12 Days of Christmas to Christ

LDS Living Magazine ^ | December 6, 2012 | Erin Jones

[greyfoxx39]

Four calling birds? A partridge in a pear tree? No one is sure exactly what the twelve gifts in the “The Twelve Days of Christmas” represent, but there have been several theories. One interesting claim is that the song was written to help young Catholics learn their faith. In this interpretation, each Christmas gift represents something connected to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Looking at the song this way helps families focus on the true meaning of Christmas. We've taken this tradition and added a little bit of an LDS spin to it.

On each of the twelve days leading up to Christmas, you and your family can take a closer look at each of the Christmas gifts from the song. Use the following interpretations and lesson ideas as a jumping off point for relating the twelve gifts to Christ:

A partridge in a pear tree: The partridge could represent Jesus, who said He would shelter his chicks under his wings, similar to what a mother partridge does (see Luke 13:34). Tell family members to make a

list of Jesus’s qualities and personality traits (compassionate, forgiving, powerful, etc.). Adults and older children can find scriptures in the topical guide that correspond with each of these characteristics.

Two turtle doves: These have been thought to represent the Old and New Testaments, but they could also represent the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Talk with your family about how all scripture works together to testify of Christ. Have each family member find a scripture in each of the standard works that testifies of Christ.

Three French hens: These can represent the three kings bearing gifts, or they could stand for the three Christlike attributes of faith, hope, and charity. Read 1 Corinthians 13:13 and Moroni 10:20-23. Set goals of what you could do as a family or as individuals to better develop one of these attributes.

Four calling birds: These represent the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), because each of these disciples call out to the world through their testimonies of Jesus Christ. Look up “Gospels” in the Bible Dictionary; look at the chart that depicts harmony in the gospels and notice how several of these four men testified of some of the same events from Christ’s life. Talk about the principle of having more than one witness, found in 2 Corinthians 13:1 and Ether 5:4.

Five golden rings: These symbolize the first five books of the Old Testament (known in some religions as the Torah or the Pentateuch). Talk about how Christ led Moses and the children of Israel to the promised land and especially discuss the many miracles that happened along the way. Discuss other miracles that Christ performed and look up corresponding scriptures. You can also talk about miracles you have experienced in your own lives.

Six geese a-laying: These stand for the six days it took Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to create the Earth. Read the account in Genesis 1. Have younger children draw pictures of the creation.

Seven swans a-swimming: These represent the seven gifts of the spirit, although in LDS tradition there are many more than seven. Make a list of spiritual gifts from Doctrine and Covenants 46:11-33, 1 Corinthians 12:1-12, and Moroni 10:8-18. Try to identify strengths you have and how you can improve upon them.

Eight maids a-milking: These stand for the eight Beatitudes, as taught by Jesus in Matthew 5 and 3 Nephi 12. Have family members make up skits to demonstrate one of the Beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing: These represent the nine fruits of the spirit found in Galatians 5:22. On a piece of paper folded in the middle, write on one side family members’ ideas of how they feel when the Spirit is present, and on the other side how they feel when the Spirit is not present. Discuss what you could do as a family to have the Spirit dwell in your home.

Ten lords a-leaping: These signify the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20 and Mosiah 12-13. Discuss each commandment or draw a picture to represent each one. Have each family member share an experience in which they chose to follow one of the commandments even though it may not have been the easiest choice.

Eleven pipers piping: These symbolize the eleven faithful apostles in Christ’s original church. See if you can name all of them. Talk about who these men were before they were called as apostles: Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen; Matthew was a tax collector. Why did Christ call men from such humble circumstances? How did these men learn and grow through their experiences with Christ?

Twelve drummers drumming: In the original Catholic version, the twelve drummers represent the twelve points of the Apostles' Creed (an early statement of belief accepted by the Catholic Church). For an LDS take, they can represent the twelve living apostles in Christ’s restored church. Look up information about the apostles and prophets on lds.org. Create an apostle memory matching game by making fifteen cards with the apostles’ pictures and fifteen cards with their names; children must match the faces with the names.

