Christmas should not be a time, but a state of mind.

GAK 239 The Resurrected Christ

Read the following quotes:

"To the American People: Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think on these things, there will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world." ~ Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), American president. Presidential message (December 25, 1927)

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." ~ Charles Dickens (1812-1870), English author. From 'A Christmas Carol'.

"My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?" ~ Bob Hope, American film actor and comedian.

Sing your favorite hymns. Take the time to bear testimonies as a family of the divinity of Christ. There is no better place to bear testimony than in the walls of your own home to those with whom you’ll spend eternity!!

Christmas is a time for all the senses.

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by mulacmail 12/2007

Sing Do you Hear what I hear?

Go on a Christmas "senses hunt". Collect in a basket things that have to do with Christmas and your senses throughout your home (e.g. bright wrapping paper to see, pine cones for smell, peppermint for taste… etc.). Then compare to another basket having to do with Christmas senses at the time of Jesus’ birth. In that basket you can have hay for touch, some sort of perfume for the gifts from the Wiseman for smell, a beautiful star for sight, warm milk for taste (perhaps from the stable animals??), angelic music for hearing and anything else you can think of!

Christmas is a time to reflect on the atonement.

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by spacepotato 10/24/2007

Sing He Sent His Son Children’s Songbook pg. 34-35

Look at a CANDY CANE, what do you see? Stripes that are RED like the BLOOD shed for me! WHITE for my Savior, Who's sinless and pure! "J" is for JESUS, My Lord that's for sure! Turn it around And a staff you will see --- Jesus, my SHEPHERD, Is coming for me! (this poem was found on dltk-kids.com and had no author quoted)

Display a picture of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Review what happened pertaining to the atonement, crucifixion and resurrection. Enjoy some candy canes while you read the following:

"During His brief ministry, He healed the sick, caused the blind to see, raised the dead, and rebuked the scribes and Pharisees. He was the only perfect man ever to walk the earth. All of this was part of His Father’s plan. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He suffered so greatly that he sweat drops of blood as He pleaded with His Father. But this was all a part of His great atoning sacrifice. He was taken by the mob, appeared before Pilate with the mob crying for His death. He carried the cross, the instrument of His death. On Golgotha He gave His life, crying out, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

His body was tenderly laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea. But three days later, on that first Easter morning, the tomb was emptied. Mary of Magdala spoke to Him, and He spoke to her. He appeared to His Apostles. He walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. And, we are told, He was seen by some 500 others (see 1 Corinthians 15:6).
He had said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:16). Accordingly, He appeared to those assembled in the land Bountiful in the Western Hemisphere.

Here, He taught the people as He had taught them in the Old World. This is all recorded in detail in the Book of Mormon, which stands as a second witness of the divinity of our Lord.
And to repeat, both He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph, the Father introducing the Son, saying: “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:17).
Now, the next thing of which I am certain, and of which I bear witness, is the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without it life is meaningless. It is the keystone in the arch of our existence. It affirms that we lived before we were born in mortality. Mortality is but a stepping-stone to a more glorious existence in the future. The sorrow of death is softened with the promise of the Resurrection. There would be no Christmas if there were no Easter. "

Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Things of Which I Know,” Ensign, May 2007, 83–85

Christmas is a time to SING SING SING!!!!!!!

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by Irish Typepad 1/2008

Read: “I learned too what power there can be in music. When music is reverently presented, it can be akin to revelation. At times, I think, it cannot be separated from the voice of the Lord, the quiet, still voice of the Spirit. Worthy music of all kinds has its place. And there are endless numbers of places where it can be heard.”
- Boyd K. Packer, “The Spirit of the Tabernacle,” Ensign, May 2007, 26–29

Record your family singing your favorite Christmas songs or songs about Jesus on cassette tapes or video. Then send it to one of the missionaries serving from your ward or branch. Try to involve things the children can hold like nativity figurines or pictures.

Christmas is a time of good cheer.

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by carrie 12/2007

Sing Smiles Children’s Songbook page 267 (at the top)

Have a row of 5 stuffed animals and tape on frowny faces to them. Tell your children the animals are stressed out about Christmas. They want to get just the right expensive gift, go to fancy parties and eat wine and cheese! Eeeww! Wine! No thank you, that’s against the word of wisdom! They are such bah-humbugs, they need to learn that Christmas is a time of good cheer (happiness) because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have 5 smiley faces nearby, let the children choose one. For each back of the smiley faces you can have the following references:

John 16: 33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

D&C 68: 6 “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come. “

D&C 61: 36 “And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you;”

D&C 78: 18 “And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours."

