Blog Tour - 12 Gifts for Christ

Book Summary: Christmas is a time for celebrating the birth of Christ and a time for giving. In the middle of this busy season, it is easy to forget the very reason why we celebrate. The first Christmas began with gifts of light and gold. This Christmas, ask: What gifts can I give to Him?

In 12 Gifts for Christ, author Merrilee Boyack suggests ways we can give to the Savior, including having gratitude, sharing through service, and loving others. With examples of these gifts shared through personal stories, scriptures, activities, and family home evening lessons, she suggests presenting those gifts to Christ in letters placed in stockings or brightly wrapped boxes. Following the ideas of this book will truly add joy to the spirit in our hearts and homes during Christmas!

My Review: One day Merrilee Boyack noticed a Christmas stocking seemingly out of place on a friend's mantel. When she mentioned it, the friend explained that it was left out each year on purpose. Each year on Christmas the whole family would pick out a gift that they would like to give to the Savior, write it down and place the paper in the stocking. The stocking then became a reminder every time the family members looked at it of what they wanted to work on for the Savior that year. Then on Christmas night, the family would gather together and talk and share testimony about the things that they did to give their gift to the Savior that year. What a great idea! 

This book is full of great ideas like that one. Each chapter has a specific gift that we can work on to give to the Savior each year, things like knowledge of him, forgiveness of others and gratitude. Each chapter includes a short story about the author's family. Each chapter also has ways that the concept can be adapted for personal and family scripture study, and family home evenings. It's great! You can choose to do one chapter a month (there are 12) or figure out your own way to do it around Christmas time. I loved the family home evening ideas. I can't wait to try some of them out with our kids!

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Buy your own copy at Deseret Book: Online or in a store near you.

About the author: Merrilee Boyack is a crazed woman who loves eating out and taking naps when she can. She is an estate-planning attorney who conducts her law practice from home. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in business management—finance, and from University of Santa Clara Law School. Merrilee is also a professional lecturer, featured for many years at BYU Education Week, and a published author. Her interests include reading, camping, talking, eating, and helping children in Africa. She’s now a pesco-vegetarian and is having to relearn how to cook! 

She is the author of several books and talks, including The Parenting Breakthrough, Strangling Your Husband Is Not an Option; Toss the Guilt and Catch the Joy; and her most recent, In Trying Times, Just Keep Trying. Merrilee and her husband, Steve, reside in Poway, California, and have four sons, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way!


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