Christmas Eve

Right after dinner last night, Adam opened a package from Amazon.  He had ordered a card shuffler.  Mark and I thought it was the bees knees.  We kept shuffling and shuffling.  We handed it to Adam, "Try it!" we said.  Adam just watched us with a smile.  

"You two are really into this," he said.

Well, it was fun.

We kept watching the Ken Burns Revolutionary War documentary.  I sat fully upright this time so I wouldn't fall asleep like I had the night before.  It's very interesting and those Bostonians were just spoiling for a fight!

Emma arrived and we are happy to have her home for a few days.  When I went to bed, Mark was showing Emma the wonders of the card shuffler.

It occurs to me we didn't need other Christmas gifts.

As I have studied "The Living Christ" this week, I also listened to the Follow Him podcast.  Bonnie Cordon was the visitor and she mentioned in passing that it could be a good experience to try to pair Christmas songs with "The Living Christ."

Well, as I have sat here, doing my best to outlast the effects of chemo, I had the time so I decided to give it a try.

The Living Christ

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,

Born this happy morning;

Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n.

Son of the Father,

Now in flesh appearing;

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." 

Through the ages, prophets told

Of a long-awaited Savior.

Through the ages, prophets told

Of this Child we now behold.

He is born, the divine Christ child;

Raise your voices in joyful melody!

He is born, the divine Christ child—

Sing of Jesus, the Baby mild.

Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good,” yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill.

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!

He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

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.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. 

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.”

He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be

Which inspire your heav’nly song?

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. 

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.

He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

Silent night! Holy night!

Son of God, love’s pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face,

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth;

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept.” As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. 

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.

He also ministered among His “other sheep” in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times."

This is the Christ, the holy Son of God— 

Our Savior, Lord, Redeemer of mankind. 

This is the Christ, the Healer of our souls, 

Who ransomed us with love divine.

Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: “I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.” 

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! “For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.".

For lo! the days are hast’ning on,

By prophets seen of old,

When with the ever-circling years

Shall come the time foretold,

When the new heav’n and earth shall own

The Prince of Peace their King,

And the whole world send back the song

Which now the angels sing.

We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—“built upon the foundation of … apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings,

Ris’n with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by,

Born that man no more may die;

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King!

We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

King of kings forever and ever

and Lord of lords hallelujah hallelujah

And he shall reign forever and ever

King of kings and Lord of lords

King of kings and Lord of lords

And he shall reign forever and ever

Forever and ever and ever and ever

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. 

Come, Lord Jesus, to the wounded— 

Broken heart and bended knee. 

Worthy Lamb, Thy love unbounded, 

Bid our souls to rest in Thee.

Grant us mercy, Savior, King; 

Come with healing in Thy wings.  

Come, Lord Jesus, to the wounded. 

Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Come, Lord Jesus, great Redeemer, 

Light of Morning, Prince of Peace. 

We will be Thy children ever. 

Dry our tears; may weeping cease.  

Come in glory; come again. 

Come to us to rule and reign. 

Ready us to kneel and greet Thee. 

Come, Lord Jesus, come!

His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is giv’n!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of his heav’n.

No ear may hear his coming;

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him, still

The dear Christ enters in.

Songs (listed in order they appeared):

• O Come All Ye Faithful
• He is Born, the Divine Christ Child
• Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains 
• Joy to the World
• I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
• Angels We Have Heard on High
• Away in a Manger
• Once in Royal David's City
• This is the Christ
• Angels We Have Heard on High
• It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
• Hark the Herald Angels Sing
• Hallelujah Chorus
• Come, Lord Jesus
• O Little Town of Bethlehem