2 Cor. 9: 7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

As you read the scripture let them change out the frowny faces for smiley faces.

Christmas is a time of thanksgiving and gratitude.

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by gare and kitty 12/2006

Read the following by President Hinckley:

" Merry Christmas! my beloved friends. I greet you wherever you may be as members of the Church family. We are met tonight to pay homage to our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, whose life and death mean so very much to each one of us. This is a gathering for prayer and song and speech, in tribute to the Master of all, the Lord Omnipotent, who condescended to come to earth, to be born in a stable, in a conquered nation, under the humblest of circumstances.

He was the Prince Almighty who left the royal courts on high and came among us to teach us and to lead us in His quiet and wonderful way.
As we now embark on the third millennium since His birth, we think of His tremendous influence upon the world. We feel profoundly grateful to have been born in this wonderful season of His glorious work.

How grateful we of this Church should feel. We live in the fullness of times. Mark that phrase. Mark the word fullness. It denotes all of good that has been gathered together in the past and restored to earth in this final dispensation.

My heart tonight is filled with thanksgiving unto the Almighty God. Through the gift of His Son, who is the God of this world, we have been so magnificently blessed. My heart rings with the words of our hymn, “Count your blessings; name them one by one. Count your many blessings; see what God hath done” (Hymns, no. 241)."

Gordon B. Hinckley, “First Presidency Christmas Devotional: ‘My Redeemer Lives’,” Ensign, Feb 2001, 70–73

String some popcorn as a family, and for each popcorn to go on, name something you are grateful to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for. OR Make a gratitude jar by putting in a piece of candy each time you say something you are grateful to Heavenly Father and Jesus for. Give it away to a neighbor with a note of things you came up with as a family and your testimony of Christ.

Christmas is a time to bring forth good fruit.

Read Matthew 7: 16-20
" Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good bruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

Display GAK 213 (Jesus Healing the Blind Man) 234 (Jesus shows His wounds) and any other favorite pictures of Christ.

Free Clip Art image found on google.com

Make a picture of a tree and say This is Jesus’ tree. Come up with as many ideas as you can to label the fruit- that is things that Jesus did in His life that were “good fruit”.

Add a couple apples of things you have noticed about each other in your family. E.g. Mom wants to put up an apple of Christina giving her sister a hug when she was hurt. We can bring forth good fruit just like our Savior.

Christmas is a time to give “the best” gifts.

Read 3 Nephi 14:9-12
"Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets."

Wrap a few “yucky” gifts like a dirty sock, a chewed up apple or a crumpled newspaper. Have the children open them. How would they feel if these were their real Christmas gifts? Take a large piece of poster board and divide it in half Label the columns good gifts and best gifts. Brainstorm gifts for each categories, for younger children try to draw pictures of what they say. Good gifts could include a Barbie or toy truck. Best gifts should include things like service, a humble heart, kind words, love, thankful prayers to Heavenly Father, the life of Jesus Christ, etc.

Sing I Feel My Saviors Love Children’s Songbook pg.74 Focus on learning Vs.4
"I’ll share my Savior’s love, By serving others freely, In serving I am blessed, In giving I receive."

“ Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved. There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus the Christ. It is the time to love the Lord our God with all our heart and our neighbors as ourselves. It is well to remember that he who gives money gives much, he who gives time gives more, but he who gives of himself gives all.Someone has appropriately said, “We make a living by what we get, but we build a life by what we give.” It is through giving, rather than getting, that the Spirit of Christ enters our lives.”
Thomas S. Monson “First Presidency Christmas Devotional: ‘My Redeemer Lives’,” Ensign, Feb 2001, 70–73

Christmas is a time to be celebrated by all nations and people of the world.

Have a Mexico, France and Italy flag. Also have a map they can point to and a picture of Christ.

