So the family spent Christmas Eve with all the TBMs. Everything was fine until the missionary PowerPoint presentations of deceased family members. No joke... we had to watch 30 to 45 minutes of slides about how these missionaries sacrificed for their church and how without them we wouldn't be here.

IMO it's ridiculous to highlight anyone other than then those in the traditional Christmas story ON Christmas Eve when you claim to be Christian. Most would consider it sacrilegious to do such a thing on Christmas Eve. The only mention of Jesus was in the dinner prayer. My family just shook their heads when we left to attend a candlelight service at a church. This was just borderline bizzare!! Is this the new thing? We normally don't spend Xmas with this side of the family.

You just enjoyed your very first Smithmas Eve, my friend!

Good for you, for leaving for Christmas Eve service.

Our ex-Mormon family has always had a tradition of going to a Christmas Eve candlelight service--just to get away from the Mormon relatives, who didn't worship on Christmas, and who didn't worship Christ. We did this even when we were TBM's. It helps us to put things into perspective, have some quiet time, sing some pretty old Christmas songs, get a few hugs, feel the Love, and think about how "God is Love." We do know at least that.

Even after all we've been through, we could still feel the Christmas magic, when it began to snow. The Mormon religion has no soul. Joseph Smith and polygamous ancestors and BOM battle stories never moved me, the way the old Bible fables did.

Many people enjoy Christmas eve services. There is something lovely about a church with festive greenery, candles, and Christmas carols sung by families attending together.

If TBMs start pushing their religion on you, just walk out of the room. They have no boundaries, so you have to enforce them.

Once you calmly stand up for yourself a few times, they will get the picture. Either they will be fine excluding you or they will learn to be more inclusive.

Happy Smithmas Eve! Prepare yourself for Easter now. It gets worse.

RMM

Power Point on dead people. Hmmm. That's a new one for Christmas in my book.
Oh well, maybe you learned something you didn't know.
Plus you know what not to do next time !