Christmas Sunday Sacrament Meeting

[Lizzy60]

I know that most wards will be having a single-hour Sacrament Meeting on Sunday Dec. 22. I have seen a couple of advertisements put out by the Church inviting the public to this Christmas Sacrament meeting, and it directs them to Come Unto Christ.org to find a ward near them.

The advert I just saw was beautiful. It invited people to join with us, sing with us, worship with us, and so on. There were beautiful families, beautiful children...........and stunningly beautiful refreshments. Holiday cookies, cupcakes, and a buffet table loaded with goodies, and everyone talking and mingling with a plate of snacks.

Is your Ward having refreshments and mingle-time after Sacrament Meeting?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_ODxd8c9kQk

[Yahtzee]

Uh, mine's not. Hmmm.

Edit after watching the video: yeah, my building won't even be decorated, especially like that.
But we will be singing a lot.
And many of us will stay after and chat. Maybe I'll stop by Costco....

[Michelle]

Yup, I'm concerned now.

People are going to be disappointed.

Also, it isn't about the food. . . I hope.

[Robin Hood]

Uh, mine's not. Hmmm.

Edit after watching the video: yeah, my building won't even be decorated, especially like that.
But we will be singing a lot.
And many of us will stay after and chat. Maybe I'll stop by Costco....

According to the handbook, there should be no decorations in tbe church building. One tree is permitted, though it should not have electric lights, nor be in the chapel area.

[gkearney]

In New England and Atlantic Canada tradition dictates that one does not have Christmas trees in Church buildings, any church not just ours. We once had a Bishop, who was from Utah, get caught blindsided when he got a tree for the lobby of the chapel only to be greeted with shall we say a cool. if not down right hostile reception of it from members of the ward.

[Connie561]

Our ward is combining with another ward for the one hour meeting. The other ward we are combining has the Stake President. I am new to our area so my understanding our wards use to be one ward maybe 5 years ago. Last year this other ward had its meeting during the first block of meetings. Last year our ward was last of the three wards to meet on Sunday. So this year we are first again for the Christmas meeting. I can't see how having refreshments in the cultural hall with the with the wooden basket court would be quiet enough for another ward when they would be holding Sacrament services. I could see it being done with refreshments if you were the last ward having your meeting that day.

[inho]

We have combined meeting with another ward and the focus will be in music. Last year we had no talks, just music.
But little to none decorations and no food.

[mudflap]

I know that most wards will be having a single-hour Sacrament Meeting on Sunday Dec. 22. I have seen a couple of advertisements put out by the Church inviting the public to this Christmas Sacrament meeting, and it directs them to Come Unto Christ.org to find a ward near them.

The advert I just saw was beautiful. It invited people to join with us, sing with us, worship with us, and so on. There were beautiful families, beautiful children...........and stunningly beautiful refreshments. Holiday cookies, cupcakes, and a buffet table loaded with goodies, and everyone talking and mingling with a plate of snacks.

Is your Ward having refreshments and mingle-time after Sacrament Meeting?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_ODxd8c9kQk

Well, I just shared this over on diaspora, where I'm one of 2 lds folks on the entire network that I know of. I'm playing the organ this week in a special musical number

[captainfearnot]

I recognize two historic downtown SLC chapels in this ad spot: 8th Ward and 10th Ward.

[Silver Pie]

So, it's misleading advertising? I mean, people will expect decorations and snacks if they go because they've seen a Church video about it, and that's the reason they go.

Edit: I just watched the ad. I don't think there are enough decorations to matter to anyone, but the ad seems deceptive to me, like it's trying to paint a picture that doesn't match most (if any) wards I've been to.

[Lizzy60]

So, it's misleading advertising? I mean, people will expect decorations and snacks if they go because they've seen a Church video about it, and that's the reason they go.

Edit: I just watched the ad. I don't think there are enough decorations to matter to anyone, but the ad seems deceptive to me, like it's trying to paint a picture that doesn't match most (if any) wards I've been to.

I believe the intent of the ad is to create a positive feeling in the non-LDS viewers, none of whom will actually look up and attend an LDS meeting this Sunday, but will "feel good" about the church based on the ad. They used to call this HeartSell. Create a feeling, touch hearts.