[greyfoxx39]

I don't recall any mention of "Advent" in my years of mormonism...but I DO love the ritual of the Advent candle in my Christian church.

[greyfoxx39]

Ping

[RBStealth]

the symbolism of geese, dancing ladies, partridge , pear tree etc means nothing. The symbols just make for an entertaining song. Some of the myth surrounding this song is unfortunately not untrue.

But there is truth in that the song relates numbers to things.
8=> 8 beatitudes etc.

The symbology employed does not derive from any thing within the church, bible symbology or any culture, especially English culture. Further , no where in the bible is the symbology employed in this song even remotely used.

Even the symbology of numbers employed in the bible is not employed here, where in Revelation and throughout the bible is much like this:

1: or first— primary, excellence
2: ?
3: trinity
4: whole or universality, or the world
5: a few
6: imperfection....or maybe something short of perfection(7)
7:fullness, perfection, wholeness, totality
8: people saved with Noah
9: ?
10: complete but not fullness, 10 plagues on Egypt, 10 commandments

12:continuity with the chosen people; a fullness
1,000: superlative, immensity

[RBStealth]

correction: the myth surrounding this song is unfortunately not true.

[Elsie]

[Mormon interpretation of Advent]

WHAT??!!??

Yet another Christian thing modified by Mormonism??

Has it NO shame at ALL??

[Elsie]

How does we know?

[Elsie]

...the myth surrounding this song is unfortunately not true....

Wiki seems to indicate that:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_(song)

[Elsie]

We've taken this tradition and added a little bit of an LDS spin to it.

WWJD?

...joseph...

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See some differences between GOD's Word and the Joseph Smith's 'translation'

 

 

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Color coding explanation:

 

Added stuff... Changed stuff... Rearranged stuff... Removed stuff... 

 *(UNDERLINED stuff is the DISTRACTING reference on every tenth word or so that infuses LDS 'scripture' online.)