In Mexico children decorate their homes for Christmas with colored paper lanterns and flowers. Children in Mexico often celebrate with a presebra which is a replica of the manger scene with Jesus was born nearly 2000 years ago!
In Mexico children have a great deal of fun when they participate in a parade called a posada. These parades represent Mary and Joseph searching for a place to stay on the night Jesus was born. Some of the people in the parade dress as Mary and Joseph and some dress as angels. The parade goes from door to door searching for shelter just as Mary and Joseph did the night Jesus was born. Just as Mary and Joseph could find no room in the inn, neither can the participants of the parade. Sometimes the people in the parade will say a prayer in front of the manger scene and then they will have a party!
(Have them hold the Mexican flag.Pretend to have a parade around the living room)

Almost all the homes in France display a Nativity scene or creche which reminds everyone of the true meaning of Christmas. (Have them hold the French flag. Do we have a nativity in our home??)
On Christmas Eve restaurants and cafes in France stay open all night! The restaurants are serving a special meal that is called "le reveillon." The word reveillon means to wake up! Reveillon symbolically represents the spiritual awakening to meaning of the birth of Jesus!
Children of France are busy munching away on sausages, oysters, ham and pastries while you are putting away roast turkey! French children also eat a cake which is called a "Christ Cake." A Christ cake is coated with sugar and is decorated to look like the Christ child. (Pretend to make a Christ cake.) One very interesting custom in France is to leave a candle burning in case the Virgin Mary passes by! Something else that you might find very interesting is that the children in France receive their gifts on December 6th!

Children in Italy celebrate Christmas with a big focus on Jesus! They start celebrating Christmas 8 days before Christmas and continue until after the Feast of Ephiphany. On December 23rd, children dress up like shepherds and they go from house to house playing shepherds songs. People give the children money for the children to buy treats!
In Italy families kneel before the presepio which means manger. The manger figures are hand-carved and are usually very detailed. The manger scene is set out in the shape of a triangle. This pyramid structure is called a ceppo. The ceppo is built out of wood and is several feet high. It is decorated with colored paper and cones! The shelves in the ceppo is filled with small gifts and candy. (Have them hold the Italian flag. Pretend to put candy in the ceppo.)
The children in Italy are not looking for Santa Claus but are looking for Befana. Befana is a witch-like character and she rides on a broom. The story about Befana says that on the night that baby Jesus was born, she was asked by the Three Wise Men for directions to Bethlehem and she said she was too busy! Later on that night Befana saw a light in the sky and decided to go to Bethlehem. She looked and looked but could not find the stable. Legend says that each and every year she continues to look for the Christ Child. Since she was not able to give the Christ Child a gift, legend also says that she gives gifts to good boys and girls.

Info found on : http://www.homeschooled-kids.com/cmasworld.html
Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by Bella Beita B&B 1/2008

Now hold up a flag of where you are from and talk about ways you celebrate Christ during Christmas.

Christmas is a time for humility.

Sing Be thou Humble Hymns pg.130
What does it mean to be humble?
Where were we born? Where was Christ born? What are differences between those 2 places?

Enjoy the following (and remember to make together as a family!):
Baby Jesus Haystacks

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by bunchofpants 12/3/2007
Ingredients:
• 1 package choc chips,
• ½ cup peanut butter,
• 4 cups chow mein noodles,
• mini marshmallows.

Directions: 1. Melt choc chips and peanut butter together for 1 min in microwave, stir and microwave for additional 1 ½ min until melted. Add chow mein noodles and stir with 2 spoons/forks as tossing a salad.
2. Drop onto waxed paper.
3. Add a marshmallow to represent baby Jesus.

Recipe found off dltk-kids.com

Christmas is a time to serve our Master Jesus Christ.

Have a pitcher of water and 2 glasses. Put them 12 inches apart Ask a child to fill up the glasses with the water at the same time (without moving the glasses). It’s impossible, they have to choose a glass.
Now have 2 chairs a couple feet apart. Have a child place 1 book on both of the chairs at the same time without moving the chairs. It’s impossible, they have to choose a chair.

Read 3 Nephi 13: 24,
"No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon."

Read Joshua 24:15
"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by Darren Hester 11/2007

Make a picture of a really expensive Christmas gift with lots of dollar signs. Set it next to a picture of Jesus. At Christmas time and always, who is our master? How can we serve Him? Have the children decide which picture we keep. Take the picture of $$$ and throw it in the garbage. Remind the children that Christmas isn't about expensive or fancy gifts, it's about remembering Jesus and doing things He did.

Christmas is a time to shout Hosanna to the Most High.

