Does anyone have a tradition of reading the Gospels during the Christmas season?

Question

I've tried a time or two, but I usually just read in Luke.

Answer 1

On Christmas eve, it has been a long tradition in my family to read the Christmas story -- once I had a home of my own, in addition to reading from Luke 2, I added a few more scriptures to give a fuller story. We start with the prophesies of Isaiah, Nephi & Samuel, then the traditional reading in Luke, plus the experiences of Anna & Simeon, to the Wise Men, and finally the testimony of Joseph and Oliver. If you'd like me to email it to you, let me know...
Merry Christmas
EDIT: Going to try to include it here -- it wouldn't fit in the email.

Prophesies of the Birth of Christ:
And it came to pass that I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.
A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.
Behold the virgin is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.
And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a small child in her arms.
Behold, the lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!
Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign – Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever.
For the Lord hath sent me to declare unto thee that thou mayest rejoice; and that thou mayest declare unto thy people, and they may also be filled with joy.
For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that the power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.
And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.
And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.
And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning: and his mother shall be called Mary.
For behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth.
And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.
And behold, he [Samuel] said unto them: Behold I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.
And behold, this will I give unto you as a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.
Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.
And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.
And behold, this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven.
And it shall come to pass that ye shall be amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth.
And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.

The Birth of Christ:
And the angel of Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth.
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, ‘Hail, thou art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou has found favor with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.
Mary was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Then Joseph, being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, unto Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David;)
And to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this things which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had found and seen as it was told unto them.
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.)
And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law.
Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which though has prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of they people Israel.
And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.
Behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophecy,
And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda; for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
And being warned of God in a dream they departed into their own country another way.

And we beheld the glory of the Son, … and received of his fullness;
And saw the holy angels, … worshiping God, and the Lamb…
And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
For we saw him, … and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father –
That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters of God.
And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us –
That he came into into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;
That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him;
… great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom… which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion;
And to God and the Lamb be glory, and honor, and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Answer 2

Usually my dad just reads in luke for about 15 minutes, and occasionally matthew about the death of Christ, and then he prays and then 9 children who have all memorized the last verse, will all go and scream to the presents before he says anything else, and, in its own, insane, yet entertaining way, its sortof a nice tradition..

Answer 3

My family has this tradition and we do it every year, especially when the kids were little. We would dress up in costumes, and portray the Nativity. Someone would read all of Luke chapter 2 from the Bible.

Answer 4

One time, at my grandpa's, we played out the Luke 2 narative... It was really cool, cuz Grandpa played the angel that came to the shepherds. It was nothing like a lot of the movies portray- Grandpa walked over to my cousins (with towels draped over their heads), and put his arm around them, kinda gave them a hug, and said in his oh-so gentle way, "Fear not, for I bring good tidings...."

Just the way he said it was so thought-provoking. It made me wonder- How did the angel come to the shepherds? Was a comforting voice and tone used? Did the angel just walk up to them and say, "Hey, how's it going? I have good news- a baby was just born in town..."- all casual, or did the angel approach them in such a formal way as to make them nervous and worried?...

Answer 5

Luke is the account of Christmas that I use most

Answer 6

I usually recite the second chapter of Luke. I memorized it years ago, and I recite it each Christmas to the children.

Answer 7

Did you know Dec. 25 has a checkered past, a long and contentious history? This should come as no surprise given that Christmas and many of its popular customs and trappings are nowhere found in the Bible.......http://www.ucg.org/booklets/HH/christmasuntoldstory.htm

Answer 8

No, I read them all year round, but I see what are you saying.
I think it sounds like a nice tradition and we might just start this year.
God Bless.

Answer 9

The Mormons have a video of Luke two that they will give you for free if you can tolerate the two charming young men who deliver it ; )

Answer 10

I like to watch TV with all the religious movies and documentaries on the subject.

Answer 11

Do not read it, just tell the story from your experience

With your own experience