Christ: The Real Gift of Christmas from Christmas.lds.org

By focusing on your loved ones, enjoying or building holiday traditions, and following the Savior's example of service, you can give yourself and your family true, lasting Christmas gifts.

Take a few minutes to visit Christmas.lds.org for Christmas videos, the Christmas story, links to music, and other resources to promote the true Christmas spirit.

A Serviceable Twelve Days of Christmas

Rembrandt's Adoration of the Shepherds

I love Christmastime. I love everything about the season, especially the emphasis on the advent of Christ. And so yesterday, while folding laundry nonetheless, I had an idea hit me. What if for the twelve days leading up to Christmas you did a serviceable act each day? You’ve heard of Santa’s helpers? Here’s your chance to be even more. Be Christ’s helper. And really, your options are limitless. Here are a few:

1. Go to a friend’s house and help them with a chore; laundry, dishes, wrapping Christmas gifts, anything. Helping hands make light work.

2. Take someone who needs a boost to lunch. Stay as long as they need an ear to listen to them. Or, invite them for a special homemade meal.

3. Think of someone you care for and admire, write them a thoughtful note expressing your gratitude and drop it on their front door. You can do this anonymously too if you wish.

4. Adopt a family for Christmas and give them little gifts each day leading to Christmas or save up for the big day. If you decide to save up, make sure you do a little prep each day (the idea is to focus on others each day).

5. Call someone you haven’t talked to in awhile and chat. It’s always great to hear from an old friend.

6. Help your children (if you have children or do this yourself) sort through their toys and choose a few gently used items to donate to a charity or someone of their choice. It’s a great opportunity for them to experience the joy of sharing.

Anyhow, these are a few ideas of different things you can try each day leading up to Christmas. Trust yourself and follow any ideas that come to mind. You won’t be disappointed!

***If you’d like to try A Serviceable Twelve Days of Christmas you can begin on Monday, 13 December and finish on the 24 December. Or begin Tuesday, 14 December and finish on 25 December. Have fun and enjoy the Spirit of Christmas!***

Alma 37:36-47: Counsel With Christ And He Will Direct You

The Liahona

 36Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

 37Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

 38And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.

 39And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

 40And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

 41Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;   
 42Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.

 43And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.     UAdd a Note 

 44For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

 45And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.     UAdd a Note 

 46O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.     UAdd a Note 

 47And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell (Alma 37:36-47).