Mormons or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints act out the nativity story with the traditional elements of a stable, a manger, Mary and Joseph, animals, and the shepherds. In our home, we dress up as the characters and my husband reads the Christmas story from Luke 2 as we act it out. We usually do this on Christmas Eve. In the last few days, my mind and heart has expanded with knowledge about the place where Jesus was born. In the King James version of the Bible which we use, we read, "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7). Not only did Joseph Smith translate The Book of Mormon, he also sought to restore plain and precious parts of the Bible through translation. He did this by studying the King James version of the Bible and using the Holy Ghost to direct him in correcting and clarifying scripture. In the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, the last word in Luke 2:7 is inns not inn.
On Saturday I attended a Christmas Program at Boise First United Methodist Church, The Cathedral of the Rockies. I enjoyed the scriptures and music performed by young and old and through instruments and singing. During the program, the clergy read from the New International Version of the Bible, verse 7 of Luke 2, "She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom." After researching a bit I found that kataluma is the Greek word used in the bible and can mean guest chamber, lodging place or inn (Was Jesus born in a stable?) and that they may have stayed with relatives but there wasn't room in the normal area so they were below or outside regular quarters. Also mangers could be within the main level of a home.
Yesterday I learned from a friend of mine about Posada, a Catholic Mexican tradition of acting out the receiving of Mary and Joseph at the inn. Beginning on December 16, the Posada takes place for nine days to symbolize the nine months of pregnancy. My friend gathers with members of her family and each night a different family hosts the Posada. The family members visit homes where they sing a traditional song asking to enter. They are turned away, because there is no room as there was no room for Mary and Joseph, until they reach the home of the Posada for that night. They are invited in to eat and end the night with a pinata.
As a mother with five children, the thought of birthing a baby in a stable whether it is made of wood or sheltered within a cave, seems dirty and uncomfortable, very humble. I do like the idea of the privacy of a stable versus an open space where extended family members come and go. The truth is that the story in the Bible is very simple with little embellishment so we don't know the details. What matters is that Christ was born. That He came to earth as a baby to fulfill his role as Savior of the World. And that we receive him into our inn or guestroom every day of the year.
Again I encourage you to watch and share the video and other messages from He is the Gift.

Yes. Just like families all over America, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have their own Christmas family traditions. We buy each other presents. We receive gifts from Santa. We eat candy and other goodies. We shop. We attend school and musical performances, church Christmas parties, work Christmas parties, and our children make and participate in Christmas crafts and celebrations at school. Also like many families we try to keep our focus on the true meaning of Christmas, our Savior Jesus Christ. This can be difficult to do during the busy Christmas season.

This year our family is trying something new. I don't like to shop and this idea has simplified the gift buying and is allowing us more time to serve others and attend events. Christmas morning our children will receive four gifts:
Something you want
Something you need
Something to wear and
Something to read.

Don't feel too bad for them. They'll also receive gifts from grandparents and each other. Before December 1, we discussed as a family what we wanted to do this Christmas season. What makes the season special for each of us. We decided to make homemade candy with friends, to rake leaves for a neighbor, and to buy gifts for a family in need. From Sunday night and almost every night until Christmas, we  have a performance or party or event to attend. Already I'm feeling busy with the season, but at least I don't have to do much shopping. We also are trying to complete one spiritual goal this month, a gift to Jesus, and to give up something this month. My husband jokes that it's Lent for Mormons.
Our church has launched a world-wide initiative called "He is the Gift." I relate with the images of Christmas busyness at the beginning of the video, and I want to feel the love that my Heavenly Father has for me, a love so great that He sent His son to be born in a stable in humble circumstances and then to suffer and die for each of us. My favorite part of the video is at the end where a person falls to his knees in prayer. That is the way that I feel my Heavenly Father's love. This season as I embrace the gift of my Savior, I need to remember during those busy times to get on my knees. The spirit will work on my heart to slow me down and point me back to what is important. I encourage you to watch the video and in prayer embrace Heavenly Father's gift for you, His son, the Savior Jesus Christ.

The definition of a belief is a feeling that something or someone exists or that something is true. To know is to understand or have a clear and complete idea. I think that belief comes before knowledge, that we have to believe something is true before we know it is true. Often when I speak of the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I talk about our beliefs. I call them beliefs because that seems less heavy-handed. If I say I believe something then you can't tell me I can't feel that something is true. But if I say I know something, you might argue that I can't know or that it's not true. To me knowing is having evidence of truth.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, here are some truths we believe about Jesus Christ.

He is the literal son of God, our Heavenly Father. We are all spirit sons and daughters of God. Jesus Christ is also a spirit son of God. Heavenly Father or God is also the father of Jesus Christ's body. They are two separate beings.

Mary is the mother of Jesus's body. The Holy Ghost came upon Mary and the power of God overshadowed her and she conceived (Luke 1:35).

Jesus was born in a stable under lowly circumstances, the son of God and a mortal woman.

Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist even though He was perfect and had not sinned. He was baptized as an example to of us of being obedient to our Heavenly Father.

While Jesus was on the earth, He taught a higher law of loving our neighbor as ourselves. He healed the sick in body and spirit. He was an example of pure love, showing us how to treat each other.

Jesus suffered for all our sins and sadness and sickness. Every one of us. He didn't have to. He was a God. He had no sin. The pain was so great that he asked His Father if there was another way (Matthew 26:39).  In a revelation to Joseph Smith, Jesus reveals the depth of that pain. "For behold, I God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit--and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink--Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men" (Doctrine & Covenants 19:16-19).

Jesus Christ was crucified. He died on a cross, was laid in a sepulcher, and rose three days later. Because He was resurrected, we will all be resurrected.

After His resurrection, He appeared to His apostles. He also visited the people in America. His teachings and visitation are recorded in The Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi, chapters 10-28.

Jesus and Heavenly Father appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820. Later Christ's church was restored through Joseph Smith.

Jesus speaks with prophets today. He continues to lead and direct His church on the earth.

Jesus will come again.

I believe all these truths about Jesus Christ. I have not seen Him with my own eyes, but I believe the scriptures and the modern prophets. What I do know without a doubt is that when I have knelt and prayed for forgiveness, a love I can't describe has washed over me. I know that when I follow Christ's teaching, when I love others and serve, I feel joy. I know that at this Christmas season with the lights, the trees, the giving, and the receiving, my heart swells and I want to live like this all the time. There is more thoughtfulness, more patience, more love. When we remember the baby that was born in a stable and later suffered and died for us, there is peace. Those feelings and the goodness I witness are evidence of truth.

Jesus Christ is the gift given to us from our Heavenly Father. He lives. And each person can come to know for himself that Jesus is real.