I live in a metro area in TX. Other Christian denominations here go all out with pageants, programs, and festivals for Christmas, with everyone invited. I'm not saying we should also do that, but if someone sees that ad, and finds my ward tomorrow, they will think they ended up in the wrong church. We only vaguely resemble that advertisement.

I'm still laughing about the dessert buffet in the ad, with the beautiful accessories and designer cookies and cupcakes.

[David13]

I do have to say that I think that Mormons are very polite and sociable and friendly, especially if they are at church.

But I think the presentation in the video is way overdone as to what one might expect if they go, particularly if they don't look like a Mormon or regular sort of person.

I think maybe it's more of an expectation. The video is what the church expects you to present to visitors this week.
dc

[pho·to·syn·the·sis]

Thanks for sharing. Just gave me ideas for next year.

[sandman45]

Uh, mine's not. Hmmm.

Edit after watching the video: yeah, my building won't even be decorated, especially like that.
But we will be singing a lot.
And many of us will stay after and chat. Maybe I'll stop by Costco....

According to the handbook, there should be no decorations in tbe church building. One tree is permitted, though it should not have electric lights, nor be in the chapel area.

Hmmm and yet most participate in this pagan holiday of decorating a tree and placing it in their temples. I mean their homes. Wait I thought our homes should be like a temple?

[Rick Grimes]

My ward did the whole "youtube" video thing. We had a musical program and plenty of goodies and fellowship afterwards. Very nice!

[JohnnyL]

We had a great musical/ short narration presentation. Uplifting, fun, spiritual. Many non-members.

[Silver Pie]

My ward did the whole "youtube" video thing. We had a musical program and plenty of goodies and fellowship afterwards. Very nice!

That's awesome! I'm glad to hear it. I hope there were others who did that, as well.

[Robin Hood]

My eldest son's wife gave birth a few minutes before church today. We got the call just as we arrived in the car park. As a result we didn't pay a great deal of attention to the sacrament Christmas presentation, even though I had to do a reading.
I did mange to grab a mince pie as I was leaving though.

The ward choir, along with others who wanted to join in, were visiting a nursing home afterwards to sing Christmas carols. In my view this was very cruel.... those poor people had already suffered enough.

[MMbelieve]

Uh, mine's not. Hmmm.

Edit after watching the video: yeah, my building won't even be decorated, especially like that.
But we will be singing a lot.
And many of us will stay after and chat. Maybe I'll stop by Costco....

According to the handbook, there should be no decorations in tbe church building. One tree is permitted, though it should not have electric lights, nor be in the chapel area.

Hmmm and yet most participate in this pagan holiday of decorating a tree and placing it in their temples. I mean their homes. Wait I thought our homes should be like a temple?

Where did the idea that Christmas is pagan originate from. I have heard this said for years.
I was watching a you tube video about the Star of Bethlehem and the wise men etc and it pointed towards Christmas not actually being pagan at all with reference to the star alignments on dec 25th maybe 2BC. I will have to look up the video again to remember exactly.

[Summerwind]

Our ward did have just Sacrament meeting, and then a mingle with cookies afterwards. Seems like this was something rather widely done.

[Summerwind]

Uh, mine's not. Hmmm.

Edit after watching the video: yeah, my building won't even be decorated, especially like that.
But we will be singing a lot.
And many of us will stay after and chat. Maybe I'll stop by Costco....

According to the handbook, there should be no decorations in tbe church building. One tree is permitted, though it should not have electric lights, nor be in the chapel area.

Hmmm and yet most participate in this pagan holiday of decorating a tree and placing it in their temples. I mean their homes. Wait I thought our homes should be like a temple?

Where did the idea that Christmas is pagan originate from. I have heard this said for years.
I was watching a you tube video about the Star of Bethlehem and the wise men etc and it pointed towards Christmas not actually being pagan at all with reference to the star alignments on dec 25th maybe 2BC. I will have to look up the video again to remember exactly.

