Gospel Message Day 81

Christmas Scripture Advent Calendar, Part 14

Day 14 scripture - 1 Nephi 11:18

And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

The mother of the Son of God. Today I was in a small group that sang Mary's Lullaby (linked to on Part 1 of this Gospel topic). It's a song I've heard often, and been a part of at least two other times. I love the harmonies. But I also love how one sister pointed out to me later: it is the mother's perspective. Baby Jesus was born for all the world, but the night He was born, He was hers. Her firstborn child.

Our family once had a Christmas sampler cassette tape. And there was a song on there that I adored. I think it was called "My Child, My Love." I have spent two decades looking for a recording of that song. And sheet music for it. I have been unsuccessful. So the best I can do is share the lyrics here, which I memorized all those years ago. If there are flaws, they result from my hearing and my memory.

I cradled you in my arms
To give you to the world.
But they could not keep you,
They didn't know how.
And oh how I've missed you
And longed to see your face.
But I had to let you go
Back to His embrace.

My child. My love.
My life. My Son.
Baby of mine.
A king divine.
Back to your Father's arms.

For years you led the people,
Though some did turn on you.
But you loved them always
Like God loving you.
They day they took your life my son
I wish they'd taken me
I felt your pain
Looking on to Calvary.

My child. My love.
My life. My Son.
Baby of Mine.
A King divine.
Back to your father's arms.

Baby of Mine.
A King divine.
Back in your Father's arms.

But as I feel a song must be shared, here's another Mary one I love set to scenes from one of my favorite versions of the nativity story:

Gospel Message Day 80

Christmas Scripture Advent Calendar, Part 13

Day 13 scripture - 1 Nephi 10: 4
Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.

One of my favorite phrases ever: Savior of the world. Because He came to save each and every single person who will ever live on this earth. The. Whole. World. Is saved.

The dictionary defines a messiah as "a professed or accepted leader of some hope or cause." His cause? Our salvation. The hope? Eternal life.

This version shared because it's beautiful.

This version shared because of the pictures.

And this version because we sang it in our concert with an 11-year old soloist. And I get to sing it one more time tomorrow.

Song shared today because of the 3rd verse--I love it so much:
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.

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 take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

Gospel Message Day 79

Christmas Scripture Advent Calendar, Part 12

Day 12 scripture - Jacob 7:11-12

 11 And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ.

 12 And this is not all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost.

It's true. When one looks back over the scriptures, prophets foretold of Christ coming and all He would do for mankind. That was their mission. (Since then, prophets have testified that Christ has come, and foretell of His coming again.) What a wonderful mission: to testify of Christ and foretell of the hope He brings to us all!

I'm posting Josh, because it's Josh. Gorgeous, of course.

But he doesn't sing about the prophets! So I'm also sharing MoTab as well.

And here are the lyrics, with a verse that I have never heard before. But look how it is so full of hope that the Savior can lift us and give us peace and rest.

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.

Gospel Message Day 78

Christmas Scripture Advent Calendar Part 11

Day 11 scripture - Malachi 3:1
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

I believe the beginning of this verse is referring to the Savior's cousin, John the Baptist. Wasn't positive, because the second reference to the messenger confused me. So I looked up in the Institute manual to get some help with this verse.

Who Was the Messenger Sent to Prepare the Way of the Lord, and Who Was the Messenger of the Covenant?

One of the messengers sent to prepare the way of the Lord at His first coming was John the Baptist. John’s mission was performed in the spirit and power of the priesthood of Elias (see Luke 1:17). Elias is a name for a forerunner, one who goes before or prepares the way for someone or something greater. In that sense the Aaronic Priesthood is the priesthood of Elias because it prepares and qualifies individuals for greater blessings. Joseph Smith explained: “The spirit of Elias is to prepare the way for a greater revelation of God, which is the Priesthood of Elias, or the Priesthood that Aaron was ordained unto. And when God sends a man into the world to prepare for a greater work, holding the keys of the power of Elias, it was called the doctrine of Elias, even from the early ages of the world.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 335–36.)

I don't if I'm much the wiser. Is it saying that Jesus is an Elias of the covenant? (I assume the covenant or covenants we make in the Temple.) I'm not positive.

What I do know is the phrase "whom ye delight in." For that is quite true. I delight in my Savior and the hope, mercy, forgiveness, and love He gives me.

We sang this in our concert this week. I think it conveys the excitement and anticipation for what the Lord has brought us:

Lyrics

1. O come, divine Messiah!
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph,
And sadness flee away.

Chorus: 

Dear Savior haste;
Come, come to earth,
Dispel the night and show your face,
And bid us hail the dawn of grace.

O come, divine Messiah!
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph,
And sadness flee away.

2. O Christ, whom nations sigh for,
Whom priest and prophet long foretold,
Come break the captive fetters; 
Redeem the long-lost fold.

Chorus

3. You come in peace and meekness,

And lowly will your cradle be;
All clothed in human weakness
Shall we your Godhood* see. [we changed]

Chorus

Gospel Message Day 77

Christmas Scripture Advent Calendar, Part 10

Day 10 Scripture - Isaiah 11:1 

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots"

I have no idea what to say about this, because I feel I've already talked about it. I'm starting to not be impressed with this calendar. So many other scriptures talking about our Savior, even in only prophesying His birth.

I think I'm going to add on the 2nd verse, because I can say a little bit more with it.

"And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord"

He didn't just come to save us. He came to learn how He could best succor us. He was blessed with wisdom and understanding to better comprehend what we go through in this life. And He knows better than any one how to lead and guide us. Which makes me think of the rarely sung 2nd verse of O Holy Night. So here you go for today's daily Christmas song:

1. O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn; 

Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born.
O night, O holy night, O night divine.

2. Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming;
With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand:
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land,
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;

He knows our need, To our weakness no stranger!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! your King! before him bend!

3. Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,
And in his name all oppression shall cease,
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise his Holy name!

Christ is the Lord, then ever! ever praise we!
His pow'r and glory, evermore proclaim!
His pow'r and glory, evermore proclaim!

Gospel Message Day 76

Christmas Scripture Advent Calendar, Part 9

Day 9 Scripture - Psalm 24:

 1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Some repetition in this chapter to help the people then and those of us now: Jesus is the King of Glory, and it is up to us to let Him in.

The two songs that immediately come to mind, I have already shared ("O Little Town" and "Hallelujah Chorus"). Because they sing about our Savior's glory, as well as our part to let Him in. through Christ. But the scripture also talks about the promised blessings that come through our Savior. So I'm going to share one of my favorite songs from my concert tonight. However, I'm going to share the other version that MoTab sings at the end of every Christmas concert--which is how I first heard the song.

MoTab:


Dan Forrest arrangement:



And the lyrics--last verse is my favorite:
Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant Light;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great desire of nations,
Ye have seen His natal star;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Gospel Message Day 75

Christmas Scripture Advent Calendar, Part 8

Day 8 Scripture - Isaiah 40:11

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

One of my favorite analogies of the Savior is that He is our Shepherd. A shepherd is one of the most humble occupations. But it is one that requires honest, sincere love and care for the work and for those being served. In the normal sense, a shepherd has to love his sheep. And love watching them. (If not, why would he even stick with his job?) It is the same for our Shepherd. He loves us. He loves to gather us back into the fold, and to carry us through the rough places.

I love this arrangement by John Ness Beck--I just wish I could have found MoTab singing it. I love all 4 parts!