But first, for those who are outraged by criticisms of long-standing, cultural traditions or who feel there is no harm in the make-believe and excesses of Christmas, it might be advisable to begin a round of deep breathing before reading further because in this writer’s view, it is past time to jettison the entire corrupted miasmas—hook, line, and sinker. So here goes.
Supposedly at Christmas, we are celebrating the birth of the One who is “the way, the truth, and the life,”2 YET ironically (diabolically?) the real focus of the season has become layered with pretense on pretense; lie upon lie.
I speak chiefly of the presiding presence of Santa:3
▪ he is fictional, but we swear to children that he lives at the North Pole;So the questions are: Who do we know4 who
▪ his lifeless red-suit must be donned by jolly pretenders to give life to the charade;
▪ he headlines exotic parades which glorify his persona and hype the season of marketing, mammon, and malls;
▪ he enthrones himself to solicit information from duped children in the presence of parents or guardians so these adults can (attempt to) secretly fulfill wishes and then pretend that they didn’t;
▪ he is promoted as the great gift-giver, receiving credit for “wonderful things,” when he has never so much as wrapped a gift or spent a dime;
▪ his “promises” pressure good parents to finance his myth with additional gifts they would not have otherwise purchased, and usually cannot afford;
▪ he is a marketeer in sheep-fringed clothing, hawking everything from triple-A batteries to zombie themes;
▪ his promoters propagandize “love” and “nice-rewards” with the giving and receiving of material stuff;
▪ etc., etc., etc.
▪ doesn’t have a body, but takes on another’s form whenever he can?And last, but not least, who might crave to have his existence acknowledged in subtle, clever ways (like an anagram of his name?—like Santa?), and then laugh at the gullibility and culpability of his dupees?
▪ caters to human greed, desire, and envy by asking: “What do you want?”?
▪ crafts endless lies and is called the father of lies?
▪ convinces others to lie for and about him and to do his work?
▪ presents himself as THE good guy, an “angel of light,” the real, original deal?
▪ styles himself as a gift-giver and the real hope of blessing/saving mankind?
▪ is adept at creating or intertwining the symbols and signs of his materialistic empire (aka Babylon) with Christian expression and practice?
▪ takes full, unabashed credit for the work and ideas of others?
▪ pursues the limelight?
▪ promotes “buy now, pay later”?
▪ encourages people to live beyond their means?
▪ is more than willing to ensconce himself on the throne of God (or any available throne for that matter)?
▪ and so forth.
Wo, wo, wo unto this people; [notice, it is not ho, ho, ho, BUT] wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent; for the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen! (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 9:2)And if we think that “abominations” is too strong a word, perhaps we should ask what God thinks when His Son’s (supposed) “season of remembrance” is pre-empted by an image sustained by deception and distraction. We sophisticates may not worship Santa, but we seem to spend more time and money in his temples during the Xmas5 season than in any religious place. (Perhaps we are just manifesting another sad, historical déjà vu in God’s eyes.)
SO, what is to be done with our 21st-Century Santa?
How about we jettison him and all the corrupted parallels and similitudes we have contrived to justify his Xmas coup de vu.
Let us, at last, become a peculiar people6 and cast the Santa-mythos into the abyss.
Let us not be stiff-necked, clinging to bankrupt, corrupted traditions.7
Let us sit down with the children and spill the beens and has-beens.
Let us confess our lies and ask for their (and God’s) forgiveness.
» Tell them we have participated in the corruption of Christ’s remembrance and that we are infinitely sorry.Let us begin anew to
» Tell them that Santa has become one of the great deceptions of the world and that, according to prophecy, more deceptions are on the way.
» Tell them they must study to know and love God and His Son above all else.
» Teach them about discernment and to reject every deception and false tradition.
» Tell them all this worldly stuff is as nothing. It is soul-numbing distraction.
» Tell them we adults need their help to overcome our own indoctrinations and addictions to the things of this world.
» Ask them to help teach us the simple truths of God.
» Tell them we’re all in this together and that with one heart and one mind fixed upon God we can survive whatever Babylon contrives.
… talk of Christ, … rejoice in Christ, … preach of Christ, … prophesy of Christ, and … write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 25:26)Let us teach and practice
be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (New Testament | Ephesians 6:10-18; bold emphasis added).Let us forsake the lies and the Christ substitutes and imposters.
Let our motivations for giving and good works center in Christ—not in faux-Christs.
Let us generously give as anonymous,8 inspired servants of God—not as secret Santas.
Let us tutor children in the light of the Holy Spirit.
Let us, as individuals and families, begin now to plan for a new season of truth and truth-telling.
