Advent 1

Advent: Arrival that has been awaited (especially of something important).

Advent (from Latin adventus, “coming”): The period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas, and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ.

As I debated whether to title these posts "advent" or "countdown" the two definitions I found (here and here) helped me select advent. We know that Christmas is coming, and in this pandemic year, that's a wonderful thing! Besides, we've done countdowns before, and it's time for something different. See the first post for each year at the following links. (Clicking on the "archive" button will help you find the others.)

2008 - Christmas through the Years   

2013 - Family Traditions

2016 - Nativity Countdown 

2017 - Christ-like Attributes - Descendants

2018 - Christ-like Attributes - Ancestors

2019 - Christmas through the Years Again

The posts this year come from a hand-published book put together by our Relief Society decades ago, and I apologize in advance for not knowing who deserves the credit for this. I hope you enjoy this wonderful holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

This is no ordinary advent calendar with little windows to open or snowmen to paste on. You are the only moving part. This calendar reviews the Savior's entire mission from pre-mortal councils on through his future return as Lord of Lord and King of Kings.

Each day between now and Christmas you'll read one or more passages of scripture, moving from epoch to epoch across the vast span of the Redeemer's work.

Each day there will be a suggestion of something you can do to grow closer to the Savior. There will also be a hymn or carol to sing, read, or listen to. Here are today's suggestions:

Invite your family to join you in each day's reading and singing.

Remember the Savior's promise: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). [Note: see this article from the year I originally started these posts - Three Stars.]

"Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful"