O Holy Night!

Confession: Yesterday marked the first day of November and I started listening to Christmas music (I actually started listening a couple weeks ago). I may have sat in my car after getting home from church listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing O Holy Night 3-4 times. It is a long song. Sorry, Al Gore. I kept the car running.

The lyrics are amazing. Here are some of my favorites:

"Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'til He appeared and the soul felt its worth."

I think that pretty much says it all, but a few lines later we heard:

"Fall on your knees!"

Last weekend I was in Sharon, VT at the Joseph Smith birthplace memorial. The Spirit of God was so powerful in that place that I felt compelled to fall on my knees and worship God, thanking Him for the indescribable gift of His Son, for His perfect plan of happiness, and for preparing Joseph Smith to be the prophet of the Restoration of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Perhaps somewhat sadly, social norms prevented me from literally falling on my knees and worshipping; there were other people around. But my heart was full of gratitude and awe for God, our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

"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."

Not only is the slave our brother, without the Atonement of Jesus Christ we would all be slaves to sin. The Atonement liberates each of us from the bondage of sin. Christ paid the price for me, for you, for each individual person you know to be free from the slavery of sin.

"Let all within us praise His holy name: Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever! His power and glory evermore proclaim."

Merry Christmas everyone!