Visit ChurchofJesusChrist.org for a More Christ-Centered Christmas
Contributed By By Camille West, Church News staff writer
Whether you're preparing a Christmas lesson, looking for shareable content, or striving to learn more about the Savior this Christmas, visit ChurchofJesusChrist.org for a wealth of resources that can help you keep the focus on Christ this season.
“If we notice that planning for parties and scrambling for presents begin to detract from the peaceable message of Jesus Christ and distance us from the gospel He preached, let us take a step back, slow down a little, and reconsider what matters most.” —President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency
Do you need a quote for a Christmas-related Sunday lesson or an idea for a youth or family home evening activity?
Perhaps you’re looking for an inspiring message or video to share through social media.
Maybe you just have a desire to feel closer to the Savior this time of year.
For a more Christ-centered Christmas for you and your loved ones, head to ChurchofJesusChrist.org for a wealth of Christmas resources that will help you keep the focus on Jesus Christ and His birth.
The Christmas gospel topic pageon ChurchofJesusChrist.org is a good place to start to find videos, ideas, and articles, but there are other inspiring resources to choose from as well that can add variety to your Christmas lessons, help you share the Christmas spirit, and draw closer to the Savior.
Add Variety to Your Christmas Lessons
Quotes
Find Christmas quotes in the Daily Messages archive, and while you’re there, subscribe to receive a message each day.
Videos
Learn how to keep Christ in Christmas by watching the latest Christmas Mormon Messages video, “The Reason Behind Christmas,” and then browse through other Christmas-related videos in the Media Library.
You can also use the following Bible videos to help you tell or enjoy the Christmas story. Each video is under 7 minutes. Watch them all at once or over several days while you follow along with the story in Luke in the New Testament.
An Angel Foretells Christ’s Birth to Mary
Mary and Elisabeth Rejoice Together
Mary and Joseph Travel to Bethlehem
Shepherds Learn of the Birth of Christ
Music
Few activities invite the Spirit as quickly as inspirational music. Play or download a variety of Christmas music from music.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, download music from the Savior of the World production, listen to and download Christmas music from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, or watch past performances on the choir’s YouTube page.
Children
You can find many Christmas videos for children on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, such asOur Christmas Story, He Sent His Son, and The First Christmas Gift, as well as the story of Christ’s birth in the New Testament Stories for children.
Besides the December 2013 Friend magazine online, browse a list of children’s Christmas stories, activities, songs, and more from the Friend archives. For example, print out and assemble a baby Jesus booklet or encourage children to complete a Christmas countdown nativity scene by reading a scripture and doing an activity.
Youth
Check out the new youth activities website to find a Christmas-related activity for your youth group, or feel free to submit one of your own.
Listen to or download Christmas music from youth.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or read President Monson’s message “How to See the Christ in Christmas” in the December 2013 New Era online.
Share the Christmas Spirit
In the October 2013 general conference, Elder M. Russell Ballard challenged members to reach out to one person before Christmas. Learn more about Elder Ballard’s call to action and find some ways to start.
Visit the Church's Facebook page for an archive of Christmas memes, videos, and images you can share. If you like creating your own images with text to share, you can browse Christmas images in the Media Library.
Bless others with an inspirational message by sharing content posted during the 2013 Christmas Devotional December 8.
Visit Mormon.org/christmas for free downloadable music from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, e-cards, and other messages about Jesus Christ that you can share.
Follow Mormon.org on Twitter throughout December to collect and share beautiful, scripture-based panes of a stained glass advent calendar that tell the story of Christmas.
Draw Closer to the Savior
Christmastime is the perfect season to study and learn more about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who promises, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (D&C 88:63).
Learn more about the Savior by studying gospel topics such as Jesus Christ, Atonement of Jesus Christ, and Are Mormons Christian?
Read Luke 2 online and make notes of your thoughts and feelings in your online journal.
Read “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” and then watch the Special Witnesses of Christ videos to hear each Apostle’s personal testimony of Jesus Christ.
Watch the Christmas devotional December 8, 2013, online to hear inspiring Christmas messages from Church leaders, or access past Christmas devotionals anytime.
Read the December 2013 Ensign, especially President Henry B. Eyring’s First Presidency Message, “Family and Friends Forever,” and Elder Robert D. Hales’s article, “The Promise of Christmas.”
Listen to the classic Charles Dickens Christmas story A Christmas Carol on the Mormon Channel, and then read President Thomas S. Monson’s October 2001 message, “Now Is the Time.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “If we notice that planning for parties and scrambling for presents begin to detract from the peaceable message of Jesus Christ and distance us from the gospel He preached, let us take a step back, slow down a little, and reconsider what matters most“ (”Seeing Christmas through New Eyes,“ 2010 First Presidency Christmas Devotional).
A visit to ChurchofJesusChrist.org may be one way to do as President Uchtdorf suggests.
