Daily Christmas devotionals about Jesus Christ
Eric D. Huntsman shares one of his family’s Christmas traditions
Dec. 1
Suggested story: O. Henry, “The Gift of
the Magi.” This well-known story of a
poor young couple’s love for each other is
a nice way to begin the season as we start
thinking of getting or making our own
gifts for each other. We frequently shorten
or summarize it for our children.
Suggested scripture: Moses 6:51–52, 57
Suggested carol: “Angels We Have Heard
on High,” “Hymns,” No. 203
Dec. 2
Suggested story: “On the Symbolism of Christmas,” from “The Sixth Word,” by Sherry
Dillehay, “Especially for Mormons,” Vol. 2. This, or a story like it, can serve as a good vehicle
for helping children understand the symbolism of so many of our Christmas decorations.
Suggested scriptures: Moses 1:6, 33, 39; Deuteronomy 18:15
Suggested carol: “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Hymns,” No. 202
Dec. 3
Suggested story: “A Different Kind of Christmas,” by Lael J. Littke. This touching story is set in
pioneer-era Utah and describes the love that a mother, who has lost her daughters, develops for
her foster son.
Suggested scriptures: 2 Samuel 7:12–14; Psalm 89:3–4, 28–29, 36–37
Suggested carol: “Once in Royal David’s City,” “Hymns,” No. 205
Dec. 4
Suggested story: “The Cobbler and His Guest,” by Anne M. Boyles
Suggested scripture: Psalm 24:9–10
Suggested carol: “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks,” “Hymns,” No. 211
Dec. 5
Suggested story: “It Takes a Child” (unknown author). In this story a homeless man teaches a
mother about unconditional love.
Suggested scriptures: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23
Suggested carol: “The First Noel,” “Hymns,” No. 213
Dec. 6
Suggested story: “Christmas Day in the Morning,” by Pearl S. Buck. Later in life, a man reflects
about the first, true Christmas gift he ever gave.
Suggested scripture: Isaiah 9:6–7
Suggested carol: “Joy to the World,” “Hymns,” No. 201
Dec. 7
Suggested story: “In the Great Walled Country,” by Raymond MacDonald Alden. A story mostly
fit for young children.
Suggested scripture: Isaiah 11:1–4
Suggested carol: “It Came upon a Midnight Clear,” “Hymns,” No. 207
Dec. 8
Suggested story: “A Brother Like That” (unknown author)
Suggested scripture: Isaiah 40:1–5
Suggested carol: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Hymns,” No. 209
Dec. 9
Suggested story: “Mr. Jinks Hands Out the Holly,” The Children’s Friend, December 1958
Suggested scripture: Micah 5:2
Suggested carol: “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Hymns,” No. 208
Dec. 10
Suggested story: “Keeping Baby Warm,” by Lynda H. Laughlin
Suggested scriptures: Jeremiah 23:5–6; see also 33:14–15
Suggested carol: “Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains,” “Hymns,” No. 212. This carol was written
by Latter-day Saint composer John Menzies MacFarlane (1833–1892).
Dec. 11
Suggested story: “The Christmas Gift,” by Hugh Oliver
Suggested scripture: 1 Nephi 10:4–5
Suggested carol: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” “100 Carols for Choirs,” No. 19
Dec. 12
Suggested story: “The C-C-Choir Boy,” by Fred Bauer. A boy with a stutter finds he can sing a
solo in his school pageant if he only keeps his thoughts on the baby Jesus.
Suggested scripture: 1 Nephi 11:13–21
Suggested carol: “What Child Is This?” “The New Oxford Book of Carols,” No. 98
Dec. 13
Suggested story: “Bethann’s Christmas Prayer,” by Marilyn Morgan Helleberg. A young girl
melts the heart of a sad, older woman who has suffered a terrible loss.
