Silent Night

Learn the inspiring story behind the creation of the popular Christmas carol Silent Night—discover how Joseph Mohr, as new assistant priest, went against his superior to organize a church choir full of outcasts that performed in German instead of Latin. Click here: Silent Night Silent Night

Jesus the Christ-Our Prince of Peace

Focusing on the Lord and everlasting life can help us not only at Christmas, but through all the challenges of mortality.

As our great Exemplar, Jesus taught us how to live, to love, and to learn. He taught us how to pray, to forgive, and endure to the end. 

Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

1. Far, far away on Judea's plains,

Shepherds of old heard the joyous strains:

Glory to God, Glory to God,

Glory to God in the highest;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men!

2. Sweet are these strains of redeeming love,

Message of mercy from heav'n above:

Glory to God, Glory to God,

Glory to God in the highest;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men!

3. Lord, with the angels we too would rejoice;

Help us to sing with the heart and voice:

Glory to God, Glory to God,

Glory to God in the highest;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men!

4. Hasten the time when, from ev'ry clime,

Men shall unite in the strains sublime:

Glory to God, Glory to God,

Glory to God in the highest;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men!

Text and music: John Menzies Macfarlane, 1833-1892

Glory to God

"I never tire of the messages of Christmas..."

Away in a Manger - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

1. Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;

The stars in the heavens looked down where he lay,

The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

2. The cattle are lowing; the poor baby wakes,

But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.

I love thee, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky

And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

3. Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay

Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,

And fit us for heaven to live with thee there.

Text: Anon., ca. 1883, Philadelphia

Music: William J. Kirkpatrick, 1838-1921

What Happened Next?

"Merry Christmas!

This is the Christmas season, and children invite the magic of Christmas into our hearts. We miss something if we don’t see Christmas through a child’s eyes..."  --Rosemary M. Wixom

Elder David Archuleta en Chile

Christmas Bells Are Ringing

The Real Joy of Christmas

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring a lamb.

If I were a Wise Man

I would do my part,

Yet what can I give Him?

Give my heart. 
- Christina Rossetti

Joy To The World - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Lyrics

1. 1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come;
   Let earth receive her King!
   Let ev'ry heart prepare him room,
   And Saints and angels sing,
   And Saints and angels sing,
   And Saints, and Saints and angels sing.
2. 2. Rejoice! Rejoice when Jesus reigns,
   And Saints their songs employ,
   While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
   Repeat the sounding joy,
   Repeat the sounding joy,
   Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3. 3. No more will sin and sorrow grow,
   Nor thorns infest the ground;
   He'll come and make the blessings flow
   Far as the curse was found,
   Far as the curse was found,
   Far as, far as the curse was found.
4. 4. Rejoice! Rejoice in the Most High,
   While Israel spreads abroad
   Like stars that glitter in the sky,
   And ever worship God,
   And ever worship God,
   And ever, and ever worship God.
5. Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748; alt. by William W. Phelps, 1792-1872. Included in the first LDS Hymnbook, 1835.
   Music: George F. Handel, 1685-1759; arr. by Lowell Mason, 1792-1872

The Nativity

Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-19; Matthew 1:20-21

26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Let Your Light So Shine

“Every person who lives in this world radiates light, which affects and influences every other person in the world. Our choices in life determine what we really are. The radiance of the light that emanates from our countenance is determined by the choices we make, and is a powerful force in human relationships. And every person is the recipient of that radiation. The Savior was conscious of that reality; and to a degree so are we.

Whenever Jesus came into the presence of an individual He was conscious of a light emanating from that person’s soul, and which was mirrored in his countenance. He knew the behavior and conduct, and the choices a person had made because that behavior and those choices were reflected by the radiating light in one’s countenance. My dear brothers and sisters, we must make nobler choices. We must not encourage vile thoughts or low aspirations. We shall radiate them if we do. Every moment of life we are affecting, to a degree, the life of every other person with whom we may come in contact, and who comes within the sphere of our influence.

Every person is affecting every other person who lives. We cannot for one moment escape this emanation, this radiation of light that emanates from our countenance. Life is a constant state of radiation and absorption of light. To exist is to radiate light; to exist is to be the recipient of light. And we choose the qualities we permit to be radiated by the light within us, determined by our behavior, and by the choices we make.”  [The Prayer of Adam and Eve by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw (A. F. Segal, Paul, p. 152. President David O. McKay)]

Madera Miracle

Family Gatherings Matter

     It was apropos today that Christmas is on a Tuesday and I am currently studying the last Tuesday of  our Savior's ministry prior to the atonement.  Matthew 23:37-39 reads:

      O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I haved gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

      Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

      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.

     I see much likeness in the gathering of the family for Christmas and the gathering of the family for the eternity.  

     Why gather?  To receive blessings!

Jesus is the reason for the season and He desires us to be happy!

Joseph and Mary Travel to Bethlehem

The Road to Bethlehem, by Joseph Brickey © 2000 Joseph Brickey

More art from Joseph F. Brickey