It's a misunderstood thing. A lot of people have begun fighting the idea of any Christian holidays claiming they are all pagan. Well I looked up the information on that and it turns out it's not exactly the truth. The myth runs that the Catholic church placed Christmas on top of the pagan solstice or sun god holiday.

The original holiday was called the Feast of the Nativity and was held all over Europe between the 23rd of December to January 15th. It depended on location actually. How can it be replacing a holiday if it's not even consistent to begin with? There are a variety of different pagan holidays during this time frame depending on what part of Europe they were in, and their feast did not always fall on top of a pagan holiday. There was the roman sun god celebration, and there is the solstice, and there is yule, none of which actually fall on the 25th of December, or ever have for that matter.

The concept of yule, or Jul as Scandinavians call it, involves a log and a tree and various other trappings, but these went out of fashion as the Catholic church grew and the the reformation began. They only came back in fashion in the Victorian period through Prince Albert consort to Queen Elizabeth because they were a German custom that some can date back to Martin Luther - a Christian. Therefore the Christmas tree is about Christian celebration as we use it today. the pagan version was very different and stopped some time ago.

Symbols mean what we decide they mean to us. The swastika was used for horrible hatred through Hitler, but in India it means peace. The five pointed star upside down is something we all associate with satanism, but Alastair Crowley purposefully corrupted a Christian symbol. How do we know? Well it is one of the symbols on the outside of the Salt Lake Temple which existed before Crowley adopted this symbol for his own use. For Christians, the Christmas Tree has come to symbolize the everlasting love of Heavenly Father like the leaves are evergreen. We decorate it with things like a candy cane (shepherd's crook and upside down J with stripes in red and white... a lot like Isaiah's verse), Stars or angles on top to symbolize the signs of Christ's birth. You don't find those on pagan trees. Twinkling lights that represent the light of the Savior in the darkest time of the year. Originally those were candles that were meant to be lit one from another as the gospel spreads from soul to soul.

Those who don't want to celebrate Christmas or put up a tree are totally within their rights to do so - but never believe the claim that Christmas is pagan as the reason. That's an excuse and it might be their own choice of reason, but it's not what the real Christmas is about. When the Savior is the center of your celebrations - then obviously it can never be pagan.

[Robin Hood]

According to the handbook, there should be no decorations in tbe church building. One tree is permitted, though it should not have electric lights, nor be in the chapel area.

Hmmm and yet most participate in this pagan holiday of decorating a tree and placing it in their temples. I mean their homes. Wait I thought our homes should be like a temple?

Where did the idea that Christmas is pagan originate from. I have heard this said for years.
I was watching a you tube video about the Star of Bethlehem and the wise men etc and it pointed towards Christmas not actually being pagan at all with reference to the star alignments on dec 25th maybe 2BC. I will have to look up the video again to remember exactly.

It's a misunderstood thing. A lot of people have begun fighting the idea of any Christian holidays claiming they are all pagan. Well I looked up the information on that and it turns out it's not exactly the truth. The myth runs that the Catholic church placed Christmas on top of the pagan solstice or sun god holiday.

The original holiday was called the Feast of the Nativity and was held all over Europe between the 23rd of December to January 15th. It depended on location actually. How can it be replacing a holiday if it's not even consistent to begin with? There are a variety of different pagan holidays during this time frame depending on what part of Europe they were in, and their feast did not always fall on top of a pagan holiday. There was the roman sun god celebration, and there is the solstice, and there is yule, none of which actually fall on the 25th of December, or ever have for that matter.

The concept of yule, or Jul as Scandinavians call it, involves a log and a tree and various other trappings, but these went out of fashion as the Catholic church grew and the the reformation began. They only came back in fashion in the Victorian period through Prince Albert consort to Queen Elizabeth because they were a German custom that some can date back to Martin Luther - a Christian. Therefore the Christmas tree is about Christian celebration as we use it today. the pagan version was very different and stopped some time ago.

