Before we came to earth, we lived with our perfect, immortal Heavenly Father. We were all spirits. We didn’t have bodies and we wanted to be like Him. He made a plan so we could come to earth, get a body and grow from our experiences. But while we gained experience, we would make mistakes and sin. We could not save ourselves. We needed someone to redeem us. Jesus volunteered: “And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first” Abraham 3:27. Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to pay for our sins and to overcome death so we could live with him again.

President Ezra Taft Benson said, “In our pre-mortal state we shouted for joy as the plan of salvation was unfolded to our view. It was there our elder brother Jesus, the firstborn of our Father’s children in the spirit, volunteered to redeem us from our sins. He became our foreordained Savior, the Lamb “slain from the foundation of the world” (Moses 7:47) Ezra Taft Benson, “Keeping Christ in Christmas,” Ensign, December 1993, 2.

Timeline: Pre-Mortal Council

I painted a glass globe for my big Christ-Centered Christmas tree (filled with dark blue paint, then painted with green on the outside).

Ornament: Earth

Timeline: Creation

Under the direction of Heavenly Father, Jesus and Michael (who became known as Adam), created the earth as a place for us to get bodies and gain experience.


“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” John 1:3.


On this beautiful earth, we have a chance to prove that we will be obedient to the Lord. When we sin, we can turn to Jesus Christ, knowing that He has paid for our sins. We can repent and become clean through Him. Jesus Christ is our redeemer.


Scripture Activity for Older Children: Pass out strips of paper marked with these scripture references (or the complete scripture strips): JST John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16, Mosiah 4:9, 2 Nephi 2:14, Isaiah 40:26, D&C 93:10, Mosiah 5:15, and Abraham 3:22, 24-28. Have each person look up their scripture, then share with the group.

Opening Song: Christmas Bells, Children’s Songbook  54

Complete Devotionals HERE.

Coloring Pages

I got this plastic globe from the top of a “Toob” package, and strung it on gold thread. I made a later version fancier by hot-gluing a pearl at the top and bottom of the globe.

Posts about each lesson:  Nov 30   Dec 1   2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    11     12    13    14    15    16    17    18    19    20    21    22    23    24    25

Council in Heaven - Jesus is Chosen to Be Our Savior

Watch “Before the Old Testament” (2:45) or relate the following:

Watch “Jesus Made the Earth” (stopping at 1:35). Relate the following:

Testify: Jesus was chosen to be our Savior before we came to earth. Jesus created the earth. Heavenly Father and Jesus love us.


Challenge: Pray to feel closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.


Let us rejoice this Christmas season in the Creator of our earth, the author of our agency and the Savior of our souls.



Closing Song: “He Sent His Son” Children’s Songbook, p. 34

This is a great video to end with: “Christ the Creator” by Neal A. Maxwell (3:05).