“ECHOING AND PROCLAIMING HIS WORDS” -WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS!
Years ago when we decided to clean up the way we worshipped and celebrated holidays we first began by throwing out Christmas. Yep, we threw it out the door, literally. Why did we do this? In trying to figure things out, our family had turned outwards to listen to other voices. YouTube after YouTube videos of others telling us that “to celebrate Christmas was wrong.” We were disgusted with what we watched and learned, and due to our lack of knowledge of how Satan ‘can not create, but only copy;’ we dumped everything to do with the 25th—the tree, gift-giving, decorations, and so forth thinking it all was polluted.
However, a year ago this all came to a complete screeching halt when we realized we had gravitated to so many other voices, that we had missed the ONE voice we should have been listening to. As much as I speak about “defending Joseph Smith”. and to “please go learn who Joseph Smith is,” I, myself missed his voice. We were failing a critical test and we didn’t even know it!
In D&C 5:10 it plainly says “This generation shall have my word through you [Joseph Smith].” Nevertheless, when cleaning up our home and setting things in order, for some reason we did not turn to the prophet Joseph for his instruction nor as an example of anything to do with Christmas. Why did I neglect him? Did I think he was ignorant and just didn’t know for himself the ‘pagan roots’? How did I not take his interactions with Christmas more seriously? Did I think I was better than him? Why did the other voices appeal more to me?
Bruce R. McConkie said it best; “The test of discipleship is how totally and completely and fully we believe the word that was revealed through Joseph Smith, and how effectively we echo or proclaim that word to the world.” I looked at what we had done and saw that we were echoing not his words, but others—Pastors, preachers, and so forth. Somehow they had become our leaders.
I now watch online how those other voices are captivating others in the war on Christmas. Many families are feeling lost and do not know where to go. Don’t be one! I watch how condemning memes are thrown out to emphasize one’s point, and links to articles are passed around like hot potatoes. What if instead of looking outwards for the answers, we take this test seriously and re-center our homes on the teachings of Joseph Smith, even down to HOW he celebrated Christmas? If we truly believe he was an inspired prophet, leader of this dispensation, one who has done more, save Jesus Christ for the salvation of men, if we honestly believe this, then maybe it is time we “echo or proclaim that to the world” and hoist up that tree!
So do as Joseph did! Gather with others on the 25th and make it a day of honoring the birth of the Savior! Sing, dance, and enjoy the day with your family!
Here is a great article to show you some ways in which the prophet and his family celebrated Christmas!
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Julie
Julie Smith is the Education Director for the Joseph Smith Foundation. She is the former owner of the Glenn J. Kimber Academy in Lehi, Utah. Julie served as a regional trainer—establishing 18 schools in Arizona, Idaho, and Utah. She is a certified teacher for The Thomas Jefferson Center for Constitutional Restoration (TJC) and taught the Making of America seminars written by W. Cleon Skousen and Glenn J. Kimber. Some of her children also traveled across the nation, assisting in teaching during these seminars. Julie taught history and Book of Mormon classes for 10 years. Julie is the mother of 5 children and grandmother to 7. She homeschooled for over 27 years, working through family challenges including pornography addiction, testimony faith crises, and teenage rebellion. She writes and teaches on strengthening the family, working with troubled youth, practically applying the teachings of scripture and the Prophet Joseph Smith, and celebrating higher standards. In her spare time, Julie also enjoys gardening, managing her .5-acre homestead, and hosting Sunday dinners with her family! Her home is a revolving door of guests and friends as her family hosts cultural celebrations and teaching events.
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