GAK 223

Display the picture of Christ’s triumphal entry GAK 223. In Hebrew the word Hosanna means “pray, save us!” Hosanna is used as a cry of adoration. It is a word of respect and yet a word of pleading.

Read Mark 11:7-9
" And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord"

Make little paper palm branches for your children. Sing some excerpts from hymns and when they hear the word hosanna, they can hold up their branch.

Excerpts of songs could include:
The Spirit of God - Hymns pg.2 chorus
The Nativity Song - Children’s Songbook pg. 52–53 verse 2
Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus - Children’s Songbook pg. 36
All Glory, Laud and Honor - Hymns pg.69 verse 1
With Wondering Awe - Hymns pg.210 verse 3 and chorus

Christmas is a time for our souls to be still.

If it happens to be snowing, watch the snow or go outside to feel your surroundings.
If you have a delicious smelling candle, sit in the dark and watch it burn for a few seconds. If you have a fireplace, light a fire and take a moment to be still.

Watch the following together as a family.

(Found on youtube.com by snotface7)

How does Jesus help those that suffer? How does Jesus bring our hearts calm and happiness?

Read 4 Nephi 1:16-18 " And surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God. There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God. And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings;"

Christmas is a time to do the will of the Father.

Have a set of tasks for everyone to do. (about 2 or 3 per person depending on the size of your family) They must do exactly what is said. E.g. (Walk 5 steps, hop 3 times and then smile for 20 seconds really really big! Click your heels 12 times while humming a Christmas carol.) Let your children choose something for you to do that they say.

When we listen, follow and do exactly what is said we show obedience.

Read 3 Nephi 27:13-14
" Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil"

GAK 230

Show a favorite picture of Jesus. Jesus Christ showed the greatest example of obedience. What are some things we can do to show obedience, like Jesus, to Heavenly Father?

Christ came to earth at Christmas time, dwelling in a tabernacle of clay.

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com Katherine Donaldson 3/2006

“For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.

And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.” Mosiah 3:5–8

Grab a few tubs of play dough and mold something that has to do with this scripture and/or Christ’s Nativity story. Sometimes clay is used for modeling, what did Christ model or show us in life?

Christmas is a time for bloom.

Ask your children, can flowers grow and bloom in the snow? If flowers can't bloom in the winter, what can?

Image courtesy creative commons license Flickr.com by Trueclearlight February 26, 2008

President Monson said, "Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas."
President Monson The Best Christmas Ever Ensign 12/2008 p.5

Get out some construction paper, paint, markers, pipe cleaners... whatever you have on hand. Taking egg cartons and cutting out each groove can make a nice shape for little flowers. Make a Christmas floral bouquet (with a tag with President Monson's quote) and doorbell ditch it on someone's porch.

Without Christ there would be no Christmas.

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by midiman 1/23/06

Go through your home and label things minus the word "Christ". That is go to the Christmas tree and put a sign that says Mas Tree. Take away baby Jesus from the mangers, put a sign on gifts as Mas Gifts, Mas Cards, Mas Decorations, Mas ornaments, Mas lights… etc. Try to block out anything with a picture of Christ. Make a sign that says Christmas so your children can see the difference in the words and spelling.

Then ask your children what is going on? What word is missing? This is terrible!! Does this feel wrong to anyone? Does it feel like something is missing in our home?
Read them the quote by President Ezra Taft Benson:
“Keeping Christ in Christmas,” Ensign, Dec 1993, 2

“Without Christ there would be no Christmas, and without Christ there can be no fullness of joy.”

Fix all your signs by adding the word Christ. Say the letters together. Fix all the mangers and pictures. Stress again that without Christ, there is no fullness of joy or happiness!! We need our Savior!!!

Christmas is a time of Kindness.

Jesus taught His disciples that when you are kind to others, you are being kind to Him. He said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” Matthew 25:40

Ann Jamison, “Sharing Time: Christmas All Year,” Friend, Dec 2000, 11

"A mosaic is a picture made of small pieces of colored materials such as stone, glass, or tile. You can make one using pieces of colored paper or cloth. Cut the scraps of paper or cloth into many small pieces...arrange your pieces on the drawing. Use different colors of paper or cloth to make the picture, just as you might use crayons or paints (see illustration).

