Depth of the Meaning of Christmas

Mision Chile Santiago Norte Dec 2008 Mission Activity
(Talk by Hrma May using some summarized thoughts shared by Elder Jorge Zeballos)

Three types or levels of Christmas reasoning. Why do we celebrate and how we worship? Some of us spend more time on one of these levels than the others. Which do we really want to enjoy?


1. Santa Claus: gifts for others, trees, lights, bells, candles, Christmas carols/music, concerts, food, presents, outings, families, traditions all wanting to participate in the spirit of giving and sharing during this time. We see much generosity, kindness, unselfishness, expressions of love. Focus on those things that remind us of the love we feel that the Savior gives to us. The idea to be as helpful and loving to others during this time, not to make up for the rest of the year when we didn’t act the best or share as much.

2. Nativity Scene/Pesebre: Thinking about the birth of the Savior. Realize that we do enjoy the message and reminders of His birth, like to sing the carols/songs of Christmas time, wish the best for others and help them to see the Lord’s birth as the real meaning. We read the scriptures and hunt for the meaning in Luke, Matthew, 3Nephi and Helaman. We want to think of His birth, and feel closer to him at this time of year, since we appreciate that He was born to help us. We sense the spiritual side of the Holiday, and wish we could keep that feeling with us all the time.

3. Christ’s life: Not just thinking of his birth, but the whole life that Jesus shared with us. Knowing his mission, the sacrifice He made, the eternal meaning. Also seeing that He lives now, helps us daily, wants us to repent and be closer to Him.

Interesting that these first two are temporary. Soon we begin to see that the first level is fleeting. We will take down the lights, turn off the Cd’s, put away the dead or fake tree, blow out the candles, and start in on the diets for the New Year. Our lives move on to the next activity or holiday, and often we are driven by the commercial advertising that Hallmark greeting cards put out, like watching for the New Year’s Eve or Valentines Day parties that are around the corner.

Secondly, we box up the Nativities, we treat the birth like other birthdays that come and go in our families. This level too, is passing. It doesn’t stay with us all year long. We put the birth, manger, shepherds out of our minds, and don’t sing more Christmas carols, when it isn’t December. The sweetest time of year comes and goes, even if we could leave our lights up all year long.

However, the lever three, or reminder of the Savior’s life can be with us all year long. “If you love me, keep my commandments.” “Feed my sheep.” “As I have loved you, love one another.” This is the message that stays with us all year long. If we truly love the Lord, and want to celebrate His birth, we will honor and celebrate His LIFE, that He actually lives and we can share this message with others, while we have breath to speak. We can help to spread His gospel to all the earth, and we can invite others to have faith in Him, not just think of Him at Christmas. With renewed faith, we want to repent, to will want to be baptized and be obedient to follow and keep his commandments. Others will want to come unto Him, and thereby find eternal joy, that lasts more than just for the month of December, or the season of the holiday, but all year long. Jesus really is the reason for the season.