Now, a final word to those offended by this “attack” on their beloved Santa traditions. It might help to remember that the Creator gives each of us agency to think, speak, and write according to the dictates of our own conscience, and then to bear witness for truth-telling in the manner prompted. You are free to take or leave this—as your conscience directs, but perhaps first consider:
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (New Testament | 2 Peter 1:16)---------------------------------------------/
And they [some] shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (New Testament | 2 Timothy 4:4)
1. (as guided by the Holy Spirit as taught in Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 32:3-5 ~ Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark. For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.)
2. New Testament | John 14:6 ~ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
3. For some history on how truth, legend, pagan myth, and good intentions gradually evolved, mingled, and merged into the western Santa mythos, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus See also: http://www.history.com/topics/christmas/santa-claus and http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/12/131219-santa-claus-origin-history-christmas-facts-st-nicholas/
4. Satan/Lucifer: For instances of possession of mortal bodies by demons/devils see New Testament | Matthew 9:32; 12:22; Mark 1:24; 5:7; Luke 8:30; Acts 19:15, etc.
Old Testament | Isaiah 14:12-14 ~ How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
New Testament | 2 Corinthians 11:14 - 15 ~ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:17-18 ~ And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from heaven; wherefore, he became a devil, having sought that which was evil before God. And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind. … yea, even that old serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all lies, ...
Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:8-9 ~ O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more. And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 29:36 ~ And it came to pass that Adam, being tempted of the devil—for, behold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency;
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 93:24 - 25 ~ And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come; And whatsoever is more or less than this is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning.
Pearl of Great Price | Moses 1:12 - 22 ~ And it came to pass that when Moses had said these words, behold, Satan came tempting him, saying: Moses, son of man, worship me. And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee? For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were transfigured before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so, surely? Blessed be the name of my God, for his Spirit hath not altogether withdrawn from me, or else where is thy glory, for it is darkness unto me? And I can judge between thee and God; for God said unto me: Worship God, for him only shalt thou serve. Get thee hence, Satan; deceive me not; for God said unto me: Thou art after the similitude of mine Only Begotten. And he also gave me commandments when he called unto me out of the burning bush, saying: Call upon God in the name of mine Only Begotten, and worship me. And again Moses said: I will not cease to call upon God, I have other things to inquire of him: for his glory has been upon me, wherefore I can judge between him and thee. Depart hence, Satan. And now, when Moses had said these words, Satan cried with a loud voice, and ranted upon the earth, and commanded, saying: I am the Only Begotten, worship me. And it came to pass that Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he began to fear, he saw the bitterness of hell. Nevertheless, calling upon God, he received strength, and he commanded, saying: Depart from me, Satan, for this one God only will I worship, which is the God of glory. And now Satan began to tremble, and the earth shook; and Moses received strength, and called upon God, saying: In the name of the Only Begotten, depart hence, Satan. And it came to pass that Satan cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; and he departed hence, even from the presence of Moses, that he beheld him not.
Pearl of Great Price | Moses 4:1-6 ~ AND I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor. But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever. Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down; And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice. And now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which I, the Lord God, had made. And Satan put it into the heart of the serpent, (for he had drawn away many after him,) and he sought also to beguile Eve, for he knew not the mind of God, wherefore he sought to destroy the world.
5. Yes, I know that X in Xmas is said to be shorthand for Christ, but it can also mean "to cancel or cross out." If Lucifer or any of his namesakes or devotees were to make the choice, which would it be?
6. Peculiar people: Old Testament | Exodus 19:5 ~ Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Old Testament | Deuteronomy 14:2 ~ For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
Old Testament | Deuteronomy 26:18 ~ And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;
Old Testament | Psalms 135:4 ~ For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
New Testament | Titus 2:13-14 ~ … our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
New Testament | 1 Peter 2:9 ~ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
7. Traditions: New Testament | Matthew 15:3 ~ But he [Jesus] answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
New Testament | John 7:24 JST ~ Judge not according to your traditions, but judge righteous judgment.
Joseph Smith, Jr. ~ “To become a joint heir of the heirship of the Son, one must put away all his false traditions.” (Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 321)
Book of Mormon | Alma 21:17 ~ And it came to pass that the Lord began to bless them, insomuch that they brought many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, they did convince many of their sins, and of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.
Book of Mormon | Alma 25:6 ~ For many of them, after having suffered much loss and so many afflictions, began to be stirred up in remembrance of the words which Aaron and his brethren had preached to them in their land; therefore they began to disbelieve the traditions of their fathers, and to believe in the Lord, and that he gave great power unto the Nephites; and thus there were many of them converted in the wilderness.
Book of Mormon | Helaman 15:7-8 ~ And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free.
Book of Mormon | Helaman 15:15 ~ For behold, had the mighty works been shown unto them which have been shown unto you, yea, unto them who have dwindled in unbelief because of the traditions of their fathers, ye can see of yourselves that they never would again have dwindled in unbelief.
8. New Testament | Matthew 6:1- 4 ~ TAKE heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
