his Son Jesus Christ.
It is really all about how we live, and whether we look for God’s hand in all things, so that we do not throw the baby out with the bathwater, but rather find reasons to connect our blessings, be they large or small, to God’s plan of happiness and use them as guideposts to keep us moving towards him without deviation. for, where our minds are, our bodies will follow.
Merry and Holy Christmas to all your readers.
Ronnie.
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Interesting thoughts – but I see it quite differently. To me, I have no “need” to be present at the Savior’s birth. (Who’s to say I wasn’t actually there,singing?)
What I “need” is to accept the offer of the Atonement in my life – circa 2013. There is no need for a time machine, or even a first-hand witnessing of the events.
Witnessing the events in the Savior’s life does not impact testimony – look to Judas, or the Jews at the time. Even Peter was not fully converted by walking daily with the Savior. The Holy Ghost fills that role, independent of familiarity with events from the Savior’s life.
Beautifully written Ronnie.
Ditto.
I love love love this post!