PROVO, UT—A study at Brigham Young University commissioned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced this month a disturbing trend regarding Christmas celebrations in Latter-day Saint homes in 2004.  According to those polled, a full 52% acknowledged that Jesus is the “reason for the season,” and that Joseph Smith is not commemorated in any way as a part of their family holiday traditions.

“This is not a happy development,” reports Dr. Levi Boyle, BYU Traditional Family Studies Chair.  “Of those families we queried, 15.8% didn’t even have a portrait of our founding Prophet anywhere in the room where their Christmas tree is displayed!  To me, this is unthinkable.”

Dr. Boyle suggests that this has been a developing trend and the reason the study was commissioned.  For the past decade, Mormon households have shown a continued decline in traditional LDS iconography, including photos of temples, current and early prophets, and Book of Mormon images.  On the other hand, there appears to be a sharp increase in the number of Jesus portraits sneaking into LDS homes, while in Mexico and much of Central America, the Virgin Mary continues to play a prominent role, much to the chagrin of local Church leaders.

“We believe that this is due to the insidious influx of gentile values sneaking into the Church along with all the converts,” says Dr. Boyle.  “Reaching out to the world is a double-edged sword, and we often pay a high price for 2000 years of Christian apostasy.”

As a result of the observed deterioration in appropriately spiritual home décor, President Gordon B. Hinckley, current President of the Church, reminded members in his annual Christmas fireside to “remember Joseph Smith this Christmas season,” in recognition of the role he played in saving Christianity from the “dung heap.”

“It is imperative that we realize and remember that Christmas today would be nothing but a shallow, over-commercialized shopping frenzy in which the Wal-Mart’s and Nordstrom’s of the world profit off our urgent need to buy something for everyone we ever met,” says Dr. Boyle.  “If this is the best that the Savior could accomplish, then all I can say is thank heavens for Joseph Smith!”

In an effort to realign LDS holiday traditions with Church values, Deseret Book announced a deal with Bountiful Glass in which a full set of delightful, hand-blown tree ornaments featuring either simple line or full color portraits of all the prophets of the latter days will be available for 2005.  In addition, two different collector’s tree-toppers, one of the Angel Moroni blowing his trump and the other of Joseph Smith holding the sword of Laban, will also be for sale.  Because demand is sure to be exceedingly high, Church members are encouraged to place their orders now at a Deseret Book store near you.  Marcie McNamara, manager of the Orem store, suggests everyone hurry, as supplies will be limited.  “Seagull Books won’t have them,” she adds.

The “White Amphibian Collection” is slated for release Christmas, 2006.