When you have the pieces positioned the way you want them, glue each one in place. You can make many more Christmas mosaics by drawing your own pictures and gluing the colored scraps in place. Just as a mosaic is made of many little pieces, you can show that you remember Jesus’ birthday all year by doing many little acts of kindness and love."

Image by Thomas S. Child

As an added suggestion, as you glue little pieces to the paper talk about all the different things you can think of that Jesus did for others. See if you can come up with as many acts of kindness He showed as scraps of paper. Also, we are going to be making one mosaic as an entire family.

Christmas is a time of peace.

Sing as a family, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Hymns pg. 209) Glue a paper angel on a popsicle stick. As you sing, have the children hold up the angel when they hear the word “peace”.

Angel Clip Art Image found on google.com

Read Luke 2: 11-14
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,
and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Peace means harmony, togetherness. Work together to put the “pieces” of a puzzle
together. Emphasize how the peace of Christ brings unity.

Puzzle: From friend 12/2008 By Mike Eagle

Christmas is a time to give meditation.

Photo Courtesy Creative-Commons License by Strange Librarian 1/6/08 Flickr.com

Have your family sit in a circle sitting Indian style. As you read, do some deep breathing. Perhaps even touching the middle finger to the thumb. Suggest that your children picture in their minds what hugging Jesus would be like. After you read the quote, set a timer for 30 seconds to see if we can meditate on “the wonder and the majesty of this, the Son of God”. Ask the children what they think about Jesus.

Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Glorious Season,” NewEra, Dec 2007, 2–5

"Christmas is more than trees and twinkling lights, more than toys and gifts and baubles of a hundred varieties. It is love. It is the love of the Son of God for all mankind. It reaches out beyond our power to comprehend. It is magnificent and beautiful.

It is peace. It is the peace which comforts, which sustains, which blesses all who accept it.
It is faith. It is faith in God and His Eternal Son. It is faith in His wondrous ways and message. It is faith in Him as our Redeemer and our Lord.

We testify of His living reality. We testify of the divinity of His nature. In our times of grateful meditation, we acknowledge His priceless gift to us and pledge our love and faith. This is what Christmas is really about.

For each of you may this be a merry Christmas. But more importantly, I wish for each of you a time, perhaps only an hour, spent in silent meditation and quiet reflection on the wonder and the majesty of this, the Son of God. Our joy at this season is because He came into the world. The peace that comes from Him, His infinite love which each of us may feel, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for that which He freely gave us at so great a cost to Himself—these are of the true essence of Christmas.”

Christmas is a time of Increased Love

Photo courtesy Creative-Commens License by Monkey Junkie 2/23/2006 Flickr.com

Get out mixing bowl, wooden spoon, apron, spatula, measuring cup and baking pan. Have word strips with simple pictures for the following words: (To go in the bowl) kindness, respect, love, concern, (to go out of the bowl) happiness in the home, kinder feelings, love, spread the gospel of peace. And of course, have displayed one of your favorite pictures of Christ.

Read the following as a family. Put aprons on everyone. Stress the highlighted words as you read and have the children hold up the proper cooking utensil it relates too. Mix in words as they are read, then pour out the words into the baking pan

Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Glorious Season,” NewEra, Dec 2007, 2–5
"And so at this Christmas season, we sing His praises and speak our words of faith and gratitude and love. It is His influence in our lives that stirs within us more kindness, more respect, more love, more concern. It is because of Him and His teachings that we reach out to those in trouble, distress, and need wherever they may be.
What a glorious season is this time of Christmas. Hearts are softened. Voices are raised in worship. Kindness and mercy are reenthroned as elements in our lives. There is an accelerated (stir faster) reaching out to those in distress. There is an aura of peace that comes into our homes. (pretend to smell the air) There is a measure (measuring cup) of love that is not felt to the same extent at any other time of the year.
Said Jesus: “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” (Matthew 7:12.) (point to picture)
May I remind us at this Christmas season that if only each of us would reflect occasionally on that Christ-given mandate and make an effort to observe it, this would be a different world. (Pour from bowl into pan)There would be greater happiness in our homes; there would be kinder feelings among our associates; there would be much less of litigation and a greater effort to compose differences. There would be a new measure (measuring cup) of love and appreciation and respect.
There would be more generous hearts, more thoughtful consideration and concern, and a greater desire to spread the gospel of peace and to advance the work of salvation among the children of men."