Many people all over the world celebrate Christmas as a holiday centered around family, friends, love, and serving others. To Mormons it is all these things too, but it is above all a celebration of Jesus Christ's birth. Even though the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been around for almost 180 years, many people still wonder whether Mormons celebrate Christmas and what a Mormon Christmas might be like.
Mormon Beliefs about Jesus Christ
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon) is centered on Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mormons love, honor, and worship Jesus as the foundation of their faith. Though they are neither Catholic nor Protestant, Mormons are Christians.
Events in the Book of Mormon at Christ's Birth
Mormons believe all that is written in the New Testament about the events in and around Bethlehem at the time of Christ's birth.
In addition, they believe that a group of people living in the Americas also saw signs of Christ's birth and recorded them in the Book of Mormon. There was no darkness the night before Christ was born, and a new star was visible in the sky. There were also other "signs and wonders in heaven" [Book of Mormon, Helaman 14: 6.]
The events of the first Christmas in Jerusalem and the Americas are depicted in the video Joy to the World, produced by the LDS church.
How Do Mormons Celebrate Christmas?
Latter-day Saints stick to their regular Sunday schedule during the holiday season, so there is only a church service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day if it falls on a Sunday. Church meetings during the month of December and especially the Sunday before Christmas feature Christmas hymns and talks or sermons that focus on Christ. The LDS church does not officially celebrate Advent, although individual Mormons may do so if they wish.
There is usually a ward Christmas party held on a Saturday evening in December, planned by the local congregation's activities committee. Usually, the children of the congregation put on a nativity play depicting the first Christmas in Bethlehem.
Other Mormon Christmas traditions include reading from the scriptures about Christ's birth and life as a family and possibly putting on a nativity play as a family.
Other Latter-day Saint Christmas Traditions
As far as secular Christmas observances, most Mormon Christmas customs are basically the same as those in the general culture in which they live. Most Latter-day Saints generally celebrate with:
- Christmas trees and lights (there is a huge light display at temple square in Salt Lake City, Utah every winter)
- Santa Claus, stockings, and presents
- Cookies and Christmas treats
- Christmas music and caroling (most non-LDS people have heard Christmas music sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir)
- Christmas parties and family gatherings
- Special Christmas dinner
Latter-day Saints observe Christmas however they see fit, but most take special care to make sure that their secular traditions at Christmastime do not take the place of keeping Christ in Christmas.
Mormons, like all their other Christian neighbors, celebrate Christmas each December 25th. They enjoy the same secular traditions as most other people in their culture, but first and foremost recognize Christmas as a religious holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
Jenny Evans - Jenny Evans is a freelance writer and editor specializing in parenting and the family. She is also the Mormonism Topic Editor for ...
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