At Christmas time there are a lot of traditions that are done and created. It is fun to have traditions. They help unite us as families and friends. They help us create memories and even help us draw closer to Christ."Uplifting traditions play a significant role in leading us toward the things of the Spirit" (Elder Donald L. Hallstrom). In our home we have a simple tradition we do each Christmas that involves six simple ornaments. These ornaments are all words. With each word we have a scripture that we look up and then share with each other. As the years have gone by, the insights have grown deeper as to the meaning of each word and the application in the lives of our children. I would like to share these six ornaments and their traditions with you.
Ornament #1: Believe "Believe in God; believe that He is, and that He created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that He has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that He would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them" (Mosiah 4:9-10). In a time when it is taught to believe in Santa, it is vital to teach our children the true source of all power, Christ. Every time our children see or even hear the word believe we want them to think of Christ. If they are ever asked by Christ as the blind man that was healed and cast out by his fellow man, they may answer as he did. "Dost thou believe on the Son of God? [The man] answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him" (John 9:35-38).
Ornament #2 Faith "And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me" (Moroni 7:33). God's purpose is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). And expedient means that He will, through our faith, give us the power to do what is appropriate to help us bring about His purpose. His whole purpose is us. He wants us back with Him and Heavenly Father. Our faith must be based upon the fact that all we do that is right, Christ will aid us and help us. He wants us to succeed.
Ornament #3 Hope "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God" (Ether 12:4). Hope is a wonderful blessing. We hope to return to live with Heavenly Father again through the atonement of Christ. All is not lost. We are "wanderers in a strange land", but most definitely not lost to God. He is ever mindful of where and who we are (Alma 26:36). We have hope that we are on a path to a better world, however difficult this path may seem at the time we are traveling on it; and because our hope is anchored in Christ we are steadfast and able to move forward.
Ornament #4 Love "And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men. And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father" (Ether 12:33-34). Christ is the perfect example of love, or charity. We have been commanded to "love God" and "love our neighbor" because "on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40). It is true "when we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities" (Pres. Ezra Taft Benson). When we love God, we love our fellow man.
Ornament #5 Peace "Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world" (Helaman 5:47). Christ is the source of true peace. He said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). Christ's peace isn't like any other. It is the calm when the storm is raging. It is the calm when the darkness is unending because He is the source of all Light. He is the "Prince of Peace" (2 Nephi 19:6).
Ornament #6 Joy "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25). Joy in the resurrection of Christ! Joy that we "have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for [our]selves and not be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given". What joy to be "free according to the flesh", we are not dead forever! What joy that we are "free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil" (2 Nephi 2:26-27). Joy doesn't come from trinkets and toys and items purchased in a store. True joy comes from choosing to follow Christ no matter our circumstances, knowing we are "free to choose" for ourselves to follow Him.
Traditions can be simple and bring in the Spirit of Christ. These ornaments hang on our tree during the Christmas season, but the tradition of unity and love doesn't need to stop at Christmas time. We need to follow the tradition of Christ all year long. "Therefore, brethren (and sisters), stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work" (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17). To follow Christ daily, all year long, is a saving tradition. This I testify.
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