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JOSEPH SMITH—MATTHEW An extract from the translation of the Bible as revealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet in 1831: Matthew 23: 39 and chapter 24. Jesus foretells the impending destruction of Jerusalem—He also discourses on the second coming of the Son of Man, and the destruction of the wicked. 1 aFor I say unto you, that ye shall not see me henceforth and know that I am he of whom it is written by the prophets, until ye shall say: Blessed is he who bcometh in the name of the Lord, in the clouds of heaven, and all the holy angels with him. Then understood his disciples that he should come again on the earth, after that he was glorified and ccrowned on the right hand of God. 2 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple; and his disciples came to him, for to ahear him, saying: Master, show us concerning the buildings of the temple, as thou hast said—They shall be thrown down, and left unto you desolate. 3 And Jesus said unto them: See ye not all these things, and do ye not understand them? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here, upon this temple, one astone upon another that shall not be thrown down. 4 And Jesus left them, and went upon the Mount of Olives. And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying: Tell us when shall these things be which thou hast said concerning the destruction of the temple, and the Jews; and what is the asign of thy bcoming, and of the cend of the world, or the destruction of the dwicked, which is the end of the world? 5 And Jesus answered, and said unto them: Take heed that no man deceive you; 6 For many shall come in my name, saying—I am aChrist—and shall deceive many; 7 Then shall they deliver you up to be aafflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be bhated of all nations, for my name’s sake; 8 And then shall many be aoffended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another; 9 And many afalse prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many; 10 And because iniquity shall abound, the alove of many shall wax cold; 11 But he that remaineth asteadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved. 12 When you, therefore, shall see the aabomination of bdesolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, concerning the destruction of cJerusalem, then you shall stand in the dholy place; whoso readeth let him understand. 13 Then let them who are in Judea flee into the amountains; 14 Let him who is on the housetop flee, and not return to take anything out of his house; 15 Neither let him who is in the field return back to take his clothes; 16 And wo unto them that are with achild, and unto them that give suck in those days; 17 Therefore, pray ye the Lord that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day; 18 For then, in those days, shall be great atribulation on the bJews, and upon the inhabitants of cJerusalem, such as was not before sent upon Israel, of God, since the beginning of their kingdom until this time; no, nor ever shall be sent again upon Israel. 19 All things which have befallen them are only the beginning of the sorrows which shall come upon them. 20 And except those days should be shortened, there should none of their flesh be asaved; but for the elect’s sake, according to the bcovenant, those days shall be shortened. 21 Behold, these things I have spoken unto you concerning the Jews; and again, after the tribulation of those days which shall come upon Jerusalem, if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there, believe him not; 22 For in those days there shall also arise false aChrists, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant. 23 Behold, I speak these things unto you for the aelect’s sake; and you also shall hear of bwars, and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled, for all I have told you must come to pass; but the end is not yet. 24 Behold, I have told you before; 25 Wherefore, if they shall say unto you: Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: Behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not; 26 For as the light of the morning cometh out of the aeast, and shineth even unto the west, and covereth the whole earth, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. 27 And now I show unto you a parable. Behold, wheresoever the acarcass is, there will the eagles be bgathered together; so likewise shall mine elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth. 28 And they shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars. 29 Behold I speak for mine elect’s sake; for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be afamines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 30 And again, because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax acold; but he that shall not be overcome, the same shall be saved. 31 And again, this aGospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all bnations, and then shall the end come, or the destruction of the wicked; 32 And again shall the aabomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, be fulfilled. 33 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the asun shall be bdarkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the cstars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 34 Verily, I say unto you, this ageneration, in which these things shall be shown forth, shall not pass away until all I have told you shall be fulfilled. 35 Although, the days will come, that heaven and earth shall pass away; yet my awords shall not pass away, but all shall be fulfilled. 36 And, as I said before, after the atribulation of those days, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth bmourn; and they shall see the cSon of Man dcoming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory; 37 And whoso atreasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall bcome, and he shall send his cangels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the dremainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 38 Now learn a parable of the afig-tree—When its branches are yet tender, and it begins to put forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh at hand; 39 So likewise, mine elect, when they shall see all these things, they shall know that he is near, even at the doors; 40 But of that day, and hour, no one aknoweth; no, not the angels of God in heaven, but my Father only. 41 But as it was in the days of aNoah, so it shall be also at the coming of the Son of Man; 42 For it shall be with them, as it was in the days which were before the aflood; for until the day that Noah entered into the ark they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage; 43 And aknew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. 44 Then shall be fulfilled that which is written, that in the alast days, two shall be in the field, the one shall be taken, and the other bleft; 45 Two shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken, and the other left; 46 And what I say unto one, I say unto all men; awatch, therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord doth come. 47 But know this, if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to have been broken up, but would have been ready. 48 Therefore be ye also aready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh. 49 Who, then, is a afaithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 50 Blessed is that aservant whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing; and verily I say unto you, he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 51 But if that evil servant shall say in his heart: My lord adelayeth his coming, 52 And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, 53 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 54 And shall cut him asunder, and shall appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and agnashing of teeth. 55 And thus cometh the aend of the wicked, according to the prophecy of Moses, saying: They shall be cut off from among the people; but the end of the earth is not yet, but by and by. The Official Scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Rights and use information. Privacy policy.

KJV Matthew 23:38-39 24:1-51 39. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. 1. And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8. All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 15. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16. Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17. Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18. Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20. But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25. Behold, I have told you before. 26. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46. Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49. And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50. The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51. And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. King James Version of the Holy Bible Public domain

[elcid1970]

Would someone out there please do a Mormon Twelve Days of Smithmas where the enumerated items are: cureloms, handcarts, Lamanites, stake presidents, apostles, temple recommends, prairie dresses, locust-eating seagulls, etc.?

[Salvation]

1 Partridge in a Pear Tree = Jesus Christ
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments, two natures of Christ
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues, the Trinity
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”, which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight Beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the Ten Commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful Apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed

[RBStealth]

are you obtuse?

[delchiante]

Ye HYPOCRITES, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, ‘This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouths, and honoreth me with their lips; but THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. But IN VAIN do they WORSHIP me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of MEN” (Matt. 15:7-9).

Christ mass is an abomination with its pagan histories...if any day businesses should be open so believers can buy and sell, it is December 25....

