“SEEKING CHRISTMAS: Finding Testimonies of Christ in the Symbols and Traditions of Christmas,” by Larry and Lisa Laycock with Ryan and Larissa Chase, Covenant Communications, $19.99, 120 pages (nf)
Authors Larry and Lisa Laycock share how 18 Christmas symbols and traditions, from Santa Claus to gingerbread to the wise men, can have a spiritual meaning that helps enhance their beliefs in Jesus Christ in their recent book “Seeking Christmas.”
Looking for how traditional Christmas items confirmed their testimonies of Jesus Christ and helped them “feel Christmas” began as an experiment one year when a work commitment kept Larry Laycock away during the week so he was only home on weekends and missed out on a lot of church, family and recreational activities. So, he put the Christmas tree up in September, shared the nativity story and made it so he “felt Christmas” in autumn, he wrote in the book’s introduction. That Christmas as they planned ahead for service opportunities and to also see if “everything about Christmas really can confirm our testimony of Christ.”
In “Seeking Christmas,” they share many of the ways their testimonies were confirmed that Christmas.
The chapters include those on Santa Claus, Christmas trees and ornaments, Christmas stockings, lights and candles, mistletoe, the shepherds and the wise men. Each chapter includes sections on how those items confirmed their testimonies, the history associated with the item and things to do to find or reinforce a testimony. The sections include scriptures, recipes and experiences from their family, including those from when the Laycocks were serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile.
Through their suggestions, “Seeking Christmas” shares practical ways to help make Christmas more spiritual, many of which can be adapted to many family situations, and the book is a good resource for families looking to do so.
The Laycocks are the parents of four and have four grandchildren.
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