1993
Christmas Giving
December 1993

“Christmas Giving,” Tambuli, Dec. 1993, 20

Christmas Giving

You’ve probably heard people complain that the Christmas season is too commercial. They say that more emphasis is put on the spirit of shopping than on the spirit of the Savior.

That may be true for many, but it doesn’t have to be true for you. You can add a spiritual or helpful aspect to your gift giving.

When gifts reflect the Savior’s love, both giver and receiver learn of Christ. Here are a few ideas for gifts that you could give as an individual, as a quorum or class, or as a family. Or you could come up with your own ideas:

In Your Family

  • Think of good deeds you could do for each member of your family as gifts—such as polishing their shoes, doing their chores, or helping them with a project.

  • Make a tape recording of a child’s favorite books so the child can listen to the stories over and over.

  • Write a children’s story, personalizing it with the adventures of the child you’re giving it to, and make a book out of it.

  • Write a letter for each family member, expressing your appreciation and love.

  • Give journals (or simple notebooks) to everyone in your family. Make it a family goal to write in them regularly.

  • Give seeds and planting pots to family members. See whose plant sprouts first.

In Your Community, Ward, or Branch

  • Think of someone you know who is elderly, blind, ill, or disabled. Offer to help them with Christmas preparations or projects. After the Christmas season, offer to help them dispose of their Christmas tree or to put away Christmas lights or decorations.

  • Depending on the climate where you live, help a neighbor with yard care, or snow removal, or home repairs.

  • Find out if any service organizations in your community are repairing toys or bicycles, or are collecting food or clothing, to give to needy children. Help by gathering and distributing donated items.

  • Find out if there are any free Christmas concerts in your community. Offer to take someone younger or older who wouldn’t be able to go alone.

  • Offer to take the children of a single parent for an afternoon. Help them select or make a gift for their mother or father.

  • Baby-sit for a couple with young children so the parents can have a night out.

  • Make Christmas surprises for missionaries, military personnel, or students from your ward or branch who will be away from home during Christmastime.

  • Give a personalized copy of the Book of Mormon to a friend.

Photograph by Craig Dimond