This Christmas, as we try so hard to guide the focus of our families toward Christ, here’s a bucket list of activities that can help.
Go see the lights at any (or all?) of the following LDS Temples: Washington, DC; Mesa, AZ; Manila, Philippines; Salt Lake City, UT; Oakland, CA; Los Angeles, CA (lights outside and Christmas trees in the Visitors’ Center); Hamilton, New Zealand.
Get the family together to work on a tied quilt for LDS Humanitarian Aid. Details and instructions here.
Make a gingerbread house with actual windows.
Make a temple out of sugar cubes.
Make an advent calendar that is Christ-oriented.
Beginning December 1st, read one of the chapters in the Book of Luke each evening.
Don’t set up your nativity scene right away. Add one piece each day until Christmas.
Send a package to a missionary.
Send a missionary an inflatable Christmas tree.
Prepare Christmas cards for missionaries and people in the armed services.
Donate at a Light the World giving machine.
Ask your bishop who in your ward is in need. Prepare a box of Christmas gifts and food and have it delivered secretly on their doorstep. Anonymous giving rocks!
Design and create your own wrapping paper.
Go Christmas caroling at a hospital or assisted living home (get permission first).
Instead of Elf on a Shelf, move Mary and Joseph figurines through your house on their “journey to Bethlehem.” End up at your nativity scene on Christmas Eve.
If you are singers or not, join a Messiah sing-in.
Find a performance of The Nutcracker near you.
Help your kids go through their old toys and choose some to donate.
Switch out your wall art during the season so there’s more about Christ.
The Holy Land had 7 notable foods at the time of Christ. Serve them to your family (dates, figs, grapes, olives, wheat, barley, and pomegranates).
Watch LDS Christmas videos with the family. End with “The Christ Child.”
Play religious Christmas music.
If you are in need, let your bishop know. Graciously and humbly accepting help is part of experiencing God’s plan.
Invite friends to your ward Christmas party and Christmas sacrament meeting.
Have a family prayer before you open Christmas gifts.
Make your own Christmas cards. Focus on Christ in your designs.
Compliment someone every day of December.
Have you heard of Light the World’s service shuffler?: LDSLiving
…or considered a service project from the Light the World list?