Symbols mean what we decide they mean to us. The swastika was used for horrible hatred through Hitler, but in India it means peace. The five pointed star upside down is something we all associate with satanism, but Alastair Crowley purposefully corrupted a Christian symbol. How do we know? Well it is one of the symbols on the outside of the Salt Lake Temple which existed before Crowley adopted this symbol for his own use. For Christians, the Christmas Tree has come to symbolize the everlasting love of Heavenly Father like the leaves are evergreen. We decorate it with things like a candy cane (shepherd's crook and upside down J with stripes in red and white... a lot like Isaiah's verse), Stars or angles on top to symbolize the signs of Christ's birth. You don't find those on pagan trees. Twinkling lights that represent the light of the Savior in the darkest time of the year. Originally those were candles that were meant to be lit one from another as the gospel spreads from soul to soul.

Those who don't want to celebrate Christmas or put up a tree are totally within their rights to do so - but never believe the claim that Christmas is pagan as the reason. That's an excuse and it might be their own choice of reason, but it's not what the real Christmas is about. When the Savior is the center of your celebrations - then obviously it can never be pagan.

I don't know where you got your information, but I suggest you do a little more research.
The origins of the Christmas date of 25th December are clearly pagan and relate to the reincarnation/rebirth of Nimrod on that date. December 25th became the celebration of the birth of the sun-god in many early civilizations, with other sun-gods also being born on that day (likely to be a rebranding of the Nimrod cult). The Saturnalia celebration of the Romans was not initially or directly related to Nimrod worship but became connected over time, though the 25th December date was not particularly significant to the Roman's early on.
There is no doubt that the Christian's commandeered this pagan celebration to mark the birth of Christ, including much of the symbology related to evergreen trees, red and green, gift giving, leaving gifts under the tree, feasting, observing 12 days etc.
This despite the clear instruction found in Deuteronomy 12:29-32.

[Summerwind]

Hmmm and yet most participate in this pagan holiday of decorating a tree and placing it in their temples. I mean their homes. Wait I thought our homes should be like a temple?

Where did the idea that Christmas is pagan originate from. I have heard this said for years.
I was watching a you tube video about the Star of Bethlehem and the wise men etc and it pointed towards Christmas not actually being pagan at all with reference to the star alignments on dec 25th maybe 2BC. I will have to look up the video again to remember exactly.

It's a misunderstood thing. A lot of people have begun fighting the idea of any Christian holidays claiming they are all pagan. Well I looked up the information on that and it turns out it's not exactly the truth. The myth runs that the Catholic church placed Christmas on top of the pagan solstice or sun god holiday.

The original holiday was called the Feast of the Nativity and was held all over Europe between the 23rd of December to January 15th. It depended on location actually. How can it be replacing a holiday if it's not even consistent to begin with? There are a variety of different pagan holidays during this time frame depending on what part of Europe they were in, and their feast did not always fall on top of a pagan holiday. There was the roman sun god celebration, and there is the solstice, and there is yule, none of which actually fall on the 25th of December, or ever have for that matter.

The concept of yule, or Jul as Scandinavians call it, involves a log and a tree and various other trappings, but these went out of fashion as the Catholic church grew and the the reformation began. They only came back in fashion in the Victorian period through Prince Albert consort to Queen Elizabeth because they were a German custom that some can date back to Martin Luther - a Christian. Therefore the Christmas tree is about Christian celebration as we use it today. the pagan version was very different and stopped some time ago.

Symbols mean what we decide they mean to us. The swastika was used for horrible hatred through Hitler, but in India it means peace. The five pointed star upside down is something we all associate with satanism, but Alastair Crowley purposefully corrupted a Christian symbol. How do we know? Well it is one of the symbols on the outside of the Salt Lake Temple which existed before Crowley adopted this symbol for his own use. For Christians, the Christmas Tree has come to symbolize the everlasting love of Heavenly Father like the leaves are evergreen. We decorate it with things like a candy cane (shepherd's crook and upside down J with stripes in red and white... a lot like Isaiah's verse), Stars or angles on top to symbolize the signs of Christ's birth. You don't find those on pagan trees. Twinkling lights that represent the light of the Savior in the darkest time of the year. Originally those were candles that were meant to be lit one from another as the gospel spreads from soul to soul.

Those who don't want to celebrate Christmas or put up a tree are totally within their rights to do so - but never believe the claim that Christmas is pagan as the reason. That's an excuse and it might be their own choice of reason, but it's not what the real Christmas is about. When the Savior is the center of your celebrations - then obviously it can never be pagan.

I don't know where you got your information, but I suggest you do a little more research.
The origins of the Christmas date of 25th December are clearly pagan and relate to the reincarnation/rebirth of Nimrod on that date. December 25th became the celebration of the birth of the sun-god in many early civilizations, with other sun-gods also being born on that day (likely to be a rebranding of the Nimrod cult). The Saturnalia celebration of the Romans was not initially or directly related to Nimrod worship but became connected over time, though the 25th December date was not particularly significant to the Roman's early on.
There is no doubt that the Christian's commandeered this pagan celebration to mark the birth of Christ, including much of the symbology related to evergreen trees, red and green, gift giving, leaving gifts under the tree, feasting, observing 12 days etc.
This despite the clear instruction found in Deuteronomy 12:29-32.

The information I just gave you is the result of years of research on the topic actually. A lot of people really hate to hear the truth because they prefer the holier than thou shunning of others.

[Robin Hood]

Where did the idea that Christmas is pagan originate from. I have heard this said for years.
I was watching a you tube video about the Star of Bethlehem and the wise men etc and it pointed towards Christmas not actually being pagan at all with reference to the star alignments on dec 25th maybe 2BC. I will have to look up the video again to remember exactly.

It's a misunderstood thing. A lot of people have begun fighting the idea of any Christian holidays claiming they are all pagan. Well I looked up the information on that and it turns out it's not exactly the truth. The myth runs that the Catholic church placed Christmas on top of the pagan solstice or sun god holiday.

The original holiday was called the Feast of the Nativity and was held all over Europe between the 23rd of December to January 15th. It depended on location actually. How can it be replacing a holiday if it's not even consistent to begin with? There are a variety of different pagan holidays during this time frame depending on what part of Europe they were in, and their feast did not always fall on top of a pagan holiday. There was the roman sun god celebration, and there is the solstice, and there is yule, none of which actually fall on the 25th of December, or ever have for that matter.

The concept of yule, or Jul as Scandinavians call it, involves a log and a tree and various other trappings, but these went out of fashion as the Catholic church grew and the the reformation began. They only came back in fashion in the Victorian period through Prince Albert consort to Queen Elizabeth because they were a German custom that some can date back to Martin Luther - a Christian. Therefore the Christmas tree is about Christian celebration as we use it today. the pagan version was very different and stopped some time ago.

Symbols mean what we decide they mean to us. The swastika was used for horrible hatred through Hitler, but in India it means peace. The five pointed star upside down is something we all associate with satanism, but Alastair Crowley purposefully corrupted a Christian symbol. How do we know? Well it is one of the symbols on the outside of the Salt Lake Temple which existed before Crowley adopted this symbol for his own use. For Christians, the Christmas Tree has come to symbolize the everlasting love of Heavenly Father like the leaves are evergreen. We decorate it with things like a candy cane (shepherd's crook and upside down J with stripes in red and white... a lot like Isaiah's verse), Stars or angles on top to symbolize the signs of Christ's birth. You don't find those on pagan trees. Twinkling lights that represent the light of the Savior in the darkest time of the year. Originally those were candles that were meant to be lit one from another as the gospel spreads from soul to soul.

Those who don't want to celebrate Christmas or put up a tree are totally within their rights to do so - but never believe the claim that Christmas is pagan as the reason. That's an excuse and it might be their own choice of reason, but it's not what the real Christmas is about. When the Savior is the center of your celebrations - then obviously it can never be pagan.

I don't know where you got your information, but I suggest you do a little more research.
The origins of the Christmas date of 25th December are clearly pagan and relate to the reincarnation/rebirth of Nimrod on that date. December 25th became the celebration of the birth of the sun-god in many early civilizations, with other sun-gods also being born on that day (likely to be a rebranding of the Nimrod cult). The Saturnalia celebration of the Romans was not initially or directly related to Nimrod worship but became connected over time, though the 25th December date was not particularly significant to the Roman's early on.
There is no doubt that the Christian's commandeered this pagan celebration to mark the birth of Christ, including much of the symbology related to evergreen trees, red and green, gift giving, leaving gifts under the tree, feasting, observing 12 days etc.
This despite the clear instruction found in Deuteronomy 12:29-32.