[Salvation]

Just pointing out the Catholic meanings even though some may think it is not true.

When posting the daily threads it is amazing how may English martyrs/saints there are — even today, Edmund Campion who died at the hand of Elizabeth I.

[RBStealth]

I suggest you read up on this and quit sending the summation of whats in the article to other people.

None of the 12 days of Christmas song, as I stated earlier, has anything to do with accepted symbology or numerology, especially as it concerns the Bible and Catholicism.

look up ‘12 days of christmas myth’

[Elsie]

Your prayer's answer was on it's way before you asked it!

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From a fellow Inman Zakeet...a revised advent list:

“I revised your advent. Please feel to distribute widely and use as you deem appropriate.”

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A prophet in a pear tree: Represents Joseph sitting on his roost, continuously squawking and crapping on everything

Two plates a-peeping: What happened after the evil Ms. Harrison kept the 116 missing pages

Three phony banknotes: Represents the two dollar, three dollar and five dollar bills issued by the Kirtland Safety Society, each one just as valuable as the boxes of dirt in the bank’s vault that backed them

Four sacred symbols: Represents the masonic symbols sewn into the magic long johns that was given to Adam and Eve upon their expulsion from the Garden of Eden, a replica of which must now be worn by Saints in order to keep the boogie man away

Five golden rackets: Represents the five main sources of ongoing church loot - 1) finance companies, 2) real estate development (hotels and shopping malls), 3) agriculture (potato farming, pineapple growing, nut orchards and cattle ranching), 4) publishing, and 5) the tithe

Six Saints a-lying: Represents a key doctrine of a-laying for the lord

Seven Saints a-swimming: Represents the minimum number times a good Saint should be dunked for dead relatives, every year

Eight Saints a-milking: Represents the milking the flock gets when they cough up vast amounts of booty every week to church coffers in order to buy their place in heaven

Nine visions dancing: Represents the number of different versions of the First Vision, providing that you exclude Mark Hofmann’s Salamander Letter

Tense lords a-leaping: Represents the early church presidents doing the holy bed hop with their plural wives as commanded by their sacred ever-changing scriptures

Eleven pipers piping: Represents the size of Joseph’s harem after you multiply it by three, or the size of Wilford Woodruff’s harem after you multiply it by one (he wasn’t as studly a prophet), or the size of Brigham Young’s harem after you multiply it by 1.5 (he was somewhere in between)

Twelve drummers drumming: Represents what the LDS presidents did while bed hopping”

[Elsie]

...Would someone out there please do a Mormon Twelve Days of Smithmas where the enumerated items are...

I prophecy that this is going to be a FUN thread!

For NON-Mormons anyway...

[Colofornian]

But there is truth in that the song relates numbers to things. 8=> 8 beatitudes etc...9:?

Some only count 8 beatitudes...but if you look @ Matthew 5:3-11 closely, there are 9 "blessed are the..."

9 beatitudes

[narses]

1 Partridge in a Pear Tree = Jesus Christ
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments, two natures of Christ
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues, the Trinity
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”, which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight Beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the Ten Commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful Apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed

[jocon307]

Thanks!

[Colofornian]

From the Mormon article:

"For an LDS take, they can represent the twelve living apostles in Christ’s restored church."

These kind of Mormon-authored numbering system only reveals that even Mormons don't even believe their own press!

What do I mean?

Well, the Mormon claim is that the Mormon jesus appeared in either central or South America and set up another 12 apostles there!

Hence, per the Mormon view of history, this would mean that when the apostles replaced Judas, and then when the apostle Paul joined the ranks, that meant up to 25 apostles were living simultaneously!

Yet in the Mormon Church...do their leaders have a Quorum of 25 "apostles" (or 23-24)? Nope!!!!

Here, the Mormon church makes a rather audacious claim to be a "restoration" of the "original" Church at the time of Jesus Christ...Yet they somehow believe those dozen "apostles" that the Mormon jesus assigned in "the Americas" apparently don't even count in their numbering system.

Just more proof that Mormons don't e'en take their very own history seriously/literally! Tis just another toward-the-South-Pole fairy tale!