Suggested scripture: 2 Nephi 25:19, 26
Suggested carol: “O Holy Night,” “The Christmas Songbook Treasury,” page 68
Dec. 14
Suggested story: “Pattern of Love,” by Jack Smith
Suggested scripture: Jacob 4:4–5
Suggested carol: “Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella,” “The Christmas Songbook Treasury,” page
59
Dec. 15
Suggested story: “The Littlest Angel,” by Charles Tazewell. Though rather inaccurate
doctrinally, this story makes a nice point about God’s love for a child and his acceptance of gifts
of the heart
Suggested carol: “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “The New Oxford Book of Carols,” No. 169
Dec. 16
Suggested story: “Special Delivery,” by Mrs. Charles Stephan
Suggested scripture: Malachi 3:1
Suggested carol: “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” “Hymns,” No. 214
Dec. 17
Suggested story: “The Little Match Girl,” by Hans Christian Andersen
Suggested scripture: Mosiah 3:5–8
Suggested carol: “Picture a Christmas,” “Children’s Songbook,” page 50
Dec. 18
Suggested story: “Trouble at the Inn,” by Dina Donahue. Another one of my favorites, this
touching story is about a mentally slow boy whose tenderness causes a rather surprising change
in the community Christmas pageant.
Suggested scripture: Alma 7:9–10
Suggested carol: “Oh, Hush Thee, My Baby,” “Children’s Songbook,” page 48
Dec. 19
Suggested story: “I Knew You Would Come,” by Elizabeth King English
Suggested scripture: Helaman 14:2–8
Suggested carol: “Stars Were Gleaming,” “Children’s Songbook,” page 37
Dec. 20
Suggested story: “Someone Missing at the Manger,” by Elizabeth Starr Hill
Suggested scripture: Luke 1:26–38
Suggested carol: “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming,” “100 Carols for Choirs,” No. 50
Dec. 21
Suggested story: “Once in a Lifetime Christmas,” by Will Wright. Without a doubt, this is one of
my favorite stories that we read at Christmastime, recalling a Depression-era Christmas when an
entire town worked together to give its children a Christmas they would always remember.
Suggested scripture: Matthew 1:18–25
Suggested carol: “When Joseph Went to Bethlehem,” “Children’s Songbook,” page 38
Dec. 22
Suggested story: “The Gift of Love,” by Thomas S. Monson
Suggested scripture: Luke 1:39–56
Suggested carol: “Away in a Manger,” “Hymns,” No. 206
Dec. 23
Suggested story: “Unexpected Christmas,” by Marguerite Nixon. Another one of my favorites,
this story tells of a city couple who learn the true meaning of Christmas when they are forced to
spend Christmas Eve with a humble farming family.
Suggested scripture: 3 Nephi 1:13–14
Suggested carol: “Once within a Lowly Stable,” “Children’s Songbook,” page 41
Dec. 24
Suggested scriptures: Luke 2:1–7; Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:8–16
Suggested carol: “Silent Night,” “Hymns,” No. 204
Christmas Day
Suggested scripture: Jacob 7:11–12
Although we do not usually hold a devotional on Christmas Day, a personal tradition of mine is
to read or listen to George Durrant’s retelling of his missionary Christmas. Alone, sick, and away
from family, young Elder Durrant spent the day with the biblical Christmas story, gaining his
own testimony that Jesus Christ was the Son of God (Durrant, “Don’t Forget the Star,” 30–38).
The Sunday after Christmas
Suggested scripture: Luke 2:21–39
Jan. 5 or 6
Suggested story: “The Other Wise Man,” by Henry Van Dyke
Suggested scripture: Matthew 2:1–12
Suggested carols: “With Wondering Awe,” “Hymns,” No. 210, and “We Three Kings of Orient
Are,” “The Christmas Songbook Treasury,” No. 46
After the Christmas Season
Read the scriptures describing the flight to Egypt and return to Nazareth (Matthew 2:12–23) and
of the boy Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:41–52). After that, read one of the Gospels, or all of them,
between Christmas and Easter. Perhaps beginning on Palm Sunday, read the accounts of the final
days of the Savior’s life, in preparation for celebrating the glad tidings of the Easter season (see
Huntsman’s “God So Loved the World”).