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Visiting Temple Square was one of my favorite memories while living in Utah. Despite the cold and the crowds, it was always a wonderful experience to visit the Square during the Holiday season.
After graduation from BYU, my husband and I moved away from Utah. When our children were small, we wished that we could take them to Temple Square to see the beauty and feel the spirit, but that wasn't possible, so instead, we decided to create Temple Square in our home. Over the years, we have developed some unique traditions, but we love them and people often ask us to share them, so we have decided to share some of them with you.
Everything about Christmas on Temple Square is focused on inviting the Spirit. As a result, we decorate with simplicity; our tree has only white lights and a star on the top. We put up different styled Nativity scenes, each telling the story of the Savior's humble birth in their own unique and beautiful way. We also put a few special ornaments on the top of the piano that commemorate special family experiences in various Temples.
We teach our children about the Light of the Season when we gather to remember our ancestors who celebrated the tradition of Chaunuka. For each of the eight nights of the celebration, we gather together, light our menorah candles and tell first, the history of the ancient Jewish Temple then about the importance of modern temples in our lives. Each night we talk about different principles of the gospel and how choosing to live them has been a source of blessings and, even in some cases, miracles in our lives and in the lives of our ancestors.
During this time of the year, we testify of the importance of everything about the Temple, and how darkness has been turned away by the light given to us by having living prophets. On the final night of our celebration, when the room seems to be filled with candle light, we teach and testify of the birth and eternal mission of our Savior, whom the scriptures refer to as "The Light of the World." (D&C 11:28, John 8:12)
We hope that each of you are able to find joy in the true meaning of the Holidays. No matter how you celebrate Christmas, it is our hope that you will find peace and renewal of your testimony in the life and mission of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
