Mormonism And Christmas: A Religious Celebration

Mormons, or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, celebrate Christmas. They observe the occasion by gathering with family and friends and commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Mormons also recognise the significance of Christ's atoning sacrifice and His Resurrection, which are integral to their faith. While they do not hold religious services on Christmas Day, they embrace the cultural traditions associated with the holiday, such as Christmas trees and carols, and focus on family and service to others.

Mormons celebrate Christmas

Mormons, or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, celebrate Christmas. They commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ and celebrate in line with the traditions of the cultures in which they live.

Christmas is a very important celebration for Mormons, who are known for their love of celebrations. They focus on the birth of the Savior and the atonement, without which Christmas would not exist. In 2012, the Mormon Church launched a Christmas initiative to encourage people not to get caught up in the commercialism of the holiday and to remember the worship aspect of Christmas.

Mormons around the world adapt their Christmas celebrations to fit with local traditions. For example, those living in Greece or Cyprus will celebrate Christmas in January, in line with the Eastern Orthodox tradition.

They commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ

Mormons, or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas. They are Bible-believing Christians and celebrate Christmas with the rest of the Christian world.

Mormons recite the Christmas story from the Gospels in the Bible at church and during Christmas celebrations. They also add the account from the Book of Mormon, which is a spiritual and political history of several groups of people who migrated from the Middle East to the Americas. The Book of Mormon is seen as a second witness that Jesus is the Christ, born to a virgin, and the very Son of God.

Mormons celebrate Christmas according to the traditions of the cultures in which they live, without engaging in activities that would distract from the sacred meaning of the holiday. This may include Christmas parties, presents, Christmas presentations (such as plays, musicals, or choir performances), and special holiday lights at Mormon temples.

In 2012, Mormons launched a Christmas initiative to remind people of the religious significance of Christmas, with billboards, signs on taxis and buses, and a special website with music, scriptures, and spiritual videos.

At the annual Christmas devotional in 2012, Thomas S. Monson, the Mormon prophet, emphasised the importance of keeping the Saviour as the focus of the season:

> "Finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done, nor is it found in the purchasing of gifts. We find real joy when we make the Savior the focus of the season."

They recite the Christmas story from the Bible and Book of Mormon

Mormons, or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, celebrate Christmas by reciting the Christmas story from the Bible and the Book of Mormon. This involves reading passages from the Bible that tell the story of Jesus's birth, such as the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of Matthew, which mention the appearance of an angel to the shepherds, the journey of the wise men, and the presentation of gifts to Jesus.

The Book of Mormon, a spiritual and political history of several groups of people who migrated from the Middle East to the Americas, also includes accounts of Jesus's birth. The Nephites, a group of people named after the prophet Nephi, kept records of their experiences and prophecies, which included visions of the virgin Mary and the birth of Jesus. Nephi, for example, prophesied that the Savior would be born 600 years after his father, Lehi, left Jerusalem, and that he would be the Messiah, raised among the Jews.

Another prophet mentioned in the Book of Mormon, Alma the Younger, confirmed that Mary was a righteous and chosen woman and prophesied about Christ's life and death. The Book of Mormon also mentions the appearance of a new star, signalling the birth of Jesus, as well as a night as bright as day, with no darkness. These signs were prophesied by Samuel the Lamanite, who said they would appear five years after his prophecy.

The inclusion of the Book of Mormon in Christmas celebrations adds a unique dimension to the traditional Christmas story, providing additional insights and prophecies surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ.

They celebrate with parties, presents and performances

Mormons, or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, celebrate Christmas with parties, presents, and performances. They observe the occasion in a big way, honouring the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour, along with their Christian neighbours.

Mormons celebrate Christmas according to the traditions of the cultures in which they live, without engaging in activities that would distract from the sacred meaning of the occasion. They may attend community events, such as Christmas concerts, and exchange gifts.

Christmas parties are a key part of the celebrations. Mormons may gather with their families for an Easter feast, and many Mormon families dye Easter eggs and organise Easter egg hunts.

In terms of performances, there are Christmas presentations, such as plays, musicals, ballets, and choir performances. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has a Christmas special on television every year, and there are also special Christmas devotionals from the First Presidency of the LDS Church.

They are conscious of the commercialisation of Christmas

Mormons, or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are Bible-believing Christians who celebrate Christmas. They commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ and celebrate in line with the traditions of the cultures in which they live.

However, Mormons are conscious of the commercialisation of Christmas and are careful not to let the secular aspects of the holiday overtake its spiritual significance. In 2012, they launched a Christmas initiative to remind people of the reason for the season. Billboards, signs on public transport, and a special website with music, scriptures, and spiritual videos were all used to encourage people to focus on the birth of Jesus Christ and his teachings.

Mormons recite the Christmas story from the Gospels in the Bible at church and during Christmas celebrations. They also include the account from the Book of Mormon, which is a spiritual and political history of several groups of people who migrated from the Middle East to the Americas. The Book of Mormon is seen as a second witness to Jesus being the Christ, born to a virgin, and the Son of God.

Mormons aim to keep Christ at the centre of Christmas and avoid the materialism that can distract from the Good News of the gospel. They may attend a special Christmas worship service the Sunday before or on Christmas Day. They also enjoy Christmas parties, presents, and various Christmas presentations, such as plays, musicals, and choir performances. Many Mormon temples feature special holiday lights, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir often has a Christmas special on television.

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