The Greatest King

Right now I'm listening to the Live Christmas Music Stream on Mormon Channel. It's a fantastic way to bring the spirit of the season into your home!

One of my favorite Christmas songs was just playing: 'What Child Is This?' My favorite line in the song is near the beginning of the third verse - "the King of Kings salvation brings". This basically sums up the whole song and its meaning. Christ was the KING OF KINGS, and yet He had to be humbled and "descend below them all" (D&C 122:8) to bring us salvation.

What does that tell us about the greatest King? The greatest King is humble, He loves His people enough to suffer all their trials and problems so that He can "succor" (Alma 7:12) them. This is one of the best messages of Christmas to me.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

Day #3 Picks

This is part of my Christmas Song Countdown--see Day 6, Day 5, and Day 4. 

The HYMN:

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
 I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th'unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

 Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing, singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
(listen HERE)

I'm guessing that there are very few other hymns that have the word 'hate' in them. But using this word helps illustrate the total change that the author (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) went through in his Christmas outlook. The tune of this song, though not that of a bell, reminds the singer of the rising joy felt by all who undertake this transformation. Especially now, when it seems like evil rules the world, let us each remember that "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will, to men!"

The CHILDREN'S SONG:

The Shepherd's Carol (Round)
(1) Mary, Mary, hush, see the Child.

(2) Joseph, Joseph, look, see how mild!
(3) This is Jesus; this is our King.
(4) This is our Savior; his praises we sing.

(1) All God's children, come to adore,
(2) Bringing gifts of love evermore.
(3) This is Jesus; this is our King.
(4) This is our Savior; his praises we sing.
(listen HERE)

This song is short and simple. It places the points directly before you--This is Jesus, this is our King. This is our Savior, his praises we sing. That's the truth, in the most simple and profound way. There's nothing else to it, really. It's simple, like many of my other picks, and the simple songs are the ones that best reflect the true meaning of Christmas.

Day #4!

This is part of my Christmas Song Countdown--see Day 6 and Day 5.

The HYMN:

Once in Royal David's City
Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven,

Who is God and Lord of all,

And his shelter was a stable,

And his cradle was a stall;

With the poor, and mean, and lowly,

Lived on earth our Savior holy.

And our eyes at last shall see him,

Through his own redeeming love;

For that child so dear and gentle

Is our Lord in heav'n above,

And he leads his children on

To the place where he is gone.

(listen HERE)

This song provides a stark contrast--it begins by saying it is in 'royal David's city'. Then it tells us that the Lord and God of all came down to a lowly cattle shed. This is a perfect parallel to the Savior's life--"With the poor, and mean, and lowly, Lived on earth our Savior holy." On earth, the King of Kings was always in the most humble circumstances. He served the poor, humble, meek, teachable. The rich young rulers and the respected religious leaders were not those he taught--mostly because they would not be taught. We need to remember that in order to be always open to the Savior and His gospel, we must be humble. And then, one day, we will come to the same place where our Savior has already gone--the most glorious place of all, full of the right kinds of riches.

The CHILDREN'S SONG:

The Nativity Song

This is the season beloved of the year.

Sing a rhyme; Christmastime soon will be here.

Tell the true story of Jesus' birth,

When, as a baby, he came to the earth.

This is the new star, shining so bright,

Lighting the world on that first Christmas night.

This is the angel proclaiming the birth,

Singing "Hosanna!" and "Peace on the earth!"

This is the stable, shelter so bare;

Cattle and oxen first welcomed him there.

This is the manger, sweet hay for a bed,

Waiting for Jesus to cradle his head.

These are the shepherds, humble and mild,

Hast'ning to worship the heavenly child.

These are the wise men who followed the star,

Frankincense, gold, and myrrh brought from afar.

See the sweet mother, Mary so fair,

Joseph, who guided the donkey with care.

See the dear baby of Bethlehem,

Little Lord Jesus, the Savior of men.

(listen HERE)

This is a simple song, much like the things and people it's describing. The tune is quiet and simple, matching the words. My very favorite line is the last one. To really grasp why it's my favorite, you need to hear/sing the song. It all leads up to the Christ child--the star, the stable, the animals, the visitors, Mary and Joseph--it all ends up at the center of Christmas, the most important part, the reason for Christmas: Christ. 

Have a wonderful day and I am sorry this post is late!!!