The countdown begins!
A couple of years ago, I was looking for a way to focus on the Savior during the December hubbub before Christmas. So I took a few minutes to make this, and, little did I know it, but a tradition was born:
Creativity and materials (we were living in Turkey) were both in short supply, but I managed to find some ribbon at our pathetic BX, as well as scrounge up a few scraps of red card stock at home. It was for a one-time-only use, but here it is again, for a third round.
On each of twelve cards is written the scripture reference for a prophecy of Christ. Most of them are from Isaiah and the Book of Mormon. For thousands of years, prophets foretold the coming of the Savior with great anticipation. And in the days leading up to Christmas, as our own anticipation grows, we read some of those prophecies. Each evening, we remove the bottom card and gather around the table. We light our German candelabrum (see item D), watch the figures spin, and, by the candlelight, read the verses and sing a Christmas hymn or two.
We begin each year with this appropriate verse. Since we read for twelve days prophecies about the Savior, how fitting to begin with the prophet Nephi's explanation of what it is that the prophets of God have done throughout time:
And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.
2 Nephi 25:26May I follow their example with much talking of Christ and rejoicing in Him:
So my children will know.