The information I just gave you is the result of years of research on the topic actually. A lot of people really hate to hear the truth because they prefer the holier than thou shunning of others.

That may be true, but a lot of people have also researched this topic for many years and have allowed the evidence to take them where it takes them, without letting their own prejudices influence their conclusions.
If you had really researched this issue in the way you describe there is absolutely no way you could hold your stated position. It is just not possible, and I think you know it.
If you want to celebrate Christmas go ahead and do so, that's just fine. But don't try to justify it by claiming you have some special insight that has eluded everyone else who has investigated this subject because, frankly, it's just not credible.

[BeNotDeceived]

According to the handbook, there should be no decorations in tbe church building. One tree is permitted, though it should not have electric lights, nor be in the chapel area.

Hmmm and yet most participate in this pagan holiday of decorating a tree and placing it in their temples. I mean their homes. Wait I thought our homes should be like a temple?

Where did the idea that Christmas is pagan originate from. I have heard this said for years.
I was watching a you tube video about the Star of Bethlehem and the wise men etc and it pointed towards Christmas not actually being pagan at all with reference to the star alignments on dec 25th maybe 2BC. I will have to look up the video again to remember exactly.

It's a misunderstood thing. A lot of people have begun fighting the idea of any Christian holidays claiming they are all pagan. Well I looked up the information on that and it turns out it's not exactly the truth. The myth runs that the Catholic church placed Christmas on top of the pagan solstice or sun god holiday.

The original holiday was called the Feast of the Nativity and was held all over Europe between the 23rd of December to January 15th. It depended on location actually. How can it be replacing a holiday if it's not even consistent to begin with? There are a variety of different pagan holidays during this time frame depending on what part of Europe they were in, and their feast did not always fall on top of a pagan holiday. There was the roman sun god celebration, and there is the solstice, and there is yule, none of which actually fall on the 25th of December, or ever have for that matter.

The concept of yule, or Jul as Scandinavians call it, involves a log and a tree and various other trappings, but these went out of fashion as the Catholic church grew and the the reformation began. They only came back in fashion in the Victorian period through Prince Albert consort to Queen Elizabeth because they were a German custom that some can date back to Martin Luther - a Christian. Therefore the Christmas tree is about Christian celebration as we use it today. the pagan version was very different and stopped some time ago.

Symbols mean what we decide they mean to us. The swastika was used for horrible hatred through Hitler, but in India it means peace. The five pointed star upside down is something we all associate with satanism, but Alastair Crowley purposefully corrupted a Christian symbol. How do we know? Well it is one of the symbols on the outside of the Salt Lake Temple which existed before Crowley adopted this symbol for his own use. For Christians, the Christmas Tree has come to symbolize the everlasting love of Heavenly Father like the leaves are evergreen. We decorate it with things like a candy cane (shepherd's crook and upside down J with stripes in red and white... a lot like Isaiah's verse), Stars or angles on top to symbolize the signs of Christ's birth. You don't find those on pagan trees. Twinkling lights that represent the light of the Savior in the darkest time of the year. Originally those were candles that were meant to be lit one from another as the gospel spreads from soul to soul.

Those who don't want to celebrate Christmas or put up a tree are totally within their rights to do so - but never believe the claim that Christmas is pagan as the reason. That's an excuse and it might be their own choice of reason, but it's not what the real Christmas is about. When the Savior is the center of your celebrations - then obviously it can never be pagan.

Interesting insight, especially symbol conversion.
Learning curve too, plays a role. Today I revisited Swift Integer extension and now realize:

24.ax can return Character(“x”) via a computed variable “ax”.
24.__ax keeps the two underbars like before using a function 24.__AX(), which returns uppercase “X”.

Puts a new spin on Xmas, as 24 really is the magic number, i. e. 2448 or 4824, depending on how you convert numbers to dates. Proper conversion is a date when a great shadow shall again cross our great nation, likely marking the transition from